Congressional Race and Health Policy: 6 Competitions to Watch

WASHINGTON — Election season will bring a reckoning for members who took controversial positions on health care issues in the past year, while also providing an opportunity for new members to make their mark in the next Congress.

Some longtime members, such as Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Republican Rep. David Schweikert of Arizona, are at risk of losing their seats as the political ground beneath them has changed. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican running for Senate, is leading a state that is pursuing cutting-edge health care affordability proposals. And the race to replace Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) highlights the contrast between two different health care philosophies.

While presidential candidates from each party have set lofty policy goals, many will need the support of Congress. The overall composition of the House and Senate will play an important role in determining what policy goals can be achieved, but individual races will also be important indicators for members as they decide how to vote on issues in the future.

STAT has identified six congressional candidates who could shape health care policy over the next two years, from seats on key committees to opportunities for bipartisan collaboration.

Representative Don Davis (D-N.C.)

Davis stood tall as one of the few Democrats willing to support pharmaceutical-friendly changes in soften Democrats’ drug price reform bill. North Carolina is a state with a significant biotech presence.

Patient Advocacy Group “Patients for Affordable Medicines Now” launched TV advertising in his district he is criticized for this position. He also went against his party in voting on funding for Israel and criticizing the Biden administration’s border policies. If Davis wins, it could encourage other Democrats to also consider supporting legislation favorable to the pharmaceutical industry.

The Cook Political Report, the election official, rates the race a bust.

Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.)

The race for control of the Senate will be tight, and it would be a huge loss for Democrats if incumbent Tester loses his re-election bid.

While reproductive rights activists in Montana are optimistic about the prospects of a measure protecting abortion rights in the state constitution, it is possible that will not necessarily mean Tester supportwho advocates for abortion rights.

The Cook Political Report currently rates the race as leaning toward Tester’s opponent, Tim Sheehy.

Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

Baldwin is a longtime member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and her defeat will likely be felt by members of the panel if she does not end her re-election race.

Baldwin has been a bipartisan leader on health care policy, especially in contrast to her fellow Republican in Wisconsin, Sen. Ron Johnson, who expressed concerns about Covid-19 vaccines. This semester, she introduced legislation on women’s health, drug price transparency, expanding research into viruses that can cause pandemics and requiring hospitals to disclose when they plan to stop providing services.

Baldwin’s opponent was Erik Hovde. diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the 1990s and criticizes the Affordable Care Act, saying the law “has not lived up to its promise.”

The Cook Political Report currently rates the race as a toss-up.

Replacing Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA)

The two Democratic candidates to replace Eshu are: prolific health policy MP who represented Silicon Valley offer two very different democratic visions for health care.

Evan Lowe, a state legislator, would take the seat in a much more liberal direction if elected as a progressive supporter of Medicare for All. Sam Liccardo, former mayor of San Jose, more businesslike, moderate modeled on Eshu, who supported more modest reforms for pharmacy intermediaries.

Although the race is between two Democrats, it is the 10th most expensive House race in the country, according to House data. campaign finance database Open secrets.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan

Maryland is at the forefront of addressing several health care cost containment issues through the creation of a Prescription Drug Affordability Council and efforts to control hospital costs. If Hogan can flip the seat currently held by a Democrat, he will bring a unique perspective to the Senate and could emerge as a Republican willing to work across the aisle on health care issues. Hogan says he’s against it The Republican Party launched an effort in 2017 to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

Hogan’s campaign had more attention was paid to issues of access to healthcare on prescription drugs than on reproductive rights. Although Maryland was one of the first states to create a prescription drug affordability board, Hogan tried to veto enterprise financing. As a senator, he said he would focus on bipartisan health care policies that target pharmacy benefit managers, keep Medicare Advantage premiums low and increase competition and transparency.

The Cook Political Report says Hogan’s Democratic opponent, Angela Alsobrooks, is likely to win the race.

Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.)

In one of the hottest races this cycle, Schweikert could lose the seat to emergency room physician Amish Shah. Schweikert is chairman of the House Budget Committee’s oversight subcommittee and has introduced legislation on telehealth, artificial intelligence and substance abuse treatment incentives.

Shah talks about his experience working in the emergency department with patients poisoned by fentanyl. He said that if elected, he “will stand up to corporations that jack up the prices of life-saving drugs and essential supplies” and won’t take corporate PAC money. He also says he wants to lower drug prices and protect access to the abortion drug mifepristone.

The Cook Political Report rates the race as a toss-up.