Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, will face Republican Senator Darline Graham in South Carolina’s Senate general election on November 3, 2026, after Graham won a GOP runoff on August 25. Graham defeated Representative Ralph Norman with support from President Donald Trump to secure the Republican nomination for the seat left vacant by her brother, former Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11 from an aortic tear.
Andrews won the Democratic primary on June 9, 2026, with 61.5% of the vote, defeating Brandon Brown and Kyle Freeman. She has been campaigning as a physician focused on healthcare and family issues in the state.
Graham was appointed to the Senate on July 13 by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to fill the remainder of her brother’s term until the general election. The runoff between Graham and Norman became necessary because no candidate received a majority in the initial Republican primary on August 11. Graham received 32.75% of the vote in that primary, while Norman received 24%, setting up the August 25 runoff.
The matchup is taking place in a solidly Republican state where no Democrat has won a Senate race since 1998, according to reporting from multiple outlets. Graham will be favored in the general election, though Andrews has pledged to campaign aggressively across the state. The race marks a significant moment for South Carolina Republicans following the unexpected death of Lindsey Graham, who had held the seat since 2003.
The GOP runoff victory clears the path for Graham to run for a full six-year term. Both candidates will now enter the general election phase with roughly two months to reach voters before the November ballot.
Sources
- The New York Times — South Carolina Republican runoff results, August 25, 2026 runoff election data
- PBS NewsHour — Darline Graham wins GOP nomination to replace her late brother
- NPR — South Carolina Senate runoff results and Trump endorsement
- Ballotpedia — Annie Andrews Democratic primary results, June 9, 2026, and candidate information
- Washington Post — South Carolina Senate race context and Democratic history
- Wikipedia — 2026 United States Senate election in South Carolina, general election date and candidate information
- ABC News — Lindsey Graham death reporting and Senate vacancy process
