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The Nirav Shah for Governor campaign has announced that the Maine Emergency Medicine Action Fund (MEMAF), the Maine Eye Political Action Committee (MEPAC), the Maine Physicians Action Fund (MPAF), and the Maine Society of Anesthesiologists Political Action Committee (MeSA PAC) are providing financial support to Shah’s gubernatorial candidacy.
According to the campaign, the backing reflects Shah’s training as a physician, his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, and his long-standing commitment to protecting frontline workers and strengthening health care for all Mainers.
In a statement, the campaign said the organizations support pro-medicine physician candidates who understand the challenges facing Maine’s health care system and are prepared to deliver solutions rooted in patients’ needs.
“In these times, we are heartened to see a pro-medicine physician enter the race, and contributing to his campaign is exactly in line with the mission of our PACs. Having physicians step into public office isn’t just beneficial; it’s essential. At a moment when Maine’s health care system faces a deepening crisis, we need people running for office who bring real health care experience and an understanding of patients’ needs to the job,” said Jay Mullen MD, MBA, FACEP, Chair of the Maine Physicians Action Fund.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, Dr. Shah led from the top and stood with us as emergency physicians working through the most difficult period of our careers. His calm, decisive guidance helped Maine navigate a crisis while keeping human impact front and center,” said Sheldon Stevenson, DO, President of the Maine Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (MEACEP).
“Physicians bring a critical, firsthand perspective to public service that simply can’t be replicated. As Maine’s health care system faces mounting workforce shortages, access challenges, and rising costs, having leaders who understand these realities from the exam room to the bedside is more important than ever,” said Michelle Harris, MD, President of the Maine Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (MSEPS).
Mullen added, “Dr. Shah is a pro-medicine physician who demonstrated extraordinary compassion and steadiness during the pandemic, helping safeguard clinicians and guiding Maine through an unprecedented public health crisis. We look forward to having a physician in the gubernatorial race who will bring expertise with the health care crisis to the center stage.”
“I am honored to have earned the trust and backing of the MEMAF, MEPAC, MPAF, and the MesSA PAC,” said Nirav Shah, MD. “Their support underscores my commitment to fighting for affordable, high-quality health care for every Mainer. As Governor, I will work tirelessly to expand access to care, protect rural hospitals, strengthen maternal health, and ensure that every Mainer — no matter where they live — can get the services they need. During COVID-19, I saw firsthand the dedication of Maine’s physicians and frontline workers. Their partnership and sacrifice are the reason Maine came through with strength and resilience, and as Governor, I will continue fighting for them.”
The campaign noted that Maine faces mounting health care challenges, including instability in Affordable Care Act subsidies that could threaten coverage for tens of thousands of residents, along with rural clinic closures, workforce shortages, and hospitals under increasing strain. These pressures, the statement said, underscore the need for leaders with firsthand understanding of health systems.
Throughout the pandemic, Shah emerged as a trusted public voice, helping Maine navigate complex health decisions while working to secure personal protective equipment, expand testing capacity, and build vaccination infrastructure to protect physicians, nurses, and other frontline workers.
“His leadership helped Maine achieve some of the highest vaccination and lowest mortality rates in the nation, demonstrating his understanding of public health systems, emergency response, and the needs of health care professionals,” the campaign added. “Shah’s campaign has made health care access, health equity, and rebuilding the state’s provider workforce key themes of its platform.”
MEMAF is the nonpartisan political action committee associated with the Maine Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. MEPAC is affiliated with the Maine Society of Eye Surgeons and Physicians, MPAF with the Maine Medical Association, and MeSA PAC with the Maine Society of Anesthesiologists.
