An underdog Democrat is suddenly within striking distance of flipping Lindsey Graham’s old seat

Darline Graham, a political newcomer, is seeking a six-year term in the U.S. Senate after her brother Lindsey Graham's death in July upended the race in South Carolina.She held the seat in a placeholder role before launching her own campaign. Six months ago, the contest was expected to be another straightforward campaign for the incumbent Republican, whose party dominates the state.Supporters of the Democrat Annie Andrews now believe something once considered impossible may be within reach: flipping a Senate seat in one of the nation's most reliable GOP strongholds. No Democrat has come close this century, with Republicans winning statewide by double-digit margins. Whispers that Andrews could pull off an upset have grown into actual predictions.President Donald Trump, left, kisses Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., after Graham spoke during a campaign rally at Rock Hill Sports and Event Center (AP)She could become the first Democrat since 1998 to win a statewide race for the U.S. Senate or the governor's office. Whoever wins the election will be the first woman elected to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate.Trump meddling sparks backlash for Darline Graham in South CarolinaDonald Trump's endorsement of Darline Graham in South Carolina's Senate race may be costing her support on both flanks. Independent voters disaffected with the president's second term are bothered by his intervention, as are supporters of U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman on the right, who think the state's voters should have made the choice. Both camps are also uneasy about Graham's lack of experience and the possibility of the seat becoming a Graham family dynasty. Graham is, by her own admission, a reluctant candidate. She was abruptly thrust into the political spotlight after her brother, a U.S. Senate stalwart, died seeking his fifth term. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Annie Andrews greets supporters at an election eve rally at The Refinery in Charleston (Getty)Republican Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to finish her brother's term in a widely hailed move, given the siblings' close relationship. Lindsey Graham helped raise his younger sister after their parents' early deaths. Her decision to seek a full six-year term was more surprising. The snap primary, organized just a month after Lindsey Graham's death, drew some of the top names in South Carolina politics. President Donald Trump wanted Darline Graham in the Senate, and he immediately and forcefully backed her. The president had feuded with her brother at times but saw Lindsey Graham as an ally during his second White House term, particularly on the war with Iran. As Graham and Norman, an occasional Trump critic, battled it out in a primary runoff, the president campaigned for her in the state and returned twice in the final weeks before the election. In a primary debate, Graham was asked whether the U.S. has a national security interest in Taiwan and the South China Sea – a longstanding contention of both Democratic and Republican administrations. She struggled to answer before admitting, “National security is not my thing.” As Republican-affiliated groups across the country reshuffled last-minute campaign spending, Senate Republicans' primary super PAC sent reinforcements to deep-red South Carolina to shore up Graham. Even so, Republicans said they remained confident they would retain the seat.Annie Andrews bypasses national Democrats to take aim at Graham dynastyIn recent weeks, Andrews has run an independent campaign and has rarely appeared alongside prominent Democrats from South Carolina or elsewhere. She has focused on economic problems. She says Graham will be like her brother, a part of the same Washington cabal that enriches only itself and cares little about the people back home. Andrews has taken aim at the Graham political dynasty in South Carolina in her campaign (AFP/Getty)Andrews had already been campaigning for more than a year when Lindsey Graham died. She had won her primary outright by that point. Graham's death forced her to rejigger a general election plan centered on ousting the incumbent. Andrews has benefited from South Carolina's leadoff status on Democrats' 2028 presidential nominating calendar. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly have visited the state. Their visits boosted her visibility and their own. When they met for their sole debate last month, Graham and Andrews traded barbs over the economy, war with Iran and artificial intelligence.History favors Republicans despite tight pollsSouth Carolina has not sent a Democrat to the Senate since Fritz Hollings, who won his final term in 1998. Republicans have held both of the state’s Senate seats since then. Only one Democrat, Jim Clyburn, currently represents South Carolina in the U.S. House. A New York Times/Siena poll conducted in October appeared to show a close race this year. Polls also suggested a close contest in 2020, when Lindsey Graham, Democrat Jaime Harrison, and outside groups supporting their campaigns spent hundreds of millions of dollars in South Carolina’s most expensive election. Only one Democrat — Jim Clyburn — represents the state in the U.S. House (AFP/Getty)That contest was a reelection, Lindsey Graham’s last, and the Republican sailed back into office by a 10-percentage-point margin. Republicans have benefited from straight-ticket voting, which allows voters to choose all GOP candidates on their ballot. The race for South Carolina’s open governor’s seat has not appeared as close as the U.S. Senate contest. Libertarian and Constitution Party candidates are also on the general election ballot.