Bethany Mann

Bethany Mann was born in Normal, Illinois. She was homeschooled and attended Wright City High School. She earned an associate degree from Lincoln Land Community College in 2008 and a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois, Springfield in 2010. Her career experience includes working as an environmental specialist and technology professional, on projects with the EPA and the USDA, and on the executive board of the Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Consortium. Mann has served on the executive board of the Kansas Laboratory Education Association and has been a member of the Missouri Democratic LGBTQIA+ caucus, and has been affiliated with the NAACP.[1][2][3]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Bethany Mann is an environmental chemist, a working mother of three, and a lifelong Missourian committed to building a government that serves all people, not just special interests. As the daughter of an Air Force veteran and the granddaughter of a WWII veteran, public service is deeply ingrained in her family history and remains the guiding force of her campaign. She is dedicated to representing every constituent in the 3rd District with integrity and transparency.

Professional Background

With a B.S. in Chemistry, Bethany has built a career as an environmental chemist and technology professional. Her expertise spans agriculture, energy, and water infrastructure, including critical work testing for contaminants like PFAS. She serves on the Executive Board of the Kansas Laboratory Education Association (KLEA) and as Vice Chair of the Missouri Democrats LGBTQIA+ Caucus.

Vision for the 3rd District

Bethany is running to bring stability and science-driven solutions to Washington. Her priorities include:

Economic Opportunity and Bringing Down Costs: Investing in union-led jobs in clean energy and agricultural technology.

Infrastructure: Modernizing rural broadband, energy resilience, and clean water access.

Accountability: Protecting reproductive freedom, safeguarding voting rights, and ensuring equitably funded public schools.

Bethany is a dedicated neighbor building a grassroots movement to ensure Missourians have a voice that truly represents their needs and values.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I’m running for Congress to replace partisan chaos with science-driven solutions. As an environmental chemist, I don’t guess—I use data to solve problems. My top priority is securing our future through two pillars: protecting public health and modernizing our infrastructure.

My background in testing for toxic contaminants drives my commitment to clean water and air. We must hold corporate polluters accountable, not families. Simultaneously, I will leverage my expertise to rebuild our infrastructure, creating union-led jobs in clean energy and rural broadband. Rooted in a family legacy of military service, I’m ready to serve. We need leadership that prioritizes Missourians over special interests. I'm ready to get to work.Every American should be able to access fully and equitably-funded education. I believe in a "lifelong science-literacy pipeline." My core priorities are:

Universal Early Education: Fully funded, high-quality pre-K with competitive teacher pay. Modernized K-12: Investing in labs, rural broadband, and STEM curricula focused on environmental and agricultural literacy.

Workforce Alignment: Scaling union-led apprenticeships in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and tech, creating clear pathways from graduation to high-skill careers.

Higher Education: College for All Act, comprehensive student debt reform to stop predatory lending with full funding for public universities.Healthcare is a fundamental human right. My priorities to bring down healthcare costs include:

Expanding Rural Access: Strengthening rural health through mobile clinics, community hubs, and telehealth expansion via broadband.

Supporting the Workforce: Incentivizing rural medical training, student loan forgiveness, and fair wages to retain healthcare staff.

Stabilizing Rural Hospitals: Implementing value-based payment models and emergency funding to prevent hospital closures.

Reproductive Freedom: Defending abortion access as essential healthcare.

Universal Coverage: Supporting Medicare/Healthcare for All to eliminate financial barriers to care

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As the daughter of an Air Force veteran and granddaughter of a WWII vet, public service is in my DNA. Protecting those who sacrificed for us is a personal mission; I am committed to a well-staffed, robust VA that delivers the care our heroes have earned.

My plan to restore our federal workforce includes:

Fully funding agencies to reverse chronic understaffing and illegal firings.

Strengthening collective bargaining rights and union protections.

Modernizing pay scales to match the private sector and end pay compression.

Protecting whistleblowers and shielding federal scientists from political interference.

Streamlining hiring pipelines and expanding telework options.

