April 2, 2026
(Philadelphia, PA) — Yesterday, the Artemis II mission successfully launched from Central Florida’s Space Coast, it’s the first time NASA has sent astronauts to the moon in 54 years.
“When we invest in American science and innovation, we lead the world,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, President of 314 Action. “Artemis II is a shining example of what is possible when research and technology are properly funded—and this should be just the beginning of how far we can go. But, with billions of dollars stripped from scientific research budgets, thousands of grants cancelled, and many of our best and brightest federal employees unceremoniously fired by this administration, Trump will bring frontier-leading research efforts to a grinding halt.
“We are losing our top scientists to other countries who are willing to invest in their work. If Trump gets his way and guts scientific research even further, America will lose our status as a global leader in scientific breakthroughs.”
Last year, 314 Action launched “Science is Our Superpower,” a digital ad targeting swing districts across the country to hold Trump’s dangerous anti-science administration accountable.
Naughton continued, “Since our founding one decade ago, some of our top candidates have been astronauts and leaders in space sciences. 314 Action knows what can be accomplished if we invest in our scientists—both in the lab and in the legislature.”
Senator Mark Kelly (AZ-SEN)
Senator Mark Kelly is an engineer and NASA astronaut. A graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S. Naval Postgraduate school, Mark is also a retired naval aviator and was deployed during the Gulf War and in Operation Desert Storm.
Senator Mark Kelly was 314 Action’s first endorsement of the 2020 cycle, playing a crucial role in helping elect him to his first term. When Kamala Harris announced her candidacy for President, 314 Action led the charge and endorsed him to join the ticket as Harris’ Vice President.
Senator Kelly was a key sponsor in the Building Chips in America Act. He currently sits on five committees, focused on keeping our nation safe and promoting innovation.
Representative George Whitesides (CA-27)
Before his election to Congress, Representative Whiteside led NASA to new heights as Chief of Staff, created hundreds of quality jobs in the Antelope Valley as CEO of Virgin Galactic, and supported front-line responders and public health through his work on the wildfire crisis. George worked on President Obama’s transition team in 2008, and then served as Chief of Staff for NASA for the Obama administration. George was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the agency’s highest honor. George led the reform of NASA to enable current U.S. space leadership.
314 Action was paramount in recruiting Representative Whitesides to run for California’s 27th Congressional District, flipping one of the most competitive House districts in 2024.
Bale Dalton (FL-07)
Bale Dalton is a Navy Captain with over 23 years of public service.He flew special operations missions in Iraq and Africa, provided combat air support with Navy SEALs in Afghanistan, and later served as Chief of Staff at NASA, managing 16,000 civil servants across 14 different facilities throughout the country.
He’s running a competitive race in an R+5 district against incumbent Rep. Cory Mills, who is currently under multiple House Ethics investigations and had a restraining order issued against him by a Florida judge. Dalton outraised Rep. Mills more than 5-to-1 in Q4 of 2025, reporting nearly $364,000 by the end of the year.
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314 Action is the only national organization working to elect scientists across all levels of government—from the Senate down to local school boards. The organization is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people supporting scientists, doctors, and STEM professionals who will use science and facts to address our most pressing issues like climate change and health care.