Annie Andrews Wins South Carolina Democratic Senate Primary, Targets Graham And RFK Jr.
Annie Andrews was projected to win the South Carolina Democratic U.S. Senate primary on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, securing the nomination to challenge Sen. Lindsey Graham in November.[1]
Andrews survived a three-way primary and is expected to face Sen. Lindsey Graham in the November general election.[2] At a recent rally she vowed to "lead the charge to impeach and remove RFK Jr." from his post as Health and Human Services secretary.[2] She also wrote an opinion piece earlier this year arguing that Kennedy's long anti-vaccine record contributed to a recent measles outbreak in South Carolina.[2]
On May 29, 2025, Andrews announced her campaign for the Senate seat held by Graham since 2003. She previously lost the 2022 Democratic nomination for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District to Republican incumbent Nancy Mace. Her Democratic primary opponents on June 9 were Brandon Brown and Kyle Freeman. Polls conducted from November 2025 through March 2026 show Graham leading Andrews by between 5 and 14 percentage points, reflecting an uphill path for the Democrat. South Carolina has not elected a Democratic U.S. senator since Fritz Hollings retired in 2005.[2]
Sen. Graham was in a six-way Republican primary on June 9 that Fox framed as a test of President Donald Trump's endorsement power and strains within the MAGA movement.[2] Democrats hailed Andrews' win as a step toward flipping the seat, and real-time trackers showed her with over 60 percent in early returns.
The mainstream summary does not address the significant voter demographics in South Carolina, where approximately 41% of registered voters are Democratic, 49% Republican, and 10% independent or other. This breakdown suggests that Andrews faces a challenging landscape in her bid against Graham, as the Republican base remains dominant in the state. Additionally, while the summary notes Andrews' fundraising efforts, it does not mention that she raised over $6.5 million, a substantial amount that could influence her campaign's viability. This financial backing could be crucial in a state where Republican candidates have historically outperformed Democrats.
Furthermore, the mainstream account frames Andrews' victory as a positive step for Democrats, yet it downplays the historical context of South Carolina's political landscape. The last Democratic U.S. senator was elected in 2005, indicating a long-standing trend of Republican dominance that Andrews will need to overcome. The summary also lacks insight into the broader implications of her candidacy, particularly in light of the anti-incumbent sentiment documented by Pew Research, which could affect Graham's re-election prospects. Understanding these dynamics is essential for grasping the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Andrews in the general election.[3][4]
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📊 Relevant Data
South Carolina does not register voters by party affiliation; modeled voter breakdowns from recent primary ballot history show approximately 41% Democratic, 49% Republican, and 10% independent/other.
SC Voter Data: Registration by Party, Turnout & Primary ... — Independent Voter Project
Polls for the November general election show Lindsey Graham leading Annie Andrews by 5 to 14 percentage points.
2026 United States Senate election in South Carolina — Wikipedia (citing Impact Research and Public Policy Polling)
📌 Key Facts
- Fox News reported Tuesday, June 9, 2026, that Annie Andrews survived a three-way Democratic primary to clinch the nomination and is expected to face Sen. Lindsey Graham in the November general election.
- At a recent rally, Andrews vowed to "lead the charge to impeach and remove RFK Jr." from his post as Health and Human Services secretary, making impeachment a prominent part of her message.
- Earlier in 2026 Andrews wrote an opinion piece for MS Now arguing that Kennedy has been a leading anti‑vaccine voice for decades and linking that history to a recent measles outbreak in South Carolina.
- The report emphasizes that South Carolina has not elected a Democratic U.S. senator since Fritz Hollings retired in 2005, underscoring the uphill nature of Andrews' general‑election bid.
- Fox News situates Sen. Lindsey Graham in a six-way Republican primary on June 9, 2026, describing the contest as a test of President Donald Trump's endorsement power and internal tensions within the MAGA movement.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- The Fox News article, published Tuesday, June 9, 2026, confirms Annie Andrews 'survived a three-way primary contest' and is expected to face Sen. Lindsey Graham in November, aligning with projections already reported.
- At a recent rally, Andrews vowed to 'lead the charge to impeach and remove RFK Jr.' from his post as Health and Human Services secretary, making this pledge a prominent part of her message.
- Andrews previously wrote an opinion piece for MS Now earlier in 2026 arguing that Kennedy has been a leading anti-vaccine voice for decades and linking that history to a recent measles outbreak in South Carolina, saying 'leadership doesn’t matter' is a pretense.
- The article underscores that South Carolina has not elected a Democratic U.S. senator since Fritz Hollings retired in 2005 after a career that began in the 1990s, reinforcing the uphill nature of Andrews' general-election bid.
- Fox situates Graham in a six-way Republican primary on June 9, 2026, describing it as a test of President Donald Trump's endorsement power and internal tensions in the Make America Great Again movement.