Women in America: Move Over Lindsay Graham
In this episode of Women in America, Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and U.S. Senate candidate in South Carolina, explains why she is challenging Senator Lindsey Graham.
Andrews says she never expected to enter politics, but after 20 years caring for children, she realized, “If we want to advocate for policies that actually help America’s kids and families, we have to go upstream and engage in politics.” She describes seeing children struggle with food insecurity, chronic disease, mental health crises and gun violence, and notes that these experiences pushed her from advocacy into electoral politics.
Andrews believes South Carolina is more competitive than many assume. She describes packed rooms across the state filled with people who are “frustrated but motivated, fearful but optimistic” about change. She argues that Graham is no longer serving South Carolinians, saying, “He is a follower, not a leader, and he is in D.C. to keep one man happy, and that man is Donald Trump.”
Still, Andrews is critical of both parties.
While she aligns with Democratic policies, she says the party often fails to communicate effectively or inspire younger voters.
“We have the right policies, we just do not have the right strategy,” she says, and stresses her commitment to speaking authentically rather than following a consultant script.
Andrews invokes crowded emergency rooms and families who cannot afford rising costs to drive her point forward. She warns that allowing ACA subsidies to expire will “double or triple insurance premiums” for millions, including many Republican voters and argues that the GOP has “no healthcare plan” and is harming the system while spreading misinformation. Andrews also calls South Carolina’s proposed abortion laws “truly draconian” and frames them as part of a larger assault on medical freedom.
If elected, Andrews says her top priorities are a permanent expanded child tax credit, rebuilding Medicaid, and advancing gun violence prevention.
“We are at a make-or-break moment for this country,” she concludes, urging voters to support leaders with real expertise.
About Pari & Eve
Pari and Eve are public health professionals who have dedicated their 15-year careers to fighting for global reproductive rights. When Roe v. Wade was overturned, they felt compelled to turn their attention to domestic activism; growing their decade-long friendship into an advocacy partnership committed to educating the American public on the importance of gender equality, and specifically women’s healthcare. Seeing a major gap in the presence of qualified public health voices on social media, Pari and Eve established a trusted digital presence that elevates women’s voices and combats misinformation on health issues. Pari and Eve are a go-to amplifier for health and justice. Some of their previous social media clients include: Reproductive Freedom For All, Plan C, Jen Psaki, and ACLU. In their professional careers, Pari and Eve have worked for the United Nations, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Planned Parenthood, Population Reference Bureau, CARE and more. They have served consulting clients such as the DC Abortion Fund and Emory University.
For more on Pari and Eve, visit their website at www.pariandeve.com.