Dem Candidate Shifts Stance on Trans Athletes Amid Trump's Attacks

South Carolina Democrat Annie Andrews, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, is emphasizing her opposition to biological males competing in women's sports, a stance she says has been misrepresented, following attacks from former President Donald Trump. Trump targeted Andrews, a pediatrician challenging Republican Sen. Darline Graham, with a series of social media posts dubbing her "Annie Trannie" and accusing her of supporting transgender policies out of step with South Carolina voters.

An attack ad shared by Trump accused Andrews of supporting biological males competing against female athletes. "Annie Andrews is for they/them, not for our values, not for South Carolina," the ad stated.

In an interview, Andrews pushed back, stating, "I don't support biological men playing in women's sports and I don't support gender surgery on minors." Her comments contrast with her previous public opposition to South Carolina's 2022 Save Women’s Sports Act, which restricted transgender athletes' participation in girls' and women's school sports. At the time, Andrews called the legislation "shameful" and "actively harmful."

The Save Women’s Sports Act, as passed, required public schools and colleges to designate sports teams as male or female and prohibited male students from participating on women's teams. Private schools competing against public schools were subject to similar rules, and the bill allowed students harmed by a violation to sue schools.

Andrews’ past social media posts criticizing the Save Women’s Sports Act have resurfaced as she campaigns for the Senate, drawing criticism from Republicans. Trump’s posts also included broader accusations against Andrews, alleging she is in favor of open borders, defunding the police, high taxes, a weak military, and fighting to take away Second Amendment rights.

Andrews dismissed Trump's characterization, calling it a distraction from issues important to South Carolina voters. "And in regards to the name-calling, if calling me names is going to lower gas and diesel prices here for so many hardworking South Carolinian families, if it’s going to lower grocery prices or somehow make healthcare more affordable then he can call me all the names he wants but I don’t think that’s a path to solution so I’m going to stay focused on what I can do to help folks in South Carolina," she said.

This is not the first time Andrews has faced scrutiny over her stances on transgender-related policies. In 2022, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., criticized Andrews for what Mace viewed as backtracking on opposition to a bill that would prohibit gender-altering medical procedures for minors. Andrews had initially called that legislation "dangerous" and "an attack on our youth," before later stating her opposition to gender reassignment surgery for minors.

Andrews is not the only Democratic candidate to face scrutiny over transgender policies. Reps. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, and Don Davis, D-N.C., along with Iowa congressional candidate Sarah Trone Garriott, have also been prompted to clarify their positions as Republicans highlight their records.

Recent polling indicates a public consensus on transgender athlete policies. A Pew Research Center report in August found that 73% of respondents were uncomfortable with athletes competing on teams that do not match their sex at birth, and 66% supported laws requiring transgender athletes to compete on teams aligning with their biological sex.

Andrews, who won the state's Democratic primary in June, faces Republican incumbent Darline Graham in the general election on November 3.