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RFS feel-good update (2/21): Meet our first endorsement class of 2023

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RFS feel-good update (2/21): Meet our first endorsement class of 2023

We also got our first win of 2023!

Ross Morales Rocketto
and
Abe Rakov
Feb 21, 2023
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Hi team - We announced our first endorsement class of 2023 last week! We can’t wait to introduce you to them, but first we wanted to make sure you saw that the reports of the demise of the youth vote in November were greatly exaggerated:

Twitter avatar for @tbonier
Tom Bonier @tbonier
Wow. I'm just now getting a first look at the 2022 PA vote history (the record of who voted). In 2014 voters under 30 accounted for only 6.6% of total turnout. In 2018 that went up to 9.8%. In 2022? They accounted for 11.1% of all ballots cast. Huge youth turnout.
4:19 PM ∙ Feb 18, 2023
2,350Likes345Retweets

Two quick notes before we get to our endorsements:

  • We had our first win of the year last Tuesday, when Oklahoma City Councilwoman JoBeth Hamon was reelected!

  • We’re excited to report some results from our Clerk Work efforts in Wisconsin: We played a role in helping recruit 136 candidates to file for local election official roles. Some jurisdictions have elections today, with the overall Spring Election taking place on April 4th. Stay tuned for more info on this.


Last week, we endorsed 36 candidates across 16 states for state legislative, municipal and education offices. We know you’ll be inspired by them!

And in honor of Black History Month, we’re encouraging you to support RFS’ endorsed Black candidates by donating directly to their campaigns. 

  • Marquetta Johnson

    Montgomery City Council, District 2

    Election Date: August 22, 2023

    Marquetta is a U.S. Army combat veteran. She is a voice for the community and is a friend to veterans and all first responders.

  • Amelia McMillan

    Central York School Board

    Primary Election: May 16, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    Born and raised in York County, Amelia became active in the community, working as a mentor, assisting victims of domestic abuse to safely relocate, participating in cleanups, being an active blood donor, and so much more.

    Twitter avatar for @717amelia
    Amelia McMillan @717amelia
    Being endorsed by the organization that helped me realize I should run is so 🙏 LFG!
    Twitter avatar for @runforsomething
    Run for Something @runforsomething
    @SquireForYou @BenLitchfieldVA @dylan_liddle4 @VicMcKenzieJr @Caudill4Council @MEasterThomas @bethanyhallam @JuForthePeople @Dan_Grzybek @Bently_4_NBTX @VDanielaV @MGRforDistrict8 @QuettaTheBroker @Maxwell4Madison @MoBreezy213 @votemikepruitt @Anthony_4_3rd @votenancyfry @community_corey @PadreusP @kimadamsforva @aurinmpls @jmatthewsfor12 .@717amelia felt an exceptional calling to public life. Active in her community, she is a mentor, assists victims of domestic abuse, participates in neighborhood cleanups, and more! After fighting against book bans, she is running for Central York School Board—get 'em Amelia! 🙌 https://t.co/yf60LonkSd
    10:48 PM ∙ Feb 15, 2023
    24Likes3Retweets
  • Tiffany Caudill

    Denver City Council, District 2

    Election Date: April 4, 2023

    Tiffany is an activist, organizer, and community advocate, who is dedicated to care-based work and young people.

  • Nancy Fry

    Coconut Creek City Commission, District D

    Election Date: March 14, 2023

    Nancy is a mother, business owner, and strong community advocate. She is an experienced leader and is proud to call Coconut Creek her home.

  • Anthony David Bryant

    Chicago Police Council, District 3

    Election Date: February 28, 2023

    Anthony is a Southside native, community organizer, political strategist, public administration expert, and social justice professional with expertise in community building and restorative justice.

  • Corey Dooley

    Chicago City Council, District 29

    Election Date: February 28, 2023

    In 2013, Corey was shot four times by his stepfather, who ambushed his family with a gun on his way home. As a survivor of gun violence, he knows how important it is to address gun violence.

    Twitter avatar for @community_corey
    CommunityCorey @community_corey
    Officially Endorsed ‼️ I’m proud to have the endorsement and support of Run for Something! Thank you for empowering local leaders like myself who are running for office to deliver change to our communities. Read more about my endorsement here: runforsomething.medium.com/ready-set-go-m…
    Image
    6:17 PM ∙ Feb 15, 2023
    25Likes6Retweets
  • Leonardo Quintero

    Chicago City Council, District 12

    Election Date: February 28, 2023

    Leonardo is a lifelong resident of the Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago and has been working as a youth advocate over the last 14 years.

