Our Last Endorsement Class of 2021: Meet our December Endorsees!
Run for Something is excited to announce 31 new endorsees in 15 states — 65% are people of color, 48% identify as women and 42% identify as LBGTQIA+.
Get to know more about our candidates by reading below!
ALABAMA
Tereshia Qianna Huffman- Alabama House, District 56
Primary Date: May 24, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Tereshia is an Alabama native, a product of Birmingham City Schools and a graduate of the University of Alabama. Throughout her career, Huffman has championed underserved communities, working to secure equitable resources and opportunities for all.
In December, 2020, Huffman was appointed to the Birmingham Water Works Board as its youngest and sole female member and has used the platform to improve water infrastructure and increase female participation in spaces of leadership and business. Tereshia is also a dedicated member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
CALIFORNIA
DeJonaé Marie Shaw- San Bernardino County Supervisor, District 2
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
DeJonaé is a Licensed Vocational Nurse, small business owner, and community activist running for election to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors District 2. DeJonaé grew up fast due to her mother's drug addiction, and mental health issues. She rose above the negative influences that surrounded her to become her siblings’ protector. She took on parenting roles as a child to make sure her brothers and sisters were fed and succeeded in school.
DeJonaé knows a strong education and hard work, create opportunities to build a better life. San Bernardino County is her home. As a lifelong resident, she knows that together, we can work to bring true equity and opportunity to our communities, where families can thrive, small businesses can succeed, and where we all prosper.
COLORADO
Dylan Roberts- Colorado Senate, District 8
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Dylan currently represents House District 26 in the Colorado House of Representatives and now he is running for the Colorado State Senate. Since 2018, his work at the legislature has focused on lowering the cost of health care and prescription drugs, protecting our environment and water, finding ways to lower the cost of living, and promoting rural economic development. He wrote the bill that made Colorado the first state in the country to cap the cost of insulin for people with diabetes which has now been passed in many other states and this past year, he led the effort to create the Colorado Public Health Insurance Option. Since 2018, Dylan has successfully passed 70 bills into law with 97% of them receiving bipartisan support and has now held over 50 town hall meetings in all corners of his district.
Colorado's mountain communities are at a tipping point; they are facing a crisis in affordable housing for our working class, they stand to be hurt physically and economically from climate change, and their families need relief in the rising cost of living. Dylan's track record of turning bold ideas into real results is what is needed in the State Senate for Colorado's future.
FLORIDA
Evan A. Shields- Florida House, District 107
Primary Date: August 9, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Evan is a business leader, educator and community organizer running to be the champion for affordability that our diverse community needs in the Florida State House. Florida’s the 15th largest economy in the world, yet Miami-Dade’s one of the most unaffordable places in the U.S. for working families to live. That’s why Evan’s fighting for a growth agenda that empowers ALL of us and takes our community and state to the next level, investing in affordable housing, climate resiliency and workforce development for tomorrow’s careers.
Evan grew up in a family of teachers, preachers and steelworkers, raised on three values that guide his leadership today: work hard, give grace, and lead through service. After graduating college from the University of Virginia, Evan joined Teach For America and became a high-school math teacher in low-income schools. While teaching, Evan began community organizing to empower his students and their families, and he’s never looked back since. Impassioned to serve communities through economic growth, he went on to earn an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Real Estate & Entrepreneurship.
As a business leader, Evan has helped invest over $4.0 billion in affordable housing, infrastructure and public-private partnerships that have helped house more than 22.000 low-income families and seniors across Florida and the country. Today, at age 31, he is one of the youngest Black executives in the U.S. as Chief Operating Officer for Sol-REIT. In his role, Evan’s democratizing clean energy finance so more households and businesses have access to solar energy. He has the unique experience, courage and fresh vision to fight for Miami-Dade in the Florida State House.
