STEM-Background Democrats Win Record Midterm Congressional Majorities

Democratic candidates with backgrounds in science, medicine, and engineering won a record number of seats in the midterm elections, securing sizable majorities in both the House and Senate. This movement, termed a STEM wave, was supported by more than $23 million in funding from the organization 314 Action.

Notable victories include pediatrician Annie Andrews, the first Democrat elected to the Senate in South Carolina in nearly 30 years, and former public health official Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan. While some candidates, such as pediatrician and former state senator Richard Pan, were motivated to challenge the policies of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., most focused their campaigns on health care affordability and the rising cost of living to attract voters.

The newly elected officials intend to use their subpoena power to scrutinize the tenure and vaccine policies of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Their legislative agenda prioritizes restoring Affordable Care Act financial aid and reversing cuts to Medicaid.