Meet Run for Something’s March 2022 Endorsement Class
Run for Something is thrilled to introduce our latest endorsement class! The March 2022 class is full of smart, savvy young people poised to make impactful change at the state and local level.
Of the 70 candidates that make up this class, 53% are people of color, 49% are women and 19% identify as LGBTQIA+. Even more impressive, 10 of them are RFS alumni running a second time.
Learn more about our March class below.
ALABAMA
Travis T. Hendrix- Alabama House, District 55
Primary Date: May 24, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Travis was born and raised in Tuxedo Court Public Housing Community in Ensley, Alabama. His upbringing was plagued with the harsh realities of crime, violence and poverty. He was raised by his grandmother who raised him on the importance of service, sacrifice and prayer.
He attended Ensley High School, completed a GED program and went on to attend Miles College. He completed his bachelor’s degree and went on to receive his master’s degree in Strategic Management at Oakland City University.
He is a proud father, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and True Love Church Ensley.
Stephanie Roxanne Manning- Limestone County Commission, District 3
Primary Date: May 24, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Stephanie, a licensed social worker, is running for the Limestone County Commission, District 3 in North Alabama because she wants to be part of the solution. Stephanie has worked in substance abuse treatment, child and family therapy, school mental health, correctional mental health, and sexual assault prevention.
Now, she wants to work for the residents of Limestone County. Stephanie believes that state funding through grants and other available resources are not being utilized in Limestone County. This is why our roads and bridges are inadequate. This is why we don’t have quality mental health and social services. This is why we don’t have access to high speed internet. Stephanie commits to governing in the same way she practices social work. This is by aligning with the ethical principles of public service, and respecting the dignity and worth of a person.
Stephanie Manning’s commitment to Limestone County is simple: top put in the work that is necessary. Stephanie will take the time and effort to apply to grants that the current commissioners have not bothered with, and she will follow the evidence-based community models and strategies put forth by the National Association of Counties. With Stephanie Manning in office, Limestone County will improve and its residents will have an advocate on the commission.
Wesley Thompson- Alabama House, District 3
Primary Date: May 24, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Having served as pastor for five years and a hospice chaplain for three years, Wesley walked alongside people in not only their best moments but also their worst, allowing him to witness many angles of human experiences as well as Alabama’s healthcare system. Knowing that many of these experiences are a direct cause of legislation in this state, his perspective and empathy allow him to be a strong voice and advocate for those he serves.
As a substitute teacher and a father, he has a keen understanding of the importance of investing in the lives of our children and in the lives of the hard-working teachers dedicated to educating our children. Wesley has worked tirelessly to highlight injustice and promote meaningful solutions for change. “I use my voice, my energy, and my influence to help those who feel ostracized, voiceless, and mistreated. Anytime a person or group is unfairly dismissed due to their difference, I believe our community has an obligation to help.”
Wesley has shown a deep love and commitment to his community. His personal experiences and proven leadership make him uniquely qualified to serve the great people of the Shoals. District 3 deserves a representative who will stand up for the Shoals and make sure their voice is heard in Montgomery. Wesley aims to be that voice. Wesley is married to his college sweetheart Le’Tanndra, and they have 3 sons.
CALIFORNIA
Jon Wizard- California Assembly, District 30
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Jon is a lifelong public servant who has worked as a firefighter, dispatcher, and police officer in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo Counties. After an injury in the line of duty, Jon transitioned to public policy, first serving on the Monterey County Planning Commission and then the Seaside City Council.
Following his transition from public safety, Jon worked for Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay and now serves as the policy director for the Campaign for Fair Housing Elements. There, he oversees the campaign’s work to support local residents and elected officials in shaping their community’s long-range housing plans.
In the California State Assembly, Jon will work to bring greater attention and state action to the shared water shortage throughout the district, support offshore wind infrastructure to ensure a future powered by clean energy, grow the skilled trades to support a green economy, and create more tools to empower cities and counties in approving more homes and combating homelessness.
As someone who is also a parent of young kids and who has aging parents, Jon will focus on expanding access to childcare so that parents don’t have to abandon careers to raise a child, implement the Master Plan for Aging so that seniors are better supported as they enjoy their hard-earned golden years, and work with educational leaders to increase school funding and to end the scourge of youth homelessness by ensuring every student has safe and decent housing.
Louis Abramson- California Assembly, District 51
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Louis is a scientist and organizer in Los Angeles. He is running to address California’s existential housing and homelessness crises, which intersect deeply with climate change and mental health reform. In volunteering for his community, he has helped mothers with three-month-old babies, honorably discharged trans veterans, and seniors with broken bones get off the street. None of those stories has a place in California, but Louis believes that more will become true every day unless Sacramento steps-up.
Louis earned his PhD in astrophysics from the University of Chicago in 2015 and was elected to the Central Hollywood Neighborhood Council in 2019. He is the founder of the Hollywood Chapter of the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition and sits on the boards of nonprofits dedicated to ending food-insecurity and homelessness in Hollywood. During the pandemic, Louis’s work to feed seniors and count unhoused Angelenos was featured in the LA Times. If elected, he will be the third renter and the only professional scientist in the California State Assembly.
Louis lives in Hollywood with his partner Dr. Lindsay Young, a USC health communications professor.
Aisha Wahab- California Senate, District 10
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Before she could tie her own shoes, Aisha was placed in foster care after her father was brutally murdered, a case that remains unsolved, and her mother died at an early age.
Born in New York City to Afghan refugees who fled to the United States in pursuit of safety, Aisha was adopted by a family in Fremont, and considers herself one of the lucky few. Her family raised her with the values of hard work, perseverance, and community service. She grew up in Fremont, graduating from Kennedy High School, Ohlone College, received her B.A. from San Jose State University, and an MBA from CSU East Bay.
Like so many Californians, Aisha knows what it’s like to feel squeezed by housing costs, healthcare premiums, and student loan debt. Aisha ran for Hayward City Council in 2018 to upend the status quo and amplify the voices of seniors, women, children, and working families. She won her race and became the first Afghan-American woman elected to public office in the United States.
Aisha is running for State Senate because no one should have to get lucky to achieve the California dream. With investments in public education, a robust social safety net, and policies that support small businesses, that dream can be accessible to all of us.
George Syrop- Hayward City Council, At Large
General Date: November 8, 2022
George is a community organizer born & raised in Hayward. George is running a corporate-free campaign for Hayward City Council because his neighbors are being evicted or forced out by rising rents while local businesses are shuttering. George believes that the solutions Hayward desperately needs are struggling to be heard, and his community deserves elected officials who are willing to fight for them. George refuses to let corporate interests continue to devastate Hayward through mass gentrification and the exploitation of working people and will fight for the health, happiness, and prosperity of ALL Hayward people.
George is an appointed Community Services Commissioner for the City of Hayward, a founding Board member of Friends of the Public Bank East Bay, and served as the founding Chair for the Hayward Community Coalition (HayCoCoa) which spurred a city-wide conversation around racial justice, public safety, and police spending. Recently, George organized alongside teachers, parents, workers, and students to prevent several school closures.
Matt Strabone- La Mesa City Treasurer
General Date: November 8, 2022
Matt is a professional treasurer and attorney who is passionately committed to doing the right thing. Whether he’s fighting to pass crucial transparency and ethics reforms or volunteering his fiscal and legal expertise to charities and others in need, Matt strives each and every day to build a better community. Matt is running for La Mesa City Treasurer to protect and grow La Mesa’s funds so that La Mesa can provide important services and assistance to its residents.
The grandson of immigrants and the first in his mother’s family to graduate from college, Matt first moved to California 18 years ago to attend law school at USC. He has gone on to have a successful professional career that has included owning his own business, passing good-government laws in cities and states across the nation, and performing legal work for President Barack Obama and other elected leaders. In his spare time, Matt is an avid sports fan and enjoys traveling the world with his wife.
Paula Villescaz- California Senate, District 6
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Paula is a public servant and an advocate, with extensive experience in the fields of education, health care, and emergency response.
She was elected to the San Juan Unified School District Board of Education in 2016 and served two consecutive terms as president of the board during the pandemic. Paula is a first-generation high school and college graduate and she personally knows the impact that a good school, good teachers, and good counselors have on a student’s chances to become a successful adult.
