The ad (and issue) that helped oust Sen. Phil Berger

About this episode

The episode discusses the factors that led to Phil Berger's primary loss, including advocacy for healthcare legislation by Sheila Mikhail.

Senate leader Phil Berger lost his primary in March to Rockingham County sheriff Sam Page by just 23 votes. When the margin is that close, every factor that influenced at least 23 voters could be considered the deciding element in the race. Berger’s support for a controversial casino wasn't the only aspect of Berger’s legislative record that faced criticism during the primary. Sheila Mikhail, a prominent biotechnology executive in the Triangle, spent more than $200,000 on the race for a very different reason. She’s been advocating for a bill that would require insurance companies to cover supplemental breast cancer exams. Mikhail blames Berger and the lobbying influence of insurance companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield for keeping the bill from a vote on the Senate floor after it passed the House nearly unanimously. She spoke with WUNC News Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell about her advocacy and why she decided to help Page.

People in this episode

Host: Colin Campbell

Guest: Sheila Mikhail

Topics covered

• politics
• elections
• healthcare
• advocacy
• legislation

Keywords

• Phil Berger
• Sam Page
• Sheila Mikhail
• breast cancer exams
• insurance companies
• North Carolina politics
• primary election

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Rockingham County, Capitol Bureau

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