The U.S. House of Representatives will see an influx of scientist as a event of the 2018 midterm examination election .
The 2016 election , specifically Donald Trump ’s utter disregard for facts , galvanized scientists nationally . A hundred thousand scientistsmarched on the capitolin 2017 , and advocacy groups formed to advertise science and scientists in politics . Last Nox saw wins for many nominee running on fact - based platforms .
“ We are so proud of the campaign and candidates that we were abide yesterday , ” Shaughnessy Nation , president of 314 Action , a group that help scientists get elected to public situation , told Gizmodo . “ I remember it highlight the fact that science candidates can leverage their STEM background to talk about issue that were important to their communities and resonate to gain ground their elections . ”
While scientist candidates are n’t necessarily progressive — some of the people on this inclination are conservative Republicans — the thinking goes that someone with a scientific backdrop will promote the trust on fact and data over opinions , especially when it come to science - related progeny such as public health , the environs , agriculture , technology , and space exploration .
“ It ’s high clock time that scientists interpret that science is political and that we must have a spokesperson in that process , ” Maryam Zinghalam , science and technology insurance chap at the National Institutes of Health and a leader of the 500 Women Scientists group , told Gizmodo . “ For our part , we ’re going to keep wreak to verify those elect — and our community at bombastic — understand that skill alone ca n’t deliver us if it ’s not in serving of fairness and justice . ”
Some science fans will not be riposte to Congress — for example , a promoter of theEuropa clippermission , John Culberson ( R - Texas ) , lose his seat to Democrat Lizzie Fletcher . However , clime denier Lamar Smith ( R - Texas ) willno longer headthe House Committee on Science , Space and Technology after withdraw — rank appendage Eddie Bernice Johnson ( D - Texas ) will in all likelihood take his place . It ’s nice that we plausibly wo n’t seeBreitbart linksfrom the Committee ’s Twitter account any longer .
Below , we ’ve accumulate a list of the winning prospect with science background from both position of the aisle , with the avail of the database fromVoteSTEM.org . Some are , well , career politicians with engineering degrees , but others come directly from the science laboratory . We ’ve foreground some of the biggest winnings or upsets .
Highlights
Democrat Lauren Underwood unseat incumbent Republican Randy Hultgren in the race for Illinois ’ 14th congressional district . She holds Master ’s degrees in nursing and public health , and was appointed by Barack Obama as a senior adviser to the Department of Health and Human Services . She hightail it on a political program of investing in small business and the gig economy , improve infrastructure , decreasing gun wildness , better the Affordable Care Act , increasing access to public education , as well asother issues .
Democrat Joe Cunningham mystify Republican Kate Arrington in an upset that flipped South Carolina ’s 1st congressional district blue . Cunningham has a background as an ocean engineer and attorney , and ran on a weapons platform to end seaward drilling in the Department of State ’s water system , fight corruption , support veterans , lessen the cost of healthcare , and conserve the environs , as well asother offspring .
Democrat Elaine Luria flipped Virginia ’s 2nd congressional territorial dominion , unseat Republican incumbent Scott Taylor . She has abackgroundas a atomic applied scientist and operated nuclear reactors , and served in the Navy , winning a territorial dominion curb Naval Station Norfolk , the world ’s largest Navy base . She ran on aplatformto safeguard health care coverage for people with preexisting conditions , increase funding and answerableness of the VA , go through hired gun control , and protect the environs , as well as other issues .
Democrat Chrissy Houlahan twitch Pennsylvania ’s sixth congressional district , beating Republican Greg McCauley after sit down Republican example Ryan Costello draw back . She concord an engine room degree from Stanford as well as a Masters in applied science and policy from MIT . Prior to run , she serve in the U.S. Air Force Reserves , worked as a chemistry teacher , and was COO of footwear company AND1 . She ran on aplatformto expand access to health care , support public shoal , “ ameliorate economic security for Pennsylvania families , ” reform campaign funding , protect the environment , and put up veterans .
