As health care becomes a central issue in the 2026 midterms, an increasing number of Democratic doctors are running for Congress — and they’re centering their campaigns around Medicaid.
More than half a dozen Democratic candidates are challenging GOP incumbents or running in open seats, highlighting their experience working in hospital rooms.
“I’m an emergency physician and this is what I do daily for a living,” said Dr. Amish Shah, who is seeking to run against Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.). “We see Medicaid patients. This is a daily reality to us to treat patients and hear stories of people who cannot afford care,” Shah added.
Democrats have been hammering Republicans over Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill. But the party is also using these candidates as unique messengers to talk about the real life impact of health care cuts. CBO estimates the new-GOP drafted law could cause 10 million people to lose health insurance.
Dem candidates speak: Dr. Jasmeet Bains, a family physician running against Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), said she had “full faith” the incumbent would support the bill even though he warned against big Medicaid cuts.
“The guy voted for the highest health care cut in the history of America, in the area with the biggest needs in the country,” Bains said. “[Valadao] kept saying that he wasn’t going to, and then he did.”
Dr. Tina Shah, who is challenging GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in New Jersey’s 7th District, said she’s had more patients face issues with their insurance not covering everything they need.
“It’s really hard to be a doctor right now because we were trained to serve people, and now it feels like my hands are being tied,” Shah said.
Shah served in the Obama and Biden administrations, including working as a senior adviser to the U.S. Surgeon General to address doctor burnout.
Other Democratic candidates include Dave Oxman, a Philadelphia-area doctor running for retiring Rep. Dwight Evans’ (D-Pa.) seat; Dr. Ada Cuellar, running against GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz in Texas’s 15th District; and Kishla Askins, who is seeking retiring Rep. Don Bacon’s (R-Neb.) seat.
GOP response: Republicans have leaned heavily into the reconciliation law’s tax benefits in seeking to counter Democratic attacks. The NRCC also argues that the GOP Medicaid cuts are eliminating patients who are abusing the system.
Currently, there are more Republican doctors in Congress than Democrats. These GOP doctors all supported the reconciliation bill.
Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), a co-chair of the GOP Doctors Caucus who still practices medicine, said he’s explained his support for some Medicaid cuts to patients and constituents. Murphy added that he’s had patients on the program that shouldn’t be on it.
“We’re trying to reform the system. We’re actually strengthening it for those who need it,” Murphy said.
