OVER 270 WOMEN SCIENTISTS BACKED BY 314 ACTION ARE RUNNING IN PIVOTAL RACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM THE U.S. SENATE TO STATE SENATE
(Philadelphia, PA) – In March of this year, 314 Action Fund, an organization dedicated to recruiting, training and electing scientists to public office declared 2024 “The Year of Women Scientists” after endorsing over 270 women scientists running for office across the country in pivotal races from the U.S. Senate to tipping point state legislative seats. Now, on the heels of the news from Selzer poll indicating dramatic shifts in favor of Democrats powered by women, 314 Action President and Founder Shaughnessy Naughton released the following statement:
“We’ve always known 2024 was a historic year that was going to be led by women scientists running for office and powered by tens of millions of women showing up at the polls to protect our fundamental rights to abortion care, safeguard our democracy, and help usher in a new phase of politics that values civility and community over divisions and hatred,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, the Founder and President of 314 Action.
“The latest polls, including major shifts reported, confirms our belief that women are once again leading the charge, shattering the glass ceiling, and demonstrating their impact on politics and policy. We now have more women scientists running for office than ever before and we couldn’t be prouder of the 270 candidates we’re supporting across the country, including Christina Bohannan in Iowa’s 1st Congressional district race.”
“We’re also inspired by these amazing women scientists who are running to be firsts. Whether it’s Janelle Bynum in Oregon, who would become the first Black member in history to represent Oregon in the House, or Assemblywoman Luz Rivas in California, who would become the first Latina engineer elected to Congress, or Dr. Kelly Morrison in Minnesota, who would become the first woman pro-choice OB-GYN in Congress—there are countless examples of women trailblazers who are leading by example to demonstrate what’s possible.”
“When we launched 314 Action in 2016, we did so with the intention of getting more scientists involved but we couldn’t imagine making history in such a short amount of time by supporting over 270 women scientists in one election cycle. We have doctors, nurses, biologists, engineers, mathematicians, pharmacists, computer scientists, environmentalists, and many more women scientists running to make a positive difference in our government.”
- 314 Action is backing 90 women scientists running for state legislative races, including 11 doctors and 24 nurses. Of these, over 20 seats are deemed competitive, including races in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota, that will determine control of the state legislature.
- 16 of these races include women scientists running to overturn total or partial abortion bans passed by their legislatures, including in Georgia, Texas, and Florida.
- The organization is also supporting 14 women scientists running for federal office, 6 challengers and 9 incumbents, including the pivotal U.S. Senate race in Nevada and Wisconsin, and U.S. House races in Oregon, New Mexico, Washington, Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, and Iowa that will determine control of Congress.
Many more Women Scientists making history:
- Congresswoman Kim Schrier (WA-08) became the first pediatrician elected to Congress in 2018.
- Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo (CO-08) became the first ever Latina from Colorado elected to Congress in 2022, and only the second pediatrician.
- Jennifer Parenti (CO-HD19): A software engineer, she is the only woman veteran in the CO legislature.
- Brianna Titone (CO-HD27): A geochemist, Brianna is Colorado’s first transgender lawmaker.
- Michelle Au (GA-HD50): A physician, Dr. Au was the first Asian woman elected to the Georgia State Senate, and the only pro-choice physician in state government.
- Karla Denner (GA-HD85): An environmental scientist, Karla was the first out LGBTQ member of the Georgia State House.
- Shadia Martini (MI-HD54): An architectural engineer, she became the first Syrian American woman to win a party’s nomination to the Michigan legislature.
- Melody Cunningham (MT-HD97): Dr. Cunningham is an Oncologist, and would be the first ever Oncologist elected to the MT legislature and the only physician in the current legislature.
- Beth Liston (OH-SD16): A physician, Dr. Liston would be the only Pro-Choice Physician in the Ohio State Senate.
- Anita Somani (OH-HD8): Dr. Somani is the only OB/GYN in the Ohio legislature.
- Donna Howard (TX-HD48): A Registered Nurse, she would become the only pro-choice woman in healthcare in the Texas State House.
- Rosemary Lesser (UT-HD10): A physician, Dr. Lesser is the only woman veteran in the Utah legislature.
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314 Action Fund is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people working to elect scientists, doctors, and STEM professionals who will use science and facts to address our most pressing issues like climate change and health care. Since 2018, we have played a pivotal role in flipping the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, electing eleven Democratic scientists to federal office, as well as in helping over 400 statewide, state legislative, and municipal candidates win their races. In 2024, 314 Action Fund will continue working to elect science leaders and defeat climate deniers in Congress and legislatures across the country.