These five progressive women, all of whom are running in competitive congressional districts, deserve your support! Read on to learn how you can help them win.

Today is Friday, March 30th, 2018. For many American workers on a biweekly pay schedule, that means you get an extra paycheck this month.

Tomorrow is Saturday, March 31st, 2018. For the hundreds of progressive women all across the country who’ve stepped up to run for Congress, that means a quarterly financial filing deadline.

Even the most passive political activists are already familiar with these quarterly markers: it’s when you get a gazillion emails in your inbox asking for a contribution before midnight. Any money raised before this deadline can count toward reports released by the FEC a few weeks later.

Regrettably, the strength of a candidate’s quarter often serves as an indicator of viability in political circles. If a candidate doesn’t raise enough money, her campaign risks losing traction. But if she raises lots of money—especially small, grassroots donations—she’ll turn some heads.

Our elections shouldn’t operate in this manner. But until Congress passes campaign finance reform, we can be a part of the solution. We can donate to the campaigns of progressive candidates and, in particular, progressive women, who remain woefully underrepresented in Congress.

This month, with the extra paycheck from my company’s biweekly pay schedule, I decided to do just that: donate a portion to the campaigns of progressive women running to defeat Republican incumbents. There are many great candidates running. But to close out the first quarter of 2018, I’m donating to five standout women, all of whom are running strong Democratic campaigns in swing congressional districts currently held by Republican men. All these women genuinely care about equality, public education, a fairer economy, working class families, healthcare, women’s rights, LGBT inclusion, immigration reform, and common sense gun safety policies, among other progressive priorities.

I’m providing information on these five candidates so you can donate to them, too. If you can’t afford to donate money, you can follow them on social media, spread the word about their candidacies, or (if you live near one of these districts) sign up to volunteer for their campaigns. Because they’re all in competitive races, these women can use all the support they can get!

Regardless of whether or not you just received an extra paycheck, please consider supporting these women with a contribution at whatever level you can afford.

Lauren Underwood, the Democratic nominee for IL-14 in 2018.

1. Lauren Underwood – Illinois’s 14th

Illinois already had its primaries, and Lauren Underwood will be the Democratic nominee in Illinois’s 14th congressional district. The district barely voted for Trump, and the area has been trending increasing Democratic over the last 10 years. During the primary, an equal number of Republicans and Democrats showed up to vote, a sign that this district is ready to flip from Republican to Democratic.

Lauren Underwood is a nurse who grew up in Naperville, Illinois. During her career, she became a policy coordinator for the Department of Health and Human Services. She rose up through the ranks to become a senior adviser for the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. In addition to possessing a world of knowledge about federal healthcare policy and emergency preparedness, on the campaign trail, she’s become an advocate for jobs, education, and her community.

Thanks to my extra paycheck this month, I’ve donated to Lauren Underwood’s campaign. Donate $50, $25, or even just $5 to help elect Lauren here:

https://act.myngp.com/Forms/1159474659983231744

Learn more at Laura’s website: https://www.underwoodforcongress.com/

Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenunderwood

Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LUnderwood630

Gina Ortiz Jones, Democratic candidate for TX-23 in 2018.

2. Gina Ortiz Jones –Texas’s 23rd

Texas also already had its primaries, but not all the Democratic nominees are certain. Many races have gone to a run-off election, in which the top 2 candidates from the primary face off to become the nominee. Gina Ortiz Jones almost beat the 50% threshold and is favored to become the nominee. The 23rd district has been Texas’s most noteworthy swing district for the last decade, switching between Republican and Democratic representation multiple times. In a Democratic wave election, Jones has a strong shot at unseating the Republican incumbent.

Gina Ortiz Jones grew up in San Antonio but left to serve in the military. Growing up, her family struggled to get by. Jones and her family lived in subsidized housing, and her mom battled and survived colon cancer. After graduating from high school and college, she became an intelligence officer for the United States Air Force. As an LGBT woman, she endured the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. And if elected, she’ll become the first ever American of Filipino descent to serve in Congress. She’s clear-eyed on issues of national security, healthcare, civil rights, and immigration, and she views them all through a progressive lens.

