State Legislative & Municipal

 

Since 2016, 314 Action has elected nearly 300 candidates to state legislatures and local seats around the country. These 314 Action leaders are directly driving science-based decisions for their communities — securing local progress on critical issues from climate action to healthcare access and abortion rights.

In 2024, we need to do it again, because the stakes on these issues are just getting higher. As we saw throughout the pandemic and in the time since Roe was overturned, local leadership can have an outsized impact on our communities’ health, safety, and wellbeing. Meet the 314 Action-endorsed scientists running in must-win down-ballot races across the country, including those that could determine which party controls their state legislature.

Alaska

Ted Eischeid, AK-HD-22, (Wildlife Biology Degree)

Donna Mears, AK-HD-21, (Civil & Environmental Engineer)

Denny Wells, AK-HD-15, (Mathematics Degree)

Arkansas

Trevor McGarrah, AR-HD-58, (Computer Programming Teacher)

Tom Bartole, AR-HD-68, (Biology Degree)

Chenoa Summers, AR-Other-Craighead County Justice of the Peace District 7, (Environmental Scientist)

David McPherson, AR-HD-7, (Mechanical Engineer)

Daniel Parker, AR-HD-36, (Research Scientist)

Jill Summerford, AR-HD-84, (Veterinarian)

Arizona

Richard Corles, AZ-LD-3, (Mathematics Degree)

Ravi Shah, AZ-School Board-Tucson Unified School District, (Physician)

Melissa Girmscheid, AZ-School Board-Peoria Unified School District, (STEM Educator)

Brandy Reese, AZ-LD-13, (Chemistry Degree)

Sam D’Almeida, AZ-County Commission / Board-Pima County, (Electrical Engineering Degree)

Anastasia “Stacey” Travers, AZ-LD-12, (Geologist)

California

Darshana Patel, CA-AD-76, (Biophysicist)

Amber Manfree, CA-County Commission / Board-Napa County Supervisor District 4, (Geographer)

Diedre Thu-Ha Nguyen, CA-Mayor-Mayor of Garden Grove, (Molecular Biologist)

Jerry McNerney, CA-SD-5 , (Mathematician)

Marisol Rubio, CA-SD-9, (Molecular Biologist)

Chris Ward, CA-AD-78, (Research Scientist)

Zainab Saadi, CA-City Council-District 1, (Medical Doctor)

Colorado

Jeff Livingston, CO-HD-15, (Electrical Engineer)

Lesley Smith, CO-HD-49, (Environmental Scientist)

Kyra deGruy Kennedy, CO-HD-30, (Biology Degree)

Julie Mullica, CO-County Commission / Board-District 1, Adams County Commissioner, (Epidemiologist)

Steven Arauza, CO-County Commission / Board-Garfield County District 3, (Geologist)

Manny Rutinel, CO-HD-32, (Microbiology Degree)

Jennifer Parenti, CO-HD-19, (Software Engineer)

Cathy Kipp, CO-SD-14, (Computer Information Systems Degree)

Amy Paschal, CO-HD-18, (Software Engineer)

Brianna Titone, CO-HD-27, (Geochemist)

Karen McCormick, CO-HD-11, (Veterinarian)

Chris Hansen, CO-SD-31, (Nuclear Engineer)

Delaware

Jay Bancroft, DE-City Council-Newark City Council, D3, (Ecologist)

Frank Burns, DE-HD-21, (Molecular Biologist)

Sophie Phillips, DE-HD-18, (Environmental Scientist)

Florida

Barbara Sharief, FL-SD-35, (Advanced Nurse Practitioner)

Gallop Franklin, FL-HD-8, (Pharmacist)

Mary Alford, FL-County Commission / Board-District 1, (Environmental Engineer)

Lindsay Cross, FL-HD-60, (Environmental Scientist)

Georgia

Laura Judge, GA-School Board-Cobb County School Board Post 5, (Biomedical Scientist)

Elaine Padgett, GA-HD-25, (Registered Nurse)

Ashwin Ramaswami, GA-SD-48, (Computer Scientist)

Donna McLeod, GA-County Executive-County Chairperson in Gwinnett County, Georgia, (Chemical Engineering Degree)

Viola Davis, GA-HD-87, (Critical Care Nurse)

Michelle Au, GA-HD-50, (Physician)

Imani Barnes, GA-HD-86, (Biomedical Scientist)

Karla Drenner, GA-HD-85, (PHD)

LaDena Bolton, GA-County Commission / Board-DeKalb County-7, (Chemist)

Jasmine Clark, GA-HD-108, (Microbiology Degree)

Randye Dugan, GA-HD-24, (Science Teacher)

Iowa

Adam Zabner, IA-HD-90, (Data Scientist)

Illinois

Linda Robertson, IL-HD-IL 65, (Microbiologist)

Verner Tepe, IL-County Executive-22, (Mathematician)

Lucy Evans, IL-County Commission / Board-3, (Civil Engineer)

Saba Haider, IL-County Commission / Board-DuPage County Board, District 5, (Wildlife Biology Degree)

