A key Democrat faces a primary challenge — and questions about her record on vaccines

As the chair of the House Oversight Committee and a Democratic appointee to the House’s select coronavirus committee, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (N.Y.) is a key player in Congress’ pandemic response. But she’s facing a difficult challenge in her New York City primary race, and per my colleague Lev Facher, much of it centers on her past rhetoric on vaccines.

One of her challengers, Suraj Patel, has skewered the congresswoman, including in an attack ad that includes footage of Maloney sharing stories from parents who allege that vaccines permanently sickened their children. The ad also lists the numerous bills Maloney has authored over the years that question established vaccine science and tout the unscientific, repeatedly debunked theory that vaccines are linked with autism.

Maloney, whose campaign did not respond to STAT’s request for comment, has faced questions in recent years about her vaccine record, and she’s since backed off the rhetoric about the autism link. But with vaccine development at the forefront of Americans’ anxieties about Covid-19, it’s clear Maloney’s challenger thinks her past controversies could threaten her re-election bid. Patel’s kicker says as much: “I’m Suraj Patel, and I approve this message because I believe in science.”