This paper examines the intersection of nursing and electoral politics, beginning with an overview of the constitutional and practical requirements for seeking elected office at the federal and state levels. It profiles Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, a registered nurse and longtime member of the U.S. House of Representatives, as a prominent example of a nurse in elected office. The paper then argues that more nurses should pursue elective positions, citing their unique capacity to influence health policy, advance social justice, and advocate for public health. It also briefly considers how nursing associations can support politically minded nurses through targeted training and campaign resources.
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Any elective office carries a set of qualifications that aspirants must meet. Higher offices have higher qualifications, while lower ones may have only basic requirements. For instance, to be elected as U.S. president, one must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, must have resided in the United States for not less than fourteen years, and must be at least 35 years of age. To be elected to the United States House of Representatives, one must have been a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, be no less than 25 years of age, and be a resident of the state they represent (U.S. House of Representatives, n.d.). Requirements for election to state senate and representative positions differ across states. In Washington State, for instance, elected representatives must be at least 25 years old, be registered voters in the state, and must have been U.S. citizens for not less than seven years (Washington State, n.d.).
Besides meeting constitutional requirements, a person seeking elective office needs the human resources to carry out an effective campaign (Pitsker, 2019). Depending on the position, these may include a campaign manager, finance director, fundraising coordinator, and volunteer coordinator. These are the people responsible for knocking on doors, placing phone calls, preparing mailers, setting campaign policies, booking press conferences, and preparing speeches, among other tasks (Pitsker, 2019). Candidates will also need finances for attending trainings and boot camps, paying salaries and rent, producing campaign materials, purchasing equipment, and running advertisements (Pitsker, 2019). Evidently, a great deal goes into running for elected office.
Eddie Bernice Johnson is a registered nurse who represented the 30th Congressional District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congresswoman Johnson served her 15th term after first being elected in 1992 (House.gov). She chaired the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, becoming the first woman and first African American to hold that position (House.gov). Prior to her election to Congress, she served in the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas State Senate, and as the regional director for the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (Nursing Theory, 2020).
Congresswoman Johnson was born in Texas in 1935 and received her diploma in nursing from St. Mary's College at the University of Notre Dame in 1956. She subsequently earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Texas Christian University and a master's degree in public administration in 1976 (Nursing Theory, 2020). Her concerns as an elected official centered on racial equality, education, and healthcare (Nursing Theory, 2020). During her time in the state senate, she engaged in activism by holding hearings, testifying in court cases involving racism, and investigating racial complaints (Nursing Theory, 2020).
Within the nursing profession, Ms. Johnson is recognized for introducing the 2011 National Nursing Act, which elevated the role of the Public Health Service's chief nursing officer and acknowledged the many contributions nurses make in promoting wellness, disease prevention, and public health (Nursing Theory, 2020).
"Arguments for nurses pursuing political careers"
"How nursing organizations can support nurse candidates"
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