In her first term on the SJUSD Board, she led the passage of Measure P, a $750 Million bond, and the largest K-12 school bond on the ballot in 2016. Additionally, she increased access to rigorous academic programs for all students, and increased the number of counselors, social workers, and other direct student supports to improve outcomes for students.
Paula also served 3 years as Assistant Secretary for the California Health and Human Services Agency, where she led statewide COVID-19 efforts and expanded access to health and human services programs. In this work she was on the front lines of supporting public health departments, schools, and communities to address challenges due to COVID-19. As Assistant Secretary, she prioritized equitable administration of key health and human services programs to reduce health care disparities.
Paula is running for state senate to protect, defend, and improve public education, to increase access to high-quality health care, and to ensure a full COVID response and recovery for her community.
Hugo Soto-Martinez- Los Angeles City Council, District 13
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Hugo is a lifelong Angeleno who grew up in South Central to immigrant street vendor parents. When he was 14, Hugo’s father sustained a back injury that left him disabled for life. Soon after, his mother left street vending and found a job working as a janitor at LAX and has been an active member of SEIU-USWW for over 20 years. For the first time they had quality health insurance, and her union wage helped stabilize the family in ways Hugo cannot begin to describe.
As the second oldest, Hugo began working at a non-union hotel at the age of 16 to help make up for his father’s lost income and pay his way through college. A few weeks before graduating from UC Irvine, UNITE HERE Local 11 started a non-union organizing drive. While Hugo was in the process of multiple job interviews and prepared to go to Law School, he dropped everything and became heavily involved to win the union.
A few months later Hugo and his coworkers won their first contract that included life-changing wage increases, family health insurance, a pension, respect, and most importantly a permanent vehicle to fight for change in the union itself. Hugo has been with the union since that victory.
Outside of his work with UNITE HERE Local 11, Hugo also participates in his local neighborhood council and volunteers with SELAH to address the homelessness crisis, with the DSA-LA Labor and Electoral Politics committees, and oftentimes collaborate with other grassroots groups.
Lindsey P. Horvath- Los Angeles County Supervisor, District 3
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Lindsey is someone who can rise to the challenges of the moment while tackling chronic issues. Her city enacted the strongest minimum wage and worker protections in the country while simultaneously being named the most business-friendly city in Los Angeles County during her time as Mayor. She initiated the city’s Aging in Place strategy, and she used community-based, culturally-appropriate, and locally-trusted solutions to address the homelessness crisis by connecting unhoused people with permanent housing and supportive services. Lindsey is ready to put her skills to work for people who are struggling in the 3rd District on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Lindsey Horvath was the longest, consecutively serving Mayor of West Hollywood, leading the city in 2020 and 2021. She was elected to the West Hollywood City Council in 2015, and previously served from 2009 to 2011. She serves the Los Angeles County region in a number of roles, including: Immediate Past President of the California Contract Cities Association (CCCA); Board Member for CalCities (formerly the League of California Cities); Board Member for the National League of Cities (NLC); Immediate Past President of Women in Municipal Government (WIMG) for the National League of Cities; and Executive Committee Member and Legislative & Regulatory Chair for Clean Power Alliance of Southern California.
Noelia Jazmin Corzo- San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, District 2
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Noelia is leader who understands her community, challenges the status quo, and delivers better outcomes. Her district elected her twice before to lead San Mateo County’s largest school district.
Noelia is a single mom, a renter, a housing justice and immigrant rights advocate, and a law enforcement accountability advocate. As San Mateo-Foster City School District Board President during COVID-19, Noelia led her community through unprecedented times. As a social worker for people with disabilities, Noelia supported families of all incomes and backgrounds to connect them to services. Her experience has given her insight into her county’s safety-net services and where improvements must be made to make local government work for all residents in San Mateo County.
COLORADO
Johnnie Nguyen- University of Colorado Board of Regents, 1st Congressional District
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Johnnie is a practicing attorney and double CU graduate. He has studied for CU, taught for CU, worked for CU, researched for CU, lobbied for CU, and even protested for CU. Now, he is running for CU Regent. His campaign is all about access to education and fighting for student’s rights.
Javier Mabrey- Colorado House, District 1
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Javier is running for Colorado’s House District 1 to fight for hard-working families like his own. Javier’s mother raised Javier and his brother Thomas on her own, and her only source of income was her social security disability check. Javier and his family know what it means to struggle, to rely on food banks, and eventually face homelessness.
Javier dropped out of high school after his family dealt with housing instability and homelessness. He went back to school to become an advocate for families like his. He worked his way through community college washing dishes and delivering pizzas before going to Berkeley Law School to pursue a career representing tenants facing eviction. After law school, Javier helped found a non-profit focused on keeping Coloradans in their homes. Since 2020 Javier’s organization has represented thousands of Coloradans facing eviction and successfully advocated for significant policy changes to help renters in Colorado. He now works as an eviction defense attorney and community organizer. Javier is running for the statehouse to continue his advocacy for low-income and working families. If elected to represent House District 1, Javier will fight for economic justice, affordable housing, racial justice, and universal health care.
Amanda Marie Gonzalez- Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Amanda is an attorney and nationally recognized elections expert who is running for Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder, an office never held by a Latino/a/x . She ran Colorado’s largest nonpartisan election effort in 2018 and 2020 and is running for office because she wants to ensure that every eligible voter casts a ballot and has that ballot accurately counted.
In her career she has served as a grant writer, community organizer, staff attorney, program director, professor, CEO and executive director — always with the goal of creating more inclusive governments, businesses, and communities. Amanda has also served as a board member for Focus Points Family Resource Center, United for a New Economy, the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, the Colorado Lawyers Chapter of the American Constitution Society, New Era Colorado Education Fund, and the Colorado Fiscal Institute. Amanda holds an undergraduate degree (psychology/cognitive science) from Occidental College and a law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. In 2015 she was named the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association’s Outstanding New Hispanic Lawyer and in 2019 she was named one of Denver Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.
When she’s not working she can be found scouring the front range for Colorado’s best wine, tacos, donuts, or dumplings, cuddling with her rescue dogs, or planning her next vacation in a very detailed spreadsheet.
CONNECTICUT
Justin Gendron- Connecticut Senate, District 21
Primary Date: August 9, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Justin is running for the Connecticut State Senate. Born and raised in Stratford, he is the proud product of the public school system and a recent graduate of Southern Connecticut State University. His passion for politics began in 2016 when he helped recover funds to support the arts in Stratford that were misplaced. This experience ignited Justin’s desire to fight for the continued betterment of his local communities.
Justin’s campaign is to serve the communities of Stratford, Shelton, Seymour, and Monroe; Justin will fight for our values, and the state’s future. Connecticut is already an amazing place to live, and Justin knows that together we can make it even better.
GEORGIA
JT Wu- Georgia House, District 97
Primary Date: May 24, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
JT is a lifelong Georgian and native Gwinnettian. He’s running to be District 97’s voice in the Georgia State House — and would be the first Chinese American male ever elected to the Georgia General Assembly. Born to immigrant parents, JT went from Gwinnett County Public Schools to graduating cum laude on scholarship from Princeton University, where he got his start in public service working with the State Department. Since then, he’s collaborated with diplomats on policy research, successfully raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour as the first-ever Asian-American on the Gwinnett County Public Library Board, and founded an early childhood literacy nonprofit in Gwinnett County teaching kids of all backgrounds to read.
In addition to his philanthropic educational and healthcare advocacy, JT has held private-sector executive roles in the financial and healthcare industries, partnering with doctors to expand access and non-opiate treatment options for patients suffering from chronic pain or opioid and substance use disorders.
JT’s running a positive campaign to defend the promise of the American Dream for every Georgian, grounded in shared values of Opportunity, Community, and Progress. Thanks to deep relationships with local leaders, JT has a proven track record of bringing folks together to get things done. He’s running to make sure the next generation of Georgians will have the same opportunities he had growing up — high-quality education, affordable healthcare, an economy that works for every Georgian, and hope for a brighter future.
