Lindsey Graham’s sister Darline loses South Carolina Senate seat in major GOP upset

• Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Trump-backed Republican Darline Graham in South Carolina.
• Graham was appointed to succeed her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died in July.
• Trump endorsed Graham's bid for a full Senate term and campaigned for her.

Republican Darline Graham, the sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham and a candidate personally backed by US President Donald Trump, has been projected to lose South Carolina’s Senate race to Democrat Annie Andrews in a major setback for the GOP.

Andrews led Graham by four percentage points with 84 percent of the vote counted when Decision Desk HQ projected her victory on Tuesday.

Darline Graham was appointed by Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to fill her brother’s seat following his unexpected death in July. She later sought a full term with Trump’s endorsement, defeating Rep. Ralph Norman in a contentious Republican primary despite having no previous experience in elected office.

Her campaign struggled in the weeks leading up to the election, with questions about her political readiness and a difficult debate performance on foreign policy. Meanwhile, Andrews, a pediatrician and political newcomer, gained ground as polls increasingly showed a competitive race in the traditionally Republican state.

Graham's defeat is also a blow to Trump, who personally recommended her appointment and campaigned for her ahead of Election Day. Her loss marks a dramatic reversal in a state where Republicans have dominated Senate races for decades.

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