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ER Physician Loses Congressional Bid; 10 Health Leaders Still Running

News  |  By Jack O'Brien  
   April 25, 2018

Physicians, nurses, surgeons, and healthcare executives are competing in numerous races during this midterm election cycle.

Dr. Hiral Tipirneni, an emergency room physician, lost her bid Tuesday night to replace former Rep. Trent Franks in the special election for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.

Tipirneni, a Democrat, was beat by Republican Debbie Lesko, a former state legislator who previously worked as a hearing officer in the North Valley Justice Court. Lesko's victory keeps the seat in Republican control, after an election where the candidates had opposite views on issues relating to healthcare. Lesko criticized the Affordable Care Act and emphasized the need for patient choice while Tipirneni expressed support for universal healthcare.

There are three physicians currently serving in the Senate, according to a Congressional Research Service report released earlier this month. In the House, there are 11 physicians, four dentists, a pharmacist, and two nurses.

Leaders from all across the healthcare industry are paying close attention to this year’s midterm elections, with some even running for federal and statewide offices.

Below is a list of 10 health leaders running in Senate, House, and gubernatorial elections this year.

 

Senate races:

 

1. Gov. Rick Scott, R-Fla., running for U.S. Senate against Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson.

 

2. Former Gov. Phil Bredesen, D-Tenn., running for the Democratic nomination in U.S. Senate race to replace outgoing Republican incumbent Bob Corker.

  • Bredesen founded HealthAmerica Corp., an insurance company that he sold his controlling interest in 1986.

 

3. Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W.V., running for the Republican nomination in U.S. Senate race against Democratic incumbent Joe Manchin.

  • Jenkins served as CEO of the West Virginia Medical Foundation.

  • He also served as co-chairman of the Health Care Committee in the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

 

4. State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, R-W.V., running for the Republican nomination in U.S. Senate race against Democratic incumbent Joe Manchin.

  • As partner at King & Spalding, Morrisey focused the majority of his work on healthcare legislation.

  • He served as both deputy staff director and chief health counsel for the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

 

House races:

 

5. Mel Hall, D-Ind., running for Democratic nomination in race against Republican incumbent Jackie Walorski.

  • Hall formerly served as CEO of Press Ganey, a patient satisfaction firm.

 

6. Tahir Javed, D-Texas, running for Democratic nomination in race against Democratic incumbent Jackie Walorski.

  • Javed served as CEO of Riceland Healthcare Systems.

 

7. Lauren Underwood, RN, D-Illi., running for the Democratic nomination in House race against Republican incumbent Randy Hultgren.

  • Underwood is a registered nurse.

  • She also served as a senior advisor to the Department of Health and Human Services under President Barack Obama.

 

Gubernatorial elections:

 

8. Mary Mayhew, R-Maine, running for the Republican nomination in the gubernatorial race to replace outgoing Republican incumbent Paul LePage.

  • Mayhew was a government relations manager for the Maine Hospital Association.

  • Served as commissioner of health and human services for the LePage administration from 2010 to 2017.

 

9. Andy McGuire, M.D., D-Iowa, running for the Democratic nomination in the gubernatorial race against Republican incumbent Kim Reynolds.

  • McGuire is a health insurance executive and former physician.

 

10. Abdul El-Sayed, M.D., D-Mich., running for the Democratic nomination in the gubernatorial race to replace outgoing Republican Rick Snyder.

  • El-Sayed attended Columbia University Medical School, earning his medical degree and becoming a professor of public health.

  • El-Sayed was hired in 2015 to manage the newly privatized Detroit Health Department, a position he held until February 2017.


For those interested, check out our full list of health leaders running for office in 2018.

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Jack O'Brien is the Content Team Lead and Finance Editor at HealthLeaders, an HCPro brand.


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