There is no shortage of policies impacting nurses today, from the U.S. Department of Education creating caps on federal loans for graduate students to the need for a national standard for workplace violence prevention. Yet, just as important as advocating for nurses while these policies are written is being part of the political process to elect officials who are drafting these proposals in the first place.
2026 is a big election year. Although there’s no presidential race at the top of the ticket, voters must elect all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, in addition to 35 Senate races – 33 seats that are regularly up plus two special elections to fill the remainders of terms left by now-Vice President JD Vance and now-Secretary of State Marco Rubio. What’s more, 36 gubernatorial races are on the ballot in November, and several major cities – from Los Angeles to Oklahoma City to Tallahassee – are holding mayoral elections.
With so many races on the ballot, it certainly can be overwhelming as one person to understand what’s in your toolbox in being an engaged citizen. Each option has its own cost and benefits – some may be time-intensive; others may involve money – and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to participating in the political arena.
Below is a non-exhaustive menu of ways you can be active this midterm election in making your voice heard:
Voting
The simplest and most effective way you can participate in politics is voting.
This year’s general election day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. However, there may be other opportunities you have to head to the polls. While some states have already done this, many are still holding primary elections through September.
Each state has their own requirements for voting, and in most cases, you must be registered before election day. You can check with your secretary of state for voter registration deadlines and details. You can also check with your employer as some places allow individuals to take off time to vote on election day.
As you develop your plan to vote, we encourage you to visit ANA’s voting and elections center NursesVote.org. This is a one-stop-shop to find your state’s primary date, voter registration deadline, and link to your secretary of state.
Supporting Monetarily
Another way to make sure your voice is heard is by contributing. Campaigns are expensive: according to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), congressional candidates spent a total of $3.7 billion during the 2024 cycle. The average winning House of Representatives race raised $2.1 million last cycle, up from $1.1 million in 2008.
If you’re a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident who is over the age of 18, is not a federal contractor, and is using your own personal funds, you can contribute to candidates, to political parties, and to political action committees (PACs). PACs are formed by associations, unions, companies, or other organizations to raise and distribute funds to aligned candidates. They allow individual donors to speak with a collective voice.
Under the umbrella of ANA, ANA-PAC supports nurse champions running for office at the federal level. ANA members can give to ANA-PAC to help elect policymakers who will advance priorities ranging from mandatory overtime rules to nurse faculty funding.
For more information on ANA-PAC, visit RN Action.
Engaging with your Community
The next level up in time intensive civic engagement, but where you can set the terms on when and how you do it, is connecting with your community. This can range from reminding your family of upcoming voter registration deadlines, to talking to your friends about a particular issue that’s motivating you to vote, to driving your neighbors to the polls on election day.
One resource is the nonprofit Vot-ER, which promotes civic engagement among healthcare professionals.
Volunteering for a Candidate or Cause
Another step up on the intensity level of engagement is volunteering more formally. Candidates need help with their campaigns, and you can volunteer to knock doors, make phone calls, send postcards, and help other get-out-the-vote (GOTV) efforts. If there is a candidate you want to see in office, we encourage you to volunteer with their campaign.
You have other opportunities besides volunteering with individual candidates: you can also support causes. Many local and state governments have ballot initiatives with their own campaigns. Another option is to work with organizations in your area, as many national interest groups have state and local chapters that focus on civic engagement.
One final volunteer opportunity is to become a poll worker. These individuals greet, verify, and walk voters through the electoral process at their voting location. The U.S. Elections Administration Commission has an easy-to-use portal to identify your local jurisdiction for volunteering, including the start and stop times, whether this role is compensated, and who to contact.
Running for Office
In 1992, former Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) became the first nurse elected to Congress. Currently, there are only three nurses serving on Capitol Hill: Reps. Sheri Biggs (R-SC), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL). We need more nurses and more nurse champions shaping policy in DC.
But you don’t have to just jump in feet first into the federal level: running for office at the state, the county, or local level – or even for your state boards of nursing – will give a voice to this profession. Elected roles from PTA board member to President have the power to shape how government services are delivered.
If you’re interested in running for office, the nonprofit Healing Politics has many resources to help, including an annual campaign school for nurses and midwives interested in working on campaigns or being a candidate.
