Election 2024: Doctors keep seats in the House

There will be some doctors in the House in the next congressional session.

Several doctors serving in the U.S. House of Representatives won re-election Tuesday night.

Several physicians and dentists succeeded in their re-election campaigns. A couple of physicians will be joining the House in the new congressional session.

Here’s a rundown of some congressional races involving physicians where the contests have been called.

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U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, a Texas Republican and a dentist, won re-election in the 36th District, the Associated Press reported. He has been in the House since 2015.

U.S. Rep. Ami Bera, MD, a California Democrat, was re-elected to the House. Bera represents the 6th Congressional District, which includes Sacramento, and has been in the House since 2013. He’s the longest serving Indian-American in Congress.

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, a Georgia Republican, retained his seat in the 1st Congressional District, according to the AP. Carter, who owned a pharmacy for over 30 years, will begin a sixth term in January.

U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, MD, a Republican, retained his seat in Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District. He will begin his eighth term in January, the Associated Press projected.

U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, MD, a Florida Republican, is returning, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. A surgeon for 25 years, he secured a fifth term.

U.S. Rep. Mark Green, MD, a Tennessee Republican, held onto his seat in a contest against former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry. An emergency physician, Green has served in the House since 2019.

U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, MD, a Maryland Republican, won re-election, the AP projected. Harris will begin a 7th term.

U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, MD, a Texas Republican, secured re-election to the House, which was expected since he ran unopposed. Jackson, who served as the White House physician under President Donald Trump’s administration, will begin a third term.

U.S. Rep. John Joyce, MD, a Republican from Pennsylvania, won re-election, AP projects. Joyce will begin his fourth term in January.

U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick, MD, a Georgia Republican, claimed victory in his re-election bid, the AP projects.

U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy, MD, a North Carolina Republican, kept his seat in the state’s 3rd congressional district, the Associated Press said. Murphy is a lead sponsor of a bill to avert cuts in Medicare payments to doctors.

U.S. Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, DMD, R-N.J., won re-election to his seat in the Garden State’s 2nd Congressional district. He’ll begin his fourth term in January.

Joining the House

Maxine Dexter, MD, a Democrat, captured a House seat representing Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes part of Portland. A pulmonolgist with Kaiser Permanente, Dexter defeated Republican Joanna Harbour in the contest for an open seat. U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat, is retiring.

Kelly Morrison, MD, a Democrat, defeated Republican Tad Jude to win an open seat in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District. An OB-GYN who practiced for more than 20 years, Morrison will take the seat held by Rep. Dean Phillips, who didn’t seek re-election.

Falling short

Kristin Lyerly, MD, a Democrat and an OB-GYN, lost to Republican Tony Wied in a race for the state’s 8th Congressional District.

Retirements

Some doctors are leaving Congress.

U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon, MD, an Indiana Republican, opted against seeking re-election. He’d been in the House since 2011.

U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, MD, a Texas Republican, is retiring after serving in the House for 22 years.

U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson, D.M.D., a Georgia Republican, also opted against a bid for re-election. His fourth term will be his last.

U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, an Ohio Republican and a podiatric physician, opted against seeking another term. He was first elected in 2012.

Senate

Four physicians are serving in the U.S. Senate, and they weren’t on the ballot this year. The four doctors in the Senate are U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.); Bill Cassidy (R-La.); Rand Paul (R-Ky.); and John Barrasso (R-Wyoming).