Eunic Ortiz- Florida Senate, District 24
Primary Date: August 23, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
For nearly 15 years, Eunic Ortiz has advocated for communities through her work in local government and advocacy. As a political organizer, she fights for workers’ rights, affordable health care, LGBTQ+ equality, fully-funded public education, robust environmental protections, criminal justice reform, and protecting Floridians’ right to vote.
Eunic was born in Central Florida and raised in Pinellas County by educators who served in our country’s military. As a lesbian, Eunic has spent much of her career fighting for LGBTQ+ rights having founded the Gay Straight Alliance as a student at Tarpon Springs high and establishing a scholarship program that helped low-income LGBTQ+ youth better afford the cost of a college education.
Eunic currently serves on the Tampa Bay Workforce Development Committee, working alongside regional and business leaders to develop and execute a plan addressing Tampa Bay’s growing need for diverse workforce opportunities. During the 2020 elections, Eunic led a team to help pass Amendment 2 — the ballot initiative in Florida that raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour. When elected, Eunic would be the only Hispanic elected official in Pinellas County and the first openly lesbian state senator in Florida’s history.
Janelle Perez- Florida Senate, District 37
Primary Date: August 23, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Born and raised in Miami, Janelle knows what the South Florida community needs. She has seen the growth of our community over the years. From spending hours in traffic, to navigating neighborhoods that consistently flood, and watching our beautiful beaches erode due to rising sea levels, Janelle has lived it. After graduating from Florida International University, Janelle moved to Washington, D.C. to begin her career on Capitol Hill, honing her policy analysis skills.
At the age of 28, Janelle was diagnosed with Stage IV Follicular Lymphoma, an aggressive, incurable cancer. After her diagnosis, Janelle moved to Miami in order to prioritize her health and start a family with her wife, Monica. Today, she is one of the owners of a Hispanic-owned and family-owned Medicare company in Miami-Dade County. It is one of Florida’s fastest growing Medicare companies, providing affordable, high-quality medical services to Medicare beneficiaries in the county.
As a mother, first-generation American, and businesswoman, Janelle is running for State Senate to fight for opportunities for every child and family. Her personal experience battling illness and professional experience as an advocate and business owner has deepened her commitment to ensuring every Floridian has access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. In Florida’s State Senate, she will be a champion for improving access to healthcare, protecting our environment, and supporting our small businesses.
ILLINOIS
Nabeela Syed- Illinois House, District 51
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Nabeela is a skilled organizer and educational advocate, running for State Representative in Illinois’s 51st District. With experience fighting for educational equity, reproductive justice, and worker’s rights on a local and national scale, Nabeela hopes to serve the community she was born and raised in.
With climate change, healthcare, and education top of mind, Nabeela is running to be a champion on issues that affect residents of Illinois today and tomorrow. Nabeela has been engaged in her community, serving as a mentor for youth as a high school debate coach. She is also active in her religious community and is a strong advocate for promoting interfaith dialogue and empowering young Muslim women to lead.
INDIANA
Ashley Bradford Eason- Indiana Senate, District 46
Primary Date: May 3, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Not everyone is lucky enough to be born in Indiana — some Hoosiers have to find their way home. Ashley and her husband Andy moved to Indianapolis for work but instantly felt at home. Indy has the perfect combination of hard-working innovators and friendly Midwestern charm. (Also, they never could have guessed the Indy 500 was what was missing from their lives!)
Ashley had quite the adventure getting to Indiana, and her experiences have prepared her for the challenges to come with governing. As a nonprofit executive, she has led teams and projects with business and government partners, so she has a unique understanding of the needs of each sector. She also understands how to achieve great outcomes with limited resources. She has deep experience leading bi-partisan advocacy teams connected with communities at the grassroots level — having coordinated 300 high-level volunteers across four Midwestern states.
From her Texas roots, to her time living in Memphis and D.C., she learned how different communities tackle their unique challenges. When she studied and worked abroad, she developed ways to build bridges across cultural divides to solve problems. These skills and more have prepared her to serve at the Indiana statehouse.
