Dozens of Doctors Seek Seats in Congress

Forty-seven doctors are seeking election to Congress this year, according to USA Today -- and should a significant chunk of them win, it could alter the debate about how to implement (or even "repeal and replace") the health care reform bill recently signed into law.

There are clear political reasons for parties to recruit doctors to run: On one of the midterm election's key issues, health care, they have the trust of a clear majority of Americans. (As USA Today notes, a Match Gallup poll found that more than three in four Americans trust doctors to "do the right thing" on health policy, far more than trust President Obama or Republican leaders.)

The vast majority of physicians running for office this year -- 41 -- are Republican. With the GOP virtually unified in its opposition to the health care reform plan, many are stressing their real world experience on the campaign trail to give weight to their critique of the health care bill as having fallen short.

There are currently 16 doctors serving in Congress; they make up about three percent of the overall total of lawmakers.

Two years ago, 30 physicians ran in the general election, the American Medical Association told USA Today (the AMA does not keep figures on doctors running in primaries.) In 2006, 22 doctors ran in general elections.