The 2026 Races That Will Decide the Future of Health Care

Nurses and doctors are the most trusted voices on health care. Here's where that trust can change outcomes in 2026.

Why AND Is Focused Here

These are the most competitive districts in the country, where margins are razor-thin and every voice counts. They're races where the difference between a candidate who will fight cuts to Medicaid and one who won't could come down to a few hundred votes in a single county.

AND works to connect local health care professionals with candidates in their own districts who are committed to making health care a policy priority. We don't parachute in — we build from the ground up, supporting clinicians who are already trusted in their communities to make their voices heard where it matters most.

On The Ground: Where Health Care Professionals Are Mobilizing Now

In these races, AND has established leads and active efforts: clinicians and nurses working in their own communities to elect candidates who will make health care reform a priority.

Senate Races
James Talarico
TX — U.S. Senate
Democrat
AND Contact: Billy Millwee
James Talarico

Talarico, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 28 and experienced firsthand the cost of insulin price gouging, is pushing for a Medicare option for every age, lower drug prices, and reversing the cuts pushing people out of health care coverage.

Get Involved in TX
Governor Races
Gina Hinojosa
TX — Governor
Democrat
AND Contact: Billy Millwee, David Auerbach
Gina Hinojosa

Hinojosa has made health care a cornerstone of her campaign, pledging to expand Medicaid on day one to cover over one million uninsured Texans.

Get Involved in TX
House Races
Bob Harvie
PA-01
Democrat
AND Contact: Mark Lopatin
Bob Harvie

Harvie has made health care affordability central to his campaign, vocally critical of his opponent on Medicaid cuts.

Get Involved in PA-01
Paige Cognetti
PA-08
Democrat
AND Contact: Jeff Lerner
Paige Cognetti

Cognetti is running on a platform of restoring health care access to Northeastern Pennsylvania, calling out her opponent for voting for Medicaid cuts.

Get Involved in PA-08
Janelle Stelson
PA-10
Democrat
AND Contact: Belal el Amir, Chris Peterenson
Janelle Stelson

Stelson supports affordable, accessible health care through government drug price negotiation, banning surprise billing, and removing medical debt from credit reports, and calls out her opponent for casting the deciding vote on Medicaid cuts.

Get Involved in PA-10
Blake Gendebien
NY-21
Democrat
Blake Gendebien

Gendebien wants to restore Medicaid funding, reverse cuts threatening rural hospitals, bring back Affordable Care Act premium subsidies, and address shortages of primary care physicians and emergency transportation in the district.

Get Involved in NY-21
Matt Dunlap
ME-02
Democrat
AND Contact: Noah Nesin, Connie Adler, Brendan Prast
Matt Dunlap

Matt Dunlap supports Medicare for All, increased federal funding for rural hospitals, restored ACA subsidies, safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, and protected abortion access, arguing that corporate lobbyists are the primary obstacle to universal health care in America.

Get Involved in ME-02
Sam Forstag
MT-01
Democrat
Sam Forstag

Sam Forstag's comprehensive healthcare platform puts patients and providers ahead of insurance corporation profits and ensures working Montanans can finally get care when they need it.

Get Involved in MT-01

Outreach Underway: Races Where Health Care Voices Are Needed Now

These districts are competitive, and AND is actively working to connect local health care professionals to the effort. We're looking for leads who can help us build from the ground up.

AZ – House: 1, 2, 6
Supporting candidates for AZ-01, AZ-02, AZ-06
CA – House: 13, 45, 48
Adam Gray (CA-13), Derek Tran (CA-45), Marni von Wilpert (CA-48)
IA – House: 1, 2, 3
Christina Bohannan (IA-01), Lindsay James (IA-02), Sarah Garriott (IA-03)
IA – Senate
Josh Turek
NJ – House: 7
Rebecca Bennett for NJ-07
GA – Senate
Jon Ossoff
MI – House: 7, 10
 
MI – Senate
 

Where the Need Is Real and the Seat Is Winnable: Races AND Wants to Enter

These are high-priority, competitive districts where a health care professional's voice could be the deciding factor, and where AND is looking for local leaders ready to get involved.

TX – House: 15
Bobby Pulido for TX-15
TX – House: 23
Katy Padilla Stout for TX-23
PA – House: 7
Bob Brooks for PA-07
NY – House: 3
Tom Suozzi for NY-03
NY – House: 4
Laura Gillen for NY-04
NY – House: 17
TBD (Lawler is incumbent)
AK – Senate
TBD
NH – Senate
TBD

As health care professionals, we have a duty to push for a better health care system. These are the candidates in swing districts that we believe are most likely to make health care a policy priority.

Join the Movement Now