Democrat Annie Andrews Delivers HARD-HITTING Victory Speech After Winning Lindsey Graham's Seat

I think we just made some history. So, South Carolina, you have shown the nation what is possible. You have shown the nation that in this era of partisan divides, of vitriol and name-calling, in a politics dominated by billionaires and special interest groups and insiders in Washington, D.C., that we will not bow down. That we will not back down and we will chart our own course. You have shown the nation that we can come together to defend South Carolina. And today you have elected a senator that will always put South Carolina first. Not only that, but you have elected the first pediatrician to the United States Senate. That's right. The first woman that South Carolina has ever sent to the United States Senate. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I want to start by thanking Darlene Graham for her public service and her love for South Carolina and I wish her and her family well. And I just spoke with her and she congratulated me on our victory tonight. And to the heartbeat, the heartbeat of our campaign, our volunteers. Who worked their tails off and never stopped believing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And to our state party chairwoman, Crystal Spain, the first black woman to lead our state's party, who invested in this race, who believed in us, who believed in me, and worked tirelessly, tirelessly to build a stronger South Carolina across all 46 counties. Thank you, Crystal. And to my dear friend, Jamie Harrison, we would not be here without you. Thank you so much. To all of our incredible staff who poured their hearts and souls into this race, thank you. To the thousands of people who welcomed us into their homes, their churches, their businesses and onto their front porches, thank you so much. And to the Republicans, Independents and Democrats who took a chance on a pediatrician and a mom of three because you believe that South Carolina should come first, thank you. South Carolina, my name may have been on the ballot, but this victory doesn't belong to me, it belongs to all of you. Because tonight, we here in South Carolina sent a clear message that this Senate seat does not belong to one family, one party, or to Washington, D.C. It belongs to you and it always will. We embarked on this journey over 18 months ago, and while it was long and exhausting, And there were plenty of days when I was running on nothing but protein bars, coffee, and giant Diet Cokes from gas stations. It truly has been the journey of a lifetime. We took this campaign to every single one of our 46 counties, from small towns and main streets to farms and our rural communities, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the upstate to the swamps, the literal swamps in the Midlands, to the beaches here in the Lowcountry. I sat on the back of a pickup truck with an eighth-generation farmer in Barnwell who told me that it now costs her $1,900. I thought my farmer friend was here. She told me it cost $1,900 to fill up her tractor with diesel, and that tank of gas will only last her for three days. And that farm that's been in her South Carolina family for eight generations might not last another year or two if things don't change. I've stood shoulder to shoulder with veterans in Ridgeland, tears in their eyes as they told me that they've lost friends to suicide, that their fight for their benefits that they've earned and their fear of another generation being sent off to a reckless war. I've spoken to seniors who've worked their entire lives, raised their family, and did everything right, only to find themselves struggling to get by on their social security checks. I've seen neighbors looking out for each other, regardless of political party, families coming together to help each other through hard times, and church congregations opening their hearts and doors to anyone who needs a helping hand. This is the South Carolina that I know. This is the South Carolina that I am proud to call home. And this is the South Carolina that I will fight for every single day in the United States Senate. And to the South Carolinians who did not vote for me, I know we may not agree on everything, and I may not have earned your vote today, but I want you to know this. I will be your senator, too. I will listen to you, I will show up for you, and I will fight just as hard for you and your children as I would my own. That's the kind of senator that I'll be. I'll be an independent voice who will work with anyone, Republican or Democrat, to do what's right for South Carolina. I will be a brick wall between Washington, D.C. and South Carolina, even when it means standing up to my own party. Nobody in Washington recruited me to run. Nobody handed me a seat in the United States Senate. And nobody wrote me a script. I owe no one in Washington anything. I owe South Carolina everything. And that's exactly who I'm going to answer to. I never imagined that I would end up in politics. Since I was four, I've only ever dreamed of becoming a doctor. And for the past 20 years, I've dedicated my life to caring for sick and injured children. But what I saw as a pediatrician and what I've experienced raising my own three children made me realize that I couldn't just sit on the sidelines anymore. I watched as insurance companies stood between sick children and the care that they need. I've seen how decisions made in Washington affect the lives of the children and families I've cared for, and that's why I decided to run, because I believe we have a responsibility to leave our children something better than what we inherited, a South Carolina where a family can afford to fill up a gas tank, put groceries on the table, and get the child care they need without worrying about going broke. When decisions, where decisions about our communities are made by the people who live in our communities, not the billionaires or data center companies in Washington, D.C. And where the next generation can afford to build a life and raise a family here. That's the future that I'm fighting for. And I know that the work ahead won't be easy, but after 18 months and 46 counties and everything we've been through together, I've never been more certain of one thing. South Carolina's best days are still ahead of us. I promise you I'm going to give you everything I have to make sure we get there. To build a South Carolina you can afford, a South Carolina you can always be proud to call home, and a South Carolina that will always come first. So thank you for believing in me. Thank you for making history with me tonight. And most importantly, we had to move this part to the end so I wouldn't be a blubbering idiot up here. Most importantly, thank you to my family. To my parents who have stood by me every step of the way, and to my three children, thank you for every hug, every word of encouragement. I love you more than words, Henry, than words will ever express. I'm so proud of you guys. And being your mom will always be the most important job I have. And I hope that when you look back on this moment, all three of you, I hope that you remember something, that you can stand up for what you believe in, that you can speak out when something isn't right, and no matter how big the challenge, you should never be afraid to try to make things better, because you never know what's possible if you're willing to try. South Carolina, I love you. Thank you.