Health professionals run for office in record numbers during US midterms

An unprecedented number of medical professionals, including at least 125 doctors, nurses, and public health experts, are appearing on ballots for the US midterm elections. This surge in political candidacy follows the Covid-19 pandemic, a period during which many health officials experienced both public celebration and political targeting.

Candidates cite their clinical training and scientific expertise as assets for governance. Notable examples include Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, running for US Senate in Michigan, and Dr. Amy Acton, a preventive medicine specialist running for governor in Ohio. Other candidates include former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in California, pediatrician Dr. Annie Andrews in South Carolina, and healthcare industry leaders such as Cinde Warmington and Rick Jackson.