Doctors’ Political Contributions Double in Favor of Democrats

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Doctors are donating nearly twice as much to Democrats than Republicans, largely supporting Kamala Harris’ campaign. Many doctors view their political involvement as a moral duty, seeing the 2024 election as critical for public health. “Elections do matter for your health,” said Dr. Suhas Gondi of Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

This political shift among physicians began with health policy battles in the early 2000s and accelerated with Trump’s 2016 election. Doctors historically supported Republicans, but since 2008, more have leaned Democratic.

However, some physicians worry that such open partisanship could erode trust with patients. Kentucky cardiologist Dr. John Mandrola, for example, expressed concern over physicians being viewed as politically biased, potentially damaging the doctor-patient relationship.

Despite concerns, many doctors believe advocating for science-based policies outweighs the risks of alienating patients. Harris’ campaign is encouraging doctors to leverage their trusted status to support her, with 1,600 signing up for a recent event that raised over $100,000.

Critics note that public trust in doctors has dropped significantly since the pandemic, adding fuel to the debate about whether doctors should remain apolitical in their public advocacy.