Dr. Annie Andrews is running against Lindsey Graham for the South Carolina Senate seat that he’s been holding hostage since 2003.

Dr. Annie Andrews is running against Lindsey Graham for the South Carolina Senate seat that he’s been holding hostage since 2003.

Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and political activist from South Carolina, has launched a campaign to challenge longtime Republican senator Lindsey Graham for his U.S. Senate seat in the 2026 election. Graham has held the position since 2003 and is seeking another term after more than two decades in Washington.

Andrews first entered politics as the Democratic nominee for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District in 2022, where she ran against Republican Representative Nancy Mace. Although she lost that race, the campaign helped raise her profile across the state and within the Democratic Party.

Now, Andrews is aiming higher, positioning herself as a challenger to Graham’s long tenure in the Senate. In announcing her campaign, she criticized the senator’s political record and argued that South Carolina needs new leadership. Andrews has also pointed to issues such as healthcare, gun violence, and policies affecting children and families as key motivations behind her run for office.

The race is expected to be an uphill battle for Democrats. South Carolina has not elected a Democratic U.S. senator in decades, and Graham previously won reelection in 2020 by about ten percentage points.

Still, Andrews and her supporters believe voters may be ready for change after Graham’s more than 20 years in the Senate. As the 2026 election approaches, the contest is shaping up to be a closely watched race that could test whether South Carolina’s long-standing political alignment is beginning to shift.