Ruwa Romman- Georgia House, District 97
Primary Date: May 24, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Ruwa is running to become the first Muslim woman in Georgia’s State House. She was born in Jordan and is the granddaughter of Palestinian refugees. When she was 7 years old, her parents moved to Georgia where they raised her and her three siblings
Through a mix of scholarships, like HOPE, she was able to attend Oglethorpe University and eventually go on to earn a Masters in Public Policy from Georgetown University.
For more than a decade, she worked to empower her communities to turn out and make their voices heard at every level of government. Ruwa helped establish the only Muslim civil rights organization in Georgia and directly worked against the Muslim Ban eventually helping draft and pass the No Ban Act. She also helped establish the Georgia Volunteer Hub to train the influx of Georgia and national volunteers while connecting them to local Georgia organizations. In the past, she worked as a Field Organizer for the Georgia Muslim Voter Project and served as Communications Director for CAIR Georgia. That work gave her the exposure to see a path to a blue Georgia long before so many dared to believe it.
Ruwa is running to put public service back into politics. She will work to invest in our future by advocating to fully fund education, expanding access to healthcare, bridging the economic opportunity gap, and protecting the most fundamental right to vote.
ILLINOIS
Thurgood Malcomb Alexander Brooks, I- Illinois House, District 72
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Born and raised in Rock Island, Thurgood is a passionate and dedicated advocate for his community. Thurgood is a graduate of Rock Island High School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Western Illinois University, majoring in History with a minor in political science. Immediately upon graduating from college, Thurgood returned home to get to work.
Thurgood is a community builder and organizer who believes deeply in the power of citizens to create positive change. He has spent his career advocating for youth, businesses, and the development of partnerships for the betterment of our community. Thurgood has been able to work with community partners to bring people together. Importantly, he emphasizes collaborating with communities, rather than simply speaking on their behalf.
In the spring of 2021, with the help of a 21-person volunteer team, Thurgood received 48% of the vote in the Rock Island Mayoral race. In 2021, he was named Rock Island Citizen of the Year, and Community Caring Conference Individual Hero. He also received the 2019 Rock Island County NAACP Youth Development Image award, and the Rock Island Football Assistant Coach of the Year award (the only two-time winner, in 2019 and 2021), among others.
Throughout the spring and summer of 2021, Thurgood worked with the City of Rock Island to establish a Police Community Relations Commission to improve relationships between the police and citizens.
Most recently Thurgood has announced his candidacy for Illinois State Representative district 72.
Hoan Huynh- Illinois House, District 13
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Hoan is a neighborhood leader, small business advocate, and community investments expert. The son of refugees and a proud Chicagoan, Hoan is fighting for a progressive, equitable, and inclusive future where everyone has safety and meaningful opportunity.
Anthony Joel Quezada- Cook County Board of Commissioners, District 8
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Anthony is a dedicated public servant and community organizer running for 8th District Cook County Commissioner. He is the son of working-class immigrant parents from Costa Rica and Mexico. Born in Chicago and raised in Logan Square, Anthony experienced the struggles of living in poverty and witnessed the devastating effects of rapid gentrification in his community.
Anthony is running for Cook County Commissioner because he believes we need elected leadership that does more to represent the shared compassionate values of the 8th District. He knows that poor and working-class families are struggling to make ends meet and need a Commissioner who will fight for the resources they deserve.
Anthony believes that the guiding principle of government should be to do the greatest good. As Commissioner, Anthony will seek to do the greatest good by working to fully fund the Cook County hospitals system, protect the environment and create green jobs, address homelessness and poverty, ensure public safety for all, and provide tax relief to working and middle-class families by making wealthy corporations pay their fair share of taxes.
Cassandra Johnson- Champaign County Treasurer
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Cassandra is running for re-election as Champaign County Treasurer and ex-officio Collector. Her unique set of skills acquired while working in the United States Air Force at home and abroad, and her innate desire to serve the people of my community, drove Champaign County to elect her the County Treasurer in 2020.
While in office, she has worked to implement changes to make the Treasurer’s office work better for Champaign County. Over the past year, her team addressed the backlog of the 2019 and 2020 audits. They have worked to ensure that everyone improved proficiency and training in the new collection software. They have provided more timely distributions to the taxing bodies (specifically to the schools) and created timelines to ensure they are on track to improve collecting and disbursing funds. Additionally, the office has found ways to help taxing bodies to correct errors, which nearly resulted in roughly $1 million in additional taxes paid by 900+ residents within Champaign County. These are just a few of the actions we’ve taken but Cassandra has plans to only get better.
INDIANA
Austin Knox- Fort Wayne Township Trustee
Primary Date: May 3, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Austin was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana to two public school educators. Austin’s parents instilled in him the importance of serving others and his community. He graduated with a bachelor of arts from Indiana University Fort Wayne. He began working at the Wayne Township Trustee Office in 2015. In January 2020, he was unanimously elected trustee at a caucus of Democratic precinct committee leaders of Wayne Township. Austin became the youngest ever Wayne Township Trustee.
Austin enjoys being involved in his community and making a difference in any way he can. Austin serves on the City of Fort Wayne’s Board of Public Safety which is responsible for oversight of the city’s police and fire departments. He also serves as a board member and advocacy chair for the Allen County United Way. He is a founding board member for the Fort Wayne chapter of the Urban League’s Young Professionals. He also chairs the Fort Wayne chapter of the Indiana Democratic African American Caucus. Austin looks forward to continuing serving his community as Wayne Township Trustee.
IOWA
Grace Van Cleave- Iowa Senate, District 17
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Grace Van Cleave is a Small Business Owner, Community Advocate and has served Iowans in many roles including working for Governor Vilsack. She lives with her Partner John and their rescue dachshunds, Maggie and Molly.
Grace is running to give Choice a Voice. In the Iowa Senate she will be a champion for reproductive freedoms. Economic justice is a priority, especially for families most impacted by the pandemic. Grace is running to provide child care and paid leave opportunities for ALL Iowans. Grace is here to help win back Democratic power in Iowa and fight for justice for Iowa families and making sure small businesses thrive.
Sam Wooden- Dubuque County Attorney
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Sam is a trial attorney with more than a decade of experience. A fierce courtroom advocate with a history of handling high-stakes criminal cases, he has also fought for environmental protection, employee rights, and fair housing.
As Dubuque County Attorney, Sam’s top priority will be delivering consistent and equitable justice. He’ll strive to ensure that crime victims have a voice in the courtroom, and work closely with assistant county attorneys, law enforcement, and community organizations. Sam knows there are bad guys, but also good people who make mistakes: He’ll take a hard line on violent crimes, especially those involving weapons, and continue to champion rehabilitative and diversionary programs for non-violent offenders.
Sam and his wife Sarah live in Dubuque with their son, Jasper.
Todd Brady- Iowa Senate, District 21
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Todd grew up in Indianola, Iowa, and is a graduate of both Indianola High School and Iowa State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. He is a devoted husband and a proud father of two boys. He, his wife Christina, and their 2 sons moved to Ankeny 6 years ago to be closer to family and to be back in Christina’s hometown. Christina has been a high school math teacher for thirteen years, and was excited to teach at one of the high schools in Ankeny, where she grew up.
Todd loved computers and technology from a young age, and was always finding new and innovative ways to solve problems. For the past 8 years, he has been running his own software consulting company, while working an outside full-time job. With his background in data, there are many ways that his skills can be put to good use for the residents of Ankeny.
When he saw the need for a better solution for vaccine appointments in Iowa, he jumped at the chance. The Vaccine Hunter site was built, and he worked with several county public health organizations to make sure their data was displayed on the site accurately and in a timely manner. Todd created a more efficient way to make vaccine appointments for all Iowans, and he hopes to continue to improve state efforts done in the Iowa Senate.
Sean Bagniewski- Iowa House, District 35
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Sean is running for the Iowa House because he believes that Iowa can be a blue state again. As the chair of the Polk County Democratic Party, he helped flip statehouse seats and more than two dozen city council and school board seats along with reviving Iowa’s world famous Steak Fry.
As a co-founder of the New Iowa Project, he has helped recruit 700 volunteers in 70 counties to help increase voter registration and turnout in the state. In its first year, the group provided 44 voter registration stations around the state, contacted 200,000 inactivated voters, and launched a mail program for local candidates in 5 counties.
