Ignore what you’ve heard in the press: election season begins here and now. We are less than 50 days away from November 5 — where we have the opportunity to make major changes in dozens of municipalities across the country. In VA we are just two seats away in both the House and Senate from a Democratic majority. In cities like Memphis we can help make history and elect the first African American woman as mayor.

As we inch closer and closer to the big day, we are stoked to introduce our September endorsement class! The 36 candidates you’ll meet today are amazing, young progressives looking to shake up the status quo on the local level in 2019 and 2020!

Here’s a little taste of what we have for you:

Meet Washtenaw County, Michigan prosecutorial candidate, Eli Savit — a former law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who plans to eliminate cash bail, build support for addiction and mental-health treatment programs, and reform plea-bargaining practices in the DA’s office.

— a former law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who plans to eliminate cash bail, build support for addiction and mental-health treatment programs, and reform plea-bargaining practices in the DA’s office. Abrar Omeish co-founded a student-led, student-run non-profit organization that has been providing free tutoring and mentorship to underprivileged youth in 20 locations across the county for the past decade. So of course, she’s running for Fairfax County School Board At-Large!

co-founded a student-led, student-run non-profit organization that has been providing free tutoring and mentorship to underprivileged youth in 20 locations across the county for the past decade. So of course, she’s running for Fairfax County School Board At-Large! Kim Jackson is an ordained Episcopal Priest, a public theologian and a community activist working to erridicate the death penalty who is now running for Georgia State Senate this November.

We are also excited to have the opportunity to re-endorse 6 candidates running for office:

Andrea Duhon

Cassandra Levesque

Hadiya Afzal

Jessica Tiedt

Jordan Hohenstein

Pierce Freelon

Want to learn more? Take a peek below, check out our September endorsements and, of course, once you’ve felt that wave of inspiration, sign up to donate and support our efforts to recruit more great candidates.

September Candidates *

*denotes re-endorsed 2017/2018 candidate

Colorado

Alexis King

District Attorney, 1st Judicial District

Alexis King is running to be the next District Attorney for Colorado’s First Judicial District, an office never held by a woman. Alexis served as a prosecutor in the First Judicial District for a decade where she built a reputation as an ethical prosecutor and collaborative leader. Alexis spearheaded progressive programs to keep kids out of the justice system and detention facilities. She served as the lead human trafficking prosecutor in her District and an expert voice for Colorado. Alexis’ dedication to collaborative work took her to the bench. As a magistrate, she was a key player in bond reform efforts to address the over incarceration of people facing poverty, mental illness, and addiction.

Alexis is running to continue her work on prosecution alternatives, bond reform, and transparency, while ensuring her community is protected from those who exploit and harm vulnerable people. Alexis began her career in a non-profit serving survivors of intimate partner violence and is currently an attorney for survivors of gender based violence in schools. She lives in Golden with her spouse and two children.

Jordan Hohenstein*

Arvada City Council, District 4

Jordan Hohenstein is running for Arvada City Council District 4 to fight for the better deals and leadership that his city deserves. Run For Something previously endorsed Jordan in 2017 when he ran for the At-Large seat, receiving a record-breaking amount of votes as a first-time candidate.

Jordan is the former Political Director of Jeffco Young Dems and a former Executive Board Member of Colorado Young Dems. A Colorado native, Jordan has spent the last decade studying political science at the University of Colorado Boulder while volunteering and working on local and national political campaigns.

Connecticut

Eli Sabin

New Haven Board of Alders, Ward 1

Eli was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut and is running for the Board of Alders (the city council) in Ward 1. Eli currently serves as the Director of the Progressive Caucus in the Connecticut state legislature, where he helped win passage of a $15 minimum wage, paid family and medical leave, and criminal justice reform. Eli is also a member of the New Haven Homeless Advisory Board, a volunteer reading and writing tutor for recently-immigrated kids in the city, and a sophomore at Yale University.

At 19, Eli would be the youngest person ever elected to the New Haven Board of Alders. On the Board, Eli plans to fight for more affordable housing, better jobs, and stronger public schools in the community he loves. Eli strongly believes in the power and importance of public service, and he is looking forward to collaborating with local leaders to support New Haven’s working families.

