314 Action Fund Congratulates Ruben Ramirez on Advancing to TX-15 Runoff

March 2, 2022

PHILADELPHIA — Today, 314 Action Fund congratulated former science teacher Ruben Ramirez on advancing to the runoff primary election in the race to represent Texas’ fifteenth congressional district. Following yesterday’s election, Ramirez will compete for the TX-15 Democratic nomination on May 24th.

314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton released the following statement:

“Ruben Ramirez has consistently proven his commitment to standing up for Texans. As a former science teacher, Ruben knows that facts and evidence are essential to understanding and solving the problems facing our communities, from the climate crisis to affordable health care access. We look forward to fighting alongside him in this pro-science campaign for Texas families.”

Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, Ramirez taught high school chemistry and physics for five years before serving in the U.S. Army and earning a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service. Following redistricting, TX-15 has proven the only competitive congressional district in the state ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

314 Action recently launched a $10 million, cycle-long advocacy campaign focused on engaging voters on critical science issues — including climate change, health care, and the pandemic response — and holding anti-science public figures accountable. Additionally, 314 Action has engaged its base of six million grassroots members to push for pro-science legislation at the federal and state levels.

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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. In 2018 and 2020, we 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 100 statewide, state legislative, and municipal candidates win their races. In 2022, 314 Action Fund will continue working to elect science leaders and defeat climate deniers in Congress and legislatures across the country.

February 18, 2022

PHILADELPHIA — Today, 314 Action Fund announced its endorsement of nineteen STEM candidates running for state legislative and municipal offices across the United States. From state senate to city council, these scientists and STEM professionals are campaigning on a commitment to make science central to policymaking in their communities. This slate of state legislative and municipal endorsements marks 314 Action Fund’s first of the 2022 cycle.

Among today’s endorsed candidates are Padma Kuppa (Michigan Senate District 9), a clean energy and public education advocate and the first woman to receive her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from NIT Warangal; Tarik Khan (Pennsylvania House District 194), an advanced nurse practitioner who was invited by the Biden administration to share with other states his model for providing COVID-19 vaccines to homebound patients; and neuroscientist Dr. Tiffany Boyd Hodgson (San Diego Board of Supervisors), who serves on the Vallecitos Water District’s board of directors and on the Association of California Water Agencies’ Groundwater and Energy Committees.

“Strong STEM candidates for state legislative and municipal offices are critical to ensuring that issues like criminal justice reform, climate change, and the pandemic recovery are addressed with evidence-based policies,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, president of 314 Action. “We’re proud to endorse this slate of incredible pro-science candidates and are eager to work alongside them to advance policies that put facts above politics.”

Today’s new slate of endorsements for state legislative and municipal races is as follows:

California

– Dr. Louis Abramson, State Assembly, District 51 (Astrophysicist)

– Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson, San Diego Board of Supervisors (Neuroscientist)

– Dr. Kathleen Treseder, Irvine City Council (Biology Professor)

Georgia

– Luisa Wakeman, State Senate, District 6 (Registered Nurse)

Michigan

– Padma Kuppa, State Senate, District 9 (Mechanical Engineer)

Missouri

– Dr. Sam Page, St. Louis County Executive (Anesthesiologist)

Ohio

– Dr. Gavi Begtrup, State House of Representatives, District 27 (Physicist)

Oregon

– Dr. Maxine Dexter, State House of Representatives, District 33 (Physician)

– Dr. Lisa Reynolds, State House of Representatives, District 34 (Pediatrician)

– Dr. Sharon Meieran, Multnomah County Chair (Emergency Room Doctor)

– Lynn Peterson, Metro Council President (Civil and Environmental Engineer)

Pennsylvania

– Rick Krajewski, State House of Representatives, District 188 (Electrical and Computer Engineer)

– Tarik Khan, State House of Representatives, District 194 (Advanced Nurse Practitioner)

Texas

– Madeline Eden, State House of Representatives, District 17 (Software Engineer)

– Lisa Weber, State House of Representatives, District 22 (Industrial Engineer)

– Erin Zwiener, State House of Representatives, District 45 (Forestry Degree)

– Dr. Suleman Lalani, State House of Representatives, District 76 (Doctor)

– Jon Rosenthal, State House of Representatives, District 135 (Mechanical Engineer)

West Virginia

– Evan Hansen, State House of Representatives, District 79 (Environmental Scientist)

314 Action Fund is committed to building a bench of strong STEM candidates at the statewide, state legislative, and municipal levels who may pursue higher office in the future. In 2020, 314 Action Fund committed $1 million to elect scientists running for state legislative offices across the country in a partnership with the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and Democratic legislative caucuses.

