Neurosurgeon Monica Wehby, MD, emerged from Tuesday's Oregon GOP Senate primary race victorious and is preparing for November's midterm elections, according to a Fox News report.
Here are five quick facts about Dr. Wehby's win and where she's headed in the future:
1. Dr. Wehby beat out current State Representative Jason Congers and three other Republican candidates with 51 percent of the vote. Rep. Congers was a distant second, meaning Dr. Wehby will face current Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley for a spot in the U.S. Senate.
2. Republicans haven not won a statewide election since 2002 and Dr. Wehby is a relative newcomer. Urban areas in the state lean heavily Democratic while rural areas have been more conservative.
3. Healthcare reform is unpopular in Oregon and the state insurance exchange has been unsuccessful, as the state abandoned plans for an independent online exchange after initial glitches. Sen. Jeff Merkley supported healthcare reform and was in office during the botched exchange roll-out.
4. Dr. Wehby opposed the Affordable Care Act early. She previously served on the American Medical Association board and was featured in an ad opposing the ACA in 2009.
5. GOP superstars such as Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and fellow neurosurgeon Ben Carson, MD, back Dr. Wehby in her campaign. Fox News reports she will have an "uphill climb" in her campaign against Sen. Merkley, and the Deomcratic Party has an eight point advantage in voter registration in the state.
Read "A GOP Rising Star: 5 Things to Know About Dr. Monica Wehby" for more information about Dr. Wehby's career and campaign thus far.
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