We need a government that serves the people, not special interests.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Labor Organizations:

Missouri AFL-CIO

St. Louis Labor Council1

Tri-County Labor

IAFF Local 2665 (St. Peters, MO)

Advocacy Organizations:

Abortion Action Missouri (AAM)

Heartland Forward

Media Endorsements:

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial Board

Campaign websiteMann's campaign website stated the following:EducationChild CareWe will expand funding for child care in low-income areas to ensure that every family has access to quality child care.Increase quality child careBy expanding tax credits to childcare workers and institutions we will be able to increase staffing and subsidize training for childcare workers. ​ Universal Pre-K Parents overwhelmingly support universal pre-K as an effective system, we should make it accessible to all families that want to participate. ​K-12We must evaluate the standards by which to judge educational success, the standardized testing system is not representative of the success in our classroom. A large margin of Educators feel they are teaching to a test and that their hands are tied. We must directly address the correlation between poverty and poor educational outcomes, invest in student transportation to ensure safety, provide resources for crucial positions like nurses and substitute teachers and invest in technology to enable our children to compete in the 21st Century. ​Increase in teacher payWe see more teachers leaving the field than coming in. Our teachers, paraprofessionals, and staff deserve competitive wages and investment in our classrooms. Many teachers pay for classroom supplies out of pocket, while the system continually cuts budgets.​Invest in classroom TechnologyThough we are seeing students return to the classroom after a long period of virtual learning, we must invest in technology to better equip teachers and students alike in a growing age of Technology. Funding for computers and broadband is vital to provide equal and quality education across the state. InfrastructureSupply ChainThe best way to bolster the American supply chain is to make more products in the USA.Companies who invest in manufacturing, particularly lean manufacturing, following the principles of Six Sigma and Green Chemistry, and responsibly managing their carbon footprint should receive tax incentives. Farmers should see the most benefit from conservation efforts and improvements.All manufacturers must adhere to strict safety standards and pay fair wages or face harsh penalties. Corporations must pay their fair share in taxes.Infrastructure should be updated so that trucks drive on good roads, dams should be updated, and water that comes out of pipes should be lead-free.​​BroadbandRural areas throughout the state require high-quality broadband to keep up with technological advancements, with the covid pandemic we have seen education move from the classroom to the kitchen table, many without access to reliable internet, and as a result, students are unable to attend school. Broadband also plays a major role in advanced technology that can advance better crops and make farming more efficient.People with disabilities need access to online medical services & technology to aid them in everyday activities.Education and job training can be done online, as well as many jobs through remote work.  HealthcareMedicare for AllMissourians overwhelmingly voted for Medicaid expansion. Medicare for All cuts the ties between healthcare and your job. It allows everyone to receive quality care that is affordable at the hospital, pharmacy, or doctor’s office. It will cover primary, mental, dental, vision, women’s health, and emergency room care in addition to prescription drugs.Under Medicare for All, Americans are far more likely to engage in preventative healthcare measures, like annual physicals, or to see the doctor of their choice before an illness progresses.Pharmaceutical Reform The government system would be able to, just like other developed countries, negotiate a set standard of fair prices with pharmaceutical and insurance companies. No one should ever choose between paying rent and buying insulin.Mental HealthMental health, counseling, housing, and addiction services should be expanded due to the alarming rate of depression and suicide common in Missouri, particularly among those in rural communities.  Voting RightsWe must pass John Lewis Voting Rights ActThe right to vote is as fundamental as the Constitution, limiting access to voting options is antithetical to the basic idea of By The People. The Post Office should be strengthened and defended so that everyone feels comfortable casting a mail-in ballot if they are unable to vote on election day due to work, illness, travel, or caring for a loved one.Stop GerrymanderingGerrymandered districts do not truly represent voters in MO, but rather marginalize voters for political gain, whether state legislative or Congressional. Moreover, we must end the practice of state interference and restore local control in local elections.The number of signatures needed for an Initiative Petition Process should decrease so that it is easier for voters to be directly involved in legislation that makes a difference locally. ​Improved Voter Registration and safeguards Voters who are eligible to vote but who did not have an opportunity to register should be able to register and vote on Election Day with proper safeguardsEnvironmentFarmingClimate change will impact Missouri’s farmland significantly. We must