South Carolina Senate Race 2026 is heading into its final stretch with Republican Sen. Darline Graham and Democratic nominee Annie Andrews preparing for a November 3 election. The contest has drawn increased attention after Graham’s appointment to the Senate in July and her subsequent victory in the special Republican runoff. The two major-party candidates have also agreed to meet in a televised debate on October 11 in Columbia.
The contest is unusual because the seat became vacant during the election year after Sen. Lindsey Graham died in July. His death changed the Republican nomination process and created a special timetable for selecting a replacement candidate.
Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster to temporarily fill the Senate vacancy. She later won the special Republican runoff against U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman and secured the Republican nomination for the November election.
Andrews had already secured the Democratic nomination earlier in the year. She now faces Graham in the general election, while third-party candidates also appear on the ballot.
November 3 Election Date
South Carolina voters will choose the next senator in the state’s Class 2 Senate seat on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The election follows a series of unusual developments that began with the June primary elections. Lindsey Graham had originally won the Republican nomination before his death created the need for a replacement nominee.
The state Republican Party subsequently organized a special primary. Darline Graham and Ralph Norman advanced to the runoff after the first round, with Graham winning the August 25 contest.
The November election will determine who receives the full six-year Senate term beginning in January 2027.
Who Is Running
The general-election field includes candidates from the Republican, Democratic, Libertarian and Constitution parties.
The major-party contest features Darline Graham and Annie Andrews.
Darline Graham is the Republican nominee and currently serves in the Senate after her appointment in July. Before joining the Senate, she served as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.
Annie Andrews is the Democratic nominee. She is a pediatrician who previously ran for Congress in South Carolina and has built her campaign around issues including health care, household costs and federal policy.
Kasie Whitener is running as the Libertarian nominee.
Mark Hackett is the Constitution Party candidate.
The presence of four candidates gives voters multiple options on the November ballot, although the campaign activity involving the two major-party nominees has received the most attention.
Darline Graham’s Path to the Republican Nomination
The Republican nomination process took an unexpected turn after Lindsey Graham’s death.
Lindsey Graham had won the Republican primary in June. His death in July meant that the Republican Party needed to select another candidate for the general election.
Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to fill the Senate vacancy. She took the Senate oath shortly afterward and became the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate.
Her appointment did not automatically make her the Republican nominee for November. She still had to compete in the special Republican primary.
Nine candidates ultimately appeared in the special primary. Darline Graham and Ralph Norman advanced to the runoff.
The August 25 runoff produced a close Republican contest. Graham received about 52.5% of the vote, while Norman received about 47.5%.
That victory made Graham the Republican nominee for the November election.
Her campaign then shifted from the Republican nomination battle to the general election against Andrews.
Annie Andrews Secured the Democratic Nomination Earlier
The Democratic nomination process was settled before the Republican Party’s special contest began.
Andrews won the Democratic primary on June 9. She defeated Brandon Brown and Kyle Freeman to become the party’s nominee.
Her background as a pediatrician remains an important part of her campaign identity. She has highlighted health care and family finances while seeking to appeal to voters beyond traditional Democratic constituencies.
The campaign has also focused on the contrast between her background in medicine and Graham’s experience in South Carolina public service.
With the Democratic nomination already decided, Andrews had more time to prepare for the general election while Republicans conducted their special nomination process.
October 11 Debate Confirmed
One of the most important upcoming events is the scheduled debate between Graham and Andrews.
The two candidates have agreed to participate in a televised debate on October 11 at SCETV in Columbia.
Andrews had repeatedly challenged Graham to debate after securing the Democratic nomination. Graham accepted the invitation in September.
The debate will give voters a direct opportunity to hear the two major-party candidates discuss their positions in the same forum.
The event is particularly significant because the Republican nominee entered the general election only after a compressed special-primary campaign.
Andrews has also called for additional debates. As of September 20, the October 11 SCETV debate is the major confirmed debate involving both candidates.
Latest Polling
Recent polling shows a relatively close contest in at least some surveys.
An InsiderAdvantage poll conducted September 8-9 among 1,200 likely South Carolina voters found Graham with 45.1% support and Andrews with 43.2%.
That survey placed the candidates within two percentage points of one another.
A separate Rasmussen Reports survey released in September reported Graham at 48% and Andrews at 43%, with 9% of likely voters undecided.
The different results demonstrate why individual polls should be viewed as snapshots rather than final election results.