Georgia

Audrey Maloof

State House of Representatives, District 83

Audrey Maloof is a lifelong resident of DeKalb County, where she was raised by a public educator and a female business owner. Audrey’s involvement in government began in the Office of Congressman John Lewis, where she learned how to best serve constituents. Audrey expanded her experience and encountered all sides of government, federal, state, and local, during her time working for a Commission Office in DeKalb County. Audrey is currently focused on protecting Georgia’s voters through her work with Fair Fight Action. All of these experiences throughout Audrey’s life have built her into someone who is dedicated to preserving the good of this district as well as doing better where we need to.

Kimberly Jackson

State Senate, District 41

Kim Jackson, an ordained Episcopal Priest, is a public theologian and a fierce community activist. Kim works to end the death penalty, advocates for women’s and children’s issues, and is passionate about creating a more just Georgia.

In 2018, the Georgia House of Representatives passed a resolution that commended her for her “tireless efforts on behalf of the disenfranchised, disenchanted, and dispossessed” (GA House Resolution 1188).

Kim is a graduate of Furman University, Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and Virginia Theological Seminary. She and her spouse, Trina, live on a small hobby farm in Stone Mountain with goats, bees, and chickens.

Marvin Lim

State House of Representatives, District 99

Marvin Lim is a Democratic candidate for State Representative, House District 99, where he has lived since 2001. An immigrant who was formerly on public assistance, then later wrongly flagged as a non-citizen voter — all in Georgia, where his family came in 1991 — he channeled those experiences into a public interest career, becoming a civil rights and gun violence prevention attorney after graduating from Yale Law School. Currently, he works with the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and on voting rights and other cases for Holcomb + Ward, after previously being at the ACLU of Georgia.

Illinois

Daniel Epstein

Illinois Supreme Court

Daniel Epstein is an award winning attorney who represented clients in complex pro bono cases in the Supreme Court of the United States and courts across the country. But it was when he returned to serve clients in Illinois that he experienced the systemic problems that he’s now campaigning to fix. Daniel saw the State using faulty DNA machines and pseudoscience to convict people; a system giving financial rewards to forensic labs and courts for finding guilt; and a system vulnerable to judicial corruption. And, most importantly, he saw what we can do to fix it.

Hadiya Afzal*

DuPage County Board District 4

Hadiya Afzal is a college student who grew up and ran for office in her home district in 2018 to fix the racial, gender, age, and ideological disparities she saw in her County Board. In addition to serving as President of the College Democrats of Illinois, she has also worked for state, federal, and international representatives and learned how to craft and pass the strong progressive legislation she believes DuPage County deserves. Hadiya is passionate and experienced about the issues her district faces and is ready to find courageous solutions to those complex problems.

Indiana

Angie Rupchock-Schafer

Plymouth City Council, District #4

Angie is running for Plymouth City Council, District #4, in Indiana. Angie, her husband, and two young sons proudly call Plymouth home. Angie brings broad experience to her campaign, having honed her skills in professional roles spanning the public and non-profit sectors for more than a decade.

As a Councilwoman, Angie will work for an accountable and innovative City government that engages the diverse and vibrant Plymouth community. With her passion for civic engagement, Angie is ready to serve as a voice for the future of Plymouth — for her sons and for all the children who call Plymouth home.

Louisiana

Alicia Calvin

State House of Representatives, District 16

Alicia, a native of Monroe, is a dedicated teacher and public servant who has committed the last 17 years of her career to service as a political advocate and organizer. Alicia championed vital issues in education and helped organize to successfully secure the first teacher pay raise in 10 years.

Alicia serves on the board of Emerge Louisiana and the Louisiana Federation of Democratic Women. She is a graduate of Louisiana State University, Leadership Ouachita and the Women’s Campaign School at Yale.

Ashonta Wyatt

Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), District 2

Parent, native New Orleanian and educator, Dr. Ashonta Wyatt is running for the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, District 2. With nearly 18 years of educational experience as a teacher, instructional coach, academic dean, interventionist, assistant principal and principal, Dr. Wyatt brings an experienced, student-centered focus back to the discussion of education. Dr. Wyatt is also a two time graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, where she earned a Master’s and Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership. In addition to her educational endeavors, Dr. Wyatt is also the founder and Executive Director of a local 501c3 nonprofit where she advocates against gun violence in her community.