Thanks to my extra paycheck this month, I’ve donated to the campaign of Gina Ortiz Jones. Donate whatever amount you can—$50, $20, or even just $5—to help elect Gina here:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ginaortizjones

Learn more at Gina’s website: https://ginaortizjones.com/

Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GinaOrtizJones/

Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ginaortizjones

Katie Hill, Democratic candidate for CA-25 in 2018.

3. Katie Hill—California’s 25th

California has a complicated top two primary system, and in the 25th district, it’s a rumble for Democrats. Four are running, but of the three viable Democratic candidates, only one actually grew up in and lived in the district before running: Katie Hill. An executive at a major housing and homelessness nonprofit, she’s directly grappled with questions of how to help those most in need. She provides a unique perspective on many issues and, so far on her campaign, has talked about personal experiences related to healthcare, women’s rights, law enforcement, and (as an openly bisexual woman) LGBT issues.

The 25th district is one of the most flippable seats in the country, and polling has shown that if Katie Hill can win the nomination, she’ll be favored to beat the Republican incumbent by as much as 10%. But first, she needs to secure the Democratic nomination.

Donate whatever amount you can—$50, $20, or even just $5—to help elect Katie here:

https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/katie-hill-for-congress-1

Learn more at Katie’s website: https://www.katiehillforcongress.com/

Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatieHillforCongress/

Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatieHill4CA

Abby Finkenauer, Democratic candidate for IA-01 in 2018.

4. Abby Finkenauer—Iowa’s 1st

Do you like unions? If so, then you’ll like Abby! To quote her website: “Abby comes from a working class family in Dubuque County. Her father was a Union Pipefitter Welder, her mother works for the Dubuque Community Schools. She learned the value of public service and giving back to the community from her family, particularly from her grandfather who was a Lieutenant in the Dubuque Fire Department.” Abby Finkenauer went on to win a seat in Iowa’s state legislature, one of the youngest women to ever do so. She’s been a strong advocate for working class families, women, and progressive values. If elected, she’d likely become the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.

Iowa’s 1st is a historically Democratic district that, in the age of Trump, lurched rightward. However, the incumbent Republican has fallen prey to a serious of scandals, including yelling at a reporter in front of a group of children he had brought in to turn the situation into a photo op. Needless to say, this is a very flippable district, and Abby Finkenauer is a woman who can win.

Donate whatever amount you can—$50, $20, or even just $5—to help elect Abby here:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/abby-finkenauer-2018

Learn more at Abby’s website: https://www.abbyfinkenauer.com/

Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Abby4Iowa/

Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Abby4Iowa

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Democratic candidate for FL-26 in 2018.

5. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell—Florida’s 26th

One of the most promising progressive candidates this election cycle is Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. She’s running in Florida’s 26th district, a seat that went for Hillary Clinton by a 16% margin. However, the incumbent Republican has raised $2 million—mostly from corporate PACs and special interest groups—and is certain to launch a scorched-earth offensive to try and cling to his seat.

Thankfully, Mucarsel-Powell offers a refreshing perspective on one of the key issues in this race: healthcare. Through a nonprofit initiative at the College of Health at Florida International University, she’s worked on the ground in South Florida supporting and growing nonprofit healthcare systems. Because Florida has refused to expand Medicaid and her Republican opponent has repeatedly voted to destroy the Affordable Care Act, she’d serve in DC as a much-needed healthcare advocate for the state of Florida. And as an immigrant from Ecuador and a woman, fighting the Trump agenda is personal for her. She’s also talked openly about her father, who was a victim of America’s gun violence epidemic.

Donate $50, $20, or even just $5 to help elect Debbie here:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dmpwebsitebutton

Learn more at Debbie’s website: https://debbiemucarselpowell.com/

Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbieforfl/

Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebbieforFL