RFS feel-good update (12/12): Celebrating over 1,000 wins!
And we had our best Election Day ever
Hi all -
We hit a huge milestone last week: Run for Something endorsees have now won 1,001 elections! More young, diverse and progressive candidates are making policy at the local and state level than ever before, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
RFS wouldn’t be here without you, so we hope you celebrate this milestone as much as we do. Here’s to the next 1,000!
With just a few outstanding races either not called or in runoffs, we can now confirm we had our most successful election ever this November. At least 258 RFS-endorsed candidates won, which means our win percentage is over 52%.
Of our winners:
58% are women
54% are people of color
25% are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community
10 are Gen Z
You can see the list of all of the RFS candidates that won in November here.
RFS winners are still in high demand across the country to talk about what’s next after their victories.
Ruwa Roman was interviewed by Geoff Bennett for PBS Newshour earlier this month. You can watch the interview on PBS.
I always remind people that every piece of legislation that either you love on a national level or absolutely hate on a national level started in a state legislature somewhere around the country. At the end of the day, these laws start right here, in our case, whether it's the heartbeat bill or other pieces of legislation as it pertains to immigration, as it pertains to taxes, even as it pertains to health care.
Zooey Zephyr spoke to NPR about how LGBTQIA+ representation in elected office can make a difference.
Watching bills pass through the legislature by one vote, I cried. And I thought to myself, I bet I could change one heart. I bet I could change one mind. We need representation in that room. I'm going to try to get in there.
Watch Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow’s interview on MSNBC with Ayman Mohyeldin about her 2024 plans and her speech at the Gridiron Club dinner.
And our favorite paragraph we read this week comes from Vox, which highlighted RFS alum, and Congresswoman-elect, Yadira Caraveo:
One more front-liner surprised Democrats on Election Day: Yadira Caraveo, the Colorado assembly member and pediatrician who won the newly created, ultra-competitive Eighth District and became the first Latina elected to Congress from that state. Her race didn’t get much attention, though BOLD PAC endorsed her during her primary, and she won by less than 1 percent.
Normally December is a quiet month for politics outside of Washington, but our alums aren’t taking a break.
Lindsey Horvath was sworn in as an LA County Supervisor - she now represents more people than 14 governors do.
In the 76 seconds it took to recite an oath of office, Lindsey Horvath was transformed into one of the most powerful players in California politics. In fact, few positions in American municipal politics confer as much sweep as the one Horvath assumed Monday. That’s what it means to become a Los Angeles County supervisor. At 40 years old, Horvath will be the youngest woman ever to step into the role.
Congratulations to Raleigh City Council member Jonathan Melton!
Proud to serve as Mayor Pro Tem in 2024 🏳️🌈 #ralpolWell actually looks like we won't do council committee appointments until first meeting in January. Baldwin announced Branch will be mayor pro tem for the first year and Melton will be mayor pro tem for the second year. #ralpol
Anna Johnson @Anna_M_JohnsonNew York City Council Member Tiffany Cabán is pursuing legislation “to ban most companies from firing workers without good reason, which could transform the balance of power between bosses and their employees.”
Dayton City Commissioner Shenise Turner-Sloss is leading the way on prioritizing housing in her city:
“This is long overdue,” said Dayton City Commissioner Shenise Turner-Sloss, who was the driving force behind a recently approved resolution about housing priorities. The city needs to “make sure we are protecting our residents, providing decent affordable housing and that we are answering the call that so many of our constituents are in need of: They don’t know where to go or who to talk to — they don’t know what resources are available to them.”
Allegheny County Councilmember Bethany Hallam secured multiple wins during her county’s budget process, with successful amendments “to add a position to the housing court help desk, create an “I voted” sticker contest modeled after the viral Ulster County, New York contest, and allocate an additional $2.8 million for the Community College of Allegheny County.”
And State Rep. Brianna Titone is working on legislation “to address legal protections for transgender individuals, parents of transgender youth and providers of gender-affirming care.”
Two of our alums recently gave their farewell speeches - and both are worth a watch: Connecticut State Senator Will Haskell and Michigan State Representative Mari Manoogian, who just received our Generation Next Award.
Finally, while we’re still closing out 2022, the next election cycle is already starting. Read this awesome profile on Amber Adler, who we’ve already endorsed for New York City Council for 2023.
“I’ve been attacked for being a woman, I’ve been attacked for being an Orthodox woman, I’ve been attacked for being a single mother,” Adler said. “I’ve come to accept that this is a part of the job that I signed up for when I stepped out and said ‘I’m going to help’ … I’ll see what comes at me this time, but just like last time I’m going to be creative, I’m going to move with dignity and grace and I’m going to keep going to help the people of the district.”
Run for Something is closed to recharge from December 16th-January 2nd, so we’ll see you back in your inboxes next year. Thank you for all of your support in 2022.
Have a happy and healthy new year!
Ross and Abe