protect against this environmental threat that shows up as drought, floods, invasive insect and fungal species, more fertilizer and heavy metal contamination in groundwater and soil, and an increase in animal and human diseases.Farmers should receive funding and subsidies for conservation efforts such as adopting energy-efficient equipment, technology improvements, and land remediation.Instead of subsidizing large agribusiness corporations, farmers should get a fair price for their crops, reduce overproduction, and get paid for conserving American farmland. The government should provide loans to cover the production costs, with the option to buy from a private buyer if prices are high. If prices are low, the government should buy the crops back to cover the cost of the loan and store extra crops in reserve to strengthen our nation’s food supply and defense.Green EnergyWe should adopt green initiatives that foster energy efficiency and reduce waste, which will not only create jobs but also save taxpayer dollars. Simple actions like updating building codes, examining power grids, and shifting to purchasing clean energy vehicles can amount to savings for taxpayers. We will also increase energy efficiency by offering financial incentives for meeting high public construction energy standards.Foreign Policy & Trade laborThe role of negotiating trade should return to Congress. Missouri farmers should be represented in trade discussions by elected officials, not the Executive Branch.We must re-evaluate the purchase of Missouri land by foreign companies, who buy at pennies on the dollar while turning a tax-free import/export profit while driving up costs and pushing local farmers out of the market The best foreign policy involves setting the example of investing in American infrastructure and then using the power of our markets to drive growth in international business sectors. Workers should have the fundamental right to collectively bargain and join or start a union. Right to Work is wrong for Missouri. We will stand strong and united against any version of this anti-union, anti-worker legislation.Instead of subsidizing large agribusiness corporations, farmers should get a fair price for their crops, reduce overproduction, and get paid for conserving American farmland. The government should provide loans to cover the production costs, with the option to buy from a private buyer if prices are high. If prices are low, the government should buy the crops back to cover the cost of the loan and store extra crops in reserve to strengthen our nation’s food supply and defense.Eliminate loopholes that allow pollution by ag corporations and CAFOs by strengthening the Clean Water Act.Farmers should receive grants to help them invest in technology and training to stay competitive and modernize their operations. To achieve this, farmers must have funding and access to reliable broadband internet.Reproductive RightsAbortion is healthcare. Access to healthcare saves lives. Equitable access to healthcare is a human right, and no one should experience discrimination because of their gender. Americans should not wait for their doctor to consult administrators and lawyers before receiving treatment to save their lives because an overreaching government dictates which life is worthy of saving. Missouri’s trigger ban on abortion with no exception for violence, pre-existing medical conditions, or the health of the mother harms families already struggling to make ends meet and find affordable healthcare. Missouri’s failure to expand Medicaid and corporate consolidation of medical centers caused rural hospitals across the state to close and significantly decrease services, so now many people drive hours for basic healthcare, leading to high maternal mortality rates. The United States should set federal standards to prevent extreme laws from restricting access to medical care, so that families do not experience undue financial, geographic, or criminal penalties for protecting their lives and seeking care.​I support the Women’s Health Protection Act, ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, Medicare For All, and expanding access to virtual and telehealth services.​Additionally, I believe that the politicization of abortion comes from the anti-labor movement, which intentionally divides American workers to discourage solidarity and increase corporate profits. Terms like “late-term abortion,” “partial-birth abortion,” “Pro-life,” and “Pro-Choice,” all come from marketing campaigns in the 70s and 80s intentionally designed to inflame and divide American workers into emotional and personal issues to discourage them from coming together and fighting for things like better wages, working conditions, and access to healthcare. Denying basic healthcare services restricts access, and drives up prices, and corporations directly benefit from this strategy. Emotionally charging basic issues like health care access prevents people from meaningfully solving problems, and people in power know this.​I support the ProAct so that every worker can collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions, along with strengthening the enforcement capabilities of the National Labor Relations Board.— Bethany Mann's campaign website (July 14, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am an environmental chemist and technology specialist. With my background in agriculture, manufacturing, and infrastructure, I am uniquely qualified to go to Congress to solve complex problems and deliver results for Missouri's 3rd District.

