The path to victory for Democrats is clear: next Tuesday, Doctors and scientists will win key tossup races to decide control of Congress and flip critical state legislatures.
This is a healthcare election: 68% of voters say it is very important to their midterm vote (Pew Research Center) and six in 10 worry about affording healthcare costs (KFF). Voters overwhelmingly trust healthcare professionals and scientists to lead on these issues: Data for Progress polling finds 92% trust nurses, 90% their personal or family doctor, 86% doctors in general, 79% scientists and 76% medical researchers to shape healthcare policy—compared with just 40% who trust RFK Jr.
That is our electability thesis: 314 Action Fund candidates have the credibility voters are looking for, positioning them to deliver historic victories in competitive races nationwide.
314 Action Fund is backing more than 500 doctors, nurses, scientists, engineers and educators nationwide, with record-breaking fundraising and more than $30 million spent in key races. Next Tuesday, pro-science candidates will flip key battleground districts to win majorities in the House and Senate, and flip critical state legislatures across the midwest. With big wins in Washington and statehouses across the country, Democrats will have the power to shape healthcare policy, protect science and hold Trump and RFK Jr. accountable in the final stretch of this administration.
13 Battleground Races to Watch
314 Action Fund has endorsed 13 STEM candidates and invested more than $30 million across battlegrounds to help Democrats take back the House, doubling our investment from the 2024 cycle. Democrats need to win just three of these races to secure the House majority.
- CA-06: Pediatrician Dr. Richard Pan is challenging Republican-turned-independent Kevin Kiley. A pediatrician who led the fight against RFK Jr.’s dangerous anti-science agenda, Pan received 314 Action Fund’s largest investment of the cycle: $5.1 million across TV, digital and mail.
- AZ-01: Emergency Room Physician Dr. Amish Shah is taking on former NFL kicker and Trump golfing buddy Jay Feely in a critical battleground. 314 Action Fund has invested more than $2 million in digital and TV ads supporting Dr. Shah, while Elon Musk tries to buy the seat for Trump.
- IA-01: Engineer Christina Bohannan is challenging a Republican incumbent in a seat that was decided by just 799 votes in 2024. 314 Action Fund has invested $1,037,379.76 in digital and TV ads supporting her campaign.
- VA-02: Nuclear Engineer Elaine Luria is taking on Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans in a closely watched Virginia battleground rematch. 314 Action Fund invested $465,000 in a direct mail program supporting her campaign.
- NJ-07: Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy test pilot and healthcare leader, is challenging Rep. Tom Kean and 314 Action Fund has invested $465,000 in direct mail.
- CO-08: Environmental Attorney Manny Rutinel, a former state representative and first responder, is running to unseat Rep. Gabe Evans. 314 Action Fund has invested $1.04 million in digital ads and direct mail supporting his campaign.
- WI-01: Emergency Room Nurse Mitchell Berman has treated veterans for 23 years at the Department of Veterans Affairs. On October 22, 314 Action Fund announced a $1 million ad buy supporting Berman against Republican Bryan Steil.
- MN-01: Public School Math Teacher Jake Johnson brings his public education experience to this competitive Minnesota race, challenging Rep. Brad Finstad.
- NC-11: Environmental Scientist Jamie Ager is an environmental scientist and farmer running against Republican Jennifer Balkcom.
- CO-03: Engineer Dwayne Romero is an Army combat veteran and small business owner challenging Rep. Jeff Hurd.
- OH-10: Oncology Nurse Practitioner Kristina Knickerbocker is a veteran who led medical teams for the U.S. Air Force. Knickerbocker is challenging entrenched Republican Mike Turner in a competitive year in Ohio.
- FL-07: Former NASA Chief of Staff Bale Dalton is competing in a key Florida race for expanding the path to a House majority.
- AR-02: Nuclear Engineer Chris Jones is running to flip a deep-red seat now considered a battleground.
Future Members of Congress
At least four 314 Action Fund endorsed candidates are projected to win following some of the most competitive Democratic primaries in the nation:
- GA-13: Microbiologist Dr. Jasmine Clark
- IL-09: PhD Mathematician Daniel Biss
- CA-26: Systems Engineer Jacqui Irwin
- NJ-12: Surgeon Dr. Adam Hamawy
Doctors in Competitive Statewide Races
Statewide contests in Ohio, Michigan and South Carolina have drawn national attention as three Democratic doctors endorsed by 314 Action Fund fight to lower healthcare costs in their states. It has been nearly 60 years since there was a Democratic doctor in the U.S. Senate—on Tuesday, we will change that.
- South Carolina Senate: Polls show pediatrician and mom Dr. Annie Andrews virtually tied with Darline Graham. 314 Action has bundled $3.6 million in support of her campaign.
- Ohio Governor: Dr. Amy Acton, a physician and former Ohio health director during the COVID-19 pandemic, is running against Vivek Ramaswamy, a billionaire trying to buy this race with deplorable attack ads. 314 Action has bundled $3 million directly for Dr. Acton. On Tuesday, Dr. Acton will make history as the first woman elected as Ohio Governor.
- Michigan Senate: Physician and epidemiologist Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is competing in one of the country’s most closely watched Senate races.
Downballot: States to Watch
STEM candidates are competing to flip chambers, defend narrow majorities and strengthen pro-science leadership in state legislatures across the country. 314 Action Fund is betting on four chambers flipping for Democrats:
- Arizona: Democrats need 4 seats in the House; 314 Action has endorsed 7 candidates
- Pennsylvania: Democrats need 3 seats to flip the Senate and are defending their majority in the House; 314 Action has endorsed 10 candidates across the two chambers
- Minnesota: Democrats need just 1 seat in the House and are defending their majority in the Senate; 314 Action has endorsed 17 candidates for the House
- Michigan: Democrats need 4 seats to flip the House; 314 Action has endorsed 10 candidates
Bottom Line: In the midterms, 314 Action Fund’s STEM candidates will be majority-makers in Congress and state legislatures, and win tight races against Trump Republicans in statewide contests. Backed by more than $30 million in resources, these doctors, nurses, scientists and engineers bring more than policy expertise: they bring the credibility and public trust that voters are craving. In a cycle defined by healthcare and confidence in leadership, 314 Action Fund is betting on trusted experts to translate their scientific and medical background into a STEM wave on November 3rd.