Zach Bachmann, IL-County Commission / Board-Kendall County Board District 2, (Computer Science Degree)

Jeff Gahris, IL-County Commission / Board-Commissioner, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, (Environmental Engineer)

Nicholas Smith, IL-HD-34, (Chemistry Degree)

Kari Steele, IL-County Commission / Board-Cook County, (Chemistry Degree)

Rachel Ventura, IL-SD-43, (Mathematics Degree)

 Rob Reneau, IL-County Commission / Board-Peoria County-10, (Biology & Chemistry Degrees)

Indiana

Heidi Beidinger, IN-HD-5, (Environmental Scientist)

Edward Moyer Jr, IN-HD-13, (Astrophysicist)

Andrew Roberts, IN-Other-Allen County Coroner, (Physician)

Katie Morgan, IN-County Commission / Board-Clark County-1, (Environmental Science Degree)

Robert Pope, IN-HD-40, (Software Engineer)

Chad Harmon, IN-HD-42, (Manufacturing Engineer)

Charrie Stambaugh, IN-City Council-Johnson County, (Public Health Professional)

Kansas

Jeff Pittman, KS-SD-5, (Systems Engineer)

Ace Allen, KS-HD-28, (Medical Doctor)

Melissa Oropeza, KS-HD-37, (Advanced Nurse Practitioner)

Jason Anderson, KS-SD-35, (Computer Scientist)

Kentucky

Matthew Pfaadt, KY-HD-29, (Electrical Engineer)

Massachusetts

Tommy Vitolo, MA-HD-15, (PhD, Systems Engineering)

Maine

Jean Guzzetti, ME-SD-24, (Biology Degree)

Sam Zager, ME-HD-116, (Medical Doctor)

Nicole Grohoski, ME-SD-7, (GIS Specialist)

Michigan

Shadia Martini, MI-HD-54, (Architectural Engineer)

Carrie Rheingans, MI-HD-47, (Public Health Professional)

Laurie Pohutsky, MI-HD-17, (Microbiologist)

Paul Giessner, MI-County Commission / Board-5, (Electrical Engineer)

Matt Longjohn, MI-HD-40 , (Public Health Professional)

Chris Trubac, MI-County Commission / Board-3, (Natural Resource Conservation)

Minnesota

Kari Rehrauer, MN-HD-35B, (Science Teacher)

Aron Schnaser, MN-HD-7A, (Chemistry Teacher)

Brian Cohn, MN-HD-57B, (Mathematics Degree)

Heather Holmes, MN-HD-24A, (Biology Degree)

Patty Acomb, MN-HD-45B, (Wildlife Biology Degree)

Rick Hansen, MN-HD-53B, (Soil And Water Scientist)

Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, MN-HD-47A, (Genetics and Cell Biology Degree)

Alex Falconer, MN-HD-49A, (Biology Degree)

Curtis Johnson, MN-HD-40B, (Computer Science Degree)

Katie Jones, MN-HD-61A, (Civil & Environmental Engineer)

Montana

Melody Cunningham, MT-HD-97, (Oncologist)

David Arends, MT-HD-HD-18, (Physician Assistant)

Mark Nicholson, MT-SD-24, (Physician)

Marilyn Marler, MT-HD-94, (Plant Biologist)

C.B. Pearson, MT-SD-46, (Other)

Cora Neumann, MT-LD-30, (Public Health Professional)

North Carolina

Vivian Fulk, NC-HD-91, (Computer Information Systems Degree)

Kate Compton Barr, NC-SD-37, (Public Health Scientist)

Marilyn Carter, NC-County Commission / Board-District 1, (Electrical Engineer)

Amy Fowler, NC-County Commission / Board-At Large, (Pediatrician)

Wesley Wheless, NC-County Commission / Board-Franklin County Commissioner District 7 (At-Large), (Geologist)

Jessica Carda-Auten, NC-School Board-District 3, (Public Health Researcher)

Mike Lee, NC-County Commission / Board-Durham County Commissioner, (Computer Science Degree)

David Hill, NC-SD-7, (Doctor)

Jerry Jones, NC-School Board-New Hanover County, (Environmental Chemist)

Amy Dahl, NC-School Board-Moore County District 1, (Chemistry Teacher)

New Hampshire

Ben Ming, NH-SD-12, (Computer Science Degree)

Jennifer Mandelbaum, NH-HD-Rockingham 21, (Public Health Researcher)

Wendy Thomas, NH-HD-12 , (Microbiologist)

New Mexico

Katharine Clark, NM-Election Administration-County Clerk, (Cognitive Science Degree)

Luke Jungmann, NM-HD-60, (Software Developer)

Yanira Gurrola, NM-HD-16, (Electrical Engineer)

Nevada

David Orentlicher, NV-AD-20, (Physician)

Dallas Harris, NV-SD-11, (Computer Science Degree)

New York

Lea Webb, NY-SD-52, (Neuroscience Degree)

Rebecca Kassay, NY-AD-4, (Environmental Specialist)