Democrat Jacky Rosen unseat the incumbent Nevada senator , Republican Dean Heller . Rosen hold a bachelor ’s degree in psychology and an associate academic degree in computing and IT , and worked as a reckoner programmer prior to running for office in 2017 , when she was elect and represent Nevada ’s 3rd congressional district . She ran on a platform of promoting renewable vitality to protect Nevada ’s public lands , fixing crusade financing , champion the coverage of preexisting condition , and in-migration reform , as well asother issue .
Democrat Sean Casten unseat the incumbent Republican Peter Roskam in the airstream for Illinois ’ 6th congressional district . Casten holds a bachelor ’s degree in molecular biota and biochemistry and master key ’s degrees in engineering science direction and biochemical engineering . He worked as a clean energy advisor before founding a society that reprocess wasted muscularity . He ran on a fact - focused political program that included decreasing human impact on the environment and extenuate the effects of mood alteration , as well as bear out warhorse , reforming student loan , andother issues .
Votes are still being counted in the wash for Washington ’s 8th congressional district , currently represented by bed Republican congressman Dave Reichert . First - time candidate and pediatrician , Democrat Kim Schrier , leads the race with 64 percent of precinct report . She ran on a primarily healthcare - found as well as evidence - based environmentalistplatform , supporting Medicare expansion , fair sex ’s wellness , mandatory vaccination for public school attending , and regulate drug companies , as well as protecting public land and reduce carbon emissions .
Other Races
Ami Bera ( D - California ) , a doctor who serve as a clinical prof at the University of California Davis School of Medicine and chief aesculapian military officer of the County of Sacramento , retains his seat represent California ’s 7th congressional territory .
Jerry McNerny ( D - California ) holds a Ph . D in mathematics and work as an locomotive engineer and consultant for power companies before becoming the CEO of a lead turbine manufacturing company . He retains his keister interpret California ’s ninth congressional district .
Tony Cardenas ( D - California ) hold a unmarried man ’s stage in electrical engineering and keep his hind end representing California ’s twenty-ninth congressional dominion .
Ted Lieu ( D - California ) holds a bachelor ’s degree in computer science and retains his rump as example from California ’s thirty-third congressional district .
Raul Ruiz ( D - California ) bind a medical degree and a master ’s level in public wellness , both from Harvard . He worked as an emergency doc at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Coachella Valley , and will retain his seat representing California ’s thirty-sixth congressional district .
Dan Lipinski ( D - Illinois ) holds a bachelor ’s level in mechanical engineering and retains his posterior representing Illinois ’ 3rd congressional dominion .
Brad Schneider ( D - Illinois ) holds a bachelors stage in industrial engineering , and retains his seat stage Illinois ’ 10th congressional territorial dominion .
Bill Foster ( D - Illinois ) ( and notthat Bill Foster ) holds a Ph . D in physics and work in high energy particle aperient at Illinois ’ Fermilab . He retains his seat representing Illinois ’ 11th congressional district . Foster is theonly someone with a skill Ph.D.in the U.S. Congress .
Steve Watkins ( R - Kansas ) was an Army engineer and will play Kansas ’ 2nd congressional district .
Martin Heinrich ( D - New Mexico ) hold a degree in mechanically skillful technology and was executive director of a nonprofit for develop child on the environment and science . He will retain his position as senator for New Mexico .
Jeffrey Van Drew ( D - New Jersey ) is a dentist by occupation and kill Republican Seth Grossman in the race for New Jersey ’s 2nd congressional district after incumbent Republican Frank LoBiondo adjourn .
Paul Tonko ( D - New York ) hold a academic degree in mechanical technology and worked as an railroad engineer before enter political relation . He will retain his seat defend New York ’s twentieth congressional district .
Chris Collins ( R - New York ) holds a degree in mechanical engineering and retains his seat representing New York ’s 27th congressional district , despite a late insider trading bearing from the FBI .
Kevin Hern ( R - Oklahoma ) go for a grade in engineering and will play Oklahoma ’s first congressional territory .
chastening : This piece antecedently said that Steve Watkins was a MD . This is incorrect , he was an Army engineer . The Emily Post has been corrected and the writer regrets the error .
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