Kim Schrier

Kim Schrier
Born	Kimberly Merle Schrier 23 8, 1968
Birthplace	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Physician, politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for Washington's 8th congressional district
Education	University of California, Berkeley (BS) University of California, Davis (MD)
Spouse(s)	David Gowing
Children	1
Website	[Official congressional website Official site]

Kimberly Merle Schrier (born August 23, 1968) is an American physician and politician who has served as the U.S. representative for Washington's 8th congressional district since January 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Schrier made history as the first Democrat to represent the 8th district, which encompasses the eastern suburbs of Seattle, stretches across the Cascade Range, and includes the central Washington cities of Wenatchee and Ellensburg. Before entering politics, Schrier practiced as a pediatrician for more than a decade, and her medical background has shaped her legislative focus on healthcare policy, including protections for patients with pre-existing conditions, youth mental health, and access to affordable prescription drugs. She serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where she has been an outspoken voice on issues ranging from Medicaid funding and vaccine safety to the regulation of artificial intelligence and advanced driver assistance systems. Her path from the examining room to the halls of Congress drew national attention during the 2018 midterm elections, when a wave of first-time candidates with professional backgrounds outside politics sought federal office.

Early Life

Kim Schrier was born on August 23, 1968, in Los Angeles, California. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a child, an experience that profoundly influenced her understanding of the healthcare system and the challenges faced by individuals with pre-existing conditions. Growing up with a chronic illness required her to navigate insurance coverage and access to medical supplies from a young age, experiences she would later cite frequently during her political career as shaping her commitment to healthcare reform.

Schrier's upbringing in Southern California set the stage for her academic trajectory. Her personal encounters with the medical system as a patient motivated her decision to pursue a career in medicine, and she channeled that motivation into her studies. She has spoken publicly about how her diabetes diagnosis, rather than serving as a limitation, became the driving force behind her desire to help others manage their health conditions, particularly children facing similar challenges.

Education

Schrier attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. She subsequently enrolled at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, where she obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree. Her medical training prepared her for a career in pediatrics, and she went on to complete her residency training before establishing a practice in the Puget Sound region of Washington state. Both of her degrees were earned within the University of California system, and she has maintained her identification as a physician throughout her political career, often using the designation "M.D." in official congressional communications.

Career

Medical Career

Before entering politics, Schrier worked as a practicing pediatrician in the Issaquah area of Washington state for over a decade. Her medical practice focused on the care of children and adolescents, and her firsthand experience treating young patients informed her later legislative priorities in areas such as youth mental health, childhood vaccination, and access to affordable healthcare. As a physician living with type 1 diabetes, Schrier brought a dual perspective—as both a provider and a patient—to discussions about the American healthcare system. Her decision to leave her medical practice to pursue a congressional campaign was a significant personal and professional shift, one that attracted media coverage as part of a broader national trend of doctors, scientists, and other professionals running for office during the 2018 election cycle.

2018 Congressional Campaign

The opportunity for Schrier's entry into politics arose in September 2017, when incumbent Republican Representative Dave Reichert announced he would not seek reelection, leaving Washington's 8th congressional district as an open seat. The 8th district had never been represented by a Democrat since its creation in 1983, making it a closely watched race in the 2018 midterm elections. Reichert's retirement prompted multiple candidates from both parties to enter the race.

Schrier announced her candidacy and centered her campaign on healthcare, drawing on her professional experience as a pediatrician and her personal experience as a person with type 1 diabetes. She argued that the Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act would harm patients with pre-existing conditions, including herself, and pledged to protect and strengthen the law if elected. Her campaign message resonated in a district where healthcare was a top concern among voters, and she attracted national attention as one of several physician-candidates running in 2018.

In Washington state's nonpartisan blanket primary system, all candidates regardless of party compete on a single ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election. In the August 2018 primary, Schrier edged out fellow Democrat Jason Rittereiser to finish second behind Republican Dino Rossi, a well-known state senator and former gubernatorial candidate, setting up a general election contest between the two.

The general election race between Schrier and Rossi became one of the most expensive congressional contests in the country. A record-setting flood of outside money pushed the total spending in the race past the $25 million mark, reflecting both the national significance of the contest and the competitiveness of the district. Inside Elections, a nonpartisan political analysis publication, profiled Schrier as a candidate whose personal story and professional credentials gave her a compelling narrative in a healthcare-focused election year.

During the campaign, Schrier faced scrutiny over remarks she made comparing her campaign experience to wartime service, which drew criticism from some observers. The race also saw broader attacks on candidates of Jewish heritage in multiple congressional races across the country during the 2018 cycle, including caricatures involving money, which were documented by media outlets.

Schrier won the November 2018 general election, defeating Rossi and becoming the first Democrat to represent the 8th congressional district. She took office on January 3, 2019, succeeding Reichert.

Congressional Tenure

Since taking office in January 2019, Schrier has represented Washington's 8th congressional district, which includes suburban communities east of Seattle such as Issaquah, Sammamish, and parts of Auburn and Federal Way, as well as rural areas in central Washington including the cities of Wenatchee and Ellensburg. The district's geographic and demographic diversity—spanning affluent suburban neighborhoods, agricultural communities, and mountain towns—has required Schrier to address a broad range of policy concerns.