Polling organizations use different questionnaires, samples, turnout models and field dates. Those differences can produce varying results even when surveys are conducted around the same period.
Earlier surveys also produced different margins. Some showed the candidates close together, while others recorded a larger Republican advantage.
The latest publicly reported numbers therefore show an active contest with voters still making decisions ahead of November 3.
Campaign Spending and Outside Groups
Campaign finances have become another notable part of the contest.
Federal campaign records show that Andrews entered the general election with substantially more campaign receipts than Graham’s newly established Senate campaign committee. Andrews reported more than $10.8 million in receipts through June 30.
Graham’s campaign reported considerably less because her current campaign operation developed after the unexpected Senate vacancy and special Republican nomination process.
Outside groups have also entered the race.
A Democratic-aligned group called Fresh Start South Carolina announced a $2.5 million advertising campaign supporting Andrews. Its initial advertising has focused heavily on health care.
Republican-aligned organizations have also spent significant sums supporting Graham. Outside spending increased during the special Republican primary and continued into the general-election campaign.
These expenditures can change as Election Day approaches. New campaign finance filings and independent expenditures will provide additional information about the financial side of the contest.
Major Issues in the Contest
Health care is one of the central issues in the campaign.
Andrews has used her medical background to emphasize health care costs and access. Her campaign argues that federal health policy directly affects South Carolina families.
Graham has emphasized conservative policy positions and her support for President Donald Trump. Her campaign has also highlighted affordability and issues affecting South Carolina residents.
Taxes, government spending, immigration, the economy and federal health policy are among the broader issues surrounding the campaign.
The candidates also differ politically.
Graham is running as the Republican nominee and has presented herself as a conservative voice for the state.
Andrews is running as the Democratic nominee and has emphasized health care, economic concerns and a willingness to work across party lines.
The October debate should provide a clearer opportunity for voters to compare their stated positions.
Why the Senate Seat Changed Hands During the Election Year
The unusual history of the contest remains central to understanding the current campaign.
Lindsey Graham had been the Republican nominee for another term after winning the June primary. His death in July created a Senate vacancy while the election campaign was already underway.
McMaster then appointed Darline Graham to temporarily serve in the Senate.
The appointment allowed the state to maintain representation in the Senate while Republicans conducted their special nomination process.
Darline Graham’s subsequent runoff victory placed her in the general election.
The sequence produced a campaign unlike a standard Senate election. The Republican nominee was selected through a special process less than three months before Election Day.
That compressed schedule also affected fundraising, advertising and candidate appearances.
What Voters Can Expect Before November 3
The campaign now enters a more conventional general-election phase.
The October 11 debate will be one of the major scheduled events. Both Graham and Andrews will have an opportunity to make their case directly to voters.
Advertising is also expected to remain prominent. Outside organizations have already committed millions of dollars to the contest.
Polling will likely continue to attract attention as Election Day approaches. New surveys may produce different results based on their methodology and timing.
Voters will also see continued discussion of health care, the economy, federal spending, conservative policy priorities and the role of the Senate.
The final weeks can bring new campaign events, additional advertising and further candidate appearances.
Key Dates to Know
Several dates define the 2026 contest:
- June 9: South Carolina Democratic primary
- July: Lindsey Graham’s death and Senate vacancy
- July 13: Darline Graham appointed to the Senate
- August 11: Special Republican primary
- August 25: Republican runoff
- October 11: Scheduled Graham-Andrews televised debate
- November 3: General election
The October debate and November election are now the most important confirmed dates for voters following the contest.
The Race Entering Its Final Phase
As of September 20, the contest features two major-party nominees with different political backgrounds and policy priorities.
Graham is the sitting senator after her appointment and the Republican nominee following the special runoff.
Andrews is the Democratic nominee after winning her party’s June primary.
Recent polling has shown a relatively narrow margin in some surveys, while other polls have reported a wider Republican lead. The differences underscore the importance of considering poll dates, sample sizes and methodology rather than relying on one survey.
The race has also attracted substantial outside spending. Both sides are using advertising to define the candidates and their positions on major issues.
The October 11 debate will give voters another opportunity to hear directly from Graham and Andrews before ballots are cast.
South Carolina’s Senate contest has therefore moved through an unusual series of events in 2026. What began as a standard reelection campaign changed after Lindsey Graham’s death, followed by a temporary Senate appointment and a special Republican nomination process.
The final decision will come from South Carolina voters on November 3.
Stay informed as the candidates head toward the October debate and November 3 election, and share your thoughts on the race in the comments.