With less than three weeks to go before the Nov. 3 general election, here is a look at some of the key House of Representatives and Senate races around Department of Energy nuclear weapons sites.
The sites and races are listed alphabetically.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California: Rep. Lateefah Simon (D) is seeking re-election against fellow Democrat Jamie Joyce under California’s top-two primary system. California as a state sometimes practices intra-party general elections.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California: Rep. Aisha Wahab (D) won a special election in August to serve out the remainder of the term of Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned after several sexual assault allegations. A former member of the California State Senate, Wahab is an information technology manager. In the general election, Wahab will face another Democrat, Melissa Hernandez, who won the party’s primary and is a member of the board of directors for Bay Area Rapid Transit.
Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico: Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D) is seeking her fourth term against Martin Zamora (R), a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives. Leger Fernández is on the House Rules Committee and Natural Resources Committee. In the Senate: Incumbent Ben Ray Luján (D) is seeking re-election against Republican Larry Marker, who won the GOP primary.
Nevada National Security Site: Incumbent Democrat Rep. Steven Horsford will seek re-election against Republican Copy Whipple, who won the GOP primary. Whipple describes himself as a rancher and businessman.
Oak Ridge Site and Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee: Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R) , currently chair of the House Appropriations Energy & Water subcommittee, is another longtime GOP congressman defending his seat. He will face Anna Golladay (D) in the general election. Golladay, who won her party’s primary, has a background as a consultant, business operator and associate pastor in the United Methodist Church. In the Senate: Bill Hagerty (R) is running for re-election against Democrat Marquita Bradshaw.
Pantex Plant in Texas: Incumbent Ronny Jackson (R), who has served in the House since 2021 and serves on the House Armed Services Committee and chairs its Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee, is facing Democrat and former Amarillo city councilman Mark Nair to defend his seat. In the Senate: After four-term Republican incumbent John Cornyn was defeated in the primary election in March, Republican state attorney general Ken Paxton and Democratic state representative James Talarico will compete for Cornyn’s seat.
Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico: Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D) is seeking re-election against Republican Ndidiamaka (Didi) Okpareke, a pharmacist who won the GOP primary.
Savannah River Site in South Carolina: Longtime Republican incumbent Joe Wilson is seeking re-election against Democrat Zyon Khalifa, an attorney who won his party’s primary. In the Senate: Republican Sen. Darline Graham, appointed to the seat following the death of her brother Lindsey Graham this summer, and who also won the GOP Senate primary, will seek a full term against Democrat Annie Andrews.
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico: Rep. Gabe Vasquez, a Democrat, is seeking re-election against Republican Greg Cunningham.
