The Scientists in State Politics Database, managed by the Eagleton Institute of Politics and supported by the New Jersey State Policy Lab, offers a detailed inventory of U.S. state legislators with backgrounds in science, engineering, or healthcare. The database aims to identify these legislators and explore their expertise while analyzing representation across various demographics.
Recent data from March 2025 indicates a decline in the number of science-based professionals serving in state legislatures. The percentage dropped from 4.09% to 3.07%, translating to a decrease from 309 to 231 legislators out of 7,523 nationwide. This trend may reflect scientists’ reluctance to pursue political roles due to polarized environments.
The database highlights the necessity for scientific expertise in governance, particularly as scientific advancements impact many life aspects. It serves as a resource for understanding technical expertise’s role in policymaking and encourages STEM professionals to consider public service careers.
Data collection for this update relied on the KnowWho Database, ensuring accurate reflections of active legislators as of March 2025. Analysis covered demographic characteristics and professional domains across all states.
Healthcare professionals remain the majority among science-based legislators but saw an 8.5% drop since last year. Scientists experienced a slight decline, while engineers faced a more significant proportional decrease.
Regionally, some states maintained or increased their representation despite national declines; New Hampshire continues leading with science-based lawmakers relative to its legislature size. Conversely, states like Connecticut and Minnesota saw notable reductions.
Urbanized states with robust research infrastructure retained more science-based lawmakers compared to rural areas experiencing greater turnover.
This database continues shaping the intersection between technical expertise and political leadership by providing comprehensive data for policymakers and researchers advocating meaningful representation.
“Given that scientific discoveries drive change,” said one researcher involved with the project at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, “having technical expertise is crucial for sound policymaking.”
Authors contributing to this analysis include Itzhak Yanovitzky from Rutgers University School of Communication and Information; Ojobo Agbo Eje, data scientist at Rutgers University-Camden; Michael Akinwumi from Eagleton Institute; Kristoffer Shields from Eagleton Center on American Governor at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.