Karla Alejandra Lopez Owens- Indiana Senate, District 46
Primary Date: May 3, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Karla is a community organizer and an attorney. She comes from a working-class, immigrant family and has lived in Indianapolis for over 20 years. Karla is running for the Indiana State Senate seat in District 46, located in Marion County, the most diverse County in the state.
For over 11 years, Karla has fought for social change in Indiana through grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy. Interpreting at a young age, Karla became a bridge between her community and social service agencies. As a young adult, she was introduced to the complex immigration system through her Citizenship process and learned to navigate these systems. As a registered voter, she started organizing around the same issues her campaign is focused on: full political participation for all, voter empowerment, transparency and accessibility to government, fair wages, racial justice and immigration reform.
Karla was the first to graduate from college in her family. After graduating with her Bachelor’s degree, she enrolled in law school and graduated with her Juris Doctor. She was sworn in to practice law in Indiana in 2021.
Karla has worked with the non-profit, private and public sectors. She has served on the Marion County Citizens’ Police Complaint Board, the Marion County Commission on Youth, has taught and tutored students with the Indianapolis Public Schools for over 8 year and co-founded the Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance, 9 years ago. She currently serves as the Director of Community Outreach with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and lives on the East side of Indianapolis.
IOWA
Andrew Dunn- Iowa House, District 90
Primary Date: June 7, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Andrew is an activist, nonprofit leader, and seventh-generation Iowan running to represent Iowa’s 90th House District. Andrew has spent the last decade organizing and fighting to address the most pressing issues facing Iowans, including the gun violence epidemic, threats to public education, the climate crisis, and an increasingly hostile environment for the LGBTQ community.
He previously served as Executive Director of March For Our Lives Iowa, where he led statewide efforts to enact common-sense gun violence prevention reforms including universal background checks, mandatory waiting periods, and police demilitarization. Andrew previously
Andrew now resides in Iowa City, Iowa where he studies political science and is an active board director of the River City Housing Collective. When elected, Andrew will work tirelessly to build a Democratic majority, expand transparency in government, and strive to empower all members of his community to effectively participate in policymaking.
MARYLAND
Chris Stevenson- Maryland House, District 24
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Christopher is a kidney failure survivor and public health advocate with legislative experience tackling issues of economic inequality, criminal justice reform, and healthcare for all Marylanders. He’s running for state delegate to represent District 24 in Maryland and currently proudly represents District 24 as a Democratic Central Committee Member. Despite growing up in poverty, Christopher has made it a goal in life to give back to the community that raised him. He is an active board member for various organizations, including United Communities Against Poverty, where he has created eviction prevention programs, food giveaways, and more.
With his track record of community service for Prince George’s County combined with his tenure of working for all three levels of the legislative government, Christopher intimately knows the issues of District 24 residents and families throughout Maryland and knows how to serve his constituents. As an active and proud Democrat, Christopher currently serves as Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party’s Health Committee, where he actively fights against healthcare disparities throughout Maryland. Christopher lives in Glenarden, Maryland, and attends St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
Augusta Y. Christensen- Maryland House, District 46
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Augusta is a lifelong Marylander and experienced political professional running for State Delegate in MD-46 (Baltimore City). After helping Democratic women run for office for nearly ten years, she is now answering the call to serve and running herself. From her beginnings as an anti-war and reproductive rights activist to her years managing field programs for statewide campaigns, she understands the importance of meeting voters where they are and proactively working to meet their needs.
Augusta is running for this open seat because she loves Baltimore and believes that the city’s best days are yet to come. And given her personal experiences — as a waitress, a community college alum, and someone who has lost loved ones to suicide and addiction — she has a unique understanding of the problems facing Baltimore. Baltimore is at a crossroads: we can either finally join the wave of 21st century urbanization by fully investing in public transportation, public education, sustainable, community-centered development, and local small businesses, or fall farther behind.