I grew up in Foristell, MO. I live in St. Peters. I was homeschooled for most of my education. I earned a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Chemistry from the University of Illinois in Springfield. I started my career as an intern at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), testing water, soil, and air samples for environmental contaminants that had been dumped into our nation's land by big corporate polluters. Now, I work in water, agriculture, and energy infrastructure to solve manufacturing or regulatory issues using technology, education, and common sense.

I am passionate about science and technology, education, and bringing people together. I serve on the executive board of the Kansas Laboratory Education Association, and I also serve as Vice Chair the the Missouri Democratic LGBTQIA+ caucus. I am a mom of three with two toddlers, so I am an expert negotiator and familiar with navigating through gridlock.

I believe that there is more that brings Americans together than tears us apart. I want to go to Congress to serve Missouri's 3rd and bring back resources to help working families and build our economy. I know like rural parts of the district feel left behind, and I want to Missouri to do better.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Our water should be clean and free from contaminants like lead and forever chemicals. 80% of Missouri kids test positive for lead thanks to old lead lines. Forever chemicals are man-made chemicals that can lead to rare forms of cancer with rates particularly higher on military bases and around airports. Billions of federal dollars are being allocated for water infrastructure improvement projects and environmental remediation creating high-paying union jobs across the country. I will fight for Missouri's fair share of resources to improve and protect our waterways to protect public health and improve the quality of water for high-tech manufacturing and energy production.Students should be completely supported from pre-k to secondary schooling in fully and equitably funded public schools. Missouri trails behind many educational statistics, including teacher pay and paraprofessional support. Many of our schools desperately need updated infrastructure, including technology, so that students with all abilities can learn and grow. I will champion universal pre-k, fully funding public schools, and a jobs program to address teacher shortages.Healthcare options should be expanded and access to healthcare should be protected. I trust American moms to chose what kind of healthcare works best for them and their family's physical, emotional, and economic needs. The government should never have the power to go into a doctor's office and make medical decisions for anyone seeking reproductive healthcare. I support strengthening and expanding Medicare by passing Medicare For All.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As a scientist, I am passionate about ways that we can work together to solve the climate crisis. We see the impact of climate change across the state from electrical grid failures, droughts, invasive pests that cause illness like alpha gal, and crumbling roads. Ultimately, this translates into higher prices at the gas pump and grocery store. To protect and build our economy, we must take climate issues seriously.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Dark Waters (starring Mark Ruffalo) and Erin Brockovich.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Ability to understand and prioritize complex issues. Willingness to listen, form consensus, make a plan, and educate.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked at the Wentzville Walgreens in the cosmetics department. I went on to work for the retail chain for 11 years as a senior certified pharmacy technician and district pharmacy training coordinator, supporting 27 stores in Central Illinois.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Immigration will continue to be a major challenge until Congress meaningfully addresses the core issues leading to the crisis at the border. Climate change, war, and natural disasters will continue to bring migrants to our borders for safe harbor or the chance for a better life.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Indivisible St. Louis, Indivisible We Will Persist

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I believe in government transparency and accountability. I think that dark money should never have been allowed to pollute our elections.

Campaign website

Mann’s campaign website stated the following:

Platform

EDUCATION

Our state is currently tailing behind in many areas. Our students deserve a quality education and support from pre-k to secondary schooling. Our system is overwhelmed by a lack of resources. Missouri has the resources to expand educational spending but those in power reallocate funding for pet projects while leaving our students, educators, and system to fend for itself. It is time for full and equal funding for our educational system and ensure every student the best opportunity to succeed.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Investment in our infrastructure is an investment in our future and success. Across the state we see failing bridges, roadways, water and electrical grids. The federal government is investing billions in infrastructure and we must fight for our fair share of that funding and invest in our rural areas not just in cities and close surrounding areas.

HEALTHCARE

Missourians deserve access to quality, affordable healthcare services to support their physical and mental well-being and to have financial security. During the pandemic, thousands across the state have died from Covid complications, and thousands more have been temporarily or permanently disabled. The mental health impact of Covid and the stress of the pandemic continue to affect nearly every community from the patient to the first responders, overwhelmed with short staff and unbearably long hours and support.

