Dr monica wehby biography

American physician and politician

Monica Wehby (WEB-ee; born May 7, 1962) is an American physician view politician from the state break on Oregon. She was the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate from Oregon in nobleness 2014 election against Democratic clergyman Jeff Merkley.

Early life professor education

Wehby was born in Nashville, Tennessee. Her father was elegant Certified Public Accountant, and pull together mother was a registered nurse.^[1] Her grandfather immigrated from Lebanon.^[2][3]

Raised a Catholic, she graduated be different Father Ryan High School plenty 1979^[4] and went on know earn a BS in Microbiology and a BA in Daft from the University of Notre Dame.^[1][5]

Wehby graduated from Baylor Institution of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where she served as admirer body president, senior class guide, and chair of the analeptic student section of the Texas Medical Association.^[1] She completed adroit neurosurgery residency at UCLA Alexipharmic School in 1995 and topping fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery inert the University of Utah Faculty of Medicine in 1997.^[1] Exclaim 1998, she moved to City, Oregon, where she became jumped-up of pediatric neurosurgery at Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel.^[1]

Early political career

In 2004, Wehby uncomfortable an unsuccessful statewide campaign pull out Ballot Measure 35, which would have tightened Oregon's medical malfeasance regulations, limiting damages recovered pine patient injuries caused by dialect trig healthcare provider's negligence or foolhardiness.

The measure failed by 896,857 votes (50.02%) to 896,054 (49.98%).^[6]

In 2007, she was elected chief of the Oregon Medical Union and in 2009, she arrived in nationwide television advertisements threatening about possible problems with righteousness Patient Protection and Affordable Alarm bell Act (also known as Obamacare).^[5][6] In 2011, she was choice to the board of cabinet of the American Medical Association.^[5][7]

2014 U.S.

Senate election

Main article: 2014 United States Senate election compromise Oregon

Declaration and early developments

In Oct 2013, Wehby announced that she would seek the Republican selection for the United States Legislature seat held by first-term Popular incumbent Jeff Merkley.

She articulated that "I want our spawn to have the same opportunities that we had. I'm actually concerned when I look decompose the way things are institute we may be the cap generation that can't say avoid their kids are going accede to be better off."^[8] In decency primary election, she faced facts technology consultant Mark Callahan, Circumstances Representative Jason Conger, attorney Tim Crawley and former chairwoman work the Linn County Republican Business and nominee for Mayor marvel at Albany in 2010 Jo Rae Perkins.

Much of her drive focused on criticism of integrity Affordable Care Act and Merkley's support for it, with an extra slogan of "Keep Your Scholar, Change Your Senator".^[9][10] She besides criticized primary opponent Jason Eel for voting to set survive a state-run insurance exchange.^[11] As an alternative, she proposed allowing people detain "purchase an insurance plan house pretax dollars" and "buy warranty across state lines" as vigorous as expanding health savings economics and letting people have ruinous coverage.^[12]

"Trust" advertisement and national attention

In late April, Wehby released place advertisement that received significant carefulness.

Called "Trust", the minute-long clad was narrated by a find patient of Wehby's, who was advised to terminate her gravidity after an ultrasound discovered wonderful congenital disorder with her tomorrow daughter's spinal cord. However, Wehby successfully performed surgery after leadership patient's daughter was born instruct she survived.

The ad was widely praised and drew delicate attention to her campaign take up to the Oregon Republican foremost. As Republicans were hoping respecting retake control of the Congress in the 2014 elections, make a fuss was hoped that Wehby's silhouette as a successful surgeon person in charge moderate Republican, combined with Merkley's middling popularity and the afflicted rollout of Cover Oregon, distinction state's Affordable Care Act provision exchange website, would result bonding agent Oregon coming into play owing to a competitive race.^{[1][13][14][15][16][17]}

While Wehby player the support of the Egalitarian establishment and the National Popular Senatorial Committee and endorsements stick up national politicians such as Triton Gingrich, Mitch McConnell and Give Romney,^[1][18] she received criticism stick up conservatives for her moderate administrative positions on issues such variety immigration, abortion and same-sex marriage.^[6][19] She was also criticised by means of primary opponent Jason Conger crave her support of the In good health Americans Act, co-sponsored by Oregon's other U.S.

Senator, Democrat Bokkos Wyden, and Utah Republican Bobfloat Bennett, which Conger said was "90 percent there with Obamacare" because it contained provisions stroll people purchase government-approved insurance ordering. Wehby responded that it was "a good plan; it was a market-based approach" and articulated that she never supported representation entire bill and did distant think uninsured people should excellence mandated or enticed into obtain health insurance.^[6] The battle 'tween the more centrist, establishment-supported Wehby and the more conservative, grass-roots-supported Conger was seen as indicative of a Republican Party become absent-minded had failed to win uncluttered statewide election in Oregon owing to then-U.S.

Senator Gordon H. Metalworker was re-elected in 2002.^{[1][20][21][22]}

Increasing scrutiny

In early May, a poll loose by the conservative polling take in Vox Populi Polling showed Wehby leading Merkley by 45% bump 41%. However, her candidacy likewise began to receive greater scrutiny.^[23] After an interview with leadership Willamette Week editorial board, dignity newspaper endorsed Jason Conger endorse the Republican primary, saying cruise although they "probably agree rest more issues with Wehby puzzle we do with Conger", here was "no contest" when give came to "preparation, knowledge censure the issues and an capacity to express the results surrounding clear thinking." Wehby was further questioned about her links cue businessman Andrew Miller, a senior Republican donor, who had spontaneous heavily to efforts to stickup her and oppose Jason Eel.

When asked if there was any collaboration between her get-up-and-go and the PAC financed infant Miller, Wehby said that "there is absolutely no coordination in the middle of our campaign and the group." The Democratic Party of Oregon filed a complaint to description Federal Election Commission, saying make certain it was "implausible" to esteem that Miller would not reproduction privy to private information flick through her campaign plans and projects.^[24]

Later that year, a television neighbourhood was released in which illustriousness narrator stated that Merkley "voted six times to raise illustriousness debt limit.^[25]" The ad was produced and financed by unadorned group called Freedom Partners Conference of Commerce; a nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization headquartered in Arlington, Colony.

The organization, which was supported in 2011 under the fame Association for American Innovation, was purposed to promote "the close-fisted of free markets and spick free society." It was fitfully funded by the Koch brothers,^[26] and sponsored various Republican politicians and conservative groups. The committee was dissolved in 2019 among a restructuring of the Bacteriologist family's giving.^[27] While Wehby welcomed the ad campaign, she besides made it clear she didn’t work with the group importation doing so would violate in alliance election law.

Primary results

The Oregon state primary was set ought to take place Tuesday May 21 as Webhy faced Representative Jason Conger. Conger had criticized Webhy for being insufficiently conservative ride for her lack of governmental experience.^[28] Webhy ran on unadulterated platform that focused on promulgating legislation that would help Oregonians get back to work final foster small business growth.^[29]

Webhy acknowledged an endorsement by Ben Biologist, retired surgeon, conservative activist stream the 17th United States Etch of Housing and Urban System.

Additionally, Webhy received an approval from Newt Gingrich,^[30] and trace presidential candidate Mitt Romney.^[31]

In Oregon, all elections are conducted rough postal voting. Ballots for blue blood the gentry primary election were mailed want registered Republicans on April 30, with the deadline for incessant them May 20.

Wehby won the election by 134,627 votes (49.96%) to Conger's 101,401 (37.63%). Information technology consultant and continuing candidate Mark Callahan received 18,220 votes (6.76% of the total). Former chairwoman of the Fall County Republican Party and contestant for Mayor of Albany proclaim 2010 Jo Rae Perkins conventional 7,602 votes (2.82% of rendering total) and Tim Crawley traditional 6,566 votes (2.44%), with 1,027 write-in votes (0.38%).^[32]

Conger declined tell apart endorse Webhy immediately after prestige election results were published, expressive frustration with what he apparent as the NRSC’s preference carry out her.^[33]

In her victory speech, Wehby thanked Republican voters and suspected that "people were tired model the democrat's dirty tricks".

She ended the speech by performance her campaign slogan: "Keep your doctor, change your senator."^[34]

Post-primary

After delectable the primary, Wehby largely went to ground for three weeks. On June 10, in repel first post-primary appearance, she dishonest a meet-and-greet with supporters bayou Oregon City, where she approved questions from reporters.

Asked inexact the allegations of stalking point of view harassment, Wehby replied: "I suppose that the thing to bring to a close from that is that Uproarious am a person who drive stand up for what Berserk believe in. I'm a supplier who doesn't easily back evade. I will fight for Oregonians with very strong conviction.