Augusta is a proud graduate of Maryland public schools, alumna of community college, and holds a BA in political science from Swarthmore College. She lives in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Baltimore with her husband Erick.
Carlos F. Childs- Charles County Commissioner, District 3
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Carlos is a progressive Democrat and community organizer in Charles County, MD. He has organized multiple actions to help tenants stay in their homes during the eviction crisis, advocate for Charles County bus drivers and attendants to receive higher wages and benefits, educate community members about economic disparities in Southern Maryland, and more. He has dedicated his career to advocating and fighting for policies that will help everyone reach their full potential. That is why he is running for County Commissioner in District 3.
Carlos is running to solve the challenges his community has faced since he was a child. He plans to make healthcare more accessible by building a public hospital in Waldorf, stop renters from being evicted due to unjustifiably high rent increases by instituting a rent stabilization program, revitalize Waldorf’s green spaces and vacant buildings to create a public park, recreation and learning center, and help end systemic inequities in education, by fully funding Charles County Public Schools. His platform is full of big and bold solutions, because he knows his community has waited too long for the necessary changes to raise the standard of living for all county residents.
Bernice Mireku-North- Montgomery County State’s Attorney
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Bernice is mother, wife, and daughter of immigrants who graduated from Montgomery County schools and has devoted her career as courtroom lawyer and community advocate. Bernice is running for State’s Attorney for Montgomery County, the largest and most diverse county in the State of Maryland.
As a former prosecutor, Bernice knows the criminal justice system doesn’t work for everyone. Bernice went into private practice and owns her own law practice to fight for all individuals accused of crimes to be treated fairly in the system. As a community advocate, Bernice has been focused on root causes of crime, devoting her time to criminal justice reform and other important local issues. Most recently, Bernice served as Co-Chair of the Montgomery County Reimagining Public Safety Task Force, which developed 87 recommendations on police reform in Montgomery County.
Bernice has recognized the need for a new vision of justice and safety for Montgomery County. Bernice is running on four major platforms which include: transparency in the criminal justice system, developing alternatives to incarceration, assessing equities in the criminal justice system, and bringing restorative justice to the community.
Joe Vogel- Maryland House, District 17
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
When Joe was just three-years-old, his family immigrated from Uruguay to Rockville, Maryland. Now he’s running for the Maryland House of Delegates to serve the community that has given him so much. Joe’s community involvement began early, both as a leader and as a progressive political activist.
In 2015, Joe was nominated and confirmed by the Governor of Maryland to serve as a member of the Maryland Youth Advisory Council. Joe has organized in support of the Blueprint For Maryland’s Future, worked to advance commonsense gun violence prevention measures, and has fought to support underserved communities in Montgomery County. Joe has worked for and learned from respected leaders including Secretary Cory Booker, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
During COVID-19, Joe volunteered to support organizations and leaders working on the frontlines to help Gaithersburg and Rockville recover from the pandemic, and started a non-profit to help children of essential workers stay on track during remote learning. Joe is completing a Master’s in Public Policy at Harvard University where his studies have focused on climate action, securing human rights, and strengthening our democratic institutions.
MINNESOTA
Hoang Murphy- Minnesota House, District 67A
Primary Day: August 9, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Hoang is a lifelong Minnesotan, husband, non-profit leader, and proud East Side resident. He’s running because the East Side deserves more resources, greater opportunity, and strong representation.
Hoang embodies his values both personally and professionally. Early in his career, he has been a union worker, a public school ELA educator and has served as a Public Policy Fellow during the Obama Administration.
In 2018, Hoang founded Foster Advocates, an organization to support and uplift youth in the foster care system. In 2021, Hoang successfully drafted the most comprehensive college support bill for Fosters in the country. The Fostering Higher Education Act allows Fosters to attend any accredited institution for free, including tuition and living expenses. This groundbreaking work happened because Murphy organized with Fosters to share their stories and build power. That responsibility and experience are foundational in his decision to run for state representative.