314 Action recently launched a $10 million, cycle-long advocacy campaign focused on engaging voters on critical science issues — including climate change, health care, and the pandemic response — and holding anti-science public figures accountable. Additionally, 314 Action has engaged its base of six million grassroots members to push for pro-science legislation at the federal and state levels.

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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. In 2018 and 2020, we 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 100 statewide, state legislative, and municipal candidates win their races. In 2022, 314 Action Fund will continue working to elect science leaders and defeat climate deniers in Congress and legislatures across the country.

February 17, 2022

PHILADELPHIA — Today, 314 Action Fund announced its endorsement of Ruben Ramirez in the race to represent Texas’ fifteenth congressional district. Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, Ramirez taught high school chemistry and physics for five years before serving in the U.S. Army and earning a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service. Following redistricting, TX-15 has proven the only competitive congressional district in the state ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

“Ruben Ramirez is committed to pro-science policies that we know voters will prioritize at the ballot box in 2022, from curbing the effects of climate change on Texas families to expanding access to affordable health care,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, president of 314 Action. “As a former science teacher, Ruben understands the issues facing children and families in Texas, and we look forward to helping elect him to Congress to address them.”

“I am thrilled to earn the endorsement of 314 Action Fund,” said Ruben Ramirez, candidate for Texas’ fifteenth congressional district. “I was a high school physics and chemistry teacher right here in Edinburg, where I taught my students the importance of sticking to the facts and finding creative solutions to tough problems. Any South Texan will tell you: What we need right now is more problem solvers representing us in Washington. I’m proud to have the support of 314 Action in this fight to get the Rio Grande Valley the representation we deserve in Congress.”

314 Action recently launched a $10 million, cycle-long advocacy campaign focused on engaging voters on critical science issues — including climate change, health care, and the pandemic response — and holding anti-science public figures accountable. Additionally, 314 Action has engaged its base of six million grassroots members to push for pro-science legislation at the federal and state levels.

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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. In 2018 and 2020, we 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 100 statewide, state legislative, and municipal candidates win their races. In 2022, 314 Action Fund will continue working to elect science leaders and defeat climate deniers in Congress and legislatures across the country.

Dr. Green Leads Rep. Kai Kahele by 32% in Hypothetical Four-Candidate Primary

February 14, 2022

PHILADELPHIA — Today, 314 Action Fund released the results of new polling that shows Lieutenant Governor Dr. Josh Green with a significant lead among the field of declared or potential Democratic candidates in Hawaii’s gubernatorial race. A physician and experienced policymaker, Dr. Green has fought for Hawaii families for decades and has continued to serve as an emergency room doctor throughout the pandemic.

The poll, which was conducted by Public Policy Polling on behalf of 314 Action Fund and polled Democratic primary election voters across Hawaii, shows Dr. Green as the primary election frontrunner with nearly half of voters (46%) saying they would vote for Dr. Green in a hypothetical four-candidate primary, in which he would lead his closest opponent, Rep. Kai Kahele, by 32%. 65% of poll respondents said they approved of Dr. Green’s overall job performance, with 70% approving of his performance specifically concerning the handling of the pandemic. Additionally, two of respondents’ top four campaign issues are science issues: COVID-19 and climate change.

The other declared or potential Democratic candidates in the HI-GOV primary all face uphill battles with name recognition and favorability. 36% to 46% of voters were unsure of how they would rate the favorability of the other candidates, and only one other candidate received a net positive favorability rating (+24%). The margin of error of this poll is +/- 3.9%, and the memo can be viewed here.

“Dr. Josh Green has earned the support of Hawaii voters because they know they can rely on him to make policy decisions that are rooted in empathy and evidence,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, president and founder of 314 Action. “From COVID-19 to climate change, it’s clear that voters want STEM candidates to lead the charge for evidence-based solutions to our most pressing challenges. Dr. Green will be an incredible governor for the people of Hawaii.”

314 Action recently launched a $10 million, cycle-long advocacy campaign focused on engaging voters on critical science issues — including climate change, health care, and the pandemic response — and holding anti-science public figures accountable. Additionally, 314 Action has engaged its base of six million grassroots members to push for pro-science legislation at the federal and state levels.

