my name and message out to voters, which has been interesting. Kentucky has also never allowed mail in voting or early voting prior to COVID-19, so my campaign has had to learn how to focus on a month of voting instead of one set day.” What’s the most surprising or strenuous part of campaigning? “The time constraints are for sure difficult. As a full-time single mom to two children, who was also working full time until recently, the time constraints are always the hardest part. I tend to never look more than one day ahead on my schedule because it would just be too overwhelming to think of everything I need to do between now and the election! But, between taking things one day at a time and my amazing support network, it all becomes doable in the end. I have also had to learn to ask for help, which is something that is very hard for me to do! However, people have been amazing about stepping in to bring the kids and me meals, helping me drive my signs all over the district, etc. It has really made me realize how strong my community is and how much we can get done together.” What is the most rewarding part? “The most rewarding part is the friends I have made along the way and knowing that I stepped up to the plate in a time where it really mattered. I have had a number of men and women come up to me and tell me they had always thought about running for office but were intimidated by the process. They say after seeing me take on Congress though, they realized they could handle running for school board or whatever office they had been considering. Regardless of whether I win or lose in November, if I have inspired others to step up and get involved in our government, then I will have accomplished something incredible.”
Republican Physician Aims for Senate Seat BrainPAC is bipartisan in its support, and one of the Republican lawmakers benefiting is Roger Marshall, MD. He’s a Kansas ob/gyn currently serving in the House of Representatives from the 1st District, and he’s running for an open Senate seat. While in the House, Marshall has had numerous interactions with the AAN and our advocacy team. He is a lead sponsor on legislation to address the burdens associated with prior authorization, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3107), which was a Neurology on the Hill priority issue in 2020. He won a competitive primary for this Senate seat against the former Kansas secretary of state. In a state that favors Republican, he will face a Democratic candidate in the general election who is also a physician, Barbara Bollier, MD. BrainPAC has supported
During a recent fundraising visit to Texas, Marshall visited staff at Texas Neurology, PA. (From left) David A. Evans, MBA; Waleed Hamed El-Feky, MD; Marshall; and Daragh Heitzman, MD, FAAN.
Marshall since 2018. If he joins the US Senate, he’ll be a new senator who is a proven champion for neurology issues and knows the AAN very well.
How BrainPAC Supports Neurology-friendly Candidates for Congress BrainPAC provides the AAN with direct access to congressional candidates, members of Congress, and their staff during special events hosted specifically to raise funds for their election. Through these events, the AAN can build relationships with key decision makers that prove invaluable year after year. Typically, during each two-year election cycle BrainPAC contributes nearly $500,000 to more than 100 congressional candidates. BrainPAC doesn’t contribute to presidential candidates. Donations to BrainPAC come from US members and staff of the AAN as permissible by law. The AAN’s BrainPAC Executive Committee determines the criteria for which candidates receive BrainPAC support each year. An objective scoring system is used to guide BrainPAC’s political contributions to ensure they are strategic and transparent. This scoring system weighs several factors to determine whether a member of Congress has a track record of supporting AAN priorities and is in a position to influence the health care debate on the Hill. To learn more about BrainPAC, visit BrainPAC.org.
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