John McDonald III, NY-AD-108, (Pharmacist)

Alex Bores, NY-AD-73, (Computer Scientist)

Rachel May, NY-SD-48, (Environmental Science Degree)

Anna Kelles, NY-AD-125, (Nutritional Epidemiologist)

Ohio

Beth Liston, OH-SD-16, (Doctor)

Laura Schaeffer, OH-HD-59, (Scientist)

Rachael Morocco, OH-HD-60, (Pediatrician)

Rachel Baker, OH-HD-27, (Nurse Researcher)

Anita Somani, OH-HD-8, (OB/GYN)

Derrick Hall, OH-HD-34, (Chemistry Degree)

Brad Cotton, OH-HD-12, (Emergency Room Physician)

Michele Grim, OH-HD-43, (Public Health Degree)

Chantel Raghu, OH-County Commission / Board-Butler County Commissioner, (Veterinarian)

Louis Murphy, OH-HD-99, (Environmental Scientist)

Laura Davis, OH-HD-55, (Biology Degree)

Oklahoma

Jessica Cifuentes, OK-School Board-OKCPS School Board District 3, (Engineer)

Oregon

Daniel DeMelo, OR-City Council-3, (Software Engineer)

Lisa Reynolds, OR-HD-34, (Physician)

Brian Duty, OR-HD-33, (Surgeon)

Julie Fahey, OR-HD-14, (Chemistry Degree)

Pennsylvania

Anna Thomas, PA-HD-137, (Chemistry Degree)

Makenzie White, PA-SD-45, (Public Health Degree)

Steve Malagari, PA-HD-53, (Biology Degree)

Napoleon Nelson, PA-HD-154, (Computer Science Degree)

Arvind Venkat, PA-LD-30, (Emergency Physician)

Edward Ritter, PA-LD-47, (Chemical Engineer)

Stefanie Rafes, PA-HD-187, (Physician Assistant)

Emily Kinkead, PA-HD-20, (Biology Degree)

Jared Bitting, PA-HD-138, (Technology Education)

Rhode Island

Louis DiPalma, RI-SD-12, (Systems Engineer)

Michelle McGaw, RI-HD-71, (Pharmacist)

Tiara Mack, RI-SD-6, (Public Health Degree)

Tennessee

Robert Coop, TN-HD-45, (Machine Learning Engineer)

Gabby Salinas, TN-HD-96, (Pharmaceutical Scientist)

Texas

Stephanie Morales, TX-HD-138, (Biology Degree)

Aicha Davis, TX-HD-109, (Science Teacher)

Katherine Culbert, TX-Other-, (Chemical Engineer)

Cody Grace, TX-HD-6, (Computer Systems Analyst)

Michelle Beckley, TX-HD-63, (Biomedical Scientist)

Venton Jones, TX-HD-100, (Public Health Professional)

Sarah Smith, TX-HD-126, (Environmental Consultant)

Detrick DeBurr, TX-HD-65, (Software Engineer)

Erin Zwiener, TX-HD-45, (Forestry Degree)

Suleman Lalani, TX-HD-76, (Doctor)

Dawn Richardson, TX-HD-54, (Science Teacher)

Donna Howard, TX-HD-48, (Registered Nurse)

Tanya Marroquin, TX-County Commission / Board-Comal County Commissioner, (Science Teacher)

Molly Cook, TX-SD-15, (Nurse)

Laurel Jordan Swift, TX-HD-121, (Biology Degree)

Utah

Zeaid Hasan, UT-HD-16, (Aerospace Systems Engineer)

Rosemary Lesser, UT-HD-10, (Doctor)

Steve Hartwick, UT-HD-18, (Biology Degree)

Virginia

James Lewis, VA-City Council-Alexandria City Council, (Biology Degree)

Washington

Victoria Hunt, WA-LD-5, (Ecologist)

Bill Ramos, WA-SD-5, (Forest Scientist)

Derek Stanford, WA-SD-1, (Data Scientist)

Wisconsin

Lydia Spottswood, WI-Mayor-City of Kenosha , (Nurse)

Regina Vidaver, WI-County Executive-Dane County, (Molecular Biologist)

Chris Unterberger, WI-AD-41, (Molecular Biologist)

Andres  Gama, WI-County Commission / Board-6, (Other)

Matthew Petersen, WI-School Board-Unified School District of De Pere, (Human Biologist)

Benjamin Frank, WI-County Commission / Board-29, (Other)

Joan Fitzgerald, WI-AD-46, (Math Teacher)

Kyle Kunicki, WI-AD-40, (Mechanical Engineer)

Janell Wehr, WI-County Commission / Board-Portage County Board Supervisor District 3, (Other)

Rebecca Clarke, WI-County Commission / Board-District 5, (Natural Resource Conservation)

West Virginia

Evan Hansen, WV-HD-79, (Environmental Scientist)

Roger Vannoy, WV-LD-47, (Nurse)

Stephanie Tomana, WV-HD-75, (Science Teacher)

Wyoming

Mike Yin, WY-HD-16, (Computer Science Degree)

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