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Paediatrician Annie Andrews stunned Republicans on Tuesday by winning a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina, narrowly defeating Darline Graham, according to projections from NBC News and CNN.
The Democratic victory flipped a seat long held by Graham’s late brother, influential foreign-policy hawk Lindsey Graham.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster originally appointed Darline Graham to temporarily fill the vacancy in July following a recommendation from President Donald Trump, who called the appointment a “fabulous tribute” to her brother.
Despite heavy backing from Trump, who campaigned for Graham and urged supporters to vote as if his own name were on the ballot, the Republican nominee struggled to win over voters.
Graham had defeated veteran congressman Ralph Norman in the Republican primary, but her lack of political experience was shown during a recent debate when she admitted she was “not that informed on national security” after failing to answer a question on Taiwan.
Lindsey Graham, who served in Congress for decades until his death, had shared a deep personal bond with his sister after their parents died within two years of each other.
At age 22, he legally adopted his then 13-year-old sister and raised her.
Ultimately, that personal legacy proved insufficient to hold the seat, as Andrews capitalised on Graham’s campaign missteps to deliver Democrats a key Senate pickup.
