RFS feel-good update (12/7): My favorite time of year
Our 2020 debrief deck, some good news, & swearing-in ceremony pics
Hi all -
Last week, we had our last Run for Something event of 2020, and it was a perfect way to close out the year.
Biden campaign manager (and RFS board member!) Jen O’Malley Dillon debriefed 2020 and answered a few questions, then we heard from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and state Senators-elect Sarah McBride (DE) and Kim Jackson (GA.)
The event itself was not recorded (after all, it was called “Off the Record!”) — but we wanted to share our presentation more widely. In the deck, we walk through what RFS has accomplished, why Democrats lost down-ballot more broadly, and our plan for 2020. If you have any questions or want to chat further, Ross and I are here!
If you want to make sure you don’t miss a single event next year, you can join our 2021 National Host Committee for as little as a $8 monthly donation (or more, if you can swing it!) — every dollar means the world to us.
In RFS candidate & alumni updates:
A new winner!! Gayatri Agnew won her run-off on Tuesday and will join the Bentonville City Council in Arkansas. We first worked with Gayatri in her 2018 race for AR state house; she came up short but didn’t get discouraged. Second time’s the charm!
The NYT talked with Alex Lee, California’s first gen-Z lawmaker. I want to call this part of the Q&A out to you:
How has being Gen Z — and I’m talking specifically about growing up as a digital native, living through this era, not just being in your 20s — shaped the way you think about these issues?Look, I live at home and I am going to live at home, I think, for the foreseeable future. But it’s funny because I always see the comments saying you’re 25, you’re not Gen Z, and then there’s all these different questions about —
Do you identify as Gen Z?
Yes, yes I do. At the end of the day, it’s an arbitrary social construct, but it’s an important frame of mind. We are a generation that has grown up and understood that we are being screwed over.
When we think about the millennial generation, I think there are a lot who cling onto that 1990s hope that you can work hard and it will all work out. And that is kind of changing. Not to be completely reductive.
But I think there’s a different relationship once you understand the world is utterly screwed unless we do something about it. Why not go down swinging as hard as we can and go fight the big fight?
If Yassamin Ansari wins her March run-off for Phoenix City Council, she’ll be the critical vote needed to set up a civilian police oversight office (joining fellow RFS alum Carlos Garcia in the effort.)
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott has brought more than 5,000 jobs to his city -- amazing by any measure, but especially in light of the pandemic.
Joshua Simmons, Coral Springs commissioner (FL), has been appointed vice mayor, becoming the first Black leader to hold the position.
Curbed goes long on incoming LA city councilmember Nithya Raman (guest on last week’s RFS podcast episode!) — her roots as an urban planner will help her drastically change Los Angeles for the better.
One of the key parts of RFS’s program is our “virtuous cycle” — one RFS candidate inspires more like them to run next. This is what that looks like in action: After deciding not to run for re-election, Madison alderperson Max Prestigiacomo recruited two young women of color to run for seat.
Incoming GA state Senator Kim Jackson talked about the relationship between theology and politics — as a reverend and now an elected official, her perspective is so fascinating.
Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison co-wrote an op-ed advocating for equal protection for renters for the nearly 250,000 renters who live outside Chicago city limits but inside Cook county borders.
This is a fun Run for Something fact in New York - both Jeremy & Samra are RFS alum.
When Gabriella Cázares-Kelly saw the Pima County recorder position open up, she assumed she’d be the one teaching the next person to hold it about the Tohono O’odham Nation and Native voters. Frustrated by that, she decided to run herself — now she’s the first Native person elected in her county.
Aisha Yaqoob Mohammed ran for GA state house in 2018 - she came up short, but her work as the director of the Asian American Advocacy Fund was critical to turning GA blue in 2020. For our candidates, losing does not mean they’re ever done fighting.
Three RFS alum will be joining the Oklahoma state legislature next year — Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, Rep. Jose Cruz and Rep. Mauree Turner know they have their work cut out for them in the super minority, but they’re ready to find common ground.
Huge! State Senator Robert Peters was elected chair of the Illinois Senate Black Caucus. He’s at least the third RFS alum to take a leadership role in a state legislative caucus.
My favorite part of December & January is seeing photos of RFS candidates at their swearing-in ceremonies. A few of the highlights so far:
Also fun: Talking Points Memo explains how we’ve elected one of most diverse groups of elected officials in history — and namechecks a whole slew of RFS alum including Chloe Maxmin, Gabriella Cazares-Kelly, Christy Holstege, Nithya Raman, Rick Krajewski, Jose Garza, Ricky Hurtado, Michele Rayner, David Ortiz, Kim Jackson, Torrey Harris, Mauree Turner, Adrian Tam, Jabari Brisport, Sarah McBride, Taylor Small, Brianna Titone, Alex Lee, Nikil Saval, Francesa Hong, Iman Jodeh, and Madinah Wilson-Anton.
On tomorrow’s episode of Run for Something (The Podcast): In 2017, Virginia Del. Danica Roem flipped a seat red to blue and became the first trans state legislator in the country. Her campaign inspired Brianna Titone to run and flip a state house seat in Colorado in 2018. They both helped Sarah McBride run in Delaware and become the first trans state senator in America earlier this year. Each one is interesting enough to be an episode in her own right -- together, we had a beautiful and moving discussion on what it means to make history. Listen wherever you get your shows.
Thanks for making all this possible. We’re so lucky to have you on the team.
- Amanda