Graham holds off fierce challenge to retain S.C. Senate seat

Sen. Lindsey Graham was projected the winner in South Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, beating back a spirited challenge by Democrat Jamie Harrison.

Mr. Graham, a Republican, secured a fourth term, 55% to 43%, with 39% of the vote reporting, according to the Associated Press, which projected his victory.

Mr. Graham, a national political figure who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2016, found himself on the ropes in the closing days of the race.

By most accounts, Mr. Graham should not have been in a tough fight in the reliably Republican state.

South Carolina hasn’t elected a Democrat to a statewide seat since 2006.

Mr. Harrison, a former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, appeared to gain momentum from a nationwide pushback against President Trump.

Mr. Trump easily won deep-red South Carolina by more than a 10-point margin over Democratic challenger Joseph R. Biden, according to the AP projection.

Mr. Graham’s win was the first in a series of GOP victories where Democrats thought they had a shot at flipping longtime Republican seats in the Senate.

However, Democrat John Hickenlooper succeeded in toppling Republican Sen. Cory Gardner in Colorado.

In Texas, Sen. John Cornyn overcame a tough challenge by Democrat M.J. Hegar, a former Air Force combat helicopter pilot.

The Republican senator won a fourth term 53% to 45% with 67% of the voted reported, according to the AP, which called the race for Mr. Cornyn.

He led in most pre-election polls by at least 5 points, though Democrats insisted the seat was in play and once solidly Republican Texas was turning purple.