Engage with Candidates to Cultivate Champions to Advance Scientific, Medical, and Public Health Progress
The 2024 presidential and congressional elections are an opportunity to elevate the importance of research and innovation in the national conversation. Robust investment and policies that accelerate medical and public health progress are critical – with research, we can save lives. It is difficult to think of a priority more deserving of a top spot among a candidate’s priorities regardless of their political affiliation.
Learn how to engage candidates on the importance of championing life-saving research. Use our toolkit to reach candidates online and in person.
Learn & Prepare
Learn about candidates to interact more effectively with them. Connect with information to make the best case for robust investment in research.
- Advocacy Tools
- Research!America Fact Sheets and Infographics
- For candidates for Congress: Talking points for candidates to take a stand for faster medical progress
- Check out campaign websites, sign up for candidate newsletters, follow candidates on X, Facebook, Instagram, and/or YouTube sites
- Visit sites like ballotpedia.org or Vote411.org to get information about the elected officials and candidates where you live
- Visiting the campaign website of a candidate or official website of incumbents is a great way to learn about their priorities and issues they care about
Educate & Influence
Candidates listen to voters so make your voice heard! You can educate and influence candidates by engaging with them before the election. Help candidates understand the significance of robust federal support for research funding across the sciences and a policy environment that encourages the translation of basic science into advances benefiting Americans and populations across the globe. Even if candidates have been openly supportive or even a champion for medical and public health research, it is still important that they hear from you!
- There are many ways that you can engage candidates and share your priorities
- Town Hall events
- Find events and how to contact your candidates through their websites, newsletters, or social media accounts
- Social Media
- Ask questions or share information and tag candidates
- Write a letter to the editor (LTE)
- Virtually any article or op-ed on an election-related topic can be the jumping off point for an LTE. Use our LTE resource.
- Town Hall events
Vote
Voting is the language of democracy. Your vote counts and shows you care about the decisions your elected officials make. That’s where advocacy starts. Make sure you are registered to vote.
- Check your voter registration
- Mark your calendar for upcoming elections
- Nonpartisan Education Resources
Disclaimer: We have provided links to organizations with useful online tools for engaging with candidates and the election process. Research!America does not endorse or support these organizations or any candidate or political party.
Toolkit (Samples & Templates)
We have developed sample questions you can use to guide your conversations with candidates about research and find out candidates’ positions on accelerating scientific progress.
Sample Social Posts
Public Opinion Survey
Other opportunities to engage in science policy this election cycle