Hoang, a first-generation Vietnamese American, is passionate about upending systems of inequity. He deeply understands his district and wants to focus on equity in affordable housing, jobs, and education. Hoang lives in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood with his wife, Mercedes, his dog Ginger, and a herd of cats.
NEW YORK
Sarah M. Smith- Connetquot Board of Education
General Date: May 12, 2022
Sarah is a social worker, community advocate, and for the last five years has been working with individuals and veterans experiencing homelessness. Sarah is passionate about bringing the community together around making Connetquot Central School District a place where students and teachers feel like they belong. As a Connetquot alum, and having a sister currently in the district, she has a unique insight to the needs of the Connetquot community.
Sarah is running for Connetquot School Board because she believes that the district needs a fresh, modern perspective that speaks to the struggles students face today, and will face after they graduate. As a first-generation college student who graduated at the top of her class, she has first hand knowledge of what will prepare Connetquot students for success. She is excited to reimagine the processes for students to access mental health resources, and tackle inclusive hiring processes.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on her community, and Sarah is certain the only way to navigate this shift is through relationships with our students, teachers, and community members. Sarah will be an enthusiastic and powerful voice, centering the student experience at all decisions.
Samy Nemir Olivares- New York Assembly, District 54
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Samy was born and raised by a single mother with disabilities in the small rural town of Yauco in Puerto Rico. Growing up, their family struggled to make ends meet and were forced to rely on government programs to keep them out of poverty. Public programs were how Samy’s family could go to school, keep a roof over their head, and food on the table.
Samy migrated to New York with a suitcase, $200, and enough student loan debt to last them a lifetime — but nothing has deterred them from fighting for a better world. In our city, Samy started working as a journalist to document the important stories of marginalized communities. Samy later worked at the Center For Popular Democracy; in campaigns to end the school to prison pipeline, fight for workers and immigrant rights, and push for free universal healthcare for all. Today, Samy works as an advocate in a civil rights nonprofit LGBTQ people and people living with HIV.
Samy is running for the Assembly because their community needs a voice in Albany. During COVID-19, Samy organized and worked hard to help feed thousands of families while some local leaders were absent and neglectful. Samy was fighting to tax the rich to fund the first in the nation Excluded Workers Fund, the current Assembly member was nowhere to be found. Samy knows what it’s like to struggle to make ends meet and won’t let absent leadership be the reason more people in their community suffer.
NORTH CAROLINA
Kendrick Cunningham- Charlotte City Council, District 3
Primary Date: March 8, 2022; General Election Date: November 8, 2022
Kendrick is running for Charlotte City Council District Three. A dynamic Democrat focused on upward mobility and system transformation, he has tirelessly worked to register youth and increase his generation’s capacity to impact change in North Carolina for over half a decade. An UNA-USA Emerging Leader, he knows that the UN anticipates Charlotte to be the fastest growing area in America through 2030.
Kendrick is running to make Housing for All law in Charlotte and remove barriers working family communities experience accessing housing at affordable prices in Charlotte’s housing market. Kendrick envisions a day where all Charlotteans can affordably eat, work, and play relatively close to where they sleep.
A contributor of the Biden Housing Plan, Kendrick has worked to advance housing for all in Charlotte since 2017. Ending source of income discrimination is one of the reasons he decided to continue his career in organizing beyond building youth power in NC. Kendrick believes that this is the viable pathway forward to eliminating De Facto Segregation in America which would remove a lot of barriers for an extremely diverse group of Americans across all income levels.
To learn more about how Kendrick and why he fights for housing for all, go to www.kendrickcunningham.com/housingforall.
OKLAHOMA
Mauree Turner- Oklahoma House, District 88
Primary Date: June 28, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Mauree (They / Them/ Theirs / Representative) is the newly-elected State Representative for Oklahoma’s 88th House District thanks to the people.
