The ‘political’ scientists
Dozens of scientists ran for U.S. Congress. Here’s what happened to them.
Updated 7 November 2018
A flood of candidates with scientific, technical, and health backgrounds decided to run this year for the U.S. House of Representatives. All but two were Democrats, and many were reacting to the 2016 election of President Donald Trump and the policies of the Republican majority in Congress.
Won
Ph.D.
J.D.
M.D.
D.M.D.
Master's
Bachelor's
Won
Backed
Not backed
Won
Male
Female
Won
Favored
Toss-up
Competitive
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The first step
Most of the 48 candidates shown above never made it past their state’s primary election, held over a 6-month period that ended in September. Many struggled with the challenge of raising enough money to mount an effective campaign. This graphic lets you compare the academic backgrounds of the “losers” and those who passed their initial electoral test.
The general election
Eighteen of these science candidates appeared on the 6 November ballot, and the seven circled in red have won a seat in the 116th Congress. It’s hard to find a pattern, however, because each race features its own unique set of dynamics. Use the tabs below to sort the candidates by gender; academic degree; whether they were endorsed by 314 Action, a non-profit organization that helps science, technology, and health professionals running for office; and the pre-election odds of a victory. The last category is based on the perceived strength of their opponent and how their district voted in the previous two elections.