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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. In 2018 and 2020, we 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 100 statewide, state legislative, and municipal candidates win their races. In 2022, 314 Action Fund will continue working to elect science leaders and defeat climate deniers in Congress and legislatures across the country.

February 8, 2022

PHILADELPHIA — Today, 314 Action Fund announced its endorsement of Cora Neumann in the race to represent Montana’s first congressional district. A public health leader committed to expanding access to high-quality health care and protecting public lands, Neumann is running to ensure that Montanans can rely on pro-science representation in Congress. Neumann received her master’s degree in public health in 2005 and has dedicated her career to addressing policy issues facing Montanans.

The winner of November’s general election will be the first congressperson for MT-01 since the state condensed its representation into one at-large district twenty years ago. With a primary election victory, Neumann will likely face Ryan Zinke, who from 2017 to 2019 served as the most anti-science secretary in the history of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Under Zinke’s leadership, the Interior Department censored references in government research to human contributions to climate change and rolled back protections for public lands and endangered species — putting the profits of oil and gas companies above the interests of the environment and Montanans. In 2018, Zinke incorrectly claimed the validity of human contributions to climate change is “still being disputed.”

“As a public health expert and non-profit leader, Cora Neumann has led with science every step of the way in her work to expand access to affordable health care and protect public lands,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, president of 314 Action. “From helping support community members through the pandemic by founding We Are Montana to organizing on the front lines of conservation efforts, Cora has proven that she will fight for evidence-based policies that improve the lives of all Montanans.”

“I am truly honored to be endorsed by 314 Action,” said Cora Neumann, candidate for Montana’s first congressional district. “I’m no politician, but I have a track record of delivering results for underserved and rural communities, improving access to health care, and protecting our public lands. That’s what we need more of in Washington.”

314 Action recently launched a $10 million, cycle-long advocacy campaign focused on engaging voters on critical science issues — including climate change, health care, and the pandemic response — and holding anti-science public figures accountable. Additionally, 314 Action has engaged its base of six million grassroots members to push for pro-science legislation at the federal and state levels. In 2022, 314 Action Fund will work to elect scientists across all levels of government, with initial targets of seven U.S. Senate races, forty U.S. House races, and twenty-one statewide races.

ABOUT CORA NEUMANN:

Cora Neumann is a rural health and economic development leader with a track record of delivering results for underserved and rural communities, improving access to health care, and protecting our public lands. She’s running for Congress to make sure Montanans have access to good jobs and wages; that our small businesses can succeed; and that families who’ve lived here for years or generations can afford to stay.

To get her education, Cora worked as a waitress, nanny, and construction worker – and still has student debt to this day. Over the past 25 years, Cora has founded and led multiple non-profit organizations that help create jobs, improve child nutrition and mental health services, and boost maternal health. She has done this work in Montana and across the country and world – working with local leaders, Republicans and Democrats alike, to solve problems that families and workers are facing.

When COVID hit, Cora founded We Are Montana to get personal protective equipment, life-saving information, financial aid, and vaccines out to Montanans so our economy could re-open as quickly and safely as possible. She worked with small business owners to help them keep the lights on, raised money to support rural county commissioners and health workers, and centered her work on delivering tangible results to rural counties.

Since 2015, Neumann has been working across Montana and the Rocky Mountain West to fight for the protection of public lands. As part of that effort, she organized Indigenous communities, farmers and ranchers, and the conservation community to fight back against Washington’s attempt to cut protections for public lands – recently celebrating the restoration of Bears Ears National Monument.

Cora Neumann was raised in Bozeman by her mom, a homemaker, and her step-father, a union carpenter. She and her husband are raising their two teenage children there, surrounded by four generations of family.

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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. In 2018 and 2020, we 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 100 statewide, state legislative, and municipal candidates win their races. In 2022, 314 Action Fund will continue working to elect science leaders and defeat climate deniers in Congress and legislatures across the country.

Poll Shows Sorensen Is the Best Known and Most Favorable Democratic Candidate in the IL-17 Race

January 31, 2022

PHILADELPHIA — Today, 314 Action Fund released the results of new polling that shows former meteorologist Eric Sorensen establishing himself as the clear frontrunner ahead of the Democratic primary in Illinois’ seventeenth congressional district. For twenty years, Sorensen served as a trusted community leader in IL-17 as the district’s meteorologist at WREX Rockford and WQAD Quad Cities.

