#south-carolina

NBC News projects that Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, defeated Republican Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina, making Andrews the state's first Democratic senator in more than 20 years. Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham in July after her brother, five-term Sen. Lindsey Graham, died suddenly; she then won the GOP nomination for a full term. NBC reports that Trump carried the state by more than 17 points two years ago, that Andrews raised more than $4 million in the final pre-election period against about $90,000 for Graham, and that the GOP-aligned Senate Leadership Fund spent $13 million backing Graham. In debates, Andrews called Graham a "rubber stamp" for Trump's agenda, and Graham accused Andrews of having "flip-flopped on everything."

About 52,000 upvotes and 3,900 comments in a 29-million-member community. The top reply criticizes the choice to run the late senator's sister; others call it one of the biggest upsets they can remember, including a commenter who says they have voted Democratic in South Carolina for 25 years.