RFS feel-good update (10/12): Reporting back on Snapchat, our new endorsements, Doctors in Politics work & more
No off years means no off years. Whew.
Hi all -
Last week was huge for the Run for Something team.
Since we launched our partnership with Snapchat last week, more than 4,000 young people signed up with us to run for office — a 5% increase in our total pipeline in just a few days. (If you missed the Today show segment on this amazing effort, catch up!)
Some other stats for you:
Around 2 Million Snapchatters have used the Run for Office Mini since last Tuesday’s launch.
Over 46,000 Snapchatters nominated a friend to run for office.
We have seen over 24,000 candidate recruitment partner sign-ups across the 10 organizations
Over half of the elections that Snapchatters have selected are at the local level -- including roles such as City Council, School Board, Town Council and City Ethics Board.
Civil Rights, Education, Environment, Healthcare, and Jobs are the top five issues Snapchatters have indicated they care most about.
Like I told Axios: This is the kind of candidate recruitment at-scale that Run for Something has been working toward since day one — and it’s just the beginning.
Also last week: We also endorsed a new class, our last of 2021! It’s an amazing group that brings our grand total for 2021 to 412 campaigns in 38 states -- 53% women, 55% people of color, and 26% LGBTQIA+.
Finally, last week, we announced another amazing partnership: We’re working with 314 Action and Doctors in Politics to recruit physicians to run for office. In the first two months of our work together, 125+ physicians have raised their hands to run.
Some stats about those physicians: 50 specifically mention mask rules as part of why they're interested; 42 are considering running for school board; 13 are pediatricians, 17 are in family medicine, and 5 are OB/GYNS; 50 are between 20-45 years old and 71 identify as female. You can support all three groups with one donation right here.
All that’s to say: When we said no off years, we meant it. Thanks for making this possible.
In RFS candidate & alumni updates:
Marshall Kilgore, candidate for Kalamazoo city commission, shared his story as a Black bisexual man.
RFS alum Aimy Steele launched the New North Carolina Project, aiming to engage 1 million people of color who didn’t vote in 2020. Go Aimy Go!
Nebraska Sen. Megan Hunt introduced legislation allowing for medication abortion services through telehealth.
Cook County Chair Kevin Morrison is advocating for transformative investments in mental health.
On the L.A. City Council, Nithya Raman is facing down an absurd redistricting process — NYTimes has a deep dive on what’s going on for her, and the inevitable divide between homeowners and renters in civic politics nationwide.
In honor of yesterday’s holiday:
PA Sen. Amanda Cappelletti joined with two other women state lawmakers to introduce legislation offering paid time off for workers experiencing a pregnancy loss like a miscarriage or a stillbirth, undergo unsuccessful fertility treatment, have a failed adoption or surrogacy arrangement, or receive a medical diagnosis that impacts fertility or pregnancy.
Thanks to many of the local victories — especially of RFS alum like Bethany Hallam, Liv Bennett, Sara Innamorato, and others — Democrats are in the fight and competing to win across western PA.
In related reading:
A number of school boards lately have brought up banning books — including in places like Virginia Beach and Southlake, Texas. Our work recruiting school board candidates continues to be part of broader fight against the conservative stranglehold on education.
Do you remember this story?
An all-white school board in York, Pennsylvania has banned a list of books and resources, including a children’s book about Rosa Parks. All of the banned materials are by or about people of color, which the school board president called “a coincidence.”
We just endorsed Joel Folkemer, a pastor, community leader, and father who’s part of a slate of candidates fighting back against this bullshit.
ProPublica reports: “Judge Donna Scott Davenport oversees a juvenile justice system in Rutherford County, TN, with a staggering history of throwing children in jail. In one case, 11 Black children, as young as 8, were arrested for a crime that doesn't exist.” This is one of many reasons why caring about local judicial elections matters - Judge Davenport ran unopposed in her most recent re-election.
This week on the Run for Something podcast: Shan Rose never imagined she'd be running for office. She's experienced teenage homelessness, lost her husband to gun violence, lost a son to medical problems -- and instead of letting all that heartbreak stop her, she turned it into a desire to fight for her community. She's been a nonprofit exec and community activist for years; now she's running for Orlando City Council to bring community and government today, and create a city where kids can just be kids. Learn more at vote4shan.com
This Thursday, join us for free for the RFS Alumni Awards. Don’t miss this really joyful event — RSVP to get your ticket now!
Thank you again for making all this possible. We’re so grateful for your partnership.
- Amanda