FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2022
Contact: press@314action.org
314 Action Fund Endorses 32 STEM Candidates for State Legislative and Municipal Offices
PHILADELPHIA — Today, 314 Action Fund announced its endorsement of thirty STEM candidates running for state legislative and municipal offices across the United States. These scientists and STEM professionals are running for offices from state senate to county commission and are campaigning on a commitment to follow the science and facts central to policymaking in their communities. With the announcement of this slate, 314 Action Fund has endorsed 196 state legislative and municipal STEM candidates this cycle.
Among the newly endorsed candidates are Victoria Gu (Rhode Island Senate District 38) a software engineer who’s worked on health technology to help train doctors to make better diagnoses, and Allison Russo (Ohio House District 7) the Ohio House Minority Leader who’s championed ways to improve the affordability and efficiency of health care for the most vulnerable Ohioans for over 20 years.
“The importance of state legislatures and local officials has been highlighted again and again this year. They’re on the front lines fighting for reproductive health, against climate change, and focusing on evidence-based policies. We are proud to endorse this incredible slate of pro-science leaders across 17 states,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, president of 314 Action.
Today’s new slate of endorsements for state legislative and municipal races is as follows:
Alaska
Janice Park, Senate District F, (Nurse)
Arkansas
Ash Lee Hicks, Washington County Justice of the Peace District 15, (Nurse)
California
Paloma Aguirre, Imperial Beach Mayor, (Marine Biodiversity Degree)
Florida
Prescott Cowles, Alachua County School Board District 5, (Science Teacher)
William Johnson, West Melbourne City Council, (Physicist)
Illinois
Marianne Lalonde, Chicago Alderman Ward 46, (Chemistry Degree)
Kansas
Nina Fricke, House District 6, (Nurse)
Ace Allen, House District 28, (Oncologist)
Scott Perkins, House District 30, (GIS Specialist)
Melissa Oropeza, House District 37, (Advanced Nurse Practitioner)
Louisiana
Darryl R. Ware II, Mayor of Shreveport, (Public Health Professional)
Michigan
James Diez, House District 59, (Mechanical Engineer)
Kris Pachla, Kent County Commissioner District 19, (Former Science Teacher)
Amber Bismack, Livingston County Commissioner District 8, (Science Teacher)
Minnesota
Justice Spriggs, Columbia Heights City Council, (Biochemistry Degree)
A. John Peters, Senate District 5, (Computer Scientist)
Jason Ruffalo, Senate District 31, (Electrical Engineer)
Montana
Bob Carter, House District 98, (Computer Scientist)
North Carolina
Marcia Morgan, Senate District 7, (Mathematics Degree)
Ohio
DaVon Marshall, House District 3, (Biology Degree)
Allison Russo, House District 7, (Public Health Professional)
Anita Somani, House District 11, (OB/GYN)
Elliot Forhan, House District 21, (Mathematics Degree)
Bruce Neff, House District 58, (Biochemistry Degree)
Charlotte Owens, House District 69, (Chemistry Teacher)
Patricia Goetz, Senate District 27, (Medical Doctor)
Oregon
Raz Mason, Senate District 26, (Mathematics Degree)
Pennsylvania
Anna Thomas, House District 137, (Chemistry Degree)
Jennifer Shukaitis, Senate District 40, (Neuroscience Degree)
Rhode Island
Victoria Gu, Senate District 38, (Computer Scientist)
South Carolina
Michelle Brandt, House District 114, (Environmental Science Degree)
Utah
Patrick Belmont, House District 3, (Watershed Scientist)
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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.