2026 Could Bring a Wave of Doctors and Nurses Into Elected Office
One tally has 118 doctors, nurses, and public health officials running on the Democratic ticket in 2026
While Dr. Abdul El-Sayed may be the highest-profile doctor running for office this cycle, down-ballot, a blue wave in 2026 could usher in hundreds of medical professionals as backlash to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mounts.
El-Sayed, with his Medicare-for-All focused campaign, has drawn significant attention because of his medical background, in part because if elected he would be the first doctor elected as a Democrat to the Senate since the 1960s. Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician running for Senate in South Carolina, would also share that title if victorious.
However, these high-profile examples overshadow a bigger down-ballot trend, with some 118 doctors, nurses, and public health officials running on the Democratic ticket in 2026, according to 314 Action, a political organization that supports Democratic candidates from scientific backgrounds.
This group of medical professionals is part of a larger cohort of candidates with STEM backgrounds that 314 Action is supporting in 2026. Overall, the organization has made 504 endorsements this year.
“With the leadership void at HHS and the elevation of conspiracy theorists by the White House, it is more important than ever to elect pro-science candidates in statehouses across the country to provide clear and accurate public health guidance and enact evidence-based policies,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, president of 314 Action.
