"He aims, his campaign says, "to fix housing, fund health care, feed kids, and fuel growth, while fighting back against the overreaches of the Trump administration." But Shah's background is less conventional: In addition to being a lawyer, he's an epidemiologist who directed Maine's CDC during the coronavirus pandemic and was the principal deputy director of the federal CDC until earlier this year."
"Many science and health professionals have shied away from politics in the past. But as the Trump administration has rescinded its support for scientific research, restricted vaccine access, dismissed expert advisers, attacked doctors and scientists, and worked to curtail health-insurance coverage, researchers and health-care workers have had a surge of interest in running for office."
Nirav Shah is running for governor of Maine with standard Democratic priorities while bringing an uncommon background as a lawyer and epidemiologist who directed Maine's CDC and served as principal deputy director of the federal CDC. Shah resigned from the CDC in part over Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation as HHS secretary. The Trump administration's rollbacks on scientific research, vaccine access, advisory roles, and health-coverage protections have motivated many researchers and health-care workers to pursue political office. Political groups focused on electing scientifically trained candidates have seen a sharp rise in interest and applications. Several scientists and clinicians are already launching campaigns for 2026 races.
#scientists-running-for-office #public-health-leadership #nirav-shah #political-mobilization-of-researchers
Read at The Atlantic
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