You've almost certainly heard the name (and of the various misdeeds) of Lindsey Graham if you've been politically conscious at any point since 2003. That's the year he was sworn into the US Senate, representing his home state of South Carolina. He's held the seat ever since.
Senator Graham gained more national recognition during President Donald Trump's first campaign, widely and publicly criticizing him before pulling a complete 180 and defending many of his political moves over the last decade.
Graham is currently serving his fourth term, but he's up for reelection next year. That's where Dr. Annie Andrews, a South Carolina doctor, comes in. She's running as a Democrat for Lindsey Graham's seat.
I could list out her policies, but she does it best in a campaign announcement that's gone viral across platforms. She starts the video by saying she's been a pediatrician in South Carolina for nearly two decades, trusted by parents "to treat their kids for just about anything you can imagine."
She then pulls out a series of X-rays of children with different medical conditions, each to highlight a specific point about her views. First is a child with measles pneumonia, "a condition easily prevented by vaccines," she says.
"This is a kid with cancer. One of the diseases the NIH doesn't have the funding to study anymore," Dr. Andrews continues, showing more X-rays. "And this is a kid who's been shot. Which, despite being the number one cause of death for children in America, is no longer classified as a public health crisis."
She then says, with an X-ray of a constipated patient, "And this kid, there's really no other way to say this... is quite literally full of shit." Andrews then points to a video of Senator Graham. "And this is an adult who is also completely and unequivocally full of shit."
She then rolls the tape — a supercut of Graham walking back his statements about Donald Trump. "It's embarrassing, and South Carolina deserves better," Dr. Andrews says. She also slams the current administration, from Elon Musk's cutting Social Security funding to "vaccine-denying brain worm guy" Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gutting healthcare programs.
"And Lindsey Graham voted to confirm every single one of these people," Andrews says, then bangs her head on her dining table next to a wine glass. I feel you, girl.
"All while backing Trump's plan to cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires while raising yours. No wonder he won't show his face here in South Carolina," she goes on, cutting to a clip of Graham. "I don't need a town hall to know what to do," he says in it.
"Lindsey Graham has been a senator for half of my lifetime — and as it turns out, most senators don't get better with age," Dr. Andrews says. "Will winning this race be easy? No. But you can't win if you don't run. And the one thing we can all agree on is [that] Lindsey Graham doesn't deserve a free pass back to D.C."
"Now, Lindsey is gonna tell you I'm radical, that I'm crazy. Because that's what weak men do when they feel threatened by strong women," she continues before offering a look into her very normal life as a busy mom and peek-a-boo-playing pediatrician. "SO radical," she jokes.
"Worrying won't do anything, but stepping up to join me in this fight just might," Dr. Andrews says. "A fight where we put our common sense over culture wars and hope over hate."
Courier posted the video on TikTok, where people were absolutely fired up. "YES. DOCTORS IN POLITICS," the top comment reads.
Some folks said that Dr. Andrews is bringing the energy that Democrats have been lacking...
...and the youth.
"This is how we flip Congress. An impressive and competent candidate who understands the messaging we need to be pushing. Well done," this person wrote.
A lot of people were just blown away by her poise and candor.
A TON of South Carolina folks were super amped up.