Trump-backed Darline Graham loses South Carolina Senate race
Where it stands
AP projects Annie Andrews defeated Trump-backed interim Senator Darline Graham, flipping a Republican-held South Carolina Senate seat; canvass and certification remain pending; Senate control unresolved at review time.
Sources reviewed: Nov 3, 2026 · 10:56 PM EST
The Associated Press projected Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican interim Senator Darline Graham in South Carolina's U.S. Senate race, giving Democrats a second Republican-held pickup after North Carolina. Graham, appointed after the death of her brother Senator Lindsey Graham, entered the special election at President Donald Trump's urging and with his endorsement.
The result is a material defeat for Trump's chosen candidate in a state that had not elected a Democratic senator in more than two decades. It is a media projection based on reported results—not South Carolina's final canvass or certification.
The response.
Trump personally asked Graham to run, endorsed her before she entered the primary and made late campaign appearances for her. In an October 17 video, he called her an amazing person and urged South Carolinians to elect her. Andrews campaigned on affordability and criticized Graham's experience and campaign support from data-center interests. AP reported Andrews' projected win; South Carolina election officials state that election-night totals remain unofficial until county and state canvassers certify them. No concession from Graham or election-night response from Trump was located by the 10:56 p.m. EST review. The projected pickup moved Democrats closer to a Senate majority but did not by itself settle control of the chamber.
Dates & scope
Source publication: Nov 3, 2026 · 10:56 PM EST
Event or conduct: 2026-11-03.
Full chronology and review notes
The Associated Press projected Annie Andrews the winner late on election night November 3. The Ledger reviewed AP reporting, South Carolina's official election-results and certification guidance, Trump's October endorsement and Reuters campaign reporting November 3 at 10:56 p.m. EST. The election, media projection, news publication, source-review and eventual state certification dates are distinct.
This is a dated report. The source-review time records when the linked sources were checked; it is not a live update.
Coverage is non-exhaustive. Our source-review standards →
Open the original record.
- Associated Press: Democrats win in South Carolina and North Carolina as they aim to retake Senate ↗
November 3 race projection and report on Andrews' upset, Graham's Trump backing and the still-unresolved contest for Senate control
- South Carolina State Election Commission: 2026 statewide general-election results ↗
Primary state election-results portal linking the November 3 returns
- South Carolina State Election Commission: 2026 Candidate Filing Toolkit ↗
Primary state guidance explaining that election-night results are unofficial until county and state canvassers certify them
- Roll Call Factba.se: Donald Trump video endorsement of Darline Graham for Senate ↗
Transcript of Trump's October 17 endorsement and appeal for Graham's election
- Reuters: Trump campaigns in South Carolina to support Senate candidate Graham ↗
October 21 campaign report documenting Trump's personal support and the race's unexpected competitiveness
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