Maryland

Joseph Kane

Baltimore City Council, District 14

Born and raised in the city of Baltimore, Joe has committed his life to serving his community. From serving on the streets of Baghdad helping to ensure Iraqis were able to hold their first national democratic elections to returning home and fighting to ensure the children of Baltimore have access to a world-class education in schools that are safe and fun, Joe currently serves on the Parent and Community Advisory Board for Baltimore City Public Schools and as a Vice President of his community association. Joe’s urgency to address the systemic issues that have plagued Baltimore for decades is what fuels his campaign. He believes a community-centered public health approach that prioritizes investing in people will help Baltimore achieve its motto as being the Greatest City in America.

Massachusetts

Jack Eccles

Melrose Alderman-at-Large

Jack Eccles is seeking a seat on the Melrose Board of Aldermen because he knows right now the community he has always called home is at an inflection point. With the certainty of a new mayor and seven new aldermen in Melrose he knew now was the time to step up and bring fresh ideas to the board. Jack would like to see a focus on 21st century government, sustainability, and improving Melrose’s public safety infrastructure starting right out of the gate. Please vote for Jack to help move Melrose forward.

Jermoh Kamara

Worcester School Committee

Jermoh Kamara is running for School Committee in Worcester, Massachusetts. She believes that Worcester needs more qualified women of color in office. As a first-generation Liberian-American, Jermoh’s family moved to the USA when she was 11 years old while fleeing the civil war in her country. Quality education was important to Jermoh then, as it is important to her now. Being elected on the School Committee is personal because she believes that every child deserves the right to quality education and opportunities to help them reach their full potential. She will do whatever it takes to ensure kids have better opportunities.

Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler

Cambridge City Council

Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler is a renter, an organizer, a democratic socialist, and an environmentalist. He works at a land-policy think tank in Cambridge with environmental programs and has volunteered as a tenants organizer with City Life/Vida Urbana and Boston DSA supporting residents who face eviction, steep rent increases, and poor living conditions like mold. He is a member of Cambridge Bike Safety, Sunrise, and Our Revolution and has advocated at Council meetings for tenant protections, climate resiliency, and the Cycling Safety Ordinance. He is the son of an immigrant father and a mother from Iowa and speaks Portuguese.

Keith St.John

Mayor of Marlborough

After graduating from high school, Keith St.John worked his way through college earning a bachelor’s degree in economics from U-Mass Boston and then his Masters of Finance from Bentley University. He married his high school sweetheart, left corporate life, and started a series of companies before finding success selling compression socks online.

After the election of Trump in 2016, St.John become more engaged politically running for the Congressional District seat vacated by Rep. Tsongas in 2018. Seeing a need for new progressive leadership at the municipal level, he stepped into running for mayor in 2019.

Tyson Moultrie

New Bedford Mayor

Tyson Moultrie is a Veteran, Business Mentor and Entrepreneur, and he’s running for Mayor of New Bedford.

He’s not a politician — he’s a creative pragmatic problem solver, and he’s running to solve the biggest problems of New Bedford’s pipeline to progress, or lack thereof, into the future. New Bedford is merely seeing the symptoms around the city of the lack of revenue, from slow answers. So, Tyson wants to jumpstart the progress by pledging up to 25% of the Mayoral salary to funding initiatives to push the city forward.

We don’t need to wait 4 more years, to be 5 years behind.

Michigan

Eli Savit

Washtenaw County (Michigan) Prosecuting Attorney

Eli Savit is running for prosecutor in Washtenaw County, Michigan — where he was born and raised. Eli has laid out the most comprehensive criminal-justice reform platform ever unveiled by a candidate for prosecutor in Michigan. His plan includes eliminating cash bail, support for addiction and mental-health treatment programs, eradicating racial and socioeconomic inequity, and plea-bargaining reform.

A former law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Eli is a nationally respected lawyer and law professor. He serves as senior legal counsel at the City of Detroit — overseeing thousands of public-interest lawsuits and leading the City’s criminal-justice reform work — and as a lecturer at the University of Michigan.

Minnesota

Nelsie Yang

St. Paul City Council, Ward 6

Nelsie is a daughter of Hmong refugees, a renter, young progressive leader, organizer and union steward at TakeAction Minnesota.

Nelsie is running for city council as a young progressive leader who’s ready to build a future in Ward 6 that’s built by all of us, not just some of us. Since her launch in 2018, Nelsie’s campaign team and allies have built a movement of people-power in the Twin Cities and raised over $80,000 in grassroots donations. She and her team will only continue to work harder from here on out; uniting across race, class, income, and age.

