Feel-good update: Our final 2018 stats…
Happy final work week of 2018!!
Happy final work week of 2018!!
Last week was the final elections of 2018 — runoffs in Texas. All three Run for Something women who were up WON!! Congrats to Jocabed Marquez on winning a seat on the San Marco City Council, Paige Ellis on her seat on the Austin City Council, and Stephanie Gharakhanian, who will be a new Austin Community College trustee. Watch Paige’s victory speech here.
That brings our grand total stats to: 208 winners across 43 states; 55% women, 50% people of color. We flipped 39 state legislative seats (10% of the total state leg seats flipped over the cycle.) Since Election Day 2018 alone, nearly 10,000 people have already signed up with us to say they want to run for office — we’ve recruited nearly 30k since launch.
Pretty damn great.
In other news:
Kelly Kraus Mencke ran for Ohio state house and lost — after the election, she got a vicious letter from a voter who told her it was great she lost; now she could stay home with her kids. Her response will give you hope.
This Politician Was Told To "Stay Home & Raise Your Kids" & She's Not Having It
On her campaign's Facebook page, Kelly Kraus Mencke describes herself as a "wife, mother, working woman." So it's no…www.romper.com
In the NY State Senate, Zellnor Myrie was named chair of the election committee, Alessandria Biaggi was named chair of the ethics committee, Jessica Ramos will be chairing the labor committee and Andrew Gounardes will be running the civil service committee. RFS alum are leading the way!
Photos of candidates getting sworn in never ever gets old: Look at Eric Joyce and his adorable kids after taking his seat as Oceanside Unified School Board Trustee & Jon Wizard taking the oath of office as Seaside City Council.
Eric Joyce & his family
Fun data point: 70% of Asian American candidates for state legislature won.
Finally: Usually, these Monday emails don’t have any asks — I love getting to share our successes/updates without one. But right now we’re looking ahead to what we can do in January — and how we can grow — and we’re genuinely concerned. We’re staring down a $500k cash-flow shortfall by end of January 2019. In the last week, donations + commitments to give next month have gotten us halfway there (thanks to those who’ve committed or given!!!!), but we’re still falling short.
If you’re able to include us in your end-of-year giving, or able to commit to a donation in January 2019, let me know. Knowing we can count on you lets us plan, grow, and keep doing the work that I’ve been telling you about every Monday.
Whatever you’re able to do will make a difference. Thanks for being part of this team and making all this possible.
Happy holidays. No more updates from me (probably…) until 2019 — have a great break!