Graham Projected Winner In South Carolina Senate Race: Results

Updated at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time: COLUMBIA, SC — Incumbent Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is the projected winner in the U.S. Senate race against Democratic challenger Jamie Harrison, according to the Associated Press.

With 91 percent of the vote reported, Graham is in the lead with 1,289,926 votes (56.3 percent), according to live results from the New York Times. Harrison has 970,500 votes, accounting for 42.3 percent of the tally.

The South Carolina race is one of 35 in play in the Senate.

Graham, who recently presided over the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, had been considered to be vulnerable by political analysts. The race was labeled a “toss up” by RealClearPolitics, with the poll average showing Graham having an edge of 49 percent to 46 percent just days before the election.

The incumbent senator went up against a campaign contribution record set by his opponent. Harrison raised $57 million in the final quarter of his campaign, the highest quarterly fundraising total ever for a Senate candidate.

For full coverage of the 2020 presidential campaign and election, subscribe to the White House Patch newsletter.

Graham has held the South Carolina Senate seat since 2003. He succeeded Strom Thurmond, who held the post for 48 years before that.

Harrison is the former chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party. He has not held any elected office.

Because the vice president is the presiding officer of the Senate and casts tie-breaking votes, Democrats need to pick up three seats to flip the Senate if former Vice President Joe Biden wins and running mate Kamala Harris presides over the chamber. If President Donald Trump wins, Democrats need to pick up four additional seats to gain control.

Democrats are projected to turn at least one seat, as challenger John Hickenlooper is the projected winner over incumbent Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner. But then lose one in Alabama, as incumbent Democrat Doug Jones is projected to lose against Republican Tommy Tuberville.

More 2020 Election Coverage
Final Election Polls: Biden Leads; Trump Closes Gap In Key States
Trump-Biden Race: Polls Open When Election Results Will Be Known
The Humanity! Incumbent Takes On Beer Pong In Chicago ‘Burb
Poll Offers Delicious Take On Election Day Winners
Fearful Of Election Day Unrest, Businesses Board Up
Trump-Biden: Compare Positions On 10 Key Issues
What To Expect From Surge In Mail-In Ballots
Senate Majority: Seats That Could Flip
If Voting Throws You In Despair, Be Like Pastor Bob