Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has another Democratic challenger in his 2026 reelection effort, after Dr. Annie Andrews announced her bid to unseat him to represent the Palmetto State.
Andrews, a pediatrician and former House candidate who tried to unseat Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) in 2022, released her first campaign video Thursday morning. In the video, she claimed Graham is “full of s***” by pointing to the senator’s criticisms of President Donald Trump prior to the 2016 election.
“It’s embarrassing, and South Carolina deserves better. So today, I’m announcing that I’m running for the United States Senate to replace Lindsey Graham,” Andrews said in the video. “But this isn’t just about Lindsey or Donald Trump, take a look around.”
She then ripped the Trump administration, discussing now-departed de facto Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk’s efforts to cut the federal government and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s efforts at that agency. Andrews also took aim at Education Secretary Linda McMahon as “the wrestling lady” and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as the “guy who can’t even organize a text thread.”
“And Lindsey Graham voted to confirm every single one of these people,” Andrews said.
The Democratic Senate hopeful also criticized Graham over his long tenure in the upper chamber of Congress, noting he has been there for half of her lifetime, and claiming that he “doesn’t deserve a free pass back to D.C.”
Andrews is the second Democrat to announce her candidacy for the seat, after Lee Johnson announced his bid earlier this month.
SHAHEEN’S DAUGHTER LAUNCHES BID FOR OPEN NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE SEAT
Graham is seeking his fifth term in the Senate after being elected in 2002. While Democrat Jamie Harrison set a record for fundraising in his 2020 effort to unseat Graham, the incumbent Republican easily won his most recent reelection effort, 54.4% to 44.2%.
The Cook Political Report has rated South Carolina’s 2026 Senate race as “solid Republican.”