NEWSROOM
1/27/20
A brief mention of my year in Congress (gray box at the very bottom of this article) Read online at C&E News.
3/1/19
Video of my keynote address on scientists running for office from the August 2018 AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellows sendoff has been put online here.
1/31/19
One of Indiana’s new congressmen is a Vietnam veteran, a farmer … and a scientist
The infantrymen whom Jim Baird led in Vietnam fondly called him “pig farmer” because of his passion for breeding pigs. Now, nearly a half-century after he was helicoptered out of a firefight in which he lost his left arm, Baird answers to a new moniker: congressman. Read online at Science.
11/23/18
11/16/18
A U.S. biochemistry professor takes his political shot—and misses by a lot
His bid for a seat in the U.S. Congress had just gone down in flames. But instead of rehashing his election night defeat, Randy Wadkins says he spent the next morning describing “oxidative phosphorylation electron transport in mitochondria” to a class of chemistry majors at The University of Mississippi in Oxford. Read online at Science.
11/7/18
How science fared in the midterm elections
This year, more candidates with degrees in science, medicine and engineering ran for Congress than ever before. Of the nearly two-dozen new candidates in this crop, at least seven won seats in the House of Representatives. Read online at The Washington Post.
11/2/18
Healthcare, pragmatism backbone of Dem congressional challenger
A Democrat running in the 1st Congressional District in an effort to unseat Republican incumbent Trent Kelly, Wadkins is a university professor making a first run at elected office. Read online at Daily Journal.
10/24/18
Democrat Wadkins Targets Mississippi's Kelly on Health Care
Democrat Wadkins targets Mississippi's Kelly on health care. Read online at usnews.com.
10/23/18
Meet the Scientists Still in the Running for Congressional Seats
After a surge of political enthusiasm among the scientific community since 2016, only a small fraction of candidates with science and engineering backgrounds made it through primary elections this year. Read online at The Scientist.
10/3/18
These scientists may be your next members of Congress
We spoke to candidates with science backgrounds from across the political spectrum. Read online at Popular Science.
9/24/18
The other kind of midterms: How to vote
The midterm elections are less than two months away, and it’s time to plan to vote in November. Read in The Daily Mississippian online.
8/13/18
US mid-term elections: Truth-seeking scientists run for office
"Scientists are not natural politicians... but they solve problems and defend principles," says Valerie Horsley. Read and watch video at BBC News online.
8/13/18
AAAS S&T Policy Fellow Joins Other Scientists in Bid for Congress
Randy Wadkins, who served as a congressional fellow in 2015 and 2016, aims to return to Capitol Hill – this time, as a member of U.S. House of Representatives. Read in AAAS online.
8/9/18
研究予算の大幅削減を提案するなど科学界に厳しい米トランプ政権に対し、一線の研究者たちが声を上げ始めた。「科学に基づいた政治」を求め、今秋の中間選挙で議会を目指す科学者は、過去最大規模の１５０人に達している。See in The Asahi Shimbun online.
7/28/18
Wadkins boasts stronger financial standing than fellow Democrats
Randy Wadkins, a Democrat running against incumbent U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly in Mississippi’s 1st Congressional District, has raised more money than any other Democratic non-incumbent in a House race within the state. Read in The Daily Journal online.
6/6/18
Scientists fare poorly in Super Tuesday primary vote
Science-minded candidates seeking seats in the next U.S. Congress took a drubbing from their Democratic opponents in yesterday’s raft of primary elections across the country. Read in Science online.
5/30/18
Jackson Free Press Candidate Questionnaire: Randy Mack Wadkins
The Jackson Free Press reached out to all candidates in the four Mississippi Congressional districts who are listed on a primary election ballot on June 5, regardless of whether they had a challenger or not. Each candidate received the same five-question questionnaire. We've published their responses in full below, with minimal edits for editorial/reader clarity only. The JFP did not copyedit or line-edit candidate responses. The views expressed by candidates do not necessarily reflect the views of the JFP. Read Here.
5/25/18
Scientists hit the campaign trail
Provoked by Trump, a wave of candidates pushes for evidence-based governing. Read in Chemical Engineering News online.
5/14/18
VIDEO > USA: Standing Up for Science
See video online at NHK World - Japan.
