A Democrat, he was appointed by President Barack Obama in June 2013 as Director of Provider Outreach in the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Heinz was tasked with helping Secretary Kathleen Sebelius with the roll-out of the Affordable Care Act, with one aspect of his job to work with LGBT organizations across the country as they inform their members of their options in each state.
First elected in 2008, he took office on January 12, 2009, won re-election to his seat in 2010 and toward the end of his second term, he ran as a candidate for US Congress.
[3] Heinz earned a BA in Chemistry from Albion College and has an MD from Wayne State University School of Medicine.
He completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Arizona and is a practicing physician at Tucson Medical Center.
Incumbent State Representative Tom Prezelski came in third with 16% and lost his seat, behind Heinz and second-placed finisher Daniel Patterson.
[12] Following the resignation of incumbent Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, Heinz announced his candidacy for the special election for the seat.