January 14, 2026
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — 314 Action Fund today announced the endorsement of 59 state, local, and municipal candidates in 25 states and Washington D.C. This is 314 Action’s first slate of downballot endorsements in 2026, bringing the total number of endorsed candidates to 90.
In this new slate, 53 of the 59 endorsed candidates are running in state legislative races, as the fight to protect science turns to state officials to hold the line.
“With power returning to the states, it’s more important than ever to support local pro-science leaders,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, President of 314 Action. “As the federal government spins out of control and abdicates leadership on critical issues like vaccine access, health care, and food distribution, we need elected officials who will stand up to the Trump administration and fight for their communities. Scientists and doctors running for office offer real solutions to address these issues based on their experience, expertise and evidence. We’re proud to support these candidates and look forward to working together in 2026 and beyond.”
With a growing number of doctors running nationwide, we are continuing to see this trend on the state and local level. This slate features 20 health care leaders running for state legislative races across the country—including nine doctors, physicians and specialists; six nurses; and five other public health experts.
Endorsed candidates:
AK: Donna Mears, House District 21
AZ: Stacey Travers, Legislative District 12
AZ: Priya Sundareshan, Legislative District 18
CA: Sandra Celedon, Assembly District 31
CA: Suzanne Till, Senate District 40
CO: Karen McCormick, House District 11
DC: Oye Owolewa, City Council At Large
FL: Emily Gregory, House District 87
GA: Adam Cleveland, Legislative District 48
GA: Imani Barnes, House District 86
GA: Anissa Jones, House District 143
IA: Adam Zabner, House District 90
IA: Tony Thompson, Senate District 23
IL: Laura Ellman, Senate District 21
MD: David Plotts, Wicomico County Board of Education
ME: Sam Zager, Legislative District 116
MI: Laurie Pohutsky, House District 17
MI: Anna Aho Rink, House District 109
MN: Erika Yoney, House District 4A
MN: Dan Wilson, House District 26A
MN: Patty Acomb, House District 45B
MN: Brian Cohn, House District 57B
MN: Robert Kupec, Senate District 4
MN: Liz Boldon, Senate District 25
MT: Bob Carter, House District 96
MT: Melody Cunningham, House District 97
NC: Corey Branch, Raleigh City Council C
NH: Janet Lucas, House District Grafton 7
NH: Stephanie Payeur, House District Merrimack 8
NH: James Gruber, House District Cheshire 16
NV: David Orentlicher, Assembly District 20
NY: Phara Souffrant Forrest, Assembly District 57
NY: John McDonald III, Assembly District 108
OH: Rachel Baker, House District 27
OH: Michele Grim, House District 43
OH: Brit Steiner, House District 49
OK: Andy Fugate, House District 94
OR: Lisa Reynolds, Senate District 17
OR: Sara Duncan, Marion County Commission 1
PA: Arvind Venkat, House District 30
PA: Jon Lloyd, House District 40
PA: Margaret Burke, House District 147
PA: Maria Collett, Senate District 12
RI: Jennifer Boylan, House District 66
RI: Sam Bell, Senate District 5
SD: Nicole Uhre-Balk, House District 32
TN: Gabby Salinas, House District 96
TX: Javi Andrade, House District 19
TX: Elizabeth “Eliz” Markowitz, House District 26
TX: Karen Reeder, House District 29
TX: Victor Haddad, House District 41
TX: Joseph Kopser, House District 47
TX: Donna Howard, House District 48
TX: Dawn Richardson, House District 54
TX: Detrick DeBurr, House District 65
TX: Suleman Lalani, House District 76
TX: Shannon Dicely, Senate District 11
TX: Audrey Nath, Houston City Council C
TX: Jon Rosenthal, Railroad Commissioner
314 Action Fund is the only national organization working to recruit, train and elect Democratic scientists across all levels of government—from the Senate down to local school boards. The organization is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people supporting scientists and health care professionals who will use science and facts to address the most urgent issues facing our generation.
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