Schrier serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, one of the most influential committees in Congress with jurisdiction over healthcare, energy, the environment, telecommunications, and consumer protection. Her medical background has made her a prominent voice on healthcare-related legislation within the committee. She has used the designation "M.D." in her official capacity, underscoring her professional credentials in policy debates.

Healthcare Policy

Healthcare has been the central pillar of Schrier's legislative agenda throughout her time in Congress. As a pediatrician and a person with type 1 diabetes, she has focused on protecting the Affordable Care Act's provisions for patients with pre-existing conditions, reducing prescription drug costs, and expanding access to mental health services.

In May 2025, Schrier spoke at the American Hospital Association's Annual Meeting, addressing the upcoming budget reconciliation process, the youth mental health crisis, and policies under consideration at the Department of Health and Human Services. She has been a vocal critic of insurance industry practices, particularly the use of prior authorization in Medicare Advantage plans. In a congressional hearing, Schrier questioned health insurance company executives about prior authorization abuses that she argued were harming patients enrolled in Medicare Advantage by delaying or denying necessary medical care.

In July 2025, Schrier appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal to discuss the impact of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" on healthcare, offering her perspective as both a physician and a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee on the potential consequences of the proposed legislation for patients and healthcare providers.

Vaccine Safety and Public Health

Schrier has been active in legislative efforts related to vaccine safety and public health. In June 2025, she co-introduced legislation with Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) aimed at protecting mothers and children from what they described as anti-vaccine conspiracy theories promoted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was serving as Secretary of Health and Human Services. The bill sought to safeguard public health messaging and vaccination programs from interference based on unsubstantiated claims.

Pharmaceutical Access

In July 2025, Schrier joined a bipartisan group of congresswomen, including Representatives Deborah Ross, Lori Trahan, Kathy Castor, and Lizzie Fletcher, in introducing legislation to guarantee access to FDA-approved medicines. The bill aimed to ensure that patients could obtain medications that had been reviewed and approved by the Food and Drug Administration without undue barriers.

Technology and Consumer Safety

Beyond healthcare, Schrier has engaged with technology and consumer safety policy through her committee work. In May 2025, she delivered opening remarks at a Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee hearing on artificial intelligence regulation, addressing the challenges of balancing innovation with consumer protection in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

In 2025, Schrier introduced the Know Before You Drive Act, legislation designed to enhance road safety by addressing the use of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in automobiles. The bill aimed to improve consumer understanding of the capabilities and limitations of driver-assist technologies in modern vehicles.

District Engagement and Disaster Response

Schrier has been involved in disaster response efforts within her district. In December 2025, she joined Washington Governor the Governor of Washington in visiting areas of Pierce County impacted by flooding, as part of efforts to secure a federal emergency declaration for the affected communities.

Personal Life

Kim Schrier is married to David Gowing, and the couple has one child. She has been open about her diagnosis of type 1 diabetes as a child, a condition she has managed throughout her life and which has been central to her public identity as both a physician and a lawmaker. Her experience as a patient with a chronic, pre-existing condition has informed her legislative advocacy for healthcare protections and has served as a recurring theme in her public communications and campaign messaging.

Schrier has resided in the Puget Sound region of Washington state, where she practiced medicine before her election to Congress. She has spoken publicly about the challenges of balancing her roles as a mother, a physician, and a member of Congress, and has discussed how her personal health experiences give her a unique perspective among lawmakers on the real-world impact of healthcare policy decisions.

Recognition

Schrier's 2018 election drew significant national media coverage as part of the broader story of women, physicians, and first-time candidates running for Congress during the midterm elections. She was profiled by outlets including ABC News, NBC News, The Seattle Times, and The Washington Post as an example of the wave of candidates with professional backgrounds outside of politics who entered the political arena in response to healthcare policy debates.

Her continued work on healthcare policy has been recognized by industry groups, including invitations to speak at major events such as the American Hospital Association's Annual Meeting in 2025, where she addressed healthcare professionals on Medicaid policy and youth mental health. Her role on the Energy and Commerce Committee has placed her at the center of debates on some of the most consequential policy areas in Congress, including healthcare regulation, technology oversight, and consumer protection.

Legacy

As the first Democrat to represent Washington's 8th congressional district since its creation in 1983, Schrier's election marked a significant shift in the political landscape of the region. Her victory in 2018, in a district that had been held by Republicans for its entire existence, was viewed as emblematic of changing political dynamics in suburban districts across the country during the Trump era. The 8th district's mix of suburban, exurban, and rural communities made it a bellwether for understanding how healthcare policy, demographic change, and shifting party coalitions were reshaping American electoral politics.

Schrier's identity as a physician in Congress has given her a distinct platform in legislative debates over healthcare. As one of a small number of medical doctors serving in the House of Representatives, she has drawn on her clinical experience to lend credibility to her policy positions on issues such as pre-existing condition protections, prescription drug pricing, vaccination policy, and mental health services. Her willingness to speak from personal experience as a patient with type 1 diabetes has added a dimension to healthcare debates that few other members of Congress can offer.

Her legislative work has spanned a range of issues beyond healthcare, including artificial intelligence regulation, automotive safety, and pharmaceutical access, reflecting the broad jurisdiction of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the diverse needs of her geographically expansive district.