Missouri

Kari Chesney

State House of Representatives, District 50

Kari Chesney is a first time candidate for Missouri’s 50th House District. She is a veterinarian and PhD candidate at the University of Missouri studying comparative medicine. As an advocate and activist for science and education since 2012, Kari is running to bring data-drive and evidence-based policy back to Missouri.

Kari is dedicated to fighting alongside the people of District 50 to support better education, family farming, stronger unions, universal healthcare, and green technology that will protect the livelihoods and futures of Missourians for generations to come.

New Hampshire

Cassandra Levesque*

State House of Representatives, Strafford 4 Barrington

Cassandra is seeking reelection as State Representative for the Town of Barrington, New Hampshire in Strafford Country.

North Carolina

Brittany Bryan

Raleigh City Council, District D

When neighbors and community members asked Brittany why she couldn’t be the one to represent them, she took it very seriously. Brittany is running for Raleigh City Council because she is committed to public service and making sure all voices are heard, not just a select few. She envisions a Raleigh with housing for all, a safe and robust transportation system, strong local businesses, fair pay for first responders, and commitment to environmental sustainability and equity. Brittany will work hard and be proactive in creating a solid foundation for smart growth that is people-focused and prepares Raleigh for the future.

Pierce Freelon*

State Senate, District 20

Pierce Freelon is a professor, director, musician and Emmy-Award winning producer. Pierce was born and raised in Durham’s district 20, where he is running for State Senate. Pierce founded Blackspace, a digital maker space for Durham youth. He has taught in the Departments of Political Science and African American Studies at NCCU and UNC Chapel Hill. He is Vice-Chair of the Durham Human Relations Commission and has served on the boards of: Durham Library Foundation, Nasher Museum of Art, KidZNotes, and North Carolina Arts Council. He lives in Durham with his wife of 12 years and two children.

Saige Martin

Raleigh City Council, District D

Born to a 15-year-old mother and father, Saige Martin was homeless for much of his childhood. Watching his mom fight for their basic rights instilled Saige with a sense of service from a young age. He was the first person in his biological or adoptive family to attend college. With the lived experience of growing up homeless, coupled with his professional experience as a former United Nations employee, Saige has dedicated my life to building resilient communities by working to give everyone an equal voice.

Ohio

Kimberley Mason

Columbus City School Board of Education

As a parent, resident and advocate, Kimberley is focused on being the change the school board needs. Kimberley believes that our school board should be the most relentless advocates for quality public and be a reflection of the population serve. Kimberley is striving to improve community and classroom relationships and focus on dismantling the school to prison pipeline.

Pennsylvania

Greg D’Elia

School Director, Upper Moreland Township School District

Greg D’Elia and his wife, Laura, have called Upper Moreland home since 2009. He is the father of two sons, who currently attend Upper Moreland schools, and one daughter, who is a future UM student. He grew up nearby in Langhorne, and attended Penn State, receiving his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2005.

Greg is running because he believes in the importance of education, and the responsibility for the entire community to educate the next generation. He will bring his perspective as an engineer to gather data to make decisions and most effectively use resources.

Luke Verdes

Northampton County Council

Luke has spent his career working in the nonprofit and public health sectors managing and implementing programs that empower communities. As a member of Northampton County Council he’ll support investment in renewable energy and protect the local environment. He’ll work to build partnerships with our local schools to make sure they have the resources they need. And I’ll renew our commitment to social services and ensure the seniors and those fighting opioid addiction get the care they deserve.

South Carolina

Rhodes Bailey

State House of Representatives, District 75

Rhodes Bailey was born and raised in South Carolina and serves as a public defender in Columbia. He has worked in the public and private sectors throughout his career, representing all types of clients — from businesses to those who can’t afford representation. As a member of the SC House, he will continue to be a voice for the most vulnerable, advocating for public education, affordable healthcare, criminal justice reform, a woman’s right to make her own health decisions, ballot access, environmental justice, and more. The district Rhodes seeks is among the most competitive in the state and is within reach of turning from red to blue.

Tennessee

Matthew Park

State House of Representatives, District 15

Matthew Park, a former EMT and Outdoor Education instructor, is running to improve the health and lives of everyday Tennesseans. He was raised in a working class family and saw first hand what lack of healthcare coverage and access does to a community. In his professional career, Matthew is a business and technology consultant focusing on using technology to make healthcare cheaper and more accessible. He is fighting to expand healthcare coverage and access, improve our criminal justice system, and create a more equitable government and culture.

