With health care issues top of mind for voters and a record 50 physicians running for Congress, the National Emergency Medicine Political Action Committee (NEMPAC) has a critical role in the upcoming election cycle.

Many physicians entering politics in 2026 cite desires to influence health care policy by drawing on their clinical experience.

Despite differing policy approaches, physician candidates on both sides of the aisle face similar challenges running for office: stepping away from clinical practice, maintaining continuity of care for their patients, and overcoming voter perceptions that they are “single-issue candidates” narrowly focused on health care.

That is where NEMPAC comes in. NEMPAC brings ACEP members together to collectively support candidates and members of Congress who champion emergency medicine. Guided by a board composed of ACEP members, NEMPAC ensures that emergency physicians drive every giving decision and advocacy priority.

“We all became physicians because we want to take care of people. Advocacy is not a part of our training always. And it should be,” said NEMPAC Chair Rebecca Parker, MD, FACEP, in a recent episode of ACEP’s Built on Results podcast.

Once elected to Congress, physician legislators have opportunities to work collectively on health care issues. For the past 17 years, Republican members of Congress have organized through the GOP Doctors Caucus, and in 2026, Democrats formed their own Doctors Caucus. The caucuses are increasingly working together to advance shared healthcare priorities, including Medicare payment reform.

With a goal of raising $1 million per year, NEMPAC has an outsized impact on supporting the campaigns of friends and champions running for federal office, and every ACEP member dollar can make a difference in tight races. House races require an average of $3 million, meaning candidates must raise about $4,000 every single day over a two-year cycle. Unlike career politicians, many physicians begin their campaigns without established donor networks, making early fundraising a challenge.

For the midterms, NEMPAC has directly supported 24 physician candidates and incumbents and an additional 177 candidates who have shown support for emergency medicine issues. Through a rigorous vetting process, NEMPAC identifies candidates—regardless of party affiliation—who align with ACEP’s priorities and have a path to victory.

NEMPAC ranks among the top four medical specialty PACs, helping ACEP continue to lead the way in advocating for emergency physicians and patients.

For more information about physician candidates and how NEMPAC is impacting the 2026 midterm elections, go to https://www.acep.org/nempac/candidates-supported/2026-physician-and-dentist-candidates.