Candidate Spotlights

Independent profiles of congressional candidates with federal service backgrounds.

Profiles are written and researched by FWUCS independent of any candidate or campaign. While profiles are independently written and edited by FWUCS, candidates may submit factual information for our consideration, but do not control or approve the final profile.

Lauren Rienhold

KS-01

Former Attorney Advisor, Social Security Administration

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Alissa Ellman

NY-24

Former Program Support Assistant, Department of Veteran Affairs

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Former Director of International Operations, Refugee and International Operations District, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security

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Mike Masuda

Tom Perriello

VA-05

Former U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan, Bureau of African Affairs, Department of State.

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Trina Swanson

MN-08

Chris Backenmeyer

NE-01

CA-05

Engineer and former Foreign Affairs Officer, U.S. Department of State; former AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow.

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Sam Forstag

MT-01

Former Forestry Technician (Smokejumper), U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture

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Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Assistance Coordination/Regional and Multilateral Affairs
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State

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Tamara Bavendam

TN- House 66

Former Senior Advisor for Women’s Urologic Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.

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Dr. Kristin Hook

TX-21

Former Biological Scientist, U.S. Government Accountability Office; former science and technology policy fellow at NIH and the U.S. Senate

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Zach Dembo

KY-06

Former Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky

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Chuck Borges

MD-State Senate 29

Former Chief Data Officer, Social Security Administration; retired U.S. Navy commander; federal whistleblower.

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These profiles were prepared independently by FWUCS and were not authorized, reviewed, or approved by the candidate or the candidate's committee.

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