They was formerly the Regional Field Director for the Campaign for Smart Justice, an ACLU campaign focusing on criminal justice reform, and its many intersections. Their life’s works are geared towards fighting for and maintaining the civil rights and liberties of all who enter America.
They are an Oklahoma community organizer, born and raised, coming from a Muslim and Baptist upbringing. In elementary school, if they were missing class it was because they were at an HIV and AIDS Awareness event or LGBTQ+ advocacy event with their mother.
Rep. Turner grew up believing in the power and duty they had to change the world for the better.
They have also worked with the NAACP of Oklahoma, Freedom Oklahoma, CAIR OK, and a number of community-based and student lead groups working in and researching the intersections of racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, religious freedom, reproductive rights — just to name a few. Working with these organizations, they have researched the history of the criminal justice system and what it does to communities of color, and Black Women especially, and they are just getting started.
PENNSYLVANIA
Ismail Smith-Wade-El- Pennsylvania House, District 50
Primary Date: May 17, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Izzy is the President of the council of the City of Lancaster, having just won reelection to his second term. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University, Izzy returned to his hometown of Lancaster and began working in Lancaster’s nonprofit sector to deliver relief to vulnerable people. Today, he serves as a program specialist at LanCo MyHome, where he coordinates services and support for Lancaster county’s housing insecure community. Most recently, Izzy launched “Refresh Lancaster,” a mobile hygiene unit which delivers showers, social services, and medical attention to homeless Lancastrians.
During his four years on Council, Izzy has helped secure the largest investments in affordable housing and lead removal that the City of Lancaster has ever seen. He championed the decriminalization of cannabis, a completely revamped use-of-force policy for police officers, and unprecedented police accountability in response to community requests. As the vice chair of the Lancaster County Democratic Party and an organizer at heart, Izzy has knocked doors with candidates up and down the ballot every year, from school board to Congress. He’s stood on picket lines with striking Kelloggs workers and stood with PA’s educators to demand fair funding for public schools. He’s raised his voice to protect abortion access, defend Black Lives, welcome immigrants and refugees, and denounce antisemitism.
Izzy is primarying 16-term incumbent Mike Sturla to represent Pennsylvania’s 96th House District in Harrisburg so that all of Lancaster’s working families have a friend in the fight.
Jessica Benham- Pennsylvania House, District 36
Primary Date: May 17, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Jessica is the State Representative for Pennsylvania House District 36, covering portions of the City of Pittsburgh and its suburbs. Jessica was elected in November 2020 and is serving her first term. As a state representative, she has focused on fighting for access to healthcare, a clean and healthy environment, fair funding for education, and LGBTQ and disability rights.
Since her election in 2020, Jessica has brought hundreds of thousands of dollars into the district to invest in infrastructure, green spaces, education, violence prevention, and public safety. Her office has expanded services for seniors by hosting senior fairs, health clinics, and ensuring that everyone can access COVID-19 vaccines through their local pharmacies. When the unemployment system failed Pennsylvanians who had lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jessica publicly stood up to the Governor’s Department of Labor and Industry, demanding and delivering benefits to workers. Jessica is an alum of the University of Pittsburgh, where she was involved in the effort to organize a union of graduate workers. She knows firsthand the importance of organizing and the power that collective bargaining can have. Jessica is the first openly Autistic state legislator in PA and the first out LGBTQ+ woman in the General Assembly.
RHODE ISLAND
Jacqueline E. Goldman- Providence City Council, Ward 5
Primary Date: September 13, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Jackie (they/them) is an overdose prevention researcher, epidemiologist and advocate running to be the first non-binary City Councilperson in Providence. In their role an overdose prevention researcher who was activated to work for the Department of Health in the earliest months of the pandemic, they have witnessed the overlapping consequences of the overdose crisis, housing crisis and lack of available social and mental health resources.
