Democratic paediatrician Annie Andrews has defeated Republican Senator Darline Graham in South Carolina's 3 November 2026 election, delivering a historic victory in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the US Senate since 1998.

Andrews, a healthcare advocate who made opposition to Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr a central part of her campaign, also becomes the first woman elected to represent South Carolina in the Senate.

RFK Jr's 'Arch-nemesis' Turns Campaign Criticism Into a Senate Seat

Andrews has described Kennedy as her professional 'arch-nemesis', saying his nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services prompted her to consider entering the race. A paediatrician who spent 14 years at MUSC Children's Hospital in Charleston, she has repeatedly challenged Kennedy's position on vaccines and his influence over national health policy.

Her criticism was not simply a campaign slogan. Andrews accused Kennedy of spreading vaccine misinformation and linked public-health policy to the wellbeing of children and families. She also said she would push for his impeachment if elected, making her one of his most direct political critics during the campaign.

Impeachment, however, would require action by the House of Representatives before any Senate trial could take place.

A Historic Upset in a Republican Stronghold

Andrews defeated Graham, who had been appointed to serve the remainder of her brother Lindsey Graham's Senate term after his death in July. President Donald Trump endorsed Graham and campaigned for her, but the Republican failed to secure a full term. The Associated Press called the race for Andrews on election night.

The result ended a 28-year stretch in which Republicans had won every South Carolina Senate election since Democrat Ernest 'Fritz' Hollings' victory in 1998. It also made Andrews the first woman elected to represent the state in the Senate. Trump had carried South Carolina by nearly 18 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, making the Democratic victory particularly striking.

Unofficial state results listed Andrews with 1,042,362 votes, or 51.13 per cent, against Graham's 951,165, or 46.65 per cent. Libertarian candidate Kasie Whitener received 23,560 votes, while Constitution Party candidate Mark Hackett secured 16,799. The state's election results remain subject to certification.

An Associated Press survey found about two-thirds of Senate voters considered Graham short of the experience required for the job, and most of that group supported Andrews.

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From Paediatric Medicine to National Politics

Andrews spent approximately 15 years caring for children in South Carolina, including 14 years at MUSC Children's Hospital, and has presented that experience as the foundation for her political priorities. Her campaign focused on healthcare affordability, access to treatment, rural hospitals and the cost of prescription medicines. She also highlighted education, childcare, reproductive rights and gun violence prevention.

Her route to the Senate was not straightforward. Andrews lost a 2022 campaign against Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace and had never held elected office before the Senate race. After Lindsey Graham's death reshaped the contest, she faced his sister, who was appointed to the seat and later won the Republican nomination.

The victory gives Democrats a senator with a medical background and a clear record of opposition to Kennedy's health agenda. Andrews is due to take office in January 2027, when the 120th Congress convenes on 3 January 2027. Her promised challenge to Kennedy's leadership will now move from campaign rhetoric to the political arena, following the South Carolina Senate election.

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