Why the 2026 Election Results Matter to the Arthritis Community

By Deb Andio | Arthritis Advocate

Well, another election has come and gone! Thankfully….

The campaign signs are coming down, the political commercials are finally giving us a break (thank goodness!), and hopefully, we can all return to watching television without being reminded every five minutes why we should or shouldn’t vote for someone.

But while Election Day may be behind us, there’s something that hasn’t changed.

Arthritis is still here, joint pain still there, and so is our need to advocate for those living with it.

Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or someone who would rather avoid politics altogether, arthritis doesn’t discriminate.

It doesn’t check your voter registration before deciding to make your knees hurt, your hands stiff, or your morning routine a little more challenging.

And wouldn’t it be wonderful if arthritis took a four-year break between elections? Unfortunately, we aren’t that lucky!

All joking aside, elections have real consequences for healthcare, and that’s why I believe it’s important for all of us to stay informed and involved.

A New Congress Means New Opportunities

The 2026 midterm elections brought changes to Washington and state governments across the country.

All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, 35 Senate seats, and 36 governorships were on the ballot.

According to the early election update shared on November 4, Democrats had gained majorities in both chambers of Congress, and five governorships had changed parties, although some races had not yet been officially called.

Regardless of which candidates won or lost, we now have an opportunity to build relationships with elected officials and help them better understand the needs of people living with arthritis.

Congress makes decisions that can affect healthcare coverage, prescription medication costs, access to specialists, physical therapy, arthritis research, and public health programs.

Those decisions matter to millions of people, including children living with juvenile arthritis.

And while Washington can sometimes feel a million miles away from our everyday lives, the decisions made there can eventually reach right into our medicine cabinets, doctors’ offices, and family budgets.

That’s why advocacy matters.

Why I Continue to Advocate

I’ve lived with osteoarthritis for more than 30 years, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that arthritis doesn’t always cooperate with our plans.

Some mornings, my joints seem to have their own agenda, and I certainly wasn’t invited to the planning meeting!

There are days when I feel productive and ready to take on the world. Then there are days when my body reminds me that perhaps I should reconsider that ambitious to-do list.

But living with arthritis has also taught me patience, compassion, and the importance of speaking up.

I don’t claim to have all the answers. I’m not a medical professional, a politician, or someone who understands every complicated piece of legislation that comes out of Washington.

I’m simply someone who lives with chronic illness and believes that every person deserves access to quality healthcare, affordable treatment, and the opportunity to live as independently and comfortably as possible.

Through my volunteer work with the Arthritis Foundation, I’ve learned how powerful our personal stories can be.

I’ve also learned that advocacy isn’t about being the loudest person in the room.

Sometimes it’s about listening, asking thoughtful questions, sharing experiences, and respectfully reminding our elected officials that the decisions they make affect real people.

Behind every healthcare statistic is someone’s mother, father, child, grandparent, neighbor, or friend.

And every one of those people matters.

Three Simple Ways to Prepare for the New Congress

You don’t need a political science degree, a fancy title, or a closet full of business suits to become an advocate.

Believe me, I’m much more comfortable advocating in a pair of comfortable shoes!

Here are three ways we can prepare.

1. Get to Know Your Elected Officials

Do you know who represents you in Washington?

If not, don’t worry. There’s no pop quiz!

Start by learning the names of your representatives and senators.

Visit their websites, learn about their healthcare priorities, and find out how to contact their offices.

You don’t have to agree with every position they take to establish a respectful relationship.

Sometimes a simple introduction and a willingness to share your experience can open the door to a meaningful conversation.

2. Attend the Arthritis Foundation’s Year-in-Review Webinar

The Arthritis Foundation has announced a Year-in-Review Webinar for December 14 at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.

The webinar will discuss what the election results could mean for arthritis policy priorities and what advocates can expect moving forward.

I encourage anyone interested in learning more about advocacy to consider attending.

And here’s something I appreciate about virtual webinars: You can learn from the comfort of your own home.

No driving, no parking, and no wondering whether your knees will cooperate with a long walk from the parking lot!

Just an opportunity to listen, learn, and become better informed.

3. Help Welcome Newly Elected Lawmakers

In the coming months, the Arthritis Foundation plans to provide resources, including Welcome to Office packets, to help advocates introduce newly elected lawmakers to the challenges facing people with arthritis.

This is a wonderful opportunity to share our experiences.

You don’t need to write a ten-page letter or give a speech worthy of a standing ovation.

Simply explain what living with arthritis means to you.

