SC Dr. Annie Andrews says kids don’t have a voice in DC. She’s launched a PAC to change that
A Lowcountry Democrat and former challenger to U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace is starting what she says is a “first of it’s kind” organization that advocates for kids while seeking to elect “leaders and lawmakers to do the same.”
Annie Andrews — a pediatrician who unsuccessfully challenged Mace for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District in 2022 — on Wednesday announced the launch of Their Future. Our Vote., a new nonprofit organization that’ll also serve as a political action committee, advocating solely for kids.
“Instead of playing politics with our kids, it’s time to get political for our kids,” Andrews said in a YouTube video launching the PAC, adding that Washington, D.C., is the only place where children lack a voice.
The organization, partly devoted to advocating issues most impactful to children, will also function as a PAC, seeking to back candidates that vow to consider kids first in their policymaking. Renee Harvey, Andrews’ former campaign finance director and the group’s co-founder, will be executive director.
“Our planet is warming, voting rights are under attack and our kids can’t even go to school without fear of being shot, because they don’t have lawyers or lobbyists or million-dollar super PACS until now,” Andrews said in the video.
Andrews unsuccessfully challenged Republican Mace in the 2022 general election.
“Being in Congress was never, you know, my aspiration,” Andrews told The State newspaper Monday. “My aspiration is to bring children’s voices to Washington, D.C., and, at the time, it seemed like running for Congress was the most effective way to do that.”
It was during her campaign that Andrews said she discovered an alarming gap in the political landscape involving child advocacy.
“There are no organizations that are in D.C. both advocating for the policies that benefit our children and families, and also showing up in D.C. with the resources to support candidates who are willing to be champions for children,” Andrews said. “So, if we don’t put money behind this agenda (for kids) in the form of, you know, supporting candidates and elected officials, then it’s going to be really difficult to move the needle on the conversation in Washington, D.C.”
Andrews said part of her motivation for creating the organization stemmed from her experience in treating children. A pediatrician for nearly 15 years, Andrews says she’s witnessed a myriad of struggles among vulnerable kids and families that she hopes to remedy with Their Future. Our Vote.
“I have so many examples of conversations of times when I’m in a patient’s room, talking to parents about their child’s diagnosis and their treatment plan and the parent has to stop me and say, ‘Well, how much will that insulin cost?’ or ‘How much is this new inhaler for my child’s asthma?,’” Andrews said.
The organization’s first test will be in 2024 during the congressional race for the House, where Andrews said the focus will be finding and supporting candidates who mirror the group’s agenda on gun control, education and health care issues.
While Andrews says that her first priority is helping to give kids a voice in Washington, D.C., through her organization, she hasn’t ruled out a future congressional run after the 2024 cycle.
“I am 100% focused on Their future. Our Vote. right now, and I do believe that this is potentially could have a much greater impact than, you know, just one vote in Congress,” Andrews said. “So, I’m looking forward to creating real positive change for children through this organization.”
This story was originally published April 17, 2023 at 4:12 PM.