All this work has been required because Iowa Republicans have gotten out of control. Since they took over the governor’s office and both houses of the legislature six years ago, Iowa has gotten markedly worse on nearly every measure. Iowa is last in population growth. The state has gone from the top of national rankings to the middle on education. Businesses refuse to move here, college graduates refuse to move back, and rural towns continue to lose population. All Republican legislators can do is propose bathroom bills, book bans, and proposals to put cameras in classrooms.
Sean is running to start fighting back against Republican extremism , advocate for jobs, stand up for labor, protect women’s rights, and defend voting rights. It may be a 10-year endeavor, but Sean will put in the work to make Iowa a forward-thinking, compassionate state again.
Jaylen Cavil- Iowa House, District 36
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Jaylen (he/him) is a community organizer and activist running for the Iowa House of Representatives in District 36. Jaylen’s commitment to social change includes working for various political campaigns, providing resources to underserved and marginalized community members through non-profit work, and leading the Des Moines Black Liberation Movement’s Advocacy team, which focuses on issues impacting Black Iowans at the local and state level.
Jaylen’s activism has taken shape on the ground at protests with community members as well as in the Iowa Statehouse advocating to lawmakers. At the capitol, Jaylen has pushed for legislation that would improve the quality of life for all residents, especially Black Iowans and other racial groups and marginalized people. Jaylen has spent his time advocating for increases in legislative support for public education, cannabis legalization, reproductive justice and is a strong advocate on decriminalization to better address the direct and basic needs of community members.
Jaylen, alongside community activists, was instrumental in pushing for an executive order in 2020 that granted voting access to tens of thousands of Iowans who were disenfranchised due to felony charges. He also worked towards the passing of A More Perfect Union; legislation intended to increase accountability within Iowa’s law enforcement. Jaylen will continue this activism as an elected official once in the statehouse.
Jaylen envisions an Iowa that prioritizes people over profits and enriches community members with solutions to improve their quality of life.
MAINE
Allison Mary Perkins- Maine House, District 71
Primary Date: June 14, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Allison is a labor and social justice advocate with experience on the front lines of poverty program work and former labor union leadership. She’s running to represent the towns of Cornville, Madison, and Norridgewock, for Maine’s House District 71, fighting for increased infrastructure to alleviate Maine’s affordable childcare crisis, mental and behavioral health programs, and support for good union jobs. She has volunteered for numerous social and racial justice groups and helped train other activists throughout the country. Allison lives in Cornville, with her husband and two children, and works full time in Special Education.
MARYLAND
David Plotts- Wicomico County School Board, District 4
Primary Date: July 19, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
David believes education is a fundamental right for all children. He’s running for Wicomico County Board of Education, District 4, to address attracting and retaining educators, increasing student and staff mental health support, full implementation of Pre-Kindergarten programs, increasing graduation rates and career readiness, and ensuring an inclusive classroom experience for all students. As a father of four children currently in the district, he has a unique insight to how the schools, educators, and support staff excel, and the opportunities for improvement.
David is an experienced leader who has served as Chair of the City of Salisbury’s Parks and Recreation Committee since 2014, working to expand parks and recreation opportunities to all citizens. His other community service, which includes serving on the City of Salisbury’s Environmental Policy Task Force, the Wicomico County Charter Review Committee, and the Wicomico County Board of Education’s Parent Advisory Committee, has provided him with knowledge of the issues of Wicomico County residents and how to serve his constituents.
David is a graduate of Wicomico County schools, holds a BS from Salisbury University, and a MS from University of Maryland University College. He lives in Salisbury, Maryland with his wife and four children.
Shawn Livingston- Anne Arundel County Council, District 7
Primary Date: July 19, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Shawn grew up in a home surrounded by farms and forests a few miles from District 7 of Anne Arundel County. He was raised by two teachers that always kept the needs of their community before themselves. His mother taught him to ask one simple question wherever he went: “How can we help?” After a near death experience in college, those words became a guide for the direction of Shawn’s life. Through volunteering, working at a church, serving at the family business and working at a school, Shawn strives to shape his life in a way that puts people first.
Shawn enjoys supporting teachers and their technology at a school in Annapolis and is raising his 4 year old son and 6 year old daughter with his wife Rachel who is a nurse. Shawn has served on the board of his local Democratic Club that works to help get progressive Democratic candidates elected and has been active with Progressive Maryland to fight for a public financing option for local elections. Shawn has been vocal on issues related to police reform, the environment and economic opportunity for all.
Shawn has already spent months getting to know the people of his community and is looking forward to supporting legislation that takes care of the most vulnerable, bolsters the education system and protects the environment. In his free time Shawn enjoys playing with his kids, going for runs and keeping up with national and international news.
Laurie-Anne Priscilla Sayles- Montgomery County Council, At-Large
Primary Date: July 19, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
In 2017, Laurie-Anne became the first Black/African-American person elected to the Gaithersburg City Council and became the Council Vice President in 2020. As vice president, Laurie-Anne spearheaded the groundbreaking racial equity legislation to ensure a more thoughtful analysis before the Mayor and Council finalized votes.
Laurie-Anne is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants and was a teen mom. Her parents instilled in her early on the importance of quality public school education. Despite being a young mother, Laurie-Anne was committed to completing her education and wanted to be a positive role model for her daughter and other young parents. She joined members of the Montgomery County Chapter Parent-Teacher Association (MCCPTA) on a bus ride to Annapolis to testify before the state lawmakers demanding sufficient resources for our overcrowded school and to close the ever-growing achievement gap. Laurie-Anne finally saw the nexus of policy-making and the people who made these decisions and realized she could not sit on the sidelines but wanted to complete her education first.
Laurie-Anne was appointed to the National League of Cities, where she chaired the Community and Economic Development committee and served on the Board of Directors. In 2021, Laurie-Anne chaired the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Chesapeake Bay & Water Resources Policy Committee. She also served four years as an appointed member of the Maryland Municipal League’s Board of Directors and Legislative Committee.
Laurie-Anne balances her career in public service with her full-time career in Public Health as a Consultant with the federal government, providing IT Project Management and Business Analysis support.
She is an alumnus of Leadership Montgomery’s CORE program, holds a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore, and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Maryland, College Park, where her daughter is finishing her senior year. As a parent, lawmaker, organizer, and effective advocate, Laurie-Anne will continue her visionary leadership by running for Montgomery County Council at large, focusing on a S.M.A.R.T. agenda that will successfully revitalize our County’s economy!
Raaheela Ahmed- Maryland Senate, District 23
Primary Date: July 19, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Raaheela is a grassroots community advocate and servant leader that is running to represent us in the Maryland State Senate, District 23. She served the past 5 years as our elected representative for the Prince George’s County Board of Education, District 5, representing over 80,000 Maryland residents, and currently serves as Deputy Director of Campus Vote Project, a nonprofit that focuses on institutionalizing voting and civic engagement at college campuses across the country.
As a young, first-generation American, head-covering Muslim woman of Indian and Pakistani descent, Raaheela understands and passionately strives for equity and justice for marginalized people and communities. She has been featured by multiple media outlets for her work, including CNN, ELLE Magazine, NBC, FOX, The Washington Post, and The Baltimore Sun.
MASSACHUSETTS
Gabriela D. Coletta- Boston City Council, District 1
General Date: May 3, 2022
Fighting on behalf of her community is the only thing Gabriela “Gigi” has ever known. Raised by community advocates in East Boston, Gabriela grew up attending civic association meetings, neighborhood events, and even multiple protests against airport runway expansion with her mom, Nina. Gabriela has dedicated her entire life working in service to others and giving back to the beautiful, diverse neighborhood that has given her so much.
Gabriela brought her passion for public service in her role as Chief of Staff to Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards. She centered and amplified the lived experiences of those systemically overlooked in every policy discussion, constituent case, and civic engagement initiative.
Gabriela spent the entirety of her tenure in the neighborhoods of Charlestown, East Boston and the North End understanding constituents’ concerns to build bridges between differing populations. She exemplified collaborative leadership when tackling some of our district’s biggest challenges like housing affordability and development, inequities in our public education system, and the impacts of climate change on our coastlines. Gabriela is running for Boston City Council District 1 because she is the bold, effective, and inclusive advocate that this district deserves to fight for the community’s best interest, center the lived experiences of residents, and protect the vibrancy of our neighborhoods on day one.
