Newly elected lawmakers with science backgrounds
The gist
A pediatrician, a microbiologist, a mathematician and a physician won Democratic races in the 2026 midterms.
Their science backgrounds may shape fights over research funding and vaccine access.
How it unfolded
- Nov 3, 2026Election night events were held in Sacramento, Calif. for California Democratic House candidate Richard Pan and in Columbus, Ohio for Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton.
- Nov 4, 2026TIME reported the Democratic victors in the midterms included a pediatrician in South Carolina, a microbiologist in Georgia and a mathematician in Illinois, with several joining Congress and one becoming the next Governor of Ohio.
- Nov 6, 2026OncoDaily published Timothy Rebbeck's piece listing the winning science-background candidates: Annie Andrews (South Carolina, Senate), Jasmine Clark (Georgia, House), Daniel Biss (Illinois, House) and Amy Acton (Ohio, Governor).
Key terms
- midterms
- US general elections held near the midpoint of a president's four-year term, when all House seats and about a third of Senate seats are contested.
- 314 Action
- A U.S. political action committee that works to elect Democrats with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics backgrounds to public office.
- American Public Health Association
- A U.S. professional membership and advocacy organization for public health professionals, based in Washington, D.C.
Source: Wikipedia