WASHINGTON — On the night the House passed the Affordable Care Act in March 2010, Democratic Rep. Earl Pomeroy, then the lone House member from North Dakota, was escorted by his staff to the House floor, where he cast the 218th out of 219 votes to pass the bill.

There was glee among Democrats that night, but Pomeroy saw the writing on the wall. He understood that his future was “probably going to change as a result,” he said.

It did. That November, Pomeroy was one of 63 Democrats who lost their seats because of his support for the 2010 health care law, sometimes known as Obamacare.

But 15 years later, he regrets nothing.

“Being in Congress is not about tenure,” said Pomeroy, 73. “It’s about moving public policy. And if, while you’re there, you get a chance to be part of a big public po

See Full Page