The Daily PulseTechnology
Pro‑science PAC 314 Action fuels wave of doctor and scientist wins in 2024 midterms
Reported by Danish Ansari (Fact-Checker) · Wired ·
Photo: Wikimedia CommonsWhat Happened
The 314 Action Fund, a political action committee that backs pro‑science candidates, helped more than 80% of its supported congressional hopefuls win in the 2024 midterms. The group spent over $30 million on donations and campaign work, raising $3.6 million for pediatrician Annie Andrews in South Carolina and $3 million for physician Amy Acton in Ohio. It also backed Michigan senator‑elect epidemiologist Abdul El‑Sayed, North Carolina representative‑elect Jamie Ager and other health‑ and science‑focused candidates.
Reaction
Shaughnessy Naughton, a chemist who founded 314 Action after a 2016 loss, said data‑driven decision‑makers are now at the governing table. Richard Frank of the Brookings Center on Health Policy called the surge “unusual” and linked it to the Trump administration’s attacks on science. Historian Kristoffer Shields of Rutgers cited federal lab defunding and the pandemic as drivers. Candidates themselves pointed to public‑health failures, such as El‑Sayed’s claim that a cyclospora outbreak traced to Trump‑era FDA cuts.
What’s Next
The group launched a Guardians of Public Health drive in 2025 to recruit more health experts, calling the current HHS leader a “madman.” A new recruitment round begins later this month, aiming to keep the momentum.
Context
A political action committee raises money to support candidates who share its goals. In recent years, scientists have entered politics to counter misinformation and policy decisions they see as harmful to public health.
ExplainerWhy this matters
What Happened
In the 2024 elections, the 314 Action Fund poured over $30 million into races for doctors, scientists and other health experts, helping most of its backed candidates win, including several who flipped Republican seats.
Why It Matters
The success shows a growing voter pushback against anti‑science policies promoted by the previous administration. With more health professionals in legislatures, future laws on public health, research funding and pandemic preparedness may reflect evidence‑based approaches rather than political rhetoric.
What Happens Next
314 Action plans another recruitment drive later this month and will continue funding candidates through its Guardians of Public Health program. Watching upcoming primaries and special elections will reveal whether the pro‑science surge can sustain its influence in Congress.
