Democrat Molly Sheehan announced today she is running to challenge incumbent Congressman Pat Meehan (R-Delaware) in 2018.
“As a scientist, running for office is the only way to bring science back into policy making,” Sheehan told PoliticsPA in a phone interview.
Sheehan holds a PhD in biochemistry and biophysics from the University of Pennsylvania and is currently a medical researcher.
“Donald Trump is making decisions based on flawed ideology, false rumors and fake news – and too often, Pat Meehan is taking his side. As a scientist, I make decisions based on facts and evidence. That’s what I’ll do In Congress too,” Sheehan said in a release announcing her candidacy.
Sheehan is being mentored by 314 PAC, which was founded by former PA-8 candidate Shaughnessy Naughton to help STEM professionals run for public office.
“They are a perfect organization for me, they bring a lot of experience to the table,” Sheehan told PoliticsPA.
Sheehan’s husband Ian came to the U.S. from Taiwan to pursue his career as a pediatric anesthesiologist. The two have a two year-old daughter.
Democrats are looking to start a wave in 2018, and Sheehan may be the face they are looking for: a millennial bioengineering PhD with a personal connection to immigration.
Meehan was re-elected in 2016 by almost 20 points, while Clinton won his district by 4.3 points.
PoliticsPA reached out to Meehan’s campaign for comment.
Update: The National Republican Campaign Committee responded to Sheehan’s announcement.
“I’m no scientist, but it sure seems like Molly Sheehan is already contradicting her own campaign platform. Sheehan says she makes her decisions ‘based on facts and evidence,’ but her knee-jerk opposition to Pat Meehan, Southeast Pennsylvania’s independent voice in Congress battling climate change and working to fix Obamacare, says differently,” NRCC spokesman Chris Pack said in an email.
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17 Responses
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Happy to see this candidate stepping up to clear out another Trump rubber stamp representative. Good luck to this bright young woman. We need more like her up ending the GOP in Washington.
Puppet Pat has offered no leadership whatsoever in his 4 terms. He only votes the way his Republican party bosses tell him to. He’s only allowed to pretend to be “independent” when it doesn’t matter, like coming out against the Ryancare AHCA after voting for it in committee, and after the bill was withdrawn. He votes to protect the rights of the mentally ill to purchase guns, which he considers a higher priority than protecting us from mentally ill people with guns. Puppet Pat does not represent the people of this district even though it has been gerrymandered just for him into the most ridiculous shape in the country. We need a fresh true voice of intelligent ideas and leadership. Go Molly!
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/patrick-meehan/
“Look at me, I’m a scientist!” Worked out great for Shaugnessy Naughton, didn’t it?
But she may benefit from Sheehan and Meehan sounding so alike that some people don’t know the difference. Like when Mark Warner ran against John Warner down in Virginia.
Pat Meehan is many things, but “independent voice” is not one of them. Also, he never worked to “fix” Obamacare, he has voted to repeal it as many times as Paul Ryan and John Boehner told him to. Also, a climate change fighter who celebrates fracking and oil pipe lines in his District? Please.
I don’t know Molly Sheehan or Dan Muroff, but either one would certainly be an improvement over Trump’s favored son from PA7 Pat Meehan.
David: “mom the meatloaf”
314 PAC helped Naughton to lose. It is run by consultants who are only trying to pad their own wallets. It’s bad news. And she’s not very smart to align herself with a PAC when she’s legally barred from coordinating with them. Bad judgement on her part.
What is Pack talking about? That “independent voice” has voted with Trump 92 percent of the time, including a committee vote to repeal Obamacare, a vote to defund health centers, and a vote to sell his constituents’ personal browsing data. No thanks. I’m very glad to see opponents getting into the race!
It’s too early to see if Meehan will have a fight on his hands. But Sheehan has her name as an advantage. Low-information voters are easily confused, and this could work to her advantage.
As for any STEM credentials, it’s best to beware of them. Some of the greatest scientific and technical minds have proven completely incompetent at managing anything, let alone running government. Lawyers are bad enough, but at least they (or most of them) know the law.
I don’t believe someone is trying to defend Meehan on his work on the ACA, Please stick with that strategy!!
Who is Dan Muroff. I’m impressed he came in fourth in a primary with 10% in the Pa 2nd. Where do these wanna be nobody’s come from. Atleast She is a fresh face with some brains
QuestionMark-
The only truthful thing that Chris Pack said was: ““I’m no scientist”
I think there should be a rule/law that when the issue involves science, and a political hack like Chris wants to respond, he should be required to say:
“I’m no scientist, so I’ll shut up now.”
What does that statement from Chris Pack even mean? Talking-point bingo?
this looks promising.
Dan Muroff is a far superior opponent with actual policy and political experience. Where do these neophytes get off, running for Congress as their very first political goal? What has this women EVER done for anyone else? What Chutzpah!
The utter untruthfulness of that last paragraph says it all!Meehan is a fake “moderate” who votes the party line when it counts and makes puerile noises in between.
Our district can definitely do better!
Chris Pack is already contradicting himself. Pat Meehan hasn’t done jack-sh*t to “fix” Obamacare, but rather has worked to undermine it and the healthcare of all Americans.