Texas

Akilah Bacy

State House of Representatives, District 138

Akilah Bacy is running for state representative of Texas House District 138. Akilah’s activism grew from the courtroom to her community- representing indigent clients, children seeking asylum, and combatting employment discrimination. In her West Houston community, Akilah served as an adult literacy and special class ESL instructor where she taught civics and civil rights. Akilah is unapologetic about her progressive agenda, which is fueled by her desire to see equity and justice encompass us all. Her desire began before she entered the race for the Texas Legislature and will continue with her all the way to the Capitol.

Andrea Duhon*

Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees At-Large Position 5

Andrea is running for the Department of Education Board to support and bolster public education programs for all 25 independent school districts within Harris County. She began attending HCDE meetings when secondary language programs were taken away at her local ISD and she started looking for the organization which could fund them. Andrea was shocked to find the current board members to be voting with efforts of privatization and self-interest and decided it was time for someone with the students’ interests in mind to step up to the plate.

Anthony Nelson

Houston City Council, District F

Anthony is a dedicated and passionate advocate for social, economic, and environmental justice issues. He understands the struggles of families living in poverty. Anthony knows what hardworking families are experiencing daily, dealing with the increasing costs of housing and groceries, to the skyrocketing costs of education. He believes in solving the crisis of housing affordability and food insecurity in Houston. As a Community Organizer, Anthony will be the leader that District F needs on the City Council. Recently, he founded a non-profit organization called Five, that focuses on food insecurity and poverty in Houston.

Dr. Christel Bastida

Houston City Council At-Large 4

Dr. Christel Bastida is running for Houston City Council, At-Large, Position 4. She is a scientist and a mom, a community organizer and a Latina. Dr. Christel is running because she believes that every Houstonian deserves a great quality of life, opportunities for growth, and a voice. Dr. Christel earned her doctorate in neuroscience in 2011, and has also worked in the fields of cancer medicine, reconstructive surgery, and community health.

But before her research career, she grew up poor in Aldine, moving from apartment to apartment. Her family later moved to the Heights where she spent most of her childhood. She did not grow up with many advantages. Her parents were not college educated and she did not always have a lot to eat. The one advantage that she did have was access to a high-quality public education in HISD, then at the University of Texas at Austin. Her access to a great education allowed her the opportunity to choose a career that her parents never dreamed was a possibility for her.

After earning her doctorate, Dr. Christel eventually moved back Heights but could not afford to stay in the neighborhood she grew up in due to rapid increases in housing cost. She chose to move to Northside, a predominantly Latino neighborhood that her family has lived in for several generations. In this small neighborhood north of downtown, despite people’s strong sense of community and family, there were also streets with no sidewalks, sewage along the roads, trash dumped in lots, children with no after school care, and parents with no real opportunity to support their families in a secure way. This is in stark contrast to other neighborhoods within the same district, less than 5 minutes away.

Jessica Tiedt*

State House of Representatives, District 20

Jessica Tiedt previously ran for Williamson County Clerk in 2018 and garnered 93,258 votes out of the total 200,183 cast. In January she took on being the Chief Court Administrator for Justice Court, Precinct 4 in Williamson County and is putting her technical knowledge to work to upgrade the court while learning to be a great public servant and advocate. Jessica looks forward to continuing to serve her community with progressive values under the pink dome of the Texas State House tackling issues like infrastructure, electoral reform, cannabis reform, and health care.

José Garza

Travis County District Attorney

José started his career on the Texas/Mexico border as an assistant public defender at the state and federal level. José moved to D.C. in 2010 to serve as Deputy General Counsel for the House Commit­tee on Education and Labor, then served as a senior policy official at the U.S. Department of Labor. Currently, he’s the Executive Director of Workers Defense Project. As a former federal public defender, immigrant rights activist, and the leader of the systemic change organization, José Garza has a unique view into how our criminal justice system works and how it impacts our communities.

Virginia

Abrar Omeish

Fairfax County School Board At-Large

Abrar Omeish is a second-generation product of Fairfax County Public Schools and holds a double bachelor’s degree with honors from Yale University. She co-founded a student-led, student-run non-profit organization that has been providing free tutoring and mentorship to underprivileged youth in 20 locations across the county for the past decade. She has also served in numerous appointed capacities countywide. Abrar would be the first Muslim woman and youngest official elected in Fairfax County history. She is currently enrolled as a dual degree JD/MPP student at Georgetown University and looks forward to empowering all families for the leader in every child.