Health Care · Report · File No. 261105-324
Democratic doctors win seats in Congress, reshaping health care debate
A wave of Democratic physicians, including South Carolina's Dr. Annie Andrews, won House and Senate seats, giving the party new voices on health care as it prepares to take control of Congress in January.
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A wave of Democratic physicians won seats in the House and Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections, a shift for a profession that has historically sent more Republicans to Congress 1. The wins come as Democrats prepare to take control of both chambers in January 3.
In South Carolina, Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, won a Senate seat, becoming the first practicing Democratic physician in the Senate since 1938 1. In Michigan, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, an epidemiologist, also won a Senate seat; he trained as a physician but did not do a residency or practice medicine 1.
In the House, at least two new Democratic doctors will join the six-member Democratic doctor's caucus: Dr. Adam Hamawy, a former U.S. Army surgeon from New Jersey, and pediatrician Dr. Richard Pan of California 1. In the new Congress, there will be at least 18 physicians, 10 of them Democrats 1.
Andrews told NPR before her win that she was motivated by watching parents worry about the cost of inhalers for asthma and insulin for children with diabetes 1.
From Channel GOPEl-Sayed: Medicaid cuts timed for after midtermsAbdul El-Sayed · 173 plays · captioned, with the source named
She also said: "It really clicked to me that the path to catalyzing this change that I want to see in America for the children in America is through politics" 1.
Many of the new Democratic physician-lawmakers were recruited and backed by 314 Action, an organization that supports progressive candidates with science backgrounds 1. The group invested more than $30 million in dozens of Democratic candidates, including 48 physicians 1.
Shaughnessy Naughton, the group's president, said the candidates' success came as health care and affordability were front of mind 1.
People were sick of it
The shift comes as Republicans lost several physician incumbents. In the current Senate, all four physicians are Republicans, and two of them, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, lost their reelection bids this year 1. In the House, at least two Republican physician incumbents lost their seats, with a few races still too close to call 1.
Dr. Chadd Kraus, an emergency room doctor who has studied physicians in Congress, said physicians bring a valuable perspective to lawmaking 1.
physicians have a valuable perspective, not a monopoly on good policy
Democrats are set to take control of the House and Senate in January, giving them power to block or delay many of Trump's appointments and force the White House to negotiate over legislation 3.
That matters because the new physician-lawmakers will arrive as Democrats prepare for fights over health care, including premiums, Medicaid and drug prices. Their backgrounds in medicine may shape how the party approaches those issues.
The Record
- Democrats win control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections 3.
- Dr. Annie Andrews wins a Senate seat in South Carolina, becoming the first practicing Democratic physician in the Senate since 1938 1.
- Dr. Abdul El-Sayed wins a Senate seat in Michigan 1.
- At least 18 physicians will serve in the new Congress, 10 of them Democrats 1.
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Sources
- NPR, “It was a big night for doctors to win seats in Congress, riding the blue wave” (2026-11-04). npr.org/2026/11/04/nx-s1-6017757/democrats-republicans-docto
- PBS NewsHour, “Breaking down the Democrats' big majorities after the blue wave” (2026-11-04). pbs.org/newshour/show/breaking-down-the-democrats-big-majori
- The Guardian, “What can Democrats actually do if they win Congress?” (2026-11-04). theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/02/democrats-midterms-congr
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