MICHIGAN
Joey B. Andrews, IV- Michigan House, District 38
Primary Date: August 2, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Joey is running for Michigan’s newly drawn 38th House District located in Berrien, Allegan, and Van Buren counties. Joey was born in St. Joseph, Michigan, in 1988. He was raised in the district where he attended elementary school in Niles and Middle and High School at Lake Michigan Catholic Schools in St. Joseph before heading off to college at Carson-Newman University in Tennessee. He earned his bachelor’s degree in History and Music and went to Law School at Wayne State University, graduating in 2013 with his J.D. and passing the Michigan Bar Exam a year later in 2014.
Joey’s roots in Southwest Michigan go back over 150 years, with his family members arriving in each wave of immigration to Southwest Michigan. His great grandfather was a UAW member for Studebaker. His grandfather was a union carpenter who immigrated to America after World War 2 from Germany and built a life for his family in Decatur, Michigan.
Ayesha Ghazi Edwin- Ann Arbor City Council, Ward 3
Primary Date: August 2, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Ayesha is an educator, nonprofit leader, social worker, and community leader. She has dedicated her career to fighting on the front-lines of social justice causes, from advocating for affordable healthcare, disability justice, immigration reform, voting rights, labor rights, and civil rights. She’s running as a progressive democrat for Ann Arbor City Council to represent her ward 3 neighbors. Ayesha is committed to making her community more affordable, equitable, and inclusive. As an Ann Arbor Human Rights Commissioner, Ayesha has worked on ordinances that include demanding transparency in traffic data from police to monitor bias, banning conversion therapy, banning housing discrimination against those with a prior criminal record, among other initiatives that have made Ann Arbor more equitable. As a first-generation immigrant, Ayesha has is extensively involved in the Asian American community, and is the Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Chair of the state’s Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission. Ayesha was raised in Ann Arbor, where she now lives with her husband and two sons.
Carrie Rheingans- Michigan House, District 47
Primary Date: August 2, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Carrie is a health policy expert, educator, and community organizer with decades of experience bringing people and organizations together to tackle complex systems issues that improve health and reduce disparities. Running on a platform of Healthy People, Healthy Families, and Healthy Communities, Carrie believes that we can create conditions for each and every one of us to thrive to the top of our potential.
Carrie currently serves as a contractor for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, working on projects related to Michigan’s behavioral health services systems and healthcare transformation. Before that, she was a health policy advocate and organizer working to ensure access for low-income community members. Carrie seeks the voices and experiences of those affected by policy to guide her when she makes policy decisions.
Coming from a small town in Michigan and living in Ann Arbor for over 20 years, Carrie understands the issues that reach every corner of this district. As a Millennial parent, she knows the challenges of making ends meet with high housing costs, student loans, and high childcare costs. Carrie is active in her union, the U-M Lecturers’ Employee Organization, American Federation of Teachers Local 6244, and serves on her county’s Emergency Medical Services Commission and Board of Health. She is also on the executive board of her local Democratic club and the national organization Communities Joined in Action, which supports community leaders and organizations to improve health equity and reduce disparities in their own backyard.
MINNESOTA
María Isa Pérez-Hedges- Minnesota House, District 65B
Primary Date: August 9, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
María Isa is a lifelong Minnesotan, raised on the West Side of Saint Paul. She is a cultural community organizer, international recording artist, and youth worker running for the Minnesota House of Representatives District 65B. She currently directs the mentorship program for the Twin Cities Mobile Jazz Project which empowers young people through music and a cultural curriculum. She also serves on the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board Public Engagement Advisory Task Force, working to ensure the Minnesota Capitol is a welcoming space for community.
A Type 1 diabetic and insulin organizer, María Isa has been a prominent leader in the fight for affordable health care in Minnesota. In April 2020, she played an integral role in advocating for the passage of the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act, and she continues her leadership within the Minnesota #Insulin4all Chapter. For her outstanding work with Youthrive Live!, educating incarcerated youth throughout the state of Minnesota, She received the National Hispana Leadership Institute’s “Rising Latina Star” award.
Kristi Pursell- Minnesota House, District 58A
Primary Date: August 9, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Kristi is an environmental professional, parent, former farmer, and Southern Minnesotan running to represent MN House District 58A because she deeply cares about our collective future and is committed to governing alongside each and every resident in her district.
Kristi believes true leadership is partnering with community members, particularly those most impacted by the challenges we face, to create tangible solutions that ensure all Minnesotans thrive, no exceptions. She knows that when we come together, grounded in our values, we can build a resilient climate, an education system that fully supports students and educators, a strong democracy, and an affordable, accessible, high-quality healthcare system.
Kristi has forged strong relationships across the district with farmers, fellow parents, and those engaged in local and state-level grassroots organizing. She has been a leader on a grassroots campaign that worked with her current retiring state representative to successfully secure over $5 million for farmers using soil healthy practices.
If elected, Kristi will be the second woman to ever represent the Northfield, MN area in the Minnesota House.
MISSOURI
Phillip Edward Caldwell- Parkway School Board, District C-2
General Date: April 5, 2022
Phillip is a former music educator turned accountant, married to a public school teacher, and a proud new parent enrolled in Parkway’s Early Childhood Center programs already.
Phillip believes that the board of education should be an advocate for students first and foremost. A fiscally responsible steward of the communities tax dollars. And that to keep Parkway a destination district, it must not only attract but retain top-tier educators and administrators.Phillip is a former music educator turned accountant, married to a public school teacher, and a proud new parent enrolled in Parkway’s Early Childhood Center programs already.
Phillip believes that the board of education should be an advocate for students first and foremost. A fiscally responsible steward of the community’s tax dollars. And that to keep Parkway a destination district, it must not only attract but retain top-tier educators and administrators.
Cayla Slaughter- Troy Alderman, Ward 3
General Date: April 5, 2022
Cayla is 30 years old and works as a pharmacist around Troy, MO area. Cayla was raised outside of Fulton, MO and attended North Callaway High School before attending Mizzou for her undergrad years. She attended pharmacy school in Columbia, MO through the University of Missouri in Kansas City.
Cayla is hoping to promote communication from the Board of Alderman to the people and increase community involvement. She thinks the best way to improve our community is to know what the people need directly from the people. Cayla will work for the community by making herself accessible through email, social media, and mail so all members of the community can be in contact. If elected, she hopes to be in constant contact with her constituency to see where they wish to see change. She would like to see a balanced budget that helps direct money toward schools, emergency services, and road services.
Cayla lives in Troy, MO with her husband Dalton, their two cats Picasso and Diomedes, and their dogs Tyr and Boudica.
NEVADA
Claret Nnedi Stephens- Nevada Senate, District 13
Primary Date: June 14, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
First-generation Nnedi (They/She) was born and raised in Reno-Sparks, Nevada. The oldest of four, Nnedi discovered the value of reciprocity by studying the way their hard-working Nigerian parents interacted with those around them. An adept learner, Nnedi became an active community member at an early age, participating in various volunteer organizations aimed at cultural awareness and community development. Throughout their teens and into adulthood, Nnedi’s desire for community betterment only grew, becoming involved in over ten community organizations, including Nevada Women’s Lobby, Human Rights Campaign, and Nevada Democratic Black Caucus.
Before transitioning to a full-time role as an advocate for progress, Nnedi worked as a full-time caregiver and served as a public servant on both state and federal levels. Their first-hand experiences connecting constituents to much needed services couple with their passion for the region is why they are running to the the next State Senator for Nevada’s 13th District.
NEW MEXICO
Nicole Michelle Olonovich- New Mexico House, District 12
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Nicole is a progressive democrat from a large Hispanic family that has roots connected to New Mexico predating statehood. Raised by two loving lesbian mothers in poverty. Nicole has spoken out against for-profit urban sprawl, predatory loans, blue hydrogen hubs, and spoken in support of a healthy environment, voting rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, low-income energy modernization, tenant rights, and access to behavioral healthcare for all populations. She sits on both the New Mexico Solar Energy board and The Green Amendment for the Generations national board.
