Dr. Annie Andrews is a pediatrician and public-health advocate from South Carolina. After years caring for children and families, she entered electoral politics, first running for the U.S. House in 2022. She later became the Democratic nominee for South Carolina’s 2026 U.S. Senate election. As of October 31, 2026, she is campaigning against Republican Darline Graham, with Election Day approaching. Associated Press, South Carolina Democratic Party
Andrews’s public profile brings together medicine and politics. Her work has included pediatric hospital care, teaching, research, and advocacy on issues affecting children and families. In her campaign, she has emphasized health care, affordability, public education, and safety. This article separates her professional record from her campaign positions and identifies claims that come from campaign materials.
Dr. Annie Andrews at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Annie Andrews |
| Profession | Pediatrician and public-health advocate |
| Education | University of Dayton; University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; Medical University of South Carolina |
| Medical specialty | Pediatrics |
| Former academic affiliation | Medical University of South Carolina |
| Political party | Democratic |
| 2022 campaign | Democratic nominee for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District |
| 2026 campaign | Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in South Carolina |
| Family | She has three children, according to her campaign biography |
| Birth date | Not confirmed by the sources used for this profile |
Early Life and Education
Andrews earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton, followed by a medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She also completed a master’s degree in clinical research at the Medical University of South Carolina. Her medical training included pediatric residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and she later built her career in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. George Washington University faculty profile, Leadership Now Project
This training combined clinical medicine with research. Pediatrics involves care for infants, children, and adolescents, while clinical research focuses on studying health and treatment questions systematically. Andrews’s later work in a children’s hospital and in pediatric advocacy drew on both areas.
Some online biographies provide conflicting or incomplete personal details, including birth information. Since the institutional and campaign biographies cited here do not clearly establish a birth date, this profile does not state an age.
Pediatric Career in South Carolina
Andrews moved to the Charleston area in 2009 and worked as a pediatrician at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), including at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. Her professional work involved caring for children and adolescents from across the Lowcountry. She also held an academic role in MUSC’s Department of Pediatrics. Charleston City Paper, MUSC profile
Alongside clinical care, Andrews developed and directed an advocacy curriculum for the pediatrics department, according to a professional biography circulated through medical and advocacy organizations. Her work connected child health to conditions outside the exam room, including family resources, school environments, and community safety. Grabien professional biography
Andrews has described her years in children’s hospitals as a major influence on her move into public advocacy. Her campaign biography says she saw families struggling to access medication and mental-health care, as well as children injured by gun violence. Those descriptions explain how she presents her experience, though they are drawn from campaign materials. Campaign biography
By 2023, she had left her full-time MUSC position and shifted into advocacy and political work. The Associated Press reported that she stepped away from her practice and founded an organization focused on children’s issues. She also worked as a senior adviser at Everytown for Gun Safety, according to candidate profiles. Associated Press, BallotReady
Child Health Advocacy and Gun-Safety Work
A prominent part of Andrews’s public work has been advocacy around pediatric firearm injuries and gun safety. Her professional biography describes her as a researcher and community advocate, with work on secure firearm storage counseling and safety education. She has also participated in public discussions about preventing injuries to children. Professional biography
Her advocacy draws on the perspective of a pediatrician who has worked with children and families. In public appearances, she has connected medical care with broader prevention efforts, including community education and policies intended to reduce risks to children. This work made her a recognizable voice in South Carolina debates about gun violence and child health before she launched her first congressional campaign.
Andrews’s political positions on gun policy are campaign positions, distinct from her clinical credentials. Readers can assess those proposals through her current campaign platform and compare them with independent reporting and legislative records.
2022 Congressional Campaign
In 2022, Andrews became the Democratic nominee for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. She challenged Republican incumbent Nancy Mace in a district covering part of the state’s southern coast. The race introduced Andrews to a wider political audience, but she did not win the seat. Associated Press, Leadership Now Project
Her campaign presented her as a physician with experience addressing children’s health and family needs. She emphasized health care, schools, and gun violence prevention. The campaign also drew attention to the fact that she was a medical professional entering politics after years of clinical work.
