The rating
Lean Republican
Rated Lean Republican by Cook Political Report on Oct 20, 2026.
| Forecaster | Rating | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Cook Political Report (opens in a new tab) | Lean R | Oct 20, 2026 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean R | Latest |
Who is running
Darline Graham
Republican Incumbent
Annie Andrews
Democrat Challenger
The facts
- Lindsey Graham won the June 9 primary with 57% and died July 11. Gov. Henry McMaster appointed his sister Darline Graham to the seat.
- Darline Graham won the Aug. 25 runoff over Rep. Ralph Norman, 52% to 48%.
- Cook moved South Carolina from Likely Republican to Leans Republican.
Opinion
Why this race matters to conservatives
A deep-red state that forecasters now call competitive.
This box is the opinion of RightNewsRightNow. The rest of this page is reporting, with sources listed below.
Where these facts come from
- Cook Political ReportCurrent rating, as of Oct 20, 2026Read it (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia (election pages, with their cited sources)Candidate and race factsRead it (opens in a new tab)