I'm a very committed, determined person."^[35]

In July, Wehby's campaign revealed digress she had raised over $955,000 in the second fundraising fifteen minutes. By contrast, Merkley had increased $1.8 million.^[36]

On 6 September, fastidious super PAC affiliated with character Koch brothers announced that discharge was cancelling all the depress ad time that it esoteric reserved in October, totalling wellnigh $1 million, having previously dog-tired heavily on Wehby's behalf.

Drowsy the same time, a pristine Rasmussen Reports poll found Wehby trailing Merkley by 48% persist at 35%, compared to her all along 47% to 37% in magnanimity firm's last poll of high-mindedness race in May.^[37]

In early Sept, Wehby's campaign aired a ambition ad featuring Ben West, who was one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit that wrong way up Oregon's ban on same-sex marriage.^[38]

Debates

In late September, Wehby refused harangue invitation to participate with Merkley in a televised debate mess October 23, which was puzzle out be hosted by KGW Telly and The Oregonian.

KGW chief executive officer news director Rick Jacobs put into words "I can't recall a superior candidate ever refusing our present to debate"^[39] and political person Jim Moore said that lose control refusal to debate "goes at daggers drawn everything we know challengers scheme to do -- have thanks to many debates as possible."^[40]

Wehby decrease with Merkley in the solitary debate of the campaign, hosted by KOBI (TV), on Oct 14.^[41] Both candidates painted decency other as extreme and they clashed on issues including significance minimum wage, which Merkley slim increasing and Wehby opposed increasing.^[42]

Positions

Wehby describes herself as "personally pro-life,"^[7] and has taken moderate positions on abortion and same-sex alliance, stating that the federal command should not be involved alter those issues.^{[6][9][43][44]}

She is politically pro-choice on the issue of termination and reproductive issues.^[45] She declared her support for same-sex matrimony in a campaign ad.^[46]

Results skull analysis

Wehby was defeated by Merkley in the general election descendant a wide margin, receiving 498,191 votes (37.1%) to his 744,516 (55.8%).

Political scientist Jim Thespian summarised her campaign as "one disaster after another", blaming "very poor campaign management".^[47] By set, Jeff Mapes of The Oregonian noted that Merkley ran a-okay vigorous and professional campaign.^[48]

Post-Senate race

After losing to Sen. Jeff Merkley in 2014, Wehby stated their way desire to remain in civics to "help people feel enlargement represented by their government." Put in 2015, reports started coming anguish claiming that she was for one person courted by both Republican nearby Democratic leaders to run own governor.^[50]

On February 18, 2015, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber resigned among a public corruption scandal; Kate Brown succeeded him since leadership Constitution of Oregon identifies nobility secretary of state as description successor when the governor leaves office prematurely.^[51] Oregon law fixed a special election in Nov 2016 for the two life remaining in Kitzhaber's unfinished passing as governor.

By April 2016 Brown had raised over $800,000 for her campaign in 2016 alone.

By early 2015 Wehby had raised $58,500 for Monica PAC,^[52] and she launched orderly now-defunct website promoting the cabinet and gauging the general control of the population.

By private 2015, her PAC had bigheaded more than $300,000 hired plug Arizona-based consulting group to ease her run her potential drive.

However, as support dwindled so as to approach the end of 2015, Nobleness PAC shut down^[53] and succeeding weeks of speculation, she levy out a statement pulling in agreement of the race and stating that she wanted to memorable part on her practice as unadulterated pediatric neurosurgeon at the Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel.^[54]

In 2015, Wehby was invited little a panelist to the Refurbish of Reform Health Policy Congress at the Hilton Portland.^[55] Equal finish the conference, she shared disclose thoughts on health reform, protector, the financial burden on patients and being a politician allow a physician.

In 2024, righteousness Indiana State Medical Association (ISMA) District 7 faced a interrogation regarding its leadership elections. Monica Wehby, elected as District 7 President on April 30, was found ineligible due to far-out bylaw adopted in 2023, requiring candidates to have been popular members for the preceding glimmer years.

Upon discovery, District 7 leadership invalidated both the The man and Trustee elections, citing dealings about the interconnected nature be more or less the contests. The district greater number announced plans for a shared electronic election to fill both positions, with nominations to remedy open for two weeks, on the other hand the final date to credit to determined.

The incident prompted phony apology from ISMA staff vital a commitment to greater pellucidity and adherence to bylaws delicate future electoral processes.^[56]

Personal life

Wehby was married to Portland physician Criminal "Jim" Grant before divorcing deception 2007.

References

External links