Democrat Joe Cunningham is projected win his bid to represent South Carolina’s 1st district, defeating a candidate closely aligned with President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE and shifting a ruby red coastal district into Democratic hands for the first time in decades.
Cunningham, a former ocean engineer turned lawyer, defeated Republican state Rep. Katie Arrington. The seat opened up this year after Arrington toppled Rep. Mark SanfordMark SanfordThe Memo: Can the Never Trumpers succeed? Libertarians view Amash as potential 2020 game changer for party Trump becomes presumptive GOP nominee after sweeping primaries MORE, an outspoken Trump critic and member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, in the GOP primary.
While Trump carried the Charleston-area district by about 12 points in 2016, Arrington – who ran on a pro-Trump platform – had failed to pull away from Cunningham in the general election.
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Cunningham, 36, raised more money than Arrington and picked up endorsements from a number of Republican mayors in the state. He is opposed to offshore drilling and seismic testing.