Whitesides is the 3rd STEM candidate to flip a Red district Blue
November 12, 2024
(PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA) — 314 Action Fund today congratulated space technologist and former NASA Chief of Staff George Whitesides on his victory in California’s 27th Congressional District. Whitesides won one of the most competitive House seats, defeating GOP Rep. Mike Garcia, to become the third STEM challenger to flip a seat blue. STEM candidates John Mannion (NY-22) and Janelle Bynum (OR-05) also ousted GOP incumbents in their respective races.
“George Whitesides successfully flipped this seat – one of the most competitive battleground districts in the country – by focusing on the needs of voters and emphasizing his background as a problem solver to get things done,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, President and Founder of 314 Action. “We’re excited to see Congressman-elect Whitesides lead with his STEM background in Congress, and get results for his constituents backed by the facts and data.”
“George will take on the GOP’s extreme anti-science agenda to fight for the issues that matter most to working families, including protecting reproductive rights, tackling climate change, and lowering everyday costs of living. His expertise and voice will be critical in Congress as we enter this new political landscape. We’re proud to support him and have played a role in helping him flip this critical seat,” Naughton continued.
314 Action Fund is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people working to elect scientists, doctors, and STEM professionals, up and down the ballot, who will use science and facts to address our most pressing issues like climate change and health care. In addition to picking up GOP seats in CA-27 (George Whitesides), OR-05 (Janelle Bynum) and NY-22 (John Mannion), the organization also elected new members across the country, including Dr. Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Dr. Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Dr. Kelly Morrison (MN-03), and engineer Luz Rivas (CA-29).
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