Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, had sharp words for Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) during a podcast interview on Sunday, signaling a fierce campaign ahead in South Carolina’s 2026 midterm elections.
Speaking on Justice Matters with legal analyst Glenn Kirschner, Andrews didn’t hold back in her criticism of the long-serving senator. “[Graham], to me, epitomizes the problems with the modern Republican Party,” Andrews stated. “He’s a career, corrupt politician who has been in the U.S. Senate for 22 years, which is half of my life.”
Andrews, who previously ran unsuccessfully against Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) in 2022, said she never intended to step away from politics after that loss. Her experience, she explained, only strengthened her resolve. “I didn’t win, but I didn’t go away. I realized Lindsey Graham has got to go,” she said.
Graham, first elected to the Senate in 2002, is facing growing political pressure from both sides of the aisle. Although he maintains a personal relationship with President Donald Trump, recent moves have made him a target within the MAGA movement. According to Axios, Graham’s trip to Ukraine drew backlash from MAGA loyalists, who view the visit as a betrayal of Trump’s increasingly isolationist stance.
Right-wing media figures told Axios that Graham’s continued “business as usual” approach — especially on foreign policy — is making him a pariah in Trump’s base, despite his history of public loyalty to the president. As a result, Graham is likely to face a challenging primary field in 2026, with prominent Republicans such as Lt. Gov. André Bauer rumored to be considering a run.
Meanwhile, Democrats like Andrews are lining up in hopes of capitalizing on the internal fractures within the GOP. The South Carolina Daily Gazette reported that Andrews is one of five Democrats currently in the race to unseat Graham, who may find himself squeezed between moderate Republicans and hardline MAGA conservatives.
Andrews has made clear that her campaign will focus on challenging Graham’s long incumbency and drawing a contrast between her background in public health and his decades in Washington. With her direct rhetoric and energized base, Andrews is poised to be a key figure in what’s shaping up to be one of South Carolina’s most closely watched Senate races in years.