--- title: "Andrews vs. Graham: 2026 South Carolina Senate race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-senate-sc" updated: "2026-08-31" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 South Carolina Senate race: Annie Andrews (D) vs. Darline Graham (R) Rating: Likely R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 31, 2026 Following the death of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on July 11, 2026, Governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham's sister, Darline Graham, to fill the seat. Darline Graham then secured the Republican nomination by winning an August 25 special primary runoff against U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, setting up a general election matchup against Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician who won the Democratic primary in June. Andrews' platform focuses on healthcare access, family cost reductions, reproductive freedom, public education, and gun violence prevention, while Graham's campaign emphasizes her three-decade career in workforce development, fiscal protection of taxpayer dollars, and conservative values endorsed by Donald Trump. ## Candidates - **Annie Andrews** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://drannieandrews.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Annie_Andrews) - **Darline Graham** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://www.darlinegraham.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Darline_Graham) ## Issues ### Economy & Fiscal Responsibility Salience: high Andrews focuses on federal action to lower daily household costs for working families, whereas Graham emphasizes fiscal stewardship of taxpayer dollars and expanding job placement opportunities based on her state agency record. **Annie Andrews:** Supports economy for working people Andrews focuses on lowering costs for everyday family expenses such as groceries and child care. She advocates for economic policies designed to support working families and address rising living expenses. - Reduce the cost of groceries and essential household expenses. - Make child care more affordable for working families. - Promote economic policies focused on working people rather than corporations. > “An Economy That Works for Working People” > — Annie Andrews, via [Campaign site](https://drannieandrews.com) > “Whether it’s the cost of groceries, the price of child care, or access to affordable, quality healthcare, I see the impacts every day.” > — Annie Andrews, via [Campaign site](https://drannieandrews.com) **Darline Graham:** Supports fiscal protection and workforce development Graham highlights her career helping individuals with disabilities find employment and gain financial independence. She emphasizes her management experience reforming state agencies to protect taxpayer dollars and reduce inefficiency. - Protect taxpayer dollars by turning around inefficient government agencies. - Promote job placement and vocational rehabilitation to help citizens support their families. - Oversee state agency operations with fiscal discipline, drawing on her experience managing a $90 million budget at the SC Commission for the Blind. > “Darline, who is fiercely protective of taxpayer dollars, helped turn around a struggling state agency known for inefficiency.” > — Darline Graham, via [Campaign site](https://www.darlinegraham.com/) > “Darline has devoted her life to helping people find dignity through work – enabling them to contribute to society and support their families.” > — Darline Graham, via [Campaign site](https://www.darlinegraham.com/) ### Healthcare Salience: high **Annie Andrews:** Supports universal healthcare access Drawing on her nearly twenty years as a pediatrician, Andrews views healthcare as a fundamental right rather than a privilege. Her platform prioritizes making healthcare quality and affordable, with a special focus on pediatric health and youth mental health. - Treat healthcare as a fundamental right for all citizens. - Improve access to affordable, quality medical care for families. - Expand mental health resources and pediatric healthcare services. > “Healthcare is a Right, Not a Privilege” > — Annie Andrews, via [Campaign site](https://drannieandrews.com) > “I’ve spent nearly twenty years caring for South Carolina’s children, from newborns with jaundice to teenagers struggling with mental health.” > — Annie Andrews, via [Campaign site](https://drannieandrews.com) **Darline Graham:** No documented position in our sources ### Reproductive Freedom Salience: high **Annie Andrews:** Supports federal reproductive freedom protections Andrews advocates for protecting reproductive freedom and trusting women to make their own healthcare choices. She frames reproductive rights as a core priority for South Carolina women and families. - Protect reproductive freedom nationwide. - Trust women and doctors