Perhaps it’s the cost of medications, difficulty accessing treatment, or the challenge of maintaining employment while managing chronic pain.

Maybe it’s the emotional exhaustion that comes with living with a condition other people cannot always see.

Maybe it’s dealing with the overwhelming fact your child was just diagnosed with juvenile arthritis and you are scared and worried.

Whatever your experience, it matters.

Our stories can help turn complicated healthcare policies into something lawmakers can understand on a personal level.

Advocacy Doesn’t Require a Trip to Washington

One of the things I love about advocacy today is that we can accomplish so much right from home.

And for those of us living with arthritis, that’s a pretty wonderful thing.

You can write an email, make a phone call, participate in an online advocacy event, or respond to an action alert.

You can even advocate while sitting in your favorite chair with a cup of coffee, tea or beverage.

Personally, I think coffee makes just about any task a little more pleasant!

The Arthritis Foundation offers educational webinars, advocacy resources, and training opportunities to help people become informed and involved.

Consider joining and becoming an advocate for arthritis!

Tell them that….. Deb Andio sent you.

Together we can help not just ourselves but millions of men, women and children living with arthritis.

Have a blessed day.

Deb

You can explore these opportunities at www.arthritis.org⁠.

Remember, advocacy isn’t about how much time you have available or how many activities you can squeeze into your schedule.

It’s about doing what you can, when you can.

And if you’re living with chronic illness, please remember that taking care of yourself is important, too.

We cannot be everywhere, do everything, or solve every problem.

Nor should we expect ourselves to.

A small act of advocacy is still a meaningful act of advocacy.

Let’s Keep Politics Respectful and Our Purpose Clear

I know politics can bring out strong emotions.

Sometimes even a simple conversation about an election can turn into a debate nobody intended to have.

And quite frankly, most of us have enough inflammation in our joints without adding more to our conversations!

A little humor aside, I believe we can approach these discussions with kindness, humility, and respect.

We don’t all have to think alike.

We don’t have to belong to the same political party.

And we certainly don’t have to agree on every issue.

But surely we can agree that children and adults living with arthritis deserve compassionate care, meaningful research, and access to appropriate treatments.

As advocates, our purpose should never be to shame someone for their political beliefs or tell them how they should vote.

Our purpose is to educate, encourage, and help our elected officials understand the challenges faced by the arthritis community.

We can be passionate without being unkind.

We can be persistent without being disrespectful.

And we can disagree without forgetting that we’re all human beings deserving of dignity.

A Little Kindness Can Go a Long Way

Over the years, I’ve come to believe that some of the most meaningful changes begin with ordinary people who simply care enough to get involved.

You don’t have to be famous.

You don’t need thousands of social media followers.

You don’t even have to be particularly comfortable speaking in public.

Sometimes all it takes is one person willing to share their story and another person willing to listen.

I know that advocacy won’t solve every challenge overnight.

I also know that our elected officials face many difficult decisions and competing priorities.

But I believe we can respectfully remind them that arthritis deserves attention, research, and continued support.

And perhaps, through patience, persistence, and a little kindness, we can make a difference.

Election Day Is Over, but Our Voices Still Matter

As we move forward into 2027, I hope we can focus less on political divisions and more on the things that bring us together.

For me, that means continuing to advocate for people living with arthritis, supporting research, encouraging education, and helping others understand that arthritis is far more than an occasional ache or pain.

I don’t expect everyone to become an advocate overnight.

I don’t expect everyone to have the time, energy, or physical ability to participate in every opportunity.

And I certainly don’t expect anyone to have all the answers.

I know I don’t!

But I do believe we can all make a difference in our own way.

Whether it’s sending one email, making one phone call, attending one webinar, or simply helping someone understand what living with arthritis is really like, every effort matters.

At the end of the day, advocacy isn’t about winning political arguments. It’s about improving people’s lives.

So, let’s approach this new chapter with open minds, compassionate hearts, and a willingness to work together.

And if we’re lucky, maybe one day we’ll have treatments that make arthritis a little less demanding.

Until then, I’ll keep advocating, learning, and doing what I can.

And on those mornings when my knees decide to voice their own opinions before I’ve even had my coffee, I’ll remind myself that some voices are worth listening to—even when they’re a little creaky!

Because elections come and go, political leadership changes, but kindness, compassion, and the desire to help others should never go out of style.

Together, we can continue making sure the arthritis community is heard, one voice, one story, and one small act of advocacy at a time.

Deb Andio

Arthritis Advocate | Arthritis Foundation Volunteer