The poll, which was conducted by Public Policy Polling on behalf of 314 Action Fund and polled Democratic primary election voters across IL-17, shows Sorensen as the primary election frontrunner with a 2% lead on the second best performing candidate. Additionally, Sorensen performs the best among Democratic candidates in net favorability (+18%) and name recognition (+5% than the second best performing candidate). This poll also shows that 48% more Democratic primary voters would trust a meteorologist over an elected official to handle the climate crisis, with 54% of respondents saying they would trust their meteorologist to represent them in Congress and two of the top three issues for voters being science issues (climate change and COVID-19). The margin of error of this poll is +/- 4.1%, and the memo can be viewed here.

“In Illinois’ seventeenth congressional district and across the country, voters are making clear that they trust the scientists in their communities to serve as policy leaders,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, president and founder of 314 Action. “Combating the climate crisis and ending this pandemic continue to be on top of voters’ minds, and they are eager for STEM candidates to take the lead on addressing these challenges with evidence-based policies.”

314 Action recently launched a $10 million, cycle-long advocacy campaign focused on engaging voters on critical science issues — including climate change, health care, and the pandemic response — and holding anti-science public figures accountable. Additionally, 314 Action has engaged its base of six million grassroots members to push for pro-science legislation at the federal and state levels.

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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. In 2018 and 2020, we 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 100 statewide, state legislative, and municipal candidates win their races. In 2022, 314 Action Fund will continue working to elect science leaders and defeat climate deniers in Congress and legislatures across the country.

January 10, 2022

PHILADELPHIA — Today, 314 Action Fund announced its endorsement of Bilal Mahmood in the race to represent the California State Assembly’s seventeenth district, which will hold primary elections on February 15th ahead of the seat’s special election this April.

A neuroscientist by training, Mahmood received his bachelor’s degrees in biology and economics from Stanford in 2009 and his master’s in bioscience enterprise from University of Cambridge in 2010. While at Stanford, Mahmood worked as a researcher investigating the use of stem cells for scarless wound healing. Additionally, Mahmood served as a policy analyst in the Obama administration and co-founded an analytics startup that was acquired in 2020.

“Bilal Mahmood has dedicated his life and career to the kind of innovative spirit that Californians need from their government representation, especially during the ongoing pandemic,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, president of 314 Action. “From combating the effects of climate change on his district and on the state to tackling housing insecurity in his community, Bilal will be an exceptional representative for AD-17.”

314 Action recently launched a $10 million, cycle-long advocacy campaign focused on engaging voters on critical science issues — including climate change, health care, and the pandemic response — and holding anti-science public figures accountable. Additionally, 314 Action has engaged its base of six million grassroots members to push for pro-science legislation at the federal and state levels. In 2022, 314 Action Fund will work to elect scientists across all levels of government, with initial targets of seven U.S. Senate races, forty U.S. House races, and twenty-one statewide races.

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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. In 2018 and 2020, we 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 100 statewide, state legislative, and municipal candidates win their races. In 2022, 314 Action Fund will continue working to elect science leaders and defeat climate deniers in Congress and legislatures across the country.

December 22, 2021

PHILADELPHIA — As Senator Joe Manchin single-handedly tanks a once-in-a-generation investment in Ohio’s communities with the Build Back Better agenda – including universal pre-k, Medicare expansion, addressing climate change and the extremely popular child tax credit – one Democratic candidate for governor is showering him with praise. 

John Cranley appeared on conservative talk radio on Friday and praised the job Manchin was doing: “Joe Manchin […] is somebody that I think is doing a good job.” 

LISTEN TO THE CLIP HERE

The remarks come as a slap in the face to millions of Ohioans who continue to struggle with everyday expenses before the holidays and the expiration of the expanded child tax credit on the horizon.

“This is like the Mayor of Whoville giving props to the Grinch,” said John Sweeney, Deputy Director of Communications of 314 Action. “Working families in Ohio deserve to know: is John Cranley against expanding access to affordable healthcare, high-quality preschool, saving the child tax credit, expanding Medicare and addressing climate change for Ohioans?”

314 Action Fund has endorsed Nan Whaley, the Mayor of Dayton, in the primary election.

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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. In 2018 and 2020, we 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 over 100 to state and local offices. In 2021 and 2022, 314 Action Fund will continue working to elect science leaders and defeat climate deniers in Congress and legislatures across the country.