to make personal healthcare decisions. > “Reproductive Freedom: Trust Women” > — Annie Andrews, via [Campaign site](https://drannieandrews.com) **Darline Graham:** No documented position in our sources ### Gun Violence & Public Safety Salience: medium **Annie Andrews:** Supports gun violence prevention legislation As a pediatrician, Andrews views gun violence as a primary safety threat to children and communities. She advocates for federal measures to end gun violence and protect public safety. - Enact legislative solutions to end gun violence. - Protect children and communities from firearm injuries. > “An End to Gun Violence” > — Annie Andrews, via [Campaign site](https://drannieandrews.com) **Darline Graham:** No documented position in our sources ### Education & Child Care Salience: medium **Annie Andrews:** Supports public education and affordable child care Andrews prioritizes strengthening public schools and reducing child care expenses for working parents. She treats education and early childhood care as essential investments for children's overall well-being. - Increase support for strong public schools. - Lower the cost of child care for working families. > “Strong Schools & Affordable Child Care” > — Annie Andrews, via [Campaign site](https://drannieandrews.com) **Darline Graham:** No documented position in our sources ### Government Reform & Political Corruption Salience: medium **Annie Andrews:** Supports anti-corruption and campaign finance reform Andrews pledges to fight political corruption in Washington by refusing PAC money for her campaign. She argues that elected leaders should answer to families rather than special interests. - Refuse contributions from corporate political action committees (PACs). - Pass reforms to curb corruption and special-interest influence in Washington. > “Powered by People. NOT PACs.” > — Annie Andrews, via [Campaign site](https://drannieandrews.com) > “Fighting Political Corruption” > — Annie Andrews, via [Campaign site](https://drannieandrews.com) **Darline Graham:** No documented position in our sources ### Immigration & Border Security Salience: medium **Annie Andrews:** Supports border security combined with humane treatment Andrews advocates for immigration policies that pair effective border security measures with dignified and humane treatment for migrants. - Maintain strong border security. - Ensure immigration enforcement treats individuals with dignity. > “Immigration: Security with Dignity” > — Annie Andrews, via [Campaign site](https://drannieandrews.com) **Darline Graham:** No documented position in our sources ### Technology & Child Safety Salience: low **Annie Andrews:** Supports regulating tech companies to protect children Andrews supports holding major technology companies accountable to safeguard children from online risks and harms. - Implement regulatory standards on tech platforms to protect children online. > “Protecting Kids, Not Big Tech” > — Annie Andrews, via [Campaign site](https://drannieandrews.com) **Darline Graham:** No documented position in our sources ### Foreign Policy & Defense Salience: low **Annie Andrews:** Opposes military involvement in endless foreign wars Andrews advocates for ending U.S. participation in prolonged foreign conflicts and redirecting national focus toward domestic priorities. - End U.S. involvement in foreign military conflicts. > “No More Endless Wars” > — Annie Andrews, via [Campaign site](https://drannieandrews.com) **Darline Graham:** No documented position in our sources ### Infrastructure & Transportation Salience: low **Annie Andrews:** Supports modernizing transportation infrastructure Andrews supports federal investments to modernize transportation systems and infrastructure across South Carolina. - Invest in effective transportation and infrastructure networks. > “Transportation & Infrastructure that Works” > — Annie Andrews, via [Campaign site](https://drannieandrews.com) **Darline Graham:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/south-carolina-senate-election-winner) — South Carolina Senate Election Winner: Republicans 72.5%, Democrats 26.5% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXPRIMARYPLACE-SCRSENS26-1) — South Carolina Republican Senate special primary: 1st place (1st round): Darline Graham 99.0%, Mark Sanford 1.0%, Russell Fry 1.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXPRIMARYPLACE-KXSCRSENS26-2) — South Carolina Republican Senate special primary: 2nd place (1st Round): Ralph Norman 99.0%, Mark Sanford 1.0%, Trey Gowdy 1.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/SENATESC-26) — South Carolina Senate winner?: Darline Graham 72.0%, Annie Andrews 26.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXSCRSENS-26) — South Carolina Republican Senate special primary winner?: Darline Graham 99.0%, Ralph Norman 1.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-senate-sc)