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South Carolina Senate Race: Graham, Andrews Odds Tighten as Trump Rallies

South Carolina Senate Race: Graham, Andrews Odds Tighten as Trump Rallies article feature image
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Trump is making the final stops of his extensive campaign swing to rally support for Republican candidates across the United States. One of his recent destinations was Rock Hill, South Carolina, where Republican incumbent Darline Graham continues to lead the odds. The problem for the GOP is that in recent polls, her Democratic rival, Dr. Annie Andrews, has surged significantly, putting Graham’s reelection in jeopardy.

Before breaking down the current odds for the South Carolina Senate race, be sure to grab our Polymarket promo code and download the Action Network app to stay on top of the latest political trading insights.

Trump Rallies for Darline Graham in South Carolina Senate Race

In one of his final campaign stops ahead of the midterm elections, President Donald Trump visited Rock Hill, South Carolina, to headline a Republican rally in support of GOP candidate Darline Graham, who currently leads across prediction markets.

This marks Trump’s third trip to South Carolina this cycle, making Graham the only candidate he has traveled and campaigned for in person during both the primary runoff and the general election this year.

The president used the event to deliver a fiery speech defending his economic policies, asserting they have delivered substantial benefits for South Carolina. "The golden age of America is upon us, but we must get out and vote, you have to vote Republican and vote for a very, very special, really a special person, Darline Graham," Trump said.

South Carolina Odds: Republicans Lead, But The Race Get Tighter

Looking at the odds at prediction markets, Sen. Graham has led the South Carolina Senate race contract from the start. However, there is a crucial factor to keep in mind when analyzing the GOP’s recent strategy: the candidate opened October with an 81% implied probability and is closing the month at 73%.

Graham’s decline has been gradual but persistent, and across the polls, Annie Andrews has steadily narrowed the gap. Whether this signals a genuine shift among South Carolina voters or merely reflects standard volatility in a high-stakes race remains to be seen after November 3.

South Carolina Senate Polls: NY Times, The Citadel and Patinkin Research

Darline Graham’s lead extends across both prediction markets and public surveys, however, recent polling has delivered a few surprise findings that have unsettled the GOP.

Specifically, a survey conducted by Patinkin Research Strategies placed Democratic challenger Annie Andrews ahead by five percentage points.

Across other polls, including The New York Times and The Citadel Poll, Graham retained the advantage, leading by a margin of one to four points. While that represents a solid edge, it nonetheless leaves the door open to last-minute volatility.

How Graham Became the Nominee

Among Democrats, one of the most frequent lines of attack has been questioning Graham’s legitimacy as a candidate.

She secured the Republican nomination following the death of her brother, longtime Senator Lindsey Graham. Appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to serve the remainder of his term, Graham subsequently launched a bid for a full term with the backing of Donald Trump, who urged her to run and actively campaigned on her behalf.

In a crowded 10-candidate special primary, she and U.S. Representative Ralph Norman emerged as the top two finishers before Graham defeated Norman in the runoff election, securing the nomination to face Annie Andrews.

Annie Andrews Campaigns in Summerville

Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews brought her campaign to Summerville as part of a final blitz across South Carolina's Lowcountry and Midlands.

Meeting with local voters in the Charleston suburb, the pediatrician focused her remarks on lowering family healthcare costs, strengthening public education, and addressing rising cost-of-living pressures.

When addressing the crowd, Andrews urged supporters to turn out during early voting, arguing that high suburban turnout could help Democrats capture the seat for the first time in nearly three decades.

Why Republicans Are Nervous: No Democrat Elected in SC in Nearly Three Decades

For decades, South Carolina has stood as a formidable Republican stronghold, shutting Democrats out of statewide federal office for nearly thirty years. The last Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate was Ernest Hollings in 1998. Following his retirement in 2004, the seat flipped to the GOP.

In recent elections, Democrats have repeatedly fallen short, but this cycle, polls point to a race that will tighten down the stretch. While the Republican senator’s lead remains strong, the GOP is taking no chances of losing a key seat in the balance of power over the coming years.

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About the Author
Ian Undery • Prediction Markets Analyst

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