We’ve compiled a list of political hopefuls on the ballots in state and federal races in November.
Katarina Zimmer
Oct 23, 2018
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Dozens of candidates with science, technology, engineering, math, and medical backgrounds are on the ballots in local and national midterm elections. If there’s a scientist running for office who isn’t on this list, let us know.
Read more on the challenges scientists have faced making it through primary elections in federal races and how candidates for states offices are using their science backgrounds to appeal to voters.
For results of these elections see “Scientists Win First-Time Runs for Congress, Senate”
Candidates running for federal offices:
Name | STEM background | Race | Opponent |
| Hiral Tipirneni | Physician, cancer researcher | Arizona, 8th congressional district | Debbie Lesko (R) |
| TJ Cox | Engineer, businessman | California, 21st congressional district | David Valadao (R) |
| Sean Casten | Renewable energy entrepeneur | Illinois, 6th congressional district | Peter Roskam (R) |
| Bill Foster | Physicist | Illinois, 11th congressional district | Nick Stella (R) |
| Nick Stella | Cardiologist | Illinois, 11th congressional district | Bill Foster (D) |
| Lauren Underwood | Nursing | Illinois, 14th congressional district | Randy Hultgren (R) |
| Chris Peters | Physician | Iowa, 2nd congressional district | Dave Loebsack (D), Mark Strauss (L), Daniel Clark (I) |
| Andy Harris | Physician | Maryland, 1st congressional district | Jesse Colvin (D), Jenica Martin (L) |
| Rob Davidson | ER physician | Michigan, 2nd congressional district | Bill Huizenga (R), Ronald Graeser (US Taxpayers) |
| Ronald Graeser | Physician | Michigan, 2nd congressional district | Rob Davidson (D), Bill Huizenga (R) |
| Matt Longjohn | Physician | Michigan, 6th congressional district | Fred Upton (R), Stephen J. Young (US Taxpayers) |
| Randy Wadkins | Biochemist | Mississippi, 1st congressional district | Trent Kelly (R), Tracella Lou O'Hara Hill (Reform) |
| Jacky Rosen | Computer programmer, software developer | Nevada, Senate | Dean Heller (R), Kamau Bakari (Independent American Party), Tim Hagan (L), Barry Michaels (I) |
| Jeff Van Drew | Dentist | New Jersey, 2nd congressional district | Seth Grossman (R), John Ordille (L), William Benfer (Together We Can), Steven Fenichel (Time for Truth), Anthony Parisi Sanchez (Cannot Be Bought) |
| Chrissy Houlahan | Engineer | Pennsylvania, 6th congressional district | Greg McCauley (R) |
| Joe Cunningham | Ocean engineer | South Carolina, 1st congressional district | Katie Arrington (R) |
| Phil Bredesen | Health care entrepeneur | Tennessee, Senate | Marsha Blackburn (R), Trudy Austin (I), John Carico (I), Dean Hill (I), Kevin Lee McCants (I) |
| Joseph Kopser | Aerospace engineering | Texas, 21st congressional district | Chip Roy (R), Lee Santos (L) |
| Mark Boler | Software developer | Texas, 26th congressional district | Michael Burgess (R), Linsey Fagan (D) |
| Michael Burgess | Physician | Texas, 26th congressional district | Linsey Fagan (D), Mark Boler (L) |
| Elaine Luria | Nuclear engineering | Virginia, 2nd congressional district | Scott Taylor (R) |
| Kim Schrier | Pediatrician | Washington, 8th congressional district | Dino Rossi (R) |
Candidates running for state offices:
Name | STEM background | Race | Opponent |
| Jenn Gray | Pharmaceutical chemistry | Alabama House of Representatives, 45th district | Dickie Drake (R) |
| Liz Snyder | Professor of public health | Alaska House of Representatives, 27th district | Lance Pruitt (R) |
| Randy Friese | Physician | Arizona House of Representatives, 9th district | Pamela Powers Hannley (D), Ana Henderson (R) |
| Chris Hansen | Renewable energy entrepreneur | Colorado House of Representatives, 6th district | |
| Shevrin Jones | Chemistry teacher | Florida House of Representatives, 101st district | |
| Linda Jack | Veterinarian | Florida House of Representatives, 101st district | Amber Mariano (R) |
| Jasmine Clark | Microbiology lecturer | Georgia House of Representatives, 108th district | Clay Cox (R) |
| Frank Szczepanski | Biotech entrepeneur | Indiana House of Representatives, 4th district | Edmond Soliday (R) |
| Don Westerhausen | Cardiologist | Indiana House of Representatives, 5th district | Dale DeVon (R) |
| Edie Hardcastle | Plant biology professor | Indiana State Senate, 49th district | Jim Tomes (R) |
| Katie McBrine | Pediatrician | Massachusetts State Senate, Plymouth and Norfolk district | Patrick O’Connor (R), Stephen Gill (I) |
| Julia Pulver | Nurse | Michigan State Senate, 15th district | Jim Runestad (R) |
| Kelly Morrison | Physician | Minnesota House of Representatives, district 33B | Cindy Pugh (R) |
| Alice Mann | Physician | Minnesota House of Representatives, district 56B | Roz Peterson (R) |
| Maren Bell Jones | Veterinarian | Missouri House of Representatives, 44th district | Cheri Toalson Reisch (R) |
| Sarah Peters | Environmental engineer | Nevada State Assembly, 24th district | |
| Jacqueline Chretien | Bioscientist | New Hampshire House of Representatives, Hillsborough 42 | Matt Wilhelm (D), Phillip Harris (R), Joseph Lachance (R) |
| Beth Liston | Pediatric surgeon | Ohio House of Representatives, 21st district | Stu Harris (R) |
| Jennifer Rager-Kay | Physician | Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 85th district | Fred Keller (R) |
| Gabbby Salinas | Therapeutics researcher | Tennessee State Senate, 31st district | Brian Kelsey (R) |
| Michelle Beckley | Studied biomedical sciences | Texas House of Representatives, 65th district | Ron Simmons (R) |
| Lucy Rogers | Biology major, conservation research | Vermont House of Representatives, Lamoille-3 district | Zachary Mayo (R) |
Correction (October 24): A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Jasmine Clark is a professor at Emory University, where she is in fact a lecturer. The Scientist regrets the error.
