In a closely watched race, South Carolina voters delivered the biggest upset of Election Night so far and elected a Democrat to the Senate for the first time since 1998.
asserted
voters → watch → 1998
Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and mother of three, flipped this seat blue and defeated political neophyte Darline Graham, the sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham who was appointed to complete his term after his sudden death in July.
asserted
who → flip → July
With 88 percent of votes in, Andrews was leading Graham by 4.1 percentage points.
asserted
Andrews → lead → points
In the lead-up to Tuesday, the polls had indicated an unexpectedly competitive race in a deep-red state that has been a reliable GOP stronghold.
asserted
that → indicate → state
Republicans were so concerned about Graham—a reluctant candidate pushed by Trump who many voters didn’t think was prepared to serve a full term—that Trump traveled to South Carolina to rally for her twice in the two weeks before Election Day.
asserted
Trump → push → Day
The top GOP Senate PAC also injected millions of dollars into the race to boost Graham’s chances in what should have been an easy contest for the Republican party.
asserted
what → inject → party
The race was seen as a test of the endorsement powers of a president whose approval rating is at a new low.
asserted
rating → see → low
Even among a pack of weak GOP candidates who spelled trouble for the party, Lindsey Graham’s sister distinguished herself.
asserted
sister → spell → herself
Her previous professional experience was as head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind and her naiveté about foreign policy—a notable contrast with her brother—came into stark relief during a primary debate.
asserted
naiveté → come → debate
When asked about US interests in Taiwan, she dodged the question, admitting, “I’m not that informed on national security.”
asserted
I → ask → security
Earlier this week, I wrote about how Republican voters in the Palmetto State were crossing party lines to support Andrews, who came up short in her Congressional bid against Rep. Nancy Mace in 2022:
asserted
who → write → 2022
“We were led to believe that she was just a placeholder for that seat and South Carolinians would have the opportunity to vote for whomever they thought would be the best,” said George Culpepper Jr., who identifies as a conservative Republican and picked US Rep. Ralph Norman in the primary.
asserted
who → lead → primary
“We were kind of caught off guard because a seat shouldn’t just be given to someone.”
asserted
seat → catch → someone
“When a candidate is shoved down our throats, I’m sorry, but our minds are independent here in South Carolina,” he added.
asserted
he → shove → Carolina
“We won’t bow down to being told how and who to vote for.”
asserted
We → bow → ?
“Basically she was anointed the heir apparent,” said Scott Singer, 66, who helped found the Aiken Republican Club but described himself as “politically homeless.”
asserted
who → anoint → himself
Singer recently hosted an event with Andrews that he said was an opportunity to give GOP voters a “permission structure” to consider an alternative candidate.
asserted
he → host → candidate
“The enthusiasm is much much higher on her side,” Singer said of Andrews.
asserted
Singer → say → Andrews
“People are holding their nose and reluctantly voting for Darline Graham.”
asserted
People → hold → Graham
In addition to questioning the interim senator’s qualifications, South Carolinians appeared skeptical that, if elected, she would demonstrate any independence from the president’s increasingly unpopular agenda.
asserted
she → question → agenda
Several people mentioned the fact that Graham didn’t forcefully push back against Trump’s decision to waive sanctions on Russia that had been enacted under the Graham Act, legislation named after her brother and championed by her.
asserted
that → mention → her
“She lacked the courage to even bring that subject up to the president even though that was her brother’s crowning legacy,” Singer said.
asserted
Singer → lack → president
“She’s there to represent a constituency of one rather than the people of South Carolina.”
asserted
She → ’ → Carolina
“They would want a candidate who’s willing to stand up to the president and encourage him to pull out of of the war with Iran or address the affordability issues more head on,” Danielle Vinson, a professor of politics and international affairs at Furman University, said before the election.
asserted
Vinson → want → election
“And I don’t think they’re seeing any sign whatsoever that Darline Graham would stand up to Donald Trump.”
asserted
Graham → think → Trump
Vinson characterized an Andrews’ victory as “a monumental upset” that would have Democrats “bouncing from the ceilings.”
asserted
Democrats → characterize → ceilings
Voters like Singer were willing to bet on Andrews to be an independent voice in the Senate and keep the executive branch in check.
asserted
Andrews → bet → check
During the campaign, she focused on affordability and access to healthcare, while attempting to deflect culture war issues in order to appeal to independents and Republicans frustrated with high prices and the war in Iran.
asserted
she → focus → Iran
In the end, voters turned down a “Graham family dynasty,” sending Trump a message.
asserted
voters → turn → message
“South Carolinians are fiercely independent,” Singer said, “and don’t like having Washington pick its candidates.”
asserted
Washington → say → candidates
The Aporia
