Stand Up for Science-backed candidates win 15 congressional races

Candidates endorsed by Stand Up for Science won 15 of 20 congressional races in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, including 14 seats that flipped from Republican to Democrat. The results give the group new allies in Congress as it pushes for restored research funding and scientific integrity.

Why it matters: - Stand Up for Science says the results expand the number of congressional champions for evidence-based policymaking. - The group says the incoming members can help advance priorities including restored research funding and scientific integrity when Congress convenes in January. - Fifteen wins out of 20 races means 75% of the endorsed candidates prevailed. - Fourteen of the 15 wins came in seats that flipped from Republican to Democrat.

What happened: - Stand Up for Science-endorsed candidates won 15 congressional races in the Nov. 3 midterm elections. - The winning candidates span 10 states, including Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky and Georgia. - The winners include Jamie Ager in NC-11, Teresa Benitez-Thompson in NV-02, Mitchell Berman in WI-01 and Jasmine Clark in GA-13. - Other winners include Zach Dembo in KY-06, Leticia Gutierrez in TX-09, Jessica Killin in CO-05 and Kristina Knickerbocker in OH-10. - The list also includes Nancy Lacore in SC-01, Eileen Laubacher in CO-04, Will Lawrence in MI-07 and Don Leonard in OH-15. - Additional winners are Katy Padilla Stout in TX-23, Brian Poindexter in OH-07 and Raymond Smith Jr. in NC-03.

The details: - The races followed months of independent organizing and on-the-ground work. - Science Victory Fund-backed ads and billboards supported the effort. - Phone banks reached more than 46,600 voters. - Vincent Vertuccio said many of the newly elected candidates flipped seats that pundits considered impossible. - Vertuccio said the Science Victory Fund focused on independently supporting candidates in so-called tough districts. - Several races were decided by margins of 1% or less. - Vertuccio said Science Victory Fund was one of the only groups to devote independent expenditure resources and deploy volunteers in some of those contests. - The Science Victory Fund is an independent expenditure-only political action committee focused on pro-science candidates and policy. - The group launched in September 2026.

Between the lines: - The results suggest science-focused political messaging can compete even in red districts. - The heavy share of flips points to voter openness to challengers backed by a science-first message. - The narrow margins in several races suggest targeted spending and field work mattered more than broad, national campaigns. - Stand Up for Science is trying to turn electoral wins into legislative influence.

What's next: - Stand Up for Science plans to work with the newly elected members of Congress when they convene in January. - The group says its near-term goals include restoring research funding and strengthening scientific integrity. - Delawalla and Vertuccio are available for comment and media appearances. - The Science Victory Fund will likely continue positioning itself as a political spender for pro-science candidates.

The bottom line: - Stand Up for Science turned a targeted midterm program into a strong congressional showing, and it now has a bigger bench of allies heading into the next session of Congress.