Thursday, November 8, 2018

Nerds in Congress! Eight scientists are among the new members of Congress!




The citizens of the U.S. are sending 8 new scientists to Congress!  Well, seven scientists and one who has received a science degree.  Among the blue wave there was a rainbow wave (over 100 LGBT persons won their races) and a pink wave (at least 123 women, including Muslims and Native Americans won their races) changing the face of our House and Senate. 


Jacky Rosen (D-NV) Senator: Rosen is a computer programmer who has represented Nevada’s 3rd District.  She supports clean, renewable energy, whereas her opponent flip-flopped on the Affordable Care Act and cast the deciding vote on a law that allowed internet service providers sell consumer data without their knowledge.



Chrissy Houlahan (D) Pennsylvania 6th district Representative: Houlahan is an industrial engineer and an Air Force veteran who campaigned on making healthcare more affordable.  She defeated her opponent who is a tax lawyer and has owned 20 Wendy’s franchises.



Joe Cunningham (D) South Carolina 1st district Representative: Cunningham, an ocean scientist, used his expertise to campaign against the future of offshore drilling, which won over Republican mayors of coastal cities.  His opponent focused on national issues rather than local ones.




Sean Casten (D) Illinois 6th district Representative:  Casten, a biochemical engineer, founded a waste-energy recovery program and supported LGBTQ rights.  His opponent was a climate-change denier who later flipped on the issue.




Elaine Luria (D) Virginia 2nd district Representative: Luria is a nuclear engineer, who spend 20 years in the Navy, operating nuclear reactors as an engineer and a commander. She also focused on increasing the minimum wage.  Her opponent, an ex-Navy Seal, got caught up in a bit of a scandal.



Kim Schrier (D) Washington 8th district Representative: This race still hasn’t been called as of yesterday, but Schrier has a commanding lead.  Schrier wants to be the first female doctor in Congress.



Lauren Underwood (D) Illinois 14th district Representative: Underwood, a registered nurse, was a senior adviser at the DHHS under President Obama, where she focused on preventing and responding to bioterrorism threats.  She focused on expanding access to healthcare, since she has an irregular heart rhythm, i.e. pre-existing condition.




Kevin Hern (R) Oklahoma 1st district Representative: You pretty much have to be a Republican to win an election in Oklahoma, and in such an anti-science state, it’s not surprising he did not campaign on any science-related issues although he has a mechanical engineering degree from Arkansas Tech University.  He said when the space shuttle Challenger blew up in 1986, he decided to give up his dream to be an astronaut and work at McDonald’s flipping burgers?  I suppose if you are a Republican, this would make sense.  He is a Trumpster and owns 10 McDonald’s restaurants in the Tulsa area. 

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