Nicole recognizes for far too long the folks in her district, of south valley of Albuquerque, have been the forgotten shadow of the economic growth of the city. Her community sacrificed into consuming industrialized zones, urban sprawl, while being left behind and hurting. Reliant on infrastructure that is not just lacking — it is deadly. A lack of sidewalks, stop signs, stop lights, and absent irrigation at levels reprehensible. While other sides of town see economic bloom, her community is a food desert that lacks accessible public transportation, bike paths, lacks access to mental/behavioral health resources, and our children attend underfunded/overcrowded schools. Schools where gun violence can be found at the tips of teens fingers but sports, arts, or resources that are needed within the home are absent. It is because of her deep history as a proud Chicana, as a grassroots advocate, and as a veteran that she has decided to step up and run for New Mexico State Representative for House District 12.
NEW YORK
Timothy Hunter- New York Assembly, District 43
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Tim, is an organizer, educator, and activist that is running for public office to ensure that the people of the 43rd Assembly district have true progressive representation in Albany. A lifelong resident of Brooklyn, Tim was born to Jamaican parents that migrated to the borough in pursuit of a better life. His mother is a public school educator at Dr. Gladstone Atwell Middle School 61, and a 2-time public university graduate, getting her Bachelor’s degree from CUNY’s Medgar Evers College, and her Master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz. Growing up, he always looked up to his mother and admired her strength and resilience. His mother’s leadership led him to follow in her footsteps as an educator, and in 2016 after graduating high school at 17 years-old he started my first job as an architectural drafting high school teacher in the NYC Department of Education.
After 4 years of teaching, he then went on to work in both houses of the State legislature to advocate for universal healthcare, stronger tenant protections, and better access to public higher education. Now, Tim is a candidate for office that is fighting for a more equitable state of New York. He is a candidate that will address the rampant disparities in black mental health, ensure the wealthiest New Yorkers pay their fair share, and fight for a Green New Deal for our public housing, public schools, and public transportation.
Illapa Sairitupac- New York Assembly, District 65
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Illapa is a climate organizer, a social worker, and the son of Indigenous Peruvian immigrants. He would be the first ever openly gay person of color ever elected to the New York State Assembly and has been organizing in the district for almost 10 years. He has been a leader in the fight against new fossil fuel projects, the Chinatown mega jail, and displacement of low income and immigrant communities. Last summer he was arrested for protesting in support of the Build Public Renewables act, which would enable the New York Power Authority to build and run renewable energy projects.
Illapa has dealt with housing & economic insecurity for his entire life. His parents emigrated from Peru in the late 80’s, and when they first arrived in New York his mom cleaned houses and his dad was a busboy at a restaurant. After Illapa was born, they were displaced from their apartment and moved to a trailer park where he lived for several years.
Illapa’s district encompasses some of the last immigrant and working class neighborhoods in lower Manhattan and will fight for a Green New Deal for NY, Universal Healthcare, free CUNY, and housing stability.
Jessica Altagracia Woolford- New York Assembly, District 81
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Jessica is a mom, a caregiver, a mutual aid organizer, and proud Dominicana.
She’s worked in local and national Democratic politics and government for nearly a decade including at the 2016 Democratic Convention, the UFCW International, the de Blasio administration, New York Immigration Coalition, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s office.
Her grandma taught her that care should never be conditional and that with faith, anything is possible.
In one of the wealthiest cities and wealthiest countries in the world, no one should ever go hungry. But unfortunately, too many folks can’t afford the basics, let alone keep up with all the ways the pandemic made life feel impossible. Too many families are struggling in silence, because those in power aren’t listening.
At the height of the pandemic, Jessica started Kingsbridge Unidos: a volunteer-run, mutual aid effort to deliver over 30,000 pounds of fresh produce, in addition to thousands of masks, and valuable bilingual information about COVID-19 and more, to families in Kingsbridge. What started as a door-to-door delivery program at her grandma’s building, has grown to include and prioritize families experiencing homelessness through creative, uplifting and joyful programming.
Jessica believes in the power we have to shape a vibrant world where every kid who lives here to know joy, abundance, and possibility. For every elder to know compassion, stability and dignity. And for everyone in the northwest Bronx to get a shot at living out their dreams without ever having to leave home.
Kristen Gonzalez- New York Senate, District 17
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Kristen is the proud daughter of an immigrant family, Queens native, community organizer, and tech worker. She is running for New York State Senate in the 17th District, which is plurality Latino & working class. Kristen served on Queens Community Board 4 where she led the Census Committee and currently serves on the Executive Committee. She helped found the Western Queens Community Land Trust, because she believes we need a model for publicly owned land. Over the course of the pandemic, Kristen organized with DSA Tech Action to help launch an Internet For All campaign, and organized with Mutual Aid efforts across the city to create the first community-led and owned resource library in New York City.
She is running because everyone is entitled to a dignified life, and they shouldn’t have to struggle for it. The ruling class makes billions each year turning things that all of us are entitled to into privileges we have to pay for. Kristen believes we deserve a clean environment, good housing, education, and healthcare, and she will fight to make these things a right, not an option.
NORTH CAROLINA
Charles R. Smith- North Carolina House, District 44
Primary Date: May 17, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Charles is an attorney with experience representing a variety of local government entities, as well as, experience in administrative law, corporate law, and general civil litigation. Prior transitioning to a private law practice, he worked as a prosecutor in Cumberland County, North Carolina and primarily handled domestic violence and child abuse matters. As a prosecutor, Charles was a very active advocate for survivors of domestic violence, serving on the Cumberland County Domestic Violence Task Force.
Charles running to represent District 44 in the North Carolina State House of Representatives and fighting for enhanced access to affordable and quality healthcare, increasing funds in North Carolina’s public school system, and firearm safety reform. As a representative of the people of District 44, Charles will work tirelessly and transparently to ensure that the area continues to progress and be a place that all are proud to call home. He lives in Fayetteville, NC with his wife, Mary Kelly.
Jabaris Walker- Rocky Mount City Council
Primary Date: May 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Public safety will always be a top priority for citizens; however, we must understand that we cannot police our way out of every problem. For this purpose, Jabaris plans to create a crime reduction strategy that focuses on bettering the community of Rocky Mount. This plan will include statistics and data from current and previous years, a police advisory board, and a mental health resource agent. This team along with other community leaders will help educate citizens on how to be alert, watchful and active within their neighborhoods. Jabaris also plans to partner with Edgecombe and Nash County Public Schools, Edgecombe and Nash County Courts and Judicial System, and local non-profit organizations to establish a youth intervention program that will provide life skills, positive reinforcement and a safe place for social interaction.
Carla Catalan Day- North Carolina House, District 74
Primary Date: May 17, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Carla is a mother and a public health advocate.
Carla is running for North Carolina House, District 74 because North Carolina should work for working people and families — Black or white, Asian or LatinX, Native or newcomer — instead of the wealthy few and their powerful lobbyists. Carla knows from experience that everyone in North Carolina deserves healthcare, a quality education, and a dignified home.
North Carolina’s future generations deserve progressive policies to create social, racial, and economic justice for all.
OHIO
Anthony Eliopoulos- Ohio Senate, District 13
Primary Date: May 5, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Anthony was born and raised in Lorain and attended Amherst Steele High School, graduating in 2014. While growing up, he managed to convince his parents to let him stay up late to watch The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Thanks to Jon Stewart, Anthony got involved in politics at a young age because it affects the lives of people every day, whether they realize it or not.
As a Sophomore in college, Anthony’s dad, Lou, a union man and member of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, was diagnosed with cancer. Anthony enlisted in the Ohio Army National Guard as an infantryman and later commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant from Ohio University Army ROTC. Shortly after leaving for Basic Training, Lou passed away from his battle with cancer. Along with fulfilling his military duties during college, Anthony was elected as a Senator At-Large by his peers and the statewide President of the College Democrats of Ohio.
Anthony then served as the Veterans and Military Affairs Liaison for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown’s Office from 2019–2022. In this role, Anthony traveled the state to help ensure Ohio veterans were given access to the benefits they earned during their service and further advocate for more benefits to encompass the total cost of war. He grew to learn what it means to be a public servant. To serve each constituent, regardless of political identification, to the best of his ability. Anthony is now running for the Ohio Senate to further extend this idea that public officials and their staff have a duty to put community before politics.
