In a stunning upset in one of the most conservative states in the nation, Dr. Annie Andrews, a Democrat, will defeat Senator Darline Graham, a Republican, to represent South Carolina in the Senate, according to a projection by The New York Times.
Before Tuesday, a Democrat had not come within even nine percentage points of winning a Senate race this century. Dr. Andrews’s victory amounted to a stark rejection of Ms. Graham, who was appointed to the Senate after her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, died this summer, and was a significant blow to President Trump, who campaigned heavily on Ms. Graham’s behalf.
Here are five things to know about Dr. Andrews.
1. She is a pediatrician.
Dr. Andrews is a pediatrician who made health care the central issue of her campaign. At stops across the state, she slammed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his stance on vaccines and argued that Republican cuts to Medicare and Medicaid spending had blocked critical access to care for South Carolinians.
She is also a mother of three who resides in a suburb of Charleston. She consistently invoked her own children to explain her focus on keeping South Carolina’s children healthy.
2. She faced attacks for her past views on transgender issues.
Ms. Graham’s most consistent attacks against Dr. Andrews involved her past comments in support of transgender people.
Dr. Andrews has supported prescribing puberty blockers and hormone treatment for children, and she previously argued against a bill that barred transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports. She softened some of her language during the campaign.
Dr. Andrews also worked extensively with Moms Demand Action, a gun control advocacy group.
3. She was critical of her party.
In an interview earlier this fall, Dr. Andrews declined to name a single Democratic politician whom she wanted to campaign on her behalf. On the trail, she was almost as quick to criticize the Democratic Party as she was the Republican Party.
“By me winning, I don’t consider it a win for Democrats,” she said in an interview with The New York Times in September. “I consider it a win for South Carolina, because this Senate seat belongs to the people of South Carolina.”
4. She had a spending advantage.
Dr. Andrews out-raised and outspent Ms. Graham, who struggled to fund-raise after bruising primary and runoff elections.
Since the summer, Dr. Andrews also held far more events across South Carolina than Ms. Graham, who was largely focused on learning the ropes in Washington.
5. Call it a comeback.
In 2022, Dr. Andrews challenged Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican, for South Carolina’s First District — but lost by 14 points.
When she first entered the Senate race this cycle, the Republican she was running against was Mr. Graham, and few thought she had a chance of winning the seat.
She remained an underdog after Ms. Graham filled the seat and sought re-election, given the conservative makeup of the state. On Tuesday, she pulled off the upset.
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