4/24/18
A Science and Technology Fellow Throws his Hat in the Ring
While Congress never embraced the Trump administration’s proposed budget for 2018, that doesn’t mean it had no effect. For instance, it drove Randy Wadkins to run for Congress. Read in American Association For the Advancement of Science (AAAS) online.
4/13/18
An antiscience political climate is driving scientists to run for office
The same pro-science wave driving the March for Science is driving greater activism. Read in Science News online.
3/15/18
The Candidates by Ryan Maguire. Podcast Website
2/22/18
The science candidates: races to watch in 2018.
The 2018 U.S. elections have attracted unusual interest from the scientific community—and some researchers have decided to throw their hats into the ring . Read in Science online.
2/22/18
Meet the scientists running to transform Congress in 2018.
Last month, Randy Wadkins prepared for the spring semester at the University of Mississippi by reviewing his notes for the advanced chemistry course he has taught for many years. Then the professor of biochemistry, who grew up near the university's Oxford campus and received his Ph.D. there, forced himself to step outside his comfort zone: He flew to Washington, D.C., where he asked strangers for money. Read in Science online.
2/15/18
Democrats Host Congressional Candidates. The Banner-Independant.
2/7/18
3 weeks out, congressional races shaping up.
With three weeks remaining before qualifying, the full field of potential challengers are lining up in hopes of filling the state's Third District congressional seat being vacated by Greg Harper's retirement remains.From the Daily Time Leader.
2/4/18
Wadkins, 52, a University of Mississippi chemistry professor and Iuka native, has been a declared candidate since last spring and has generated almost $55,000 in campaign contributions, according to the latest reports filed by congressional candidates with the Federal Elections Commission. READ MORE.
10/23/17
We are now the most well-financed campaign to challenge Trent Kelly for Mississippi's first congressional district seat. Click on that big red "Donate" button up in the right corner first, then read more about the campaign HERE.
10/3/17
We have the first Coffee with Randy up. Watch the video HERE.
9/27/17
Oxford's own The Local Voice did a nice piece on our campaign, emphasizing our plan to bring 21st century jobs to North Mississippi. Read it all HERE.
8/1/17
Our First Tuesday with Randy this month is "Aloha from Hawaii," where I discuss the benefits of solar energy and how it can lead to economic growth in North Mississippi. You can watch it HERE.
7/30/17
TUPELO – A Democratic challenger in the 1st Congressional District has reported noteworthy fundraising activity since the announcement of his candidacy...More from the North Mississippi Daily Journal.
7/17/17
TUPELO – Over a year-and-half before congressional elections in fall 2018, a Democratic candidate has mounted a campaign to challenge Mississippi’s 1st District incumbent, Republican Trent Kelly. More from the North Mississippi Daily Journal.
7/8/17
I participated in a town hall event in Starkville hosted by Indivisible Golden Triangle. I am grateful that I was able to hear peoples' concerns. Read about it in the Starkville Daily News.
7/4/17
Our First Tuesday with Randy Facebook Live event happened. You can watch it HERE! Stay tuned for more infor on the next First Tuesday with Randy on August 1, time TBD.
6/16/17
The Los Angeles Times is following five scientists who are running for office, including me! Read the articles HERE.
5/21/17
As your congressman, I will work to bring 21st century jobs to North Mississippi.
5/17/17
My post on the blog Citizens of Science came out today. You can read more about me here.
5/8/17
Meet the Ordinary Americans Running for Congress in Response to Trump: Randy Wadkins
With the 2018 mid-terms still well over a year away, the field of congressional candidates is already becoming crowded with no-name insurgents. Pacific Standard spoke with a few of those novices about their decision to run. By Kate Wheeling of Pacific Standard. Read more.
4/25/17
Daily Kos picked up the story from Vice News and had good things to say about our campaign. Read more.
4/24/17
Trump pushes hundreds to run for Congress
Up to 1,000 Democratic candidates are about to make the 2018 congressional primaries completely insane
By Alex Thompson of Vice News
The 2018 midterms are still 561 days away, but an unprecedented early surge of Democrats have already declared their candidacies for the House of Representatives, setting up what will likely be one of the longest and most crowded series of House Democratic primary campaigns in memory. Read more.
4/23/17
I’m Randy Wadkins and I am running for Congress in the 1st Congressional District in Mississippi. As your representative, I will make sure that your voice is heard. Mississippians deserve access to affordable health care, superior public education, and good paying 21st century jobs. I will work hard to achieve those goals.