CBS News projected Democrat Annie Andrews the winner over Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina; the pickup added a seat to the Democratic column and helped the party secure a Senate majority.
Before Election Day, a New York Times/Siena poll had Andrews and Graham tied at 48%, according to EconoTimes’ earlier coverage of the poll’s 48% tie.
Andrews, 45, is a pediatrician whose campaign emphasized health care access and affordability, along with efforts to fight corruption in Washington, CBS reported. Graham, 62, was appointed after her brother, Lindsey Graham, died in July, to serve the remainder of his term. She later won the special primary for the Republican nomination for a full six-year term, CBS said.
South Carolina had last elected a Democrat to the Senate in 1998, and President Donald Trump carried the state by 18 points in 2024, CBS reported.
CBS said the race grew more competitive than expected, bringing Republican financial support. The Senate Leadership Fund invested $5 million in October; in August, MAGA Inc. gave Graham $827,000. Trump had encouraged Graham to run and later campaigned for her. CBS said that support fell short in a difficult environment for Republicans.