The 2022 campaign was an important step in her transition from advocacy to electoral politics. After the election, Andrews continued working on children’s and public-health issues and later announced a statewide campaign.
2026 U.S. Senate Campaign
Andrews announced in 2025 that she would run for the U.S. Senate in 2026. She won the Democratic primary on June 9, 2026, becoming her party’s nominee. The South Carolina Democratic Party lists her as its Senate candidate, and the Democratic National Committee congratulated her on the primary win. South Carolina Democratic Party, Democratic National Committee
Her campaign has focused on health care access, family costs, schools, and public safety. Those are campaign priorities rather than neutral summaries of policy outcomes. In interviews, Andrews has framed her medical experience as preparation for representing people who encounter health care and family-support systems directly. WIS News 10 interview
The race became unusually competitive after Republican senator Lindsey Graham died in July 2026 and Darline Graham was appointed to the seat. Andrews is challenging Graham in the November 3 general election. Recent coverage has described the contest as unexpectedly close for South Carolina, a state that has generally favored Republican candidates in statewide races. Associated Press election coverage, Associated Press, October 29
As of this article’s October 31, 2026 update, the election has not yet taken place, so Andrews’s candidacy should not be described as a victory or loss. Results will determine whether she enters the Senate or returns to advocacy and other public work.
Public Image and Significance
Andrews’s public identity is shaped by her medical background and her decision to run for office. She has presented herself as a doctor and parent bringing firsthand experience with children’s health into policy debates. Supporters point to her clinical experience and advocacy; opponents may disagree with her policy proposals or political outlook. Readers should distinguish her medical qualifications from the positions she advances as a candidate.
Her campaigns also reflect a broader pattern of health professionals seeking elected office. Andrews has argued that experiences in hospitals can inform decisions about health care, education, public safety, and family needs. Whether voters agree with her platform is a separate question from her documented work as a pediatrician and public advocate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dr. Annie Andrews?
Dr. Annie Andrews is a pediatrician and public-health advocate from South Carolina. She has worked in children’s hospitals and held an academic role at MUSC before moving into advocacy and electoral politics.
What is Dr. Annie Andrews known for?
She is known for pediatric care, advocacy related to children’s health and gun safety, her 2022 congressional campaign, and her 2026 campaign for the U.S. Senate.
What did Annie Andrews study?
She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton, an M.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and a master’s degree in clinical research from the Medical University of South Carolina. George Washington University faculty profile
Did Annie Andrews run for Congress before?
Yes. She was the Democratic nominee for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District in 2022 and lost to Republican Nancy Mace. Associated Press
Is Annie Andrews running for the Senate in 2026?
Yes. She won the Democratic primary and is the party’s nominee in South Carolina’s 2026 U.S. Senate election. As of October 31, 2026, she is campaigning against Republican Darline Graham. South Carolina Democratic Party, Associated Press
Does Annie Andrews still work at MUSC?
She left her full-time MUSC position in 2023 and moved into advocacy and political work, according to reporting and candidate biographies. Associated Press
How many children does Annie Andrews have?
Her campaign biography says she has three children. Campaign biography
Final Word
Dr. Annie Andrews’s career has moved from pediatric medicine and academic work into child-health advocacy and electoral politics. Her experience in children’s hospitals is central to the way she explains her entry into public life and her campaign priorities. She is the Democratic nominee in South Carolina’s 2026 Senate race; the outcome will be decided by voters on Election Day.
Smith Andrew is the Founder and Editor of BiographyCabal. He researches, writes, and edits accurate, engaging, and well-researched biographies of celebrities, entrepreneurs, athletes, influencers, politicians, and other notable public figures. Committed to factual reporting and quality storytelling, Smith ensures every article is reader-focused, informative, and based on reliable sources, helping readers discover the lives, careers, and achievements of influential people around the world.