Largest U.S. RN Union Champions Nygard For Calif. 10th Congressional District

National Nurses United (NNU), the largest union of registered nurses in the United States, today announced it has endorsed Dotty Nygard, RN, for Congress in California’s 10th Congressional District.

Nygard, an emergency room RNand 24-year resident of Tracy, is a member of NNU and its affiliate, the California Nurses Association (CNA), which represents 90,000 RNs in California. Nygard is challenging incumbent Republican Congressman Jeff Denham.

“National Nurses United is proud to endorse Dotty Nygard, RN, in her campaign for the US Congress from California’s 10th Congressional district,” said Deborah Burger, RN, NNU co-president. “Dotty is a dedicated patient advocate who believes that healthcare is a human right and should be guaranteed through a Medicare for all system. She is also a strong advocate for our environment, for quality education for our children, and for a living wage for everyone.

“It’s time the people of the 10th District had someone representing them in Washington who will fight for them. Dotty Nygard is that person.”

Nygard supports SB 562, guaranteed healthcare for all Californians.

A key to the endorsement, says NNU, is Nygard’s support for a Medicare for all healthcare system, including her support for California’s nation-leading SB 562, which would guarantee healthcare to all Californians. Nygard is also a longtime activist, who has stood up for environmental protections, including traveling to Standing Rock with NNU’s Registered Nurse Response Network, a national network of volunteer RNs, to help provide first aid and to stand in solidarity against the negative health impacts of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

In her campaign, Nygard brings her nurse’s perspective to protecting the health of the Central Valley, stating, “We need to preserve and protect the nation's leading agricultural industry here within our rich Central Valley soils. The future sustainability of our region hangs in the balance, and will be decided at the voting booth in 2018.”

Nygard, second from right, helping provide first aid at Standing Rock.

Given that nurses have been voted the most trusted profession in America 15 years running, in the annual Gallup Poll, Burger emphasizes that there is no more trusted champion than Nygard for the values that positively impact people in her community, to whom she has spent years providing lifesaving care.

“In her work as a registered nurse and in her support for the people of her community, Dotty displays nurses’ values of caring, compassion and community every single day,” said Burger.

“I'm so proud to be endorsed by the boldly progressive California Nurses Association and National Nurses United,” said Nygard. “I want to wholeheartedly thank them and say that I look forward to bringing the voice of the people to Congress. Together we can heal our district.”