The late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) Democratic opponent, Annie Andrews, is making her appeal to South Carolinians, seeing a chance to flip the seat after the longtime incumbent’s death.
Prior to the four-term senator’s death on Saturday, the race seemed cut-and-dried, as Graham was widely viewed as a shoo-in for the general election in November. Now, Democrats see an opportunity to focus on boosting Andrews while the GOP scrambles to find a replacement for Graham.
Andrews posted a video to social media Monday, pitching herself to voters in the Palmetto State as a fighter, saying her will reflects that of Graham, who was known for his hawkish approach to lawmaking.
“It’s no secret that Senator Graham and I didn’t agree on much, but we did agree that when you love your country, you raise your hand to serve, and we both believed in the greatness of South Carolina,” Andrews said. “Senator Graham was a fighter; no one can dispute that, but here’s what I want you to know about me: I’m a fighter too.”
Andrews launched her Senate campaign in 2025 following cuts to Medicare. A pediatrician, she is an advocate for universal healthcare, abortion access, and public safety.
Andrews is not a first-timer in South Carolina politics. She previously challenged Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) in the state’s 1st Congressional District and lost by 14 percentage points. On the campaign trail, Mace attacked Andrews for supporting “gender affirming therapy and surgery on young kids.” Andrews disputed Mace’s claims at the time, and later said she was forced to take unpaid leave from MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital due to the congresswoman’s allegations.
The former competitors could once again head to the debate stage, as Mace is reportedly setting her sights on running for the now-open seat after losing in the gubernatorial primary by a significant margin.
Several other GOP figures have been floated as possible replacements for Graham on the ballot, including Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, a close ally of Gov. Henry McMaster (R-SC) and President Donald Trump’s initial pick in the governor race, and Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC), a top Trump ally.
Graham’s colleague, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), has voiced support for former GOP Rep. Trey Gowdy to take on the role. Gowdy served in the House from 2011 to 2019.
While time is on Andrews’s side, since she doesn’t have to worry about an expensive primary, the prospect of a Democrat winning a statewide election in deep-red South Carolina remains unlikely. The state has not elected a Democrat statewide in over two decades, and Graham consistently outperformed Democratic challengers despite periodic speculation that he could be vulnerable.
Andrews is also not a native South Carolinian, as she was born in Kentucky and raised in Indiana. She moved to Mount Pleasant, near Charleston, following her medical training at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio.
GRAHAM’S REPUTATION AS MAJOR FOREIGN POLICY VOICE EXEMPLIFIED BY FINAL DAY IN UKRAINE
South Carolina law does not require a candidate to be born in the state to run for office, but anyone looking to succeed Graham, a born-and-bred South Carolinian, would need to have a strong political identity within the Palmetto State.
The one-week filing period for the special primary to run in place of Graham opens July 21. The special election will be held Aug. 11, and any necessary runoff will be held two weeks later, on Aug. 25.