Jackie decided to run for City Council because they saw how the city does not work for everyday people. They want to invest in affordable housing instead of giving multimillion dollar tax breaks to luxury developers. They want to create an elected school board as the appointed school board is more concerned about political favors than they are about education; and they want to fix the roads and sidewalks so that everyone can access the city.
Jackie is running for Providence City Council because they want to see everyone in Providence have access to affordable housing, high quality public schools and functioning roads and sidewalks.
Sue AnderBois- Providence City Council. Ward 3
Primary Date: September 13, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Sue is running for Ward 3 City Council in Providence. She is a community leader dedicated to participatory democracy, transparency in government, urgent action to address our climate emergency, poverty, and systems thinking to address the issues facing our City and its residents.
As Rhode Island’s first Director of Food Strategy, Sue saw first hand the importance of addressing the root causes of issues, like food insecurity — and also the value and importance of our small, locally owned business community. As a long time climate justice and clean energy activist and chair of Providence’s Sustainability Commission, Sue will work to ensure Providence’s resiliency.
Sue lives off Hope Street with her husband Scott, their two cats Zeni & Wasabi, and their dog Captain Ruggles.
TEXAS
Josh Tutt- Texas Senate, District 18
Primary Date: March 1, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Josh is an openly gay, progressive activist fighting for change in Texas. He currently serves as Vice President of Pride Community Center and as Secretary for the Texas Young Democrats Rural Caucus. He is running for Texas State Senate in District 18 to deliver increased access to healthcare, public education, and robust rural infrastructure.
Josh is a seventh-generation Texan living with his husband, Rick and their dog, Trinity, in rural Burleson County where they tend to a vineyard together. He was moved to run for office when he saw his neighbors being harmed by the devastating onslaught of toxic, partisan policy that was being pushed through the Texas Legislature. When he woke up in a cold, dark house during the Texas Blackout in February 2021, he said to himself, “Somebody needs to fix this.” And he realized, “I am somebody.”
Daniella Deseta Lyttle- Texas State Court, 261st District Judge
Primary Date: March 1, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Daniella is an award-winning multilingual trial lawyer (Spanish and Portuguese) who has served her community in the areas of family law and immigration for over twelve years. She is an immigrant, mother, and Army veteran who knows all too well that we need judges who understand the struggles of working families and who have the temperament, compassion, and cultural competence to serve on the bench.
Daniella knows what it is like to face income and educational inequality and has taken an active role advocating and volunteering for her community in Travis County for well over a decade.
If elected, Daniella will be the first immigrant and the first female veteran to serve the 261st Civil District Court in Travis County, Austin, Texas.
Daniella served as Army Infantry Combat Medic for eight years, graduated with honors from University of South Florida and graduated at the top ten percent of her class — Magna Cum Laude from Michigan State University College of Law. She’s the proud owner and Managing Partner of Lyttle Law Firm, PLLC, where for well over a decade she has led her team to provide legal services to the Austin community to people facing some of the most challenging times in their lives. Daniella and her team at Lyttle Law pride themselves in serving Austin residents with compassion, empathy, creative advocacy, passion, and expertise.
Selina Alaniz- Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law №6
Primary Date: March 1, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Selina is a criminal defense and immigration attorney running for Harris County Criminal Court at Law 6. Selina is a native of Mission, Texas, located in the Rio Grande Valley. Selina has dedicated her career to defending clients in the practice of criminal law and immigration and understands the vital role in the administration of justice. Throughout her years of practicing law, Selina has litigated and advocated for equitable justice for all communities by representing families forcibly separated at the U.S./Mexico border and challenging racial injustice in the justice system.
Selina believes that all people should be treated fairly and equally both in and out of the courtroom. She will apply her knowledge and experience as Judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law 6 while treating everyone with dignity and respect.
Andrea Lauren Duhon- Harris County Department of Education Trustee, Precinct 4
Primary Date: March 1, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Andrea, a mother of two, business developer by trade, and military spouse, began attending Harris County Department of Education meetings in 2017 in a search for funding for two-way immersion programs in public schools. She found herself shocked at how politized the board was at the time. She decided that someone needed to stand up for the good of the teachers and children in the community.
