Hi all -
It feels weird to start this email hoping you had a good, relaxing long weekend (although I hope you did!). And yet: Anything else I might say about the news comes up empty. What’s happening in Israel is unbearably sad, horrifying, and deeply complicated — and, FWIW, not something Run for Something’s work touches at all, as our state and local candidates are not active in making foreign policy.
So I’m keeping my focus on what our sphere of influence is: We’re less than a month out from the Virginia election and it’s all on the line here in the U.S.
Read more from the Atlantic on how candidates like RFS alum Joshua Cole are key to protecting abortion access in the south and to stopping Glenn Youngkin’s political claim to fame. The Washington Post has endorsed RFS candidates and alum across Northern VA, including House candidates Joshua Cole and Josh Thomas, and Senate candidates Del. Danica Roem and Russett Perry.
Below are a few of our Virginia volunteer opportunities (in-person and remote!) Make a difference while you can:
Kimberly Adams is running for Virginia House, District 82. Kimberly needs volunteers to canvass voters in person. Sign up here to knock doors.
Nadarius Clark is running for Virginia House, District 84. Nadarius needs volunteers to canvass voters in person. Sign up here to knock doors.
Russet Perry is running for Virginia Senate, District 31. Russet needs volunteers to phonebank virtually. Sign up here to call voters.
Josh Thomas is running for Virginia House, District 21, VA. Josh needs volunteers to phonebank virtually. Sign up here to call voters.
Idris O'Connor is running for Coles District Supervisor, VA. Idris needs volunteers to canvass voters in person. Sign up here to doorknock in person.
Irene Shin is running for Virginia State House, District 8. Irene needs volunteers to canvass voters in person. Sign up here to knock doors.
Can’t volunteer? Chip in to our Virginia candidates — it’s not too late.
In other RFS community updates:
You must watch CBS Mornings interview with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo about her stepping away from her work for two months to care for her mental health. This is a beautiful and life-saving conversation. She also joined Telemundo to share her story in Spanish.
Another beautiful story, this time about Noelia Corzo, and how she made history.
Author John Green joined RFS alum IN Sen. Andrea Hunley to talk about book bans and why libraries matter.
Mandi Remington, candidate for Iowa City City Council, is a mom of three who makes $55k annually — she’ll bring the perspective of low to moderate-income residents to the council.
NY Sen. Samra Brouk makes a powerful case for how immigrants make New York better. (Ahem, Eric Adams.)
This is a big win for CO Sen. Julie Gonzales: New legislation that, by 2025, will make it free for those incarcerated to get in contact with their family outside the prison.
Some related school board reading:
In USA Today (and last year, in Book Riot): The starting point for thousands of book challenges is a website called BookLooks — which is run by, you guessed it, folks with direct connections to Moms for Liberty.
You’ve absolutely got to listen to the Grapevine, a new podcast from NBC News about what’s happening to schools in Texas. The latest episode explains how Patriot Mobile, a Christian cellphone company, spent $600k on 11 candidates in school board races specifically to flip school boards and take over these districts.
Infamous propaganda outlet PragerU is now authorized to be used in Montana schools (along with previous approval in Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, and in some programs in New Hampshire.)
This was cool - spotted in last week’s Vox crossword, 1 across!
If you’re in New York City, join us on Wednesday, 10/11, at 6:30pm for a free conversation on running for office. I’ll be there!
Thanks for being on this team. Onward we go.
- Amanda
One more way to help VA: Contact Virginia voters who are away from home. Thousands of VA voters are in military families serving out of state. Thousands more are civilians living abroad. They can vote at home!
Campaigns may not be able to reach them. Friends and family can!