Val Arkoosh, Montgomery County Commissioners Chair and a Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate, has been a lot of “firsts” both in her career as a physician and politician – and she might be adding a few more next year, writes Julia Terruso for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

If elected in one of the most competitive Senate races in the country, Arkoosh would be the first woman senator from Pennsylvania. Montgomery County is currently the 3rd most populous and second-wealthiest county in Pennsylvania.

“I would also be the first woman physician ever, from either party,” she added.

And while she believes that it is “about time the commonwealth elected a woman,” she emphasized that this race is about so much more than that, including the economy, climate, and health care.

Arkoosh pivoted from being a doctor to a politician after she realized her patients needed more help than she could provide in an exam room.

She was invigorated to try and make substantial changes by kids whose asthma was aggravated by pollution or numerous denied insurance claims.

“We will get better legislation and better impact for our communities if the laws that are passed reflect everyone,” she said. ”And we do have very few women there, so we do need to do better.”

Read more about Val Arkoosh, who could possibly be the first woman senator in Pennsylvania, in The Philadelphia Inquirer.