December 1, 2025
(Philadelphia, PA) — New reporting from Bloomberg Government highlights how Democratic doctors are stepping up to run for federal office in response to RFK Jr. They’re running against his anti-science and anti-health care policy agenda, the risks that the Make America Healthy Again agenda poses to public health, and the Republican cuts to Medicaid and rising costs of health care.
“RFK Jr. is our greatest recruitment tool for doctors,” said Erik Polyak, 314 Action’s executive director. “With health care on the line for millions of Americans—2026 will be the health care election, and Democratic doctors and scientists are ready to lead Americans out of the mess that Donald Trump and Republicans have created.”
Bloomberg Government: “Democrats Are Running Against a Kennedy Over Health Care”
Key Points:
- Democrats are recruiting dozens of doctors and nurses to run for office and give their counter-messaging against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a shot in the arm.
- More than 50 candidates with a medical background are running for Congress or statewide this cycle, according to 314 Action, a group that seeks to elect Democrats with science or medical backgrounds. At least half a dozen Democrats are running in competitive seats.
- Candidates rarely focus on the HHS secretary during their campaign, but Kennedy’s name recognition has made him a target. And Democratic contenders are showing few concerns about bashing the secretary, regardless of his family’s Democratic ties.
- Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician challenging vulnerable Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.), said running against Kennedy’s agenda has proven to be one of his most effective methods of fundraising. “Parents are really nervous and even scared about what RFK Jr. is doing,” Pan told Bloomberg Government. “There’s a reason his popularity is actually even lower than Donald Trump’s.”
- Many of those candidates are directly taking on Kennedy, who has been one of Trump’s most visible Cabinet members, often sparring with Democratic lawmakers over the MAHA agenda.
- Dr. Tina Shah, who is challenging Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) , said Kennedy’s agenda is “unprecedented,” and his rise was one of her motivations for running for Congress. Shah cited Kennedy’s firing of vaccine advisers earlier this year among her top concerns. “As a practicing doctor, I just can’t take it anymore,” Shah said. ” We need to make sure we hold RFK accountable.”
- The push isn’t only coming in House races. Dr. Annie Andrews, who is running against Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-.S.C.), has focused her campaign on health care too. She said that as Kennedy’s policies come into focus for voters, they are increasingly unpopular, and she has used Graham’s vote to confirm RFK Jr. as HHS secretary against him.
Kennedy was narrowly confirmed by the Senate, 52-48.
- “It’s a deeply irresponsible vote that I plan to hold Lindsey Graham accountable for, and I plan to continue to campaign on the absurdity of RFK Jr. ascending to lead our nation’s health care system,” Andrews said.
###