Tri-Council for Nursing Celebrates Nurses Advancing the Profession's Voice in the 2026 Midterm Elections

CHICAGO - The Tri-Council for Nursing congratulates the nurses who ran for congressional office in the 2026 midterm elections, recognizing their willingness to bring the voice and experience of the nation's largest healthcare profession to public service.

Nurses were well represented in the 2026 elections, reflecting the profession's growing engagement in policy discussions affecting patients, communities and the healthcare workforce. Eighteen nurse candidates sought congressional office this election cycle.

Incumbent Representatives Lauren Underwood, MSN, RN, FAAN (D-IL-14), and Sheri Biggs, DNP, CRNP (R-SC-3), won re-election. Mitchell Berman, BSN, RN, CEN, an emergency department and Veterans Health Administration nurse, won Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District, while Kristina Knickerbocker, APRN-CNP, a neuro-oncology nurse practitioner, won Ohio's 10th Congressional District.

While other nurse candidates did not win their election bids, the Tri-Council commends every nurse who stepped forward as a candidate and congratulates those who will bring that experience to their public service. Their willingness to serve underscores the increasing presence and value of nurse leadership in elected office and public policy.

Nurses serve at the intersection of patient care, healthcare delivery and community health. Their frontline experience and operational leadership give them an essential perspective on some of the most consequential issues facing the nation, including workforce policy, access to care, workplace safety and nursing education. Nurse leaders understand what it takes to translate those policies into practice across hospitals, health systems and other care settings while balancing the needs of patients, nurses, healthcare teams and communities.

The Tri-Council for Nursing encourages nurses to remain engaged in the policymaking process at every level of government. Whether through elected office, advocacy, regulatory engagement or direct communication with policymakers, nurses have valuable expertise to contribute to the decisions shaping the future of healthcare and the future of our nation.

The Tri-Council for Nursing-comprising AACN, ANA, AONL, NCSBN and NLN-represents the nation's leading nursing organizations and speaks for the full continuum of the nursing profession.

About the American Association of Colleges of Nursing
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing is the voice for academic nursing representing more than 890 member schools of nursing at public and private institutions nationwide. AACN works to establish quality standards for nursing education; assists schools in implementing those standards; influences the nursing profession to improve healthcare; and promotes public support for professional nursing education, research and practice. Learn more at aacnnursing.org.

About the American Nurses Association
As the preeminent organization representing more than 5 million nurses, the American Nurses Association stands at the forefront of advancing nursing excellence. The association harnesses The Power of Nurses® to champion the profession and drive transformation in healthcare. Through legislative and political advocacy, comprehensive educational services, and the profession's leading Code of Ethics and Scope and Standards, the association empowers nurses across every specialty and practice setting. The association is committed to ensuring healthy work environments, shaping pioneering policies, and cultivating partnerships that enhance both the nursing profession and the broader healthcare experience. Learn more at nursingworld.org/ana.

About the American Organization for Nursing Leadership
As the national professional organization of more than 12,500 nurse leaders, the American Organization for Nursing Leadership is the voice of nursing leadership. AONL's membership encompasses nurse leaders working in hospitals, health systems, academia and other care settings across the care continuum. For more information, visit AONL.org.

About the National Council of State Boards of Nursing
Empowering and supporting nursing regulators across the world in their mandate to protect the public, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing is an independent, not-for-profit organization. As a global leader in regulatory excellence, NCSBN champions regulatory solutions to borderless healthcare delivery, agile regulatory systems and nurses practicing to the full scope of their education, experience and expertise. A world leader in test development and administration, NCSBN's NCLEX Exams are internationally recognized as preeminent nursing examinations. NCSBN's membership is comprised of the nursing regulatory bodies (NRBs) in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories. There are nine exam user members and 21 associate members that are either NRBs or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories. For more information, visit ncsbn.org.

About the National League for Nursing
Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers professional development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its nearly 45,000 individual and 1,000 institutional members, comprising nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education and healthcare organizations. Learn more at NLN.org.