Since joining the HCDE board in 2019, Andrea has helped to bring all employees’ pay to a living wage of $15 an hour, expanded Head Start and adult education programs, and has been an advocate for employee needs. Andrea says she is particularly proud of the Tools for Teachers program, where county public school teachers can choose supplies from the HCDE website to be sent to them at their respective schools, free of charge. This was created to mitigate the need for teachers to pay for supplies out of their own pockets. Andrea is looking forward to affecting much more positive change through another term on the HCDE Board of Trustees.
Lorenzo Sanchez- Texas House, District 67
Primary Date: March 1, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Lorenzo’s story is that of the American Dream: A first-generation Mexican American, raised by a single mother right here in this district and educated in our public schools, he is a proud Carpenter Cowboy and Plano East Panther, who worked hard to become the owner of a successful small business.
Lorenzo’s values spring from the lessons he learned from observing his mother, who worked two jobs to support her family and made sacrifices to give her children the opportunities she never had. The example she set inspired him to be the voice of hard-working Texans as their elected representative.
Lorenzo is running for Texas State Representative to ensure that the people in our community — and across Texas, have a representative who will finally give everyone a voice in Austin.
Keith G. Henry, MPA- Texas House, District 23
Primary Date: March 1, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Commissioner Henry and his wife are natives of Galveston County, TX, and have three children. Commissioner Henry and his twin brother grew up in public housing and a two-room shack in a disenfranchised community with a mother who worked multiple jobs to provide for them. Being raised in a disenfranchised community served as a motivator for Commissioner Henry to advocate for a more equitable society. Moreover, Commissioner Henry’s wife, Dionne, has an ardent passion for supporting single mothers and advocating for women’s rights. Correspondingly, Commissioner Henry is motivated by the imperative to look his daughters in the eye and candidly tell them they can be a CEO and make a comparable salary to their brother when they grow up. Additionally, Commissioner Henry shares an indomitable will to answer his son when asked, were his father’s initiatives influential relative to assisting the least vulnerable among us.
Commissioner Henry has worked at every level of government, in addition to his professional nonprofit and education experience. Currently, Commissioner Henry serves as Commissioner (City Councilman) of the City of Texas City, District 1. Commissioner Henry’s accomplishments include being published in multiple publications, being named 40 under 40 for his native Galveston County, and a 40 under 40 honor for the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats. Commissioner Henry holds a Bachelor of Arts & Letters in English/Minor in Journalism from the State University of New York College at Buffalo State College (Buffalo, NY); A Masters of Public Administration from Texas Southern University; and near completion of his Ph.D. in Public Policy. Notably, While attending Buffalo State, Commissioner Henry was an All-conference and All-Academic track and field athlete.
Adam M. Swartz- Dallas Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 1
Primary Date: March 1, 2022; General Date: November 8, 2022
Since 1993, the incumbent judge has affected thousands of cases that come from our families and neighbors. Y’know what’s really scary? Showing up to Court with extra anxiety about being shamed for your body, your clothes, your past, your money, or the color of your skin. Fairness and dignity are the minimum people deserve (and should expect).
We need a fair justice who won’t pre-judge people in their Court. It would be the first time JP 3–1 would have a new judge in over a generation. We were within .4% of winning in 2018. Your support can make that happen
Adam’s consumer and criminal law practice lines up exactly with JP duties in Dallas County: Small claims, Traffic Tickets, Evictions, and Weddings (STEW). He has been awarded the Super Lawyer Rising Star (Thompson Reuters) award for consumer protection every year since 2017. Adam has spent nearly a decade in Dallas County courts as an advocate, on people’s sides (as opposed to ‘on their backs’). Adam will work to bring our community court into the 21st century and save our taxpayers time and money.
