Complete Story
06/30/2026
The Financial Reality of Advocacy: The OAPA PAC Bank Balance, and Why It Matters
The finances of every Political Action Committee (PAC) in Ohio are public record. We believe you deserve to know exactly where the Ohio Association of Physician Assistants Political Action Committee (OAPA PAC) stands.
Here is the current reality of Ohio PACs for other healthcare professions, as of the 2026 pre-primary filing:
- The Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses PAC has $64,000 in its bank account.
- The Ohio Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists PAC has $80,000.
- The Ohio State Medical Association PAC has $86,000.
By contrast, the OAPA PAC has just $8,000.
In all of 2025, the OAPA PAC received only $965 from 13 individuals and made $1,950 in contributions to 5 campaigns. Limited incoming funds leads to limited impact in our ability to support candidate campaigns.
That is not a criticism. It is simply the financial reality. And in politics, financial reality shapes influence.
Back to Basics: What a PAC Actually Does
Many clinicians understandably have limited exposure to campaign finance. As a PA, you are focused on your patients and improving healthcare in Ohio, not on politics. Here is the practical explanation.
A Political Action Committee (PAC), as defined in the Ohio Campaign Finance Handbook, is “a combination of two or more persons, the primary or major purpose of which is to support or oppose any candidate, political party, or issue, or to influence the result of any election through express advocacy.”
The Ohio Association of Physician Assistants is the sponsor of the OAPA PAC, allowing Ohio PAs to collectively participate in supporting candidates for state-level office in Ohio.
What does a PAC actually do with the money? It contributes to campaigns of legislators and candidates to demonstrate support and build relationships.
When the OAPA PAC makes a contribution to a candidate, it helps to open a door. It gives PAs a chance to engage with candidates to understand their priorities and to share ours so that when it comes to healthcare decisionmaking, it prevents PAs from being an afterthought, or worse yet, not a thought at all.
Engagement at candidate fundraising events often carries an expected contribution in the $500 range, but contributions of $1,000, $1,500, or more carry meaningful weight and visibility.
With a balance of $8,000, OAPA PAC’s ability to participate consistently and strategically is limited. Meanwhile, other healthcare professions are showing up with significantly greater financial capacity.
This Is About Influence, Not Optics
Legislators track engagement. They notice which professions attend events, support campaigns, participate consistently, and demonstrate organized backing. When a PAC can contribute broadly and strategically, it builds relationships long before a vote is needed. When it cannot, access narrows.
Right now, compared to peer professions in Ohio, the PA voice is financially underpowered. That does not reflect our clinical impact. It does not reflect our value to the healthcare system. It reflects participation and willingness to step up and own our profession.
Who Can Contribute?
By law:
- OAPA members who are U.S. citizens may contribute.
- Contributions must be made using a personal credit card or check.
- Corporate contributions are not permitted.
- An individual may contribute up to $16,615.67 under current Ohio limits.
Most of us will not approach that ceiling. And that is not the point.
The Power of “One Hour”
Consider a simple concept: One Hour of Power.
What is one hour of your clinical pay? Now imagine dozens, or hundreds, of Ohio PAs contributing the equivalent of one hour. Small and moderate contributions, when aggregated, become meaningful.
Financial support allows the OAPA PAC to send representatives to more candidate events, build broader legislative relationships, make stronger, more strategic contributions, and demonstrate visible, statewide engagement.
Just as importantly, a higher number of contributors signals something powerful: Ohio PAs are engaged. We are invested. We stand behind our profession.
Professional Ownership Matters
If we want a stronger future for PAs in Ohio, professional ownership matters. Advocacy is not something a few board members or volunteers can carry alone. It works best when the profession stands behind it, financially and visibly.
Other healthcare professions have built strong PAC balances through understanding that political engagement is a part of professional responsibility. We can do the same.
Ownership → Investment → Influence
If you have not yet contributed, consider the “one hour of pay” challenge today.
If you have contributed before, thank you. Please consider increasing your support. If you are a student, consider starting the habit early. Every contribution strengthens our collective position.
The reality is clear. The solution is within reach, and it starts with participation.
OAPA Government Affairs Chair