Melissa Kobasher- Lorain County Common Pleas Court Judge
Primary Date: May 5, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Melissa has worked in Lorain County for over a decade as a licensed attorney, practicing both family and criminal law, and currently serve as a Lorain County Court of Common Pleas Magistrate. She has a passion for justice and the safety of her community and takes pride in having an unmatched work ethic, firm knowledge of the law, and ability to make firm and fair decisions that bring positive changes to her community.
If elected, she will become the sole female on the bench of the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas. She will make the courtroom a place to connect with litigants and the community, maintain an efficient docket aimed at resolving cases in a timely and fair manner, and openly collaborate with agencies and programs to make a difference in the criminal justice process in Lorain County.
Lauren R. McNally- Ohio House, District 58
Primary Date: May 3, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Lauren is the City of Youngstown’s 5th Ward Councilwoman. She currently lives on the West Side of Youngstown with her husband and four kids. Lauren graduated from Ursuline High School and continued her education at Miami University and Ohio State University earning degrees in Political Science and Journalism. After college, she worked around the country as a journalist for various local NPR stations and newspapers.
Previously, Lauren worked in marketing and public relations for Involta, a technology firm with offices in Youngstown. She has also served on various community organizations’ boards including the Red Cross of the Mahoning Valley, Women’s Junior League of Youngstown, Mahoning Valley Young Professionals, and Mahoning County Young Democrats. She currently gives back to the community through service in organizations including the Ladies’ Ancient Order of Hibernians, Burke School of Irish Dance, St. Christine’s Home and School and Mahoning County Democratic Party.
OKLAHOMA
Alex Morgan Ruggiers- Norman Public Schools Board of Education Office №2
Primary Date: Feb. 8, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Alex is a former public school teacher running to bring on-the-ground classroom experience to the School Board in Norman, Oklahoma. A 3rd-generation Norman resident, Alex would be the youngest and only openly LGBTQ member of the Norman School board, as well as the only member of the board with K-12 teaching experience. Alex holds an M.Ed degree in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum from the University of Oklahoma, where he is currently employed as a Writer and Curriculum Developer. Alex has been endorsed by Oklahoma House Representative Mereleyn Bell, The LGBTQ Victory Fund, and Teamsters Local 886.
Alex is running to put more counselors in his community’s schools by cutting down on administrative bloat, restore his community’s trust in the school board through transparency and accountability, and advocate for every kid and teacher in the district.
Kate Bierman- Oklahoma House, District 44
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Kate is a former city councilwoman in Norman, Oklahoma and small business owner who has the experience to advocate for better policy at the State Capitol. After graduating college, Kate worked in Constituency Services for U.S. Senator James Jeffords (I-VT), cutting through the complex bureaucracy that inhibits people from accessing critical services.
Kate’s passion to help led her to get involved with local animal welfare organizations in Norman and eventually to run for City Council. On Council, Kate addressed the most pressing issues impacting the daily lives of her neighbors while also raising a family and running several small businesses in core Norman. Through her work, Kate saw firsthand that government can work for the people when the right resources are available.
However, the state continues to pass policies that are bad for the people of Norman. Kate is taking the fight to the state capitol and will focus on policies that restore the voice of local concern to local governments, fight special interests to build better communities, and put people first in these divisive political times.
Carrie Blumert- Oklahoma County Commission, District 1, OK
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Carrie is a public health professional with a passion for justice reform and mental health. In her time as County Commissioner, Carrie has focused her work on improving access to treatment for mental illness and addiction, improving the Oklahoma county jail, investing in roads and bridges, government transparency, and helping the community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, Carrie formed a coalition of mental health and addiction treatment providers and advocates to ensure that a new city sales tax package included funding for treatment and emergency housing. Her efforts secured $40 million in funding for our residents who need treatment and housing during a crisis.
When COVID-19 hit Oklahoma County, Carrie was the only Commissioner to fight for $25 million in direct financial assistance to renters, small businesses, and non-profits.
Carrie earned a bachelors degree in Child and Family Services from Oklahoma State University and a masters of public health the University of Oklahoma. She lives with her two dogs, Dottie and Taco, in Oklahoma City.
OREGON
Simone Rede- Portland City Auditor
Primary Date: May 17, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Simone is a Certified Internal Auditor and a Certified Government Auditing Professional with over 15 years of public service experience. She has a master’s degree in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Vassar College.
Simone is running for City Auditor to innovate Portland’s tradition of performance auditing, ensure health, safety, and equity as the City responds to the homelessness crisis, and advance equity across the Office’s divisions. As a state and local government auditor, she’s used her auditing expertise to help improve childcare safety and affordability, make the state’s largest public transit agency, TriMet, more transparent, and strengthen oversight of Metro’s $652.8 million housing bond program.
Before becoming an auditor, she worked with students in Portland-area alternative high schools to reduce barriers they faced to college. She lives in northeast Portland with her wife and their three dogs. Simone is ready to be Portland’s next City Auditor.
PENNSYLVANIA
Andre Carroll- Pennsylvania House, District 201
Primary Date: May 17, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Andre is a community leader born and raised in Philadelphia. He grew up two blocks from Belfield recreation center in the house he now owns and amongst the community he still believes in. Andre was raised by his grandmother. A beautiful mentor that lovingly stepped up, in place of young parents overwhelmed by the harmful effects of incarceration and addiction. It was after the death of his grandmother that Andre, still very young himself, committed himself to provide and secure a brighter future for his younger brother. Friends and close relatives share stories of Andre’s calm, determined demeanor.
Andre graduated from Roosevelt Middle and Germantown High School. He grew up fast with little time for anything outside of school and work. After high school Andre completed the workforce development Year-Up program. He later attended Pierce College and Temple University for degrees in business administration and economics.
Rianna Sommer Czech- Pennsylvania Senate, District 50
Primary Date: May 17, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Rianna is a member of the LGBTQI+ and a veteran which has never been easy, especially living in rural Pennsylvania, but it is her home and has made her who she is today. As a child, she learned to be resilient and that it’s okay to be different from other’s expectations. As a veteran, she learned about service and the importance of standing up for others. In college, She gained an appreciation for the law and how legislation can influence every aspect of our lives.
Rianna believes how well a child is educated shouldn’t be contingent on the zip code in which they live. She thinks the pandemic has shown us that our health insurance shouldn’t be tied to our ability to work. She knows that her life experience can bring new ideas to revitalize the economy through renewable energy and other creative solutions! Rianna’s life is both her experience and her motivation to make change for a better future for generations to come!
Ashley Gagné- Pennsylvania House, District 156
Primary Date: May 17, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Ashley is a pragmatic progressive and a fierce environmental protector. Born and raised in Chester County, Ashley worked her way through college and took out student loans to attend West Chester University, where her passion for sustainability and the environment was born. Ashley holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Geology. Over the course of her education, she studied environmental geochemistry, soil science, mineralogy, hydrogeology, historical geology, field geology, structural geology, and even minored in Russian and Astronomy. She completed geological fieldwork in northern Russia and studied active volcanoes and gas emissions in Hawaii.
In Harrisburg, Ashley will fight for clean energy policies and support transitioning our state to 100% renewable energy. She will work to expand voting access and stand up to any politician who attempts to eliminate ballot drop boxes or pass more restrictive voter ID laws. Ashley will always stand up for abortion access and ensure that every child, no matter their zip code, can receive a quality public school education — safely. Ashley knows that if we work together and focus on facts — not fear, we can tackle the major problems facing our state — climate change, COVID relief, education funding, reducing gun violence, reducing inflation, and addressing our crumbling infrastructure.
Carol Kazeem- Pennsylvania House, District 159
Primary Date: May 17, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Carol, a native of Chester city is a wife and mother of three. Carol attended the Chester Upland School District up until her high school where she graduated from Ridley High school. Carol worked in the healthcare field for over 13 years in various of ways. From serving as a caregiver to specializing in mental and behavioral health with all ages. Carol continuously services her community through her current profession as a trauma informed outreach worker and gun violence interrupter. Carol is currently pursing her education and future career in law.
Carol is known to many as an activist who advocates for many across Pennsylvania and beyond in many levels in society. Driven by Carol’s own personal experiences and of her fellow neighbors in and out of Chester; She desires to create additional programs and support that will improve the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the 159th district and across Pennsylvania. Carol will continue to openly advocate for positive changes not only as an activist on the ground but as your next State Representative in Harrisburg.
