Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and former congressional candidate, has officially entered the race for U.S. Senate in South Carolina. She is seeking the Democratic nomination too challenge Republican incumbent Sen. lindsey Graham in the upcoming general election.

background and Previous Campaigns

In 2022, Andrews ran for Congress in the Lowcountry district, which includes Charleston County. She faced U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican who is potentially eyeing a gubernatorial run in 2026.Andrews lost that election by nearly 14 percentage points but has remained active in the political arena.

Andrews’ Platform and Priorities

Andrews emphasizes her commitment to the same core issues that drove her 2022 campaign. I’m focused on fighting for the same things I was fighting for in 2022 as I know that South Carolinians deserve better, Andrews stated. Her platform includes:

• Access to quality, affordable health care
• Quality public education for every child in South Carolina
• Economic support for families struggling to make ends meet

Social Media Strategy and Voter Engagement

Andrews leverages social media to connect with voters, frequently enough posting videos that critique Republicans. She believes this approach allows her to showcase her personality and build rapport with potential supporters.

What you see on my social media is me telling folks what I beleive in,giving people a sense that someone is fighting for them,to bring some levity to this urgent moment we find ourselves in as a country,but it’s also a way to meet people where they are, Andrews explained in an interview.

The Challenge Ahead: Facing Lindsey Graham

The Democratic nominee will face a notable challenge against Sen. Lindsey graham, who is heavily favored to win the Republican nomination in south Carolina, a state known for its Republican lean.

The more effective you are in helping enact President Trump’s agenda, the more democrats want to take you down.
Mark Knoop, Graham Campaign Manager

Knoop added, While Dr. Andrews pushes a radical liberal agenda that is out of touch with South Carolina, Senator Graham has always stood firm for conservative values – cutting taxes, securing the border, protecting the right to life, defending the 2nd Amendment, and confirming conservative judges to protect our freedoms.

Campaign Team and Strategy

Andrews is assembling a campaign team with experience challenging Graham. Her team includes veterans from Jaime Harrison’s 2020 campaign,which raised $130 million in its effort to unseat Graham.

• Joshua Karp, former communications strategist for Harrison, will serve as an advisor.
• Zack carroll, harrison’s former campaign manager, will also serve as an advisor.
• Scott Harriford,who worked on Joe Biden’s campaign in South Carolina,will be the general consultant.
• Renee Harvey will serve as a General and Finance Consultant.

I’m confident that, again, we will have the resources that we need to to compete and to win this election, Andrews asserted.

The Broader Political Landscape

The race against Graham, who has already received President Donald Trump’s endorsement, is expected to be one of the most closely watched statewide contests in the 2026 elections.

Andrews believes that a strong campaign can energize Democratic voters across the state, benefiting down-ballot candidates and potentially flipping state House seats, all of which are up for election in 2026. I absolutely believe that by running the campaign that I know that I will run it will energize Democrats across the state, which will certainly have benefits down ballot, she said.

Other Democratic Candidates

Besides Andrews, other Democrats have also entered the race:

• Kyle Freeman, of Columbia
• Catherine Bruce Fleming
• Lee Johnson, an Upstate businessman and engineer, has also announced his candidacy. Johnson’s campaign includes Jacob Gamble as communications director.