VOTING RIGHTS

Everyone eligible to vote should have the ability to register to vote, to cast a ballot and to have that ballot properly recorded, we must remove barriers and roadblocks in voting rights and ways voters can vote. Polls, mail in, and dropbox options should be expanded to ensure each voter has an option and every voter's voice heard.

ENVIRONMENT

We must take stake and recognize the environmental changes that are having effects on our state, from our farmers to our economy. To be prosperous we must realize how important clean air and water are and take steps to ensure we take steps to prepare for increases in weather events, with moving toward renewable energy we would create new jobs and new industries.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Abortion is healthcare. Access to healthcare saves lives. Equitable access to healthcare is a human right, and no one should experience discrimination because of their gender. I support the Women’s Health Protection Act, ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, Medicare For All, and expanding access to virtual and telehealth services. [4]

—Bethany Mann’s campaign website (2024)[5]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in Foristell, MO, and I currently live in Brentwood, MO. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Illinois in Springfield, IL, and started my career working as an intern at the Environmental Protection Agency.

Today, I am a technology specialist who provides instruments, research and development, and education for agriculture, food and beverage, energy, oil and gas, nuclear, and pharma labs for research or regulatory compliance. I consider myself a professional problem-solver.

I am passionate about education, science & technology, and bringing people together. My goal is to make the 3rd District and Missouri a national leader when it comes to important issues that build up the middle class and strengthen working families.

I believe in equal and fair bargaining rights for workers and farmers, advancing developments in our infrastructure from broadband technology to roads and bridges, and ensuring that all students from pre-K to secondary schooling receive equal access to high-quality education and fully-funded public schools.

I am a wife and mother who understands the hard work necessary to be successful in both life and on the job.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Our students deserve a quality education and support from pre-k to secondary schooling. Missouri has the resources to expand educational spending but those in power reallocate funding for pet projects while leaving our students, educators, and system to fend for itself. It is time for full and equal funding for our educational system to ensure that every student the best opportunity to succeed.Investment in our infrastructure is an investment in our future and success. Across the state we see failing bridges, roadways, water and electrical grids. The federal government is investing billions in infrastructure. We must fight for our fair share of that funding and invest in our rural areas not just in cities and close surrounding areas. Securing our supply chain requires more investment in American manufacturing, particularly in areas of green energy, technology, and our agricultural supply chain. Ensuring that every worker has the right to collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions will protect our labor force.Missourians deserve access to quality, affordable healthcare services to support their physical and mental well-being and to have financial security. Rural hospitals all over Missouri have shuttered or significantly decreased available services. Medicare For All would ensure that everyone has access to quality medical care, including mental health and addiction services.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education, healthcare, infrastructure, and environmental protection.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I am inspired by the Suffragettes, and all those who fought and died to defend our right to vote. I believe that elected leaders should serve and always speak out against injustice in any form. I am inspired by my Grandparents Bud and Mary; a WWII veteran and his machinist wife who raised 5 children after the war. They told me stories about freedom, shared sacrifice, the scourge of Nazi ideology, and the importance of protecting and defending the right to vote, and importance of speaking freely and often against the evils of racism and fascism.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"Dark Waters" starring Mark Ruffalo about a corporate lawyer who goes up against a large corporation with a lengthy history of pollution and corruption.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, intercity, and not funded by big corporate money at the expense of selling out working families.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am a trained problem-solver, with the ability to listen and learn from people with all sorts experience. I have worked with ethanol operators, Hutterites, PhD. research chemists, and civil servants in many branches of the U.S. government.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Listening, solving problems, and acting in the interests of constituents instead of political donors.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave a legacy of fearless dedication in service to do the right thing, regardless of political, financial, or personal gain. American families deserve leaders who serve our country with dignity, respect, and honor. It's my duty to protect and defend the values of lifting all boats to make sure that everyone has a chance to thrive in a strong economy.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

At around 5 or 6 years old, I remember watching George H.W. Bush's inauguration from my