Carol will fight for $15 minimum wage, education equity, combating gun violence, ending mass incarceration, housing for all, and environmental justice. Carol prioritizes the needs of the people in her district and stands by,” no more excuses over justice”.
Emily Kinkead- Pennsylvania House, District 20
Primary Date: May 17, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Emily serves as State Representative for Pennsylvania’s 20th Legislative district, which includes parts of Pittsburgh and Ross Township, as well as the boroughs of Avalon, Bellevue, and West View. She was first elected in 2020 and currently serves on the House Appropriations, Agriculture, Human Services, and Judiciary Committees.
Before entering law school, Emily worked at a variety of organizations in Washington, DC, working on policy related to disability rights, good government reform, and medical research investment through the National Institutes of Health. Emily graduated from Pitt Law in 2016 and served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Judge Michael Wojcik of the Commonwealth Court before entering private practice. She graduated from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in 2009 with Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Political Science and minors in Chemistry and Gender & Women’s Studies.
RHODE ISLAND
Andrew Poyant- Providence City Council, Ward 14
Primary Date: Sept. 13, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Andrew is a dedicated husband and father of three young children. Andrew is an environmental scientist who has advocated for affordable housing, high-quality education, and environmental justice at the city and state level. He is running to represent Ward 14 in Providence City Council.
Andrew wants to continue to advocate for what he believes is right and what is needed for families to succeed: housing, living wage jobs, and quality education. Andrew wants to build a platform where honesty, open conversation, and open minds can discuss what is best for the neighborhood while inviting all people to the table.
Brandon Potter- Rhode Island House, District 16
Primary Date: Sept. 13, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Brandon is running for re-election to the State House because he believes we need a government that’s accountable to people, not corporate lobbyists and the well-connected. He advocates for getting the influence out big money out of politics, investing in renewable energy, and reforming our healthcare system to prioritize people’s health, instead of treating them like a business opportunity. Brandon lives in Cranston with his girlfriend Katie, whose dialysis treatment keeps healthcare at the forefront of Brandon’s plans for District 16.
Leonela Felix- Rhode Island House, District 61
Primary Date: Sept. 13, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Leonela (Leo), is a first-generation Dominican American, an attorney, and a formerly-incarcerated advocate for reform of the criminal (in)justice system. She is in her first term in the RI House of Representatives and serves on the Judiciary and Government and Elections Committees.
In her first year in office, Leo sponsored successful legislation removing references to “plantations” in statutes relating to judiciary; barring health insurance plans from prohibiting pharmacists from discussing affordable prescription options; and requiring candidates convicted of embezzling campaign funds to make restitution payments to the state’s victim compensation fund. Leo also sponsored legislation to help people on probation and parole earn credits to reduce their sentences. In her second year Leo is working to end cash bail, restrict the use of solitary confinement, and ensure that legislation legalizing recreational cannabis includes automatic expungement of criminal records.
Leo has a strong record as a community advocate fighting for working families. She works in the legal department of the City of Providence on ethics education and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. She resides in Pawtucket, RI with her husband and is a proud mom of three dogs.
SOUTH CAROLINA
ReZsaun Lewis- South Carolina House, District 97
Primary Date: May. 13, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
ReZsaun is a husband, father, veteran, educator, and community leader. He has served his country and community for many years, holding various roles and titles throughout his career. However, the first thing his friends and family will tell you is that he has never forgotten where they came from or who he’s been fighting for. Committed to change in our world, ReZsaun has set his standards high and will not stop fighting until a proper balance has been reached.
A proud native of North Charleston, SC, ReZsaun has proven to be a leader in his community and schools via his work in community development and youth empowerment. ReZsaun has served his country as a paralegal in the US Army and the classroom as an elementary school teacher. While in the classroom, ReZsaun learned about the vast and, at times, unfair expectations placed on educators and the lack of resources available to them. This knowledge was one of the leading causes that ReZsaun champions as he pursues office.
He and his wife Latoya reside in Summerville, South Carolina, raising their five children. ReZsaun serves his community as the Executive Director of Lowcountry Youth Services, a nonprofit which aims to create quality programs for youth in the Charleston area. ReZsaun fights for what he believes in and can work with anyone to achieve the larger goals of the people he serves. He doesn’t allow party or politics to stop what’s best for the greater good.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Erin C. Royer- South Dakota House, District 12
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Erin would like to represent District 12 in the South Dakota State House of Representatives. She moved to Sioux Falls almost 4 years ago to work in healthcare. While living here, Erin have learned that the people of South Dakota are compassionate and practical. We deserve a government that can say the same. Erin promises to work hard for you, with you, to create a thriving economy and a successful society where people are safe, welcome, and valued.
TEXAS
Kaila Ann Stovall- Comal ISD Board of Trustees, Single Member District 7
General Date: May 7, 2022
Kaila is an educator and a mother of four. Her kids are/will be students in Comal ISD and they are biggest reason why she is running for a seat on the Board of Trustees. While her own kids have given her the drive to run, they are not the only reason she is doing this. As an educator, Kaila knows all too well what teachers have gone through and what they are still going through since the pandemic started. She wants to ensure teachers and the support staff that directly influence students’ success are paid appropriately and given the respect they deserve. Kaila also knows if we want student success, we need to listen to and be supportive of those people in the classrooms, lunchrooms, buses, and hallways of our schools because they know exactly what is going on and what needs to be addressed.
Kaila has lived in New Braunfels for seven years and loves the diversity of cultures and voices. To make sure ALL voices are heard within Comal ISD, she wants to promote more accessibility for community members when it comes to regular school board meetings and transparency with our budgeting plans. She also wants to encourage town hall meetings where there can be respectful discourse between board members and constituents. Kaila knows we must not only listen but respond to questions and concerns if we want our district to be a place where students love to be and teachers want to stay.
WASHINGTON
Darya Farivar- Washington House, District 46
Primary Date: August 2, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Darya is a lifelong resident of the 46th Legislative District, a first-generation Iranian-American woman, a 27 year old millennial, and a proud Democrat. She is by far the youngest candidate in this race, and at the same time the most qualified. Darya is the Public Policy Director at Disability Rights Washington, a private, non-profit organization that protects the rights of people with disabilities statewide. As a lobbyist she spends her time working directly with the state legislature on disability and civil rights issues. Her primary focus is the intersection of behavioral health, housing/homelessness, and the criminal legal system. She has years of experience working with different levels of government on different areas of policy through her time as Co-Chair of the Seattle Women’s Commission and Policy Chair of the Washington State Special Education Advisory Council.
Darya believes we need legislators who understand disability justice, reflect the lived experiences of our communities, and bring those most impacted to the decision making table. This is why she is running as a Democrat for the Washington State House of Representatives in the 46th Legislative District for Position 2. If elected, she will continue her work to divert people with behavioral health disabilities from the criminal legal system and institutions by providing meaningful treatment as soon as it’s needed and long-term supportive housing. Darya would be proud to serve as the first millennial to represent the district and the first ever Middle Eastern Woman elected to the state legislature.
WEST VIRGINIA
Joe Solomon- Charleston City Council, At-large
Primary Date: May 10, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Joe is running for City Council (At-Large) in the country’s overdose capital — Charleston, West Virginia. Joe is running to decriminalize harm reduction, save lives, and build a city that isn’t rooted in so much pain.
Joe is a social worker and a public health advocate who has worked for the past four years to help build West Virginia’s largest overdose prevention group, SOAR. Joe worked with SOAR to distribute over 20,000 naloxone doses (aka Narcan) since COVID-19. Joe also worked with SOAR to triple the number of the city’s syringe disposal boxes.
Joe is also a used bookseller who sets up mini curated ‘book nooks’ inside cafes across Charleston and West Virginia. On an open evening, you can generally find Joe at the East End dog park playing fetch with his shelter pup.
Joe is running with a slate of other local candidates who are committed to a wide array of issues to make Charleston whole. This “Charleston Can’t Wait” slate is ready to decriminalize cannabis, provide a housing guarantee, build a citizen review board, and ensure paid sick leave for all. You can check out the full #CharlestonCantWait slate and platform here: http://charlestonwvcantwait.com.
