Annie Andrews now opposes men in girls’ sports after calling law shameful

Andrews presents herself in the ad as a pediatrician and mother of three, linking her position to caring for children, FITSNews reports.

FITSNews reports the 30-second spot was built to push back at allegations from her Republican opponent, Darline Graham Nordone, and that Andrews accuses Nordone of lying about her¹. Fox cites a Pew Research Center report finding 66% of participants would support laws requiring trans athletes to compete on teams matching their biological sex, against 15% opposed. Andrews faces the general election on Nov. 3².

FITSNews reports the line at the center of the ad: "I don’t support biological men playing women’s sports and I don’t support – and haven’t ever performed – gender surgery for minors¹." A Democratic Senate nominee in a solidly red state now says "biological men" on camera, and parents of daughters are hearing it two days before Oct. 10.

The contrast is in Andrews’ own public record: after South Carolina passed its Save Women’s Sports Act in 2022, she called the law “shameful” and “actively harmful.” The law required public-school-sponsored teams to be designated male or female, barred male students from girls’ teams, and applied the same rules to private schools competing against public schools. It also allowed students harmed by a violation to sue schools².

Riley Gaines challenged Andrews on X, quoting her earlier word and warning against a reversal to appeal to voters³.

The words were not a passing remark. In May 2022, after the General Assembly passed the bill, FITSNews reports Andrews wrote: "This is shameful legislation that does nothing to protect or support women or children in South Carolina." The same post, since deleted, carried a pledge: "I will always protect trans youth." FITSNews also reports that another since-deleted post called legislation keeping men out of women's sports "dangerous for trans youth¹."

And we have the receipts.”¹ Deleting a post does not delete the position it stated, and girls' families are entitled to ask which one she holds.

1. May 2022Andrews called the Save Women’s Sports Act “shameful”
2. Sept. 30S. Res. 934 was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee
3. Oct. 10Blackburn said Democrats blocked her resolution designating American Girls in Sports Day.

Fox News Digital reports that Andrews’ renewed emphasis came as President Donald Trump attacked her record on transgender policy². Fox reports that Trump accused Andrews of supporting transgender policies out of step with South Carolina voters. Candidates are having to answer these questions because families care about who sets the boundaries around girls’ teams and children’s bodies.

Andrews is not the only Democrat doing this. Fox reports that Democratic Reps. Marcy Kaptur and Don Davis and Sarah Trone Garriott have all been forced to reiterate their positions on transgender policy as Republicans highlighted their records. Garriott, who voted against a locker room ban, now says she opposes men in women's locker rooms. The numbers explain why: a Pew Research Center report of Aug. 11 found 73% of respondents not comfortable with athletes competing on teams that do not match their sex at birth, against 13% comfortable². When Democrats rush toward a position that lopsided, they are the ones on defense, and parents set the terms.

Andrews says her views have been misrepresented. Her 2022 description of the law as “shameful” conflicts with the position she states in her new ad¹. Parents can hear her account and still ask her to reconcile those public statements plainly, rather than leave families to guess which one represents her position.

Andrews' answer, in her ad, is that her opponent is lying about her¹. Nordone said Andrews had “vehemently opposed” the Help Not Harm Act, which FITSNews describes as banning gender-transition surgeries and puberty blockers for minors. The question for Andrews is whether she still believes the law protecting girls’ teams was shameful—not what procedures she has performed.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s S. Res. 934 would designate “American Girls in Sports Day.” Its last recorded action was Sept. 30. Blackburn said Democrats blocked the resolution, while vowing to continue standing up for girls’ sports⁴.

South Carolina parents should ask Andrews to reconcile her public statements. Andrews should answer before voters decide whether her current position or her earlier words will guide her.

Sources

1. S.C. Succession: Annie Andrews Pushes Back - FITSNews
2. SC Senate hopeful Annie Andrews claims she opposes trans women's sports | Fox News
3. @Riley_Gaines_ on X, 2026-10-08: .@AnnieAndrewsMD this you? In your own words, you called the South Carolina Save Women’s Sports Act “shameful” in 2022. Don’t do a 180 now to pander to voters. You have always supported the transgender mental illness, even in your role as a pediatrician. No, 2026-10-08
4. @MarshaBlackburn on X, 2026-10-10: Democrats blocked my resolution that would have recognized today as American Girls in Sports Day. They can block a resolution, but they can't stop us from standing up for girls' sports. https://x.com/MarshaBlackburn/status/2108949170459414702/video/1, 2026-10-10