On Friday, April 9, 2021, the California Medical Association (CMA) Political Action Committee (CALPAC) concluded its two-week-long Golden Gavel contest in conjunction with CMA’s Legislative Advocacy Conference, declaring and congratulating the physicians of the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association (ACCMA) as winners of the inaugural edition of this contest.

The contest, which started March 29, 2021, challenged physicians from each county medical society in California to make a new donation to CALPAC or upgrade their current level of giving. At the end of the two-week-long fundraising period, the medical society that had the highest average donation among its donors won the Golden Gavel.

Donations to CALPAC are crucial and are used to support the campaigns of candidates for political office who share CMA’s health care policy vision. The importance of CALPAC’s work, the core of which is electing legislators and maintaining positive relationships thereafter, was on full display at CMA’s Legislative Advocacy Conference, which ran concurrently with the contest. All week long, hundreds of physicians met virtually with legislators to discuss top health care priorities.

At the end of the contest period and the Legislative Advocacy Conference, the physicians of ACCMA had the highest average donation per donor to CALPAC among the other county medical societies, winning CALPAC’s inaugural Golden Gavel contest.

ACCMA will receive an engraved plaque with a golden gavel, symbolizing their victory, as well as an invitation to defend the title at next year’s conference. Every dollar donated to CALPAC bolsters CMA’s political and advocacy power as we progress through the legislative year.

While the contest may be over, the work is not and physicians are still encouraged to give to CALPAC in support of CMA’s advocacy efforts by visiting CALPAC.org/donate.