Stand Up for Science Adds 11 New Endorsements of Pro-Science Candidates in Critical Congressional Races

Endorsements promote candidates who will protect science and democracy, replace anti-science members of Congress in 2027

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, October 23, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Today, with less than two weeks to go until midterms, Stand Up for Science is excited to announce another slate of congressional candidate endorsements in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. These endorsements recognize the candidates’ commitments to protecting public health and research, defending evidence-based policymaking, and pushing for government accountability.

The candidates include educators, PhD scientists, healthcare workers, veterans, and community leaders, all running critical races challenging loyalists to Trump’s war on science:

· Raymond Smith Jr., educator, Army combat veteran and two-term legislator running in North Carolina’s 3rd District;
· Katy Padilla Stout, teacher and foster care system attorney running in Texas’ 23rd District;
· Teresa Benitez-Thompson, social worker and former state legislator running in Nevada’s 2nd District;
· Chris Jones, rocket scientist and minister running in Arkansas’ 2nd District
· Zach Dembo, former federal civil rights prosecutor running in Kentucky’s 6th District;
· Jonathan Nez, former Navajo Nation President running in Arizona’s 2nd District;
· Nancy Lacore, three-star Admiral and 35-year Navy veteran running in South Carolina’s 1st District;
· Mitchell Berman, registered nurse and union champion running in Wisconsin’s 1st District;
· Eileen Laubacher, Rear Admiral and 34-year Navy veteran running in Colorado’s 4th District;
· Jessica Killin, Army veteran, business leader, and public servant running in Colorado’s 5th District; and
· Leticia Gutierrez, former fraud analyst and community leader running in Texas’ 9th District.

A Stand Up for Science endorsement lets voters know that a candidate is a champion of science who will work on behalf of the people to preserve scientific freedom and integrity and keep political and ideological influences out of the scientific process.

“We are proud to support these candidates on our shared vision of evidence-based policymaking and putting people first. We need these kinds of politicians in Congress to not only challenge Trump loyalists in their ongoing attacks on science and democracy, but to hold those enablers and bad actors accountable,” said Dr. Colette Delawalla, Founder and CEO of Stand Up for Science.

“These are crucial races to win in order to put a stop to the war on science that our current Congress is enabling. With our help, these candidates will be part of the pro-science majority in our next Congress,” said Vincent Vertuccio, spokesperson for Stand Up for Science.

Stand Up for Science endorsements are awarded after a careful vetting process. Stand Up for Science previously announced a slate of congressional candidate endorsements earlier in October. All endorsed candidates are listed on the Science Victory Fund website.

Delawalla and Vertuccio are available for comment and media appearances.

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Paid for by Science Victory Fund, 700 Pennsylvania Ave SE., Ste 200, Washington, DC 20003. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

Stand Up for Science is a grassroots, Washington, D.C. based, non-profit organization mobilizing the fight for science and democracy. Stand Up for Science was formed in February 2025 in response to actions affecting federal science agencies and funding of the American scientific ecosystem. On March 7th, Stand Up for Science mobilized over 50,000 people at 170+ events across the world on its first National Day of Action. Federal scientists across multiple agencies (NIH, EPA, NASA, FEMA) have chosen Stand Up for Science as the platform to publish their open letters of concern. Stand Up for Science is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization [EIN: 33-4154429] and donations are not tax-deductible.

Vincent Vertuccio
Stand Up for Science
vincent@standupforscience.net