Democrat Annie Andrews Secures Upset Senate Victory in South Carolina
Pediatrician defeats Darline Graham in traditionally Republican state amid shifting voter sentiment and significant campaign spending.
Carla Rooney
Democrat Annie Andrews has won the US Senate race in South Carolina.
This outcome marks a shift in a state Donald Trump carried by 18 percentage points just two years prior.
Darline Graham's perceived lack of national political experience made the race more competitive. Graham had received a Senate appointment following her brother's death.
Andrews out-fundraised Graham by $22 million. Outside Republican groups spent $27 million in the contest.
Donald Trump campaigned enthusiastically for Graham. He denigrated Andrews, using a transphobic slur.
Andrews herself suggested her opponent had recently changed her name during the campaign. Graham, for her part, stated she was "not that informed on national security."
not that informed on national security.
The result reflects a wider rejection of Trump and his handling of the economy in the first two years of his presidency. Trump's approval ratings hit record lows amid voter discontent over the Iran war, elevated diesel prices, and living costs, putting once-dependable Republican territory into play.