Bravo star Dr. Heavenly Kimes wins reality TV fights. Can she win a run for Congress?

Cosmetic dentist Dr. Heavenly Kimes has been throwing shade with a smile for over a decade on Bravo's "Married to Medicine," the healthcare industry's answer to "The Real Housewives of Atlanta."

TV host and "Housewives" titan Andy Cohen once asked Kimes about castmate Toya Bush-Harris, "So why did you say she's not the brightest in the group?" Kimes had a blunt reply: "Because she’s not."

Now, Kimes, 54, is running in a crowded Democratic primary as she seeks to unseat Rep. David Scott, the 80-year-old incumbent in Georgia’s 13th congressional district, hoping that her reality TV bona fides will transfer to real results at the ballot box on May 19 next year.

"People are sick of politics as usual," Kimes told USA TODAY. "They need somebody real, somebody relatable that they can trust in office – somebody that's not going to leave them once they get in a seat." USA TODAY reached out to Scott's office for comment.

"I grew up in a room with no windows. Y'all saw that on TV, right?" Kimes said, listing healthcare and the economy as reasons for running. "I've been on both sides of the coin, I've actually had free lunches."

The race to replace Scott, who has long faced concerns about his health and age, has become its own made-for-TV moment, as some in both parties seek generational change. The incumbent has filed for reelection in the majority Black district, and ten other Democratic candidates have declared their candidacy for the safely blue seat, according to Federal Election Commission data.

The dental diva – best known as "Dr. Heavenly" – enters the race with likely more name recognition than any other candidate, boasting 1.5 million social media followers following over a decade on "Medicine."

'Married' to the reality TV game

In April 2014, Kimes joined the Season 2 cast of "Medicine" which pairs fellow doctors, like her close friend Dr. Jackie Walters, a board certified OBGYN, with doctors' wives — like frenemy Bush-Harris.

Kimes quickly proved she was no angel as a newbie, grinning through self-created battles with her fellow cast members. A sharp tongue and sweet tooth for chaos made Kimes a controversial "Medicine" fan favorite. "I think Heavenly has this innate ability to start drama, to lean into drama, but then find her way out of a mess, to talk her way out of it," pop culture commentator and "Gabbing with Gib" podcast host Gibson Johns told USA TODAY.

"Medicine" is slightly more focused on family than the group dynamics of "Housewives of Atlanta," once a standout in a franchise known for its heated table flips and unruly fights, although both center around the lives of affluent Black women in the metro.

Kimes opened an upscale dental practice on the series called Smiles by Dr. Heavenly in Duluth, Georgia, as she raised three kids Damon Jr., Zachary and Alaura with husband Dr. Damon Kimes. Regarded as an underrated part of Bravo's programming slate by hardcore fans, "Medicine" remains one of the network's longest running shows.

Season 12 of the series premieres Nov. 30, a rare feat for any show on cable television. In the next season of her life, Kimes wants to reach a rare feat for reality TV stars. On a podcast Sept. 4, Kimes told pastor Jamal Bryant – the ex-husband of "Housewives of Potomac" star Gizelle Bryant – that she didn't know there were "Medicine" contract restrictions preventing runs for public office.

Kimes originally announced her intent to seek a Georgia state rep seat in a People magazine feature July 7. She later ditched the state-level race in September to launch a bid for U.S. House after the passage of President Donald Trump's controversial mega tax and spending bill. "I noticed that our congressman wasn't saying anything and a lot of people needed help," Kimes said.

"I'm not politics as usual, but I understand what's going on," Kimes said in an interview. "This is the greatest country we got. I mean, if other countries can have free medical, if they can have free colleges, if they can have free childcare, why can't we?"

Rep. David Scott has faced concerns over attendance, voting

Last year, congressional colleagues booted Scott from the top Democratic post on the House Agriculture Committee. He lost his powerful perch on the panel despite breaking barriers as its first Black chairman.

Scott has served in Congress since 2003. Kimes' fellow primary opponent Georgia State Rep. Jasmine Clark chided Scott in recent weeks after a CBS News Atlanta report revealed that her campaign unearthed that the congressman has failed to vote since casting an absentee ballot in May last year.

"He lost that ranking membership because he wasn't able to show up," Clark, 42, told CBS Atlanta. "Him not voting unfortunately feels like a part of that trend." According to CBS and Fox 5 Atlanta, the missed votes include last year's presidential contest between Trump and then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Another primary challenger Everton Blair – the ex-chair of Gwinnett County Schools – told USA TODAY that the breadth of the field shows how unhappy people are with Scott. "It’s telling that so many candidates are following suit and entering this race after we launched," Blair, 33, said in a statement. "People are clearly fed up with Rep. David Scott’s lack of leadership and are ready for change."

He also took aim at Kimes. "People are fed up with the mockery that’s been made of our government," Blair added. "While I respect anyone’s interest in public service, voters deserve leaders with policy experience and proven credibility."

Kimes pushed back on criticism of her lack of political experience. "I built businesses from the ground up, I know what it's like to get the red tape in small businesses," she said.

"I think that what the people need most, whether it be reality TV or such, is somebody with a reach and a voice and I just happen to have both, right?" Kimes continued.

Reality TV stars have struggled in political campaigns in recent years

Typically, stars like Kimes face an uphill climb during political campaigns.

"American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken and Olympic decathlete turned "Kardashians" star Caitlyn Jenner both tried to seize electorally on their fame but failed. Of course, the most glaring exception to that is pre-White House Trump's star turn on NBC's "The Apprentice" and a companion celebrity edition.

In recent years, C-SPAN cameras that capture the humming and hearings of Congress could deliver footage worthy of Bravo. After Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R – Georgia) criticized Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D – Texas) last May for her false eyelashes, Crockett went viral for calling the MAGA acolyte a "beach blonde bad built butch body." Kimes says she "can go toe-to-toe" with Greene, but will try to work alongside Republicans on policy matters.

Sociologist Danielle Lindemann, author of "True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us," believes politics and reality TV are more alike than most people think: Both involve people performing for an audience while presenting themselves as "real."

"In politics, we may be more likely to vote for candidates we 'like,' based on their performances," Lindemann said. "For instance, there's that trope of wanting a politician that we feel like we could get a beer with."

Could this be Dr. Heavenly's last BravoCon?

Back home in Georgia, Kimes is staying in the race like she's stayed on "Medicine" all these years. "This was a very difficult season for me," she says. Kimes revealed that her eldest son Damon Jr.'s arrest will play out on the show.

Kimes was demoted from main cast member and has less airtime this season – a move some believe Bravo made due to her congressional hopes – but she was allowed to film while running for office. Johns called it "unprecedented" for a Bravo star to run for office while on a show. "Her forgoing a full-time role on the show to be able to run for Congress should tell you everything you need to know about how serious she is about this," Johns said.

Kimes counts co-star "Dr. Jackie" Walters as a major supporter. "She brings energy, fresh thinking, and a real commitment to the families and communities she serves," Walters said in a Nov. 13 statement to USA TODAY, adding that she wants "to acknowledge Congressman David Scott for his many years of service."

Bravolebrities like Kimes, Walters and the "Medicine" ensemble will head to BravoCon from Nov. 14 to 16 in Las Vegas to greet guests, pose in pictures and throw shade on panels. The three-day extravaganza is the Super Bowl for people who enjoy watching "Vanderpump Rules."

This could be Kimes' last Bravo bonanza. "I don't know what the future holds," she said. "All I know right now is that our country needs me."

Who knows if Kimes will make the plane ride to Vegas next November. Georgia's 13th District might make Kimes their next congresswoman.