Physicians won some of the most closely watched races of the 2026 midterms, including two Senate seats that helped Democrats take control of the chamber and the Ohio governor’s office.
The current Congress includes 20 physicians — 16 in the House and four in the Senate — according to The Hill, a number that had tied a record. Based on results reported as of Nov. 4, the next Congress looks likely to include even more, Chief Healthcare Executive reported, though several physician incumbents lost and a handful of races remain uncalled.
Here are the physicians who won, by race. Results are as of Nov. 4 and may change as vote counting continues.
Senate
Annie Andrews, MD, D-S.C. The Charleston pediatrician defeated Republican Sen. Darline Graham, 50.6% to 47.2%, according to an AP projection. Ms. Graham had filled the seat after the July death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. Dr. Andrews is the first Democrat to win a Senate race in South Carolina since 1998, and her win helped Democrats regain the Senate majority. She previously ran for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District in 2022, losing to Rep. Nancy Mace.
Abdul El-Sayed, MD, D-Mich. Dr. El-Sayed held Michigan’s open Senate seat for Democrats, defeating former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, according to CBS News. An epidemiologist, he previously led health departments in Detroit and Wayne County. He completed medical school but not residency, STAT reported.
Dr. Andrews and Dr. El-Sayed will be the first Democrats with medical degrees in the Senate since 1969, according to STAT. Both Republican physicians remaining in the chamber are mid-term: Sen. Rand Paul, MD (R-Ky.), is up in 2028 and Sen. John Barrasso, MD (R-Wyo.), in 2030. Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.), chair of the Senate health committee, will leave Congress after losing his Republican primary.
House
Three physicians won their first House terms.
Adam Hamawy, MD, D-N.J. The plastic surgeon and former Army combat surgeon won New Jersey’s 12th District, defeating Republican attorney Gregg Mele, according to The New York Times. He succeeds retiring Rep. Bonnie Coleman.
Richard Pan, MD, D-Calif. The pediatrician and former California state senator unseated independent Rep. Kevin Kiley in the newly redrawn 6th District, according to CBS News.
John Cowan, MD, R-Ga. The neurosurgeon won Georgia’s 11th District, defeating Democratic attorney Chris Harden, The Hill projected. He succeeds retiring Rep. Barry Loudermilk. Dr. Cowan was the notable exception among winning physicians not endorsed by 314 Action, the political action committee that recruits Democratic doctors and scientists, NBC News reported.
Eleven physician incumbents won reelection, according to Chief Healthcare Executive:
- Ami Bera, MD, D-Calif., who has represented Sacramento since 2013, defeated Republican Robb Tucker.
- Herb Conaway, MD, D-N.J., won a second term after overcoming three challengers.
- Maxine Dexter, MD, D-Ore., won a second term, defeating Republican Loran Ayles.
- Andy Harris, MD, R-Md., in the House since 2011, defeated Democrat Dan Schwartz.
- Ronny Jackson, MD, R-Texas, won a fourth term, defeating Democrat Mark Nair.
- John Joyce, MD, R-Pa., held his seat against Democrat Beth Farnham.
- Rich McCormick, MD, R-Ga., an emergency physician in the House since 2023, defeated Democrat Tony Kozycki.
- Kelly Morrison, MD, D-Minn., won a second term, defeating Republican Tyler Bass.
- Bob Onder, MD, R-Mo., won a second term, defeating Democrat Bethany Mann.
- Raul Ruiz, MD, D-Calif., in the House since 2013, defeated Republican Joe Males.
- Kim Schrier, MD, D-Wash., in the House since 2019, defeated Republican Spencer Meline.
Governors
Amy Acton, MD, D-Ohio. The former director of the Ohio Department of Health, who led the state’s COVID-19 response, defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. The AP projected her as the winner late Nov. 3, and is the first woman to be elected governor of Ohio, Chief Healthcare Executive reported. She is also the first Democrat to win the office in two decades, according to NBC News. Dr. Acton campaigned on protecting Medicaid access, forgiving medical debt, tackling surprise billing and creating a state prescription drug plan, STAT reported.
Josh Green, MD,(D-Hawaii. The incumbent defeated Republican Gary Cordery by 54 percentage points, a gubernatorial record in Hawaii, according to West Hawaii Today.
Dr. Green and Dr. Acton will be the nation’s only physician governors next year.
Physicians who lost
- Sen. Roger Marshall, MD, R-Kan. The obstetrician lost his bid for a second term to Democrat Adam Hamilton, a megachurch pastor and the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Kansas since 1932, according to CBS News.
- Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD, R-Iowa. Democrat Christina Bohannan flipped the seat on her third attempt.
- Ralph Alvarado, MD, R-Ky. He lost an open-seat race to Democrat Zach Dembo in a district President Donald Trump carried by about 15 points in 2024.
Races still uncalled
Four physician races were uncalled as of Nov. 4, according to Medical Economics:
- Amish Shah, MD, D-Ariz., leads Republican Jay Feely 52.6% to 45.4% in the open 1st District, according to NBC News.
- Rep. Mike Kennedy, MD, R-Utah, leads Democrat Jonny Larsen by about 10 points.
- Rep. Greg Murphy, MD, R-N.C., leads Democrat Raymond Smith by a couple hundred votes.
- Rep. Scott DesJarlais, MD, R-Tenn., trails Democrat Victoria Broderick by a few hundred votes.
Whatever the final count, physicians will hold seats on both sides of the aisle as the new Democratic majorities take up health policy. House Democrats have said restoring the enhanced ACA premium subsidies and reversing Medicaid cuts from HR 1 top their agenda, ABC News reported. For hospital and health system leaders, where these physician-lawmakers land on committee assignments in January will signal how much clinical experience shapes that work.
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