{"id":2629085,"date":"2026-07-13T11:48:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:48:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/graham-opponent-annie-andrews-appeals-to-voters-as-democrats-see-hope\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T11:52:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:52:00","slug":"graham-opponent-annie-andrews-appeals-to-voters-as-democrats-see-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/graham-opponent-annie-andrews-appeals-to-voters-as-democrats-see-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"Graham opponent Annie Andrews appeals to voters as Democrats see hope"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgraham-opponent-annie-andrews-appeals-to-voters-as-democrats-see-hope%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2629085&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democratic candidate Annie Andrews is contesting the South Carolina Senate seat after the death of longtime Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Previously viewed as an easy win for Graham, the seat now presents a potential possibility for Democrats amid the scramble by Republicans to find a replacement. Andrews, a pediatrician and advocate for healthcare and public safety, has positioned herself as a fighter and emphasized her service to the country despite differences with Graham. She previously ran unsuccessfully against Rep.Nancy Mace. Several prominent republicans, including Nancy mace, Lt. Gov. Pamela evette, and others, are considered potential candidates to replace Graham, with a special primary scheduled for July 21 and the election on August 11. While Andrews faces an uphill battle in deep-red South Carolina, her campaign gains meaning given the state&#8217;s historical Republican dominance.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The late Sen.<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lindsey-graham\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"737\"> Lindsey Graham\u2019s<\/a> (R-SC) Democratic opponent, Annie Andrews, is making her appeal to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/south-carolina\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"524\">South Carolinians<\/a>, seeing a chance to flip the seat after the longtime incumbent\u2019s death.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prior to the four-term senator\u2019s death on Saturday, the race seemed cut-and-dried, as Graham was widely viewed as a shoo-in for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11675\">general election<\/a> in November. Now, Democrats see an opportunity to focus on boosting Andrews while the GOP scrambles to find a replacement for Graham.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4643652\/dsa-democratic-socialist-primary-victories-joe-concha\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Democratic Socialists of America want to \u2018tear the whole\u2019 country down: Joe Concha<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4642175\/democratic-establishment-is-dead-joe-concha-dsa-taking-over-melat-kiros\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Democratic establishment is \u2018dead\u2019: Joe Concha<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4641501\/harmeet-dhillon-states-homework-voter-rolls-midterms\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ\u2019s Harmeet Dhillon: Some states have \u2018homework to do\u2019 to keep noncitizens from voting in midterm elections<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s no secret that Senator Graham and I didn\u2019t 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,\u201d Andrews said. \u201cSenator Graham was a fighter; no one can dispute that, but here\u2019s what I want you to know about me: I\u2019m a fighter too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Andrews is not a first-timer in South Carolina politics. She previously challenged Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nancy-mace\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2548\">Nancy Mace<\/a> (R-SC) in the state\u2019s 1st Congressional District and lost by 14 percentage points. On the campaign trail, Mace attacked Andrews for supporting \u201cgender affirming therapy and surgery on young kids.\u201d Andrews disputed Mace\u2019s claims at the time, and later said she was forced to take unpaid leave from MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children\u2019s Hospital due to the congresswoman\u2019s allegations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The former competitors could once again head to the debate stage, as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4645283\/nancy-mace-lindsey-graham-seat-senate\/\">Mace is reportedly setting her sights <\/a>on running for the now-open seat after losing in the gubernatorial primary by a significant margin.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/henry-mcmaster\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"5310\">Henry McMaster<\/a> (R-SC) and President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> initial pick in the governor race, and Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC), a top Trump ally.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Graham\u2019s colleague, Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tim-scott\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"521\">Tim Scott<\/a> (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.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While time is on Andrews\u2019s side, since she doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4645290\/lindsey-graham-death-foreign-policy-ukraine\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4645290\/lindsey-graham-death-foreign-policy-ukraine\/\">GRAHAM\u2019S REPUTATION AS MAJOR FOREIGN POLICY VOICE EXEMPLIFIED BY FINAL DAY IN UKRAINE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Annie Andrews seeks to flip Graham\u2019s seat after his death<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2629086,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26150547488897.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[56124,38553,82487,3803,33188],"class_list":["post-2629085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-annie-andrews","tag-democratic-politics","tag-electoral-campaign","tag-graham","tag-voter-engagement"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26150547488897.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629085","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2629085"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629085\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2629088,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629085\/revisions\/2629088"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2629086"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2629085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2629085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2629085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}