Democrats see glimmer of hope in South Carolina after Darline Graham’s win 

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Trump nabs crucial primary wins in South Carolina, Oklahoma

Trump nabs crucial primary wins in South Carolina, Oklahoma

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Sen. Darline Graham’s (R-S.C.) narrow victory in South Carolina’s Senate primary runoff makes her the heavy favorite to win the seat for a full term in November, but some Democrats see a narrow opening for an upset.

Graham fended off a challenge from Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) in the Tuesday contest, having been boosted by President Trump’s endorsement. She’s on track to win the race by about 5 points, overcoming late scrutiny for a gaffe she made during a debate with Norman in which she said she isn’t “that informed on national security.”

Graham is now set to face pediatrician Annie Andrews in the general election. The incumbent will be favored given South Carolina’s solid red lean — Democrats haven’t won a Senate seat in the Palmetto State since 1998.

But facing off against a candidate whose inexperience has become a key issue in the minds of many voters has given some Democrats a shot of optimism.

“Darline Graham is hilariously unprepared to be a senator, which gives Democrats a tremendous opening to flip the seat. It’ll be a tough fight, but Annie Andrews is great and has a real shot,” said Democratic strategist Mike Nellis in a post on the social platform X.

Andrews easily prevailed in the Democratic primary in June but has been waiting for weeks to find out her opponent since the sudden death of former Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

During a podcast episode that aired Tuesday, Andrews said she expects “record-breaking” Democratic turnout.

“When you have a motivated Democratic base in a state like South Carolina in a midterm year, that spells trouble for the GOP because we have a motivated base,” she told the hosts of “Nobody Knows Anything.”

“I’m a disciplined candidate. I’m going to be talking about affordability every single day because that’s what voters care about, and those are the real problems I’m hearing from the people I’m talking to on the ground,” she added. “But I do think the anti-Darlene argument becomes the anti-nepotism argument that she’s not ready for this.”

Andrews, who lost a 2022 House race to Rep. Nancy Mace (R), has a bit of a head start to introduce herself to voters, though Graham inherits massive name recognition from her brother.

“National Democrats – South Carolina is now a real pick-up opportunity with @AnnieAndrewsMD running against this incurious ignoramus,” said Patrice Snow, who formerly served as press secretary for Tom Steyer’s 2020 presidential campaign and a PAC founded by former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D).

Snow called on Democrats to provide Andrews with the “resources she needs to flip this seat.”

Andrews has so far put up decent fundraising numbers. Her most recent campaign filing at the end of the second quarter of 2026 showed she had raised nearly $11 million so far, with $4 million in cash on hand.

Andrews’s campaign sent a fundraising text out to South Carolinians on Tuesday night attacking Graham, The Post and Courier reporter Ian Grenier reported.

“This is a woman running for an office only 100 Americans get the responsibility of holding,” the message reads. “The Senate isn’t the place for on the job training.”

The sentiment echoes the message that Norman sought to make against Graham.

Norman conceded his loss to Graham on Tuesday and said he would do what he can to support her candidacy. But he said “Democrats got what they wanted” in facing her in the general election.

Still, Graham will be far from lacking resources. Money poured in to boost her in the primary, including more than $800,000 from Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc.

South Carolina also isn’t essential to Democrats’ plans to win back a majority in the Senate, and some may feel their money would be better spent elsewhere in states that aren’t seen as much of a traditional uphill battle.

Democrats were bullish about their chances of pulling off an........

© The Hill