  • Lindsay Prigge

    Barrington Library Trustee

    Election Date: April 4, 2023

    Lindsay is a payroll specialist at one of the top-ranking payroll companies in the United States. As a mom of three, she is deeply invested in the resources of her community.

  • Dylan T. Liddle

    Lawrenceburg City Council, District 2

    Primary Election: May 2, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    Dylan has always focused on putting people first and has been driven to serve by his own personal experience with homelessness and poverty.

  • Ravi Simon

    Lincoln-Sudbury School Board

    Election Date: March 27, 2023

    Ravi is running for Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee to give back through public service and to provide a fresh perspective as a former student.

  • Aurin Chowdhury

    Minneapolis City Council, Ward 12

    Election Date: November 7, 2023

    Aurin is a first-generation Bengali-American, the daughter of working-class immigrants, organizer, renter, and experienced policy aide.

  • Cheniqua Johnson

    Saint Paul City Council, Ward 7

    Primary Election: August 8, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    Cheniqua is a Minnesota native, philanthropic leader and long-time community organizer.

    Twitter avatar for @cheniquajohnson
    Cheniqua Johnson @cheniquajohnson
    @runforsomethingnow ENDORSED ✅ Honored to be one of 36 candidates across the country to be endorsed in RFS’ first official endorsement class of the new year! 🚨 directory.runforsomething.net/candidate/3237… Thank you for your support! #cheniquaforward7
    Image
    8:53 PM ∙ Feb 15, 2023
    13Likes2Retweets
  • Justin Lofton

    Pike County Board, District 1

    Primary Election: August 8, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    As a public health professional, Justin has partnered with young people to promote legislation to expand high-quality healthcare and create safe and inclusive environments for Mississippi teens.

  • Chi Ossé

    New York City Council, District 36

    Primary Election: June 27, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    At 23 years old, Chi was elected in 2021 as the youngest member of this council and is the only member hailing from Gen Z.

  • Jenn Puja

    White Plains Common Council, At-Large

    General Election: November 7, 2023

    Councilwoman Puja is the youngest female elected to the White Plains Common Council. She is the ED of a non-profit that represents 100,000+ working families.

  • Maurice Brown

    Onondaga County Board, District 15

    Primary Election: June 27, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    Maurice believes that housing, healthcare, and education are human rights. He’s a veteran and an advocate, who is running for Onondaga County Legislature.

  • Bethany Hallam

    Allegheny County Council, At-Large

    Primary Election: May 16, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    Bethany, a formerly incarcerated person in long-term recovery from opioid use disorder, beat a 20-year incumbent in 2019 to become the youngest person ever elected county-wide in Allegheny County.

  • Dan Grzybek

    Allegheny County Board, District 5

    Primary Election: May 16, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    As an engineer working on safety systems for nuclear reactors, Dan is no stranger to utilizing research and data to solve complex problems.

  • Daniela Velázquez

    City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen, Ward 6

    Primary Election: March 7, 2023; General Election: April 4, 2023

    Daniela is a lifelong public servant who is currently campaigning to become the very first Latina elected to the Saint Louis Board of Aldermen for the city’s 6th Ward.

  • Deanna Philpott

    North Hills School Board

    Primary Election: May 5, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    Deanna, a School Board Director for North Hills School District, is passionate about making North Hills a community where all kids can feel welcomed.

  • Mark Shaffer

    Wilkes-Barre City Council, District B

    Primary Election: May 16, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    A researcher and community organizer with experience in housing policy and economic development, Mark believes that through organizing and bold policy changes, a brighter future for Wilkes-Barre is possible.

  • Monet Reilly

    Haverford Commissioner, Ward 9

    Primary Election: May 16, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    Since moving to Haverford 10 years ago, Monet, a mother of two, stepped into spaces and roles to enhance experiences in schools, in equity and inclusion, and in democratic processes.

  • Michalyn Easter-Thomas

    Memphis City Council, District 7

    General Election: October 3, 2023

    Michalyn is running for a 2nd term to continue her fight for community access to opportunity, to create equitable policies, and promote transparency in government.

  • Bently Paiz

    New Braunfels City Council, District 5

    General Election: May 6, 2023

    At 18 years old, Bently, a fifth-generation resident of New Braunfels, started in electoral politics early, working on multiple campaigns and giving his time to community service to help others.

  • Hannah King

    Burlington City Council, Ward 8

    General Election: April 7, 2023

    Hannah, the daughter of a single mother, truly understands the struggles so many Ward 8 neighbors face because she lives them herself.

  • Benjamin Michael Litchfield

    Virginia Senate, District 27

    Primary Election: June 20, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    Ben is a consumer financial protection attorney running in one of the most competitive senate races in Virginia.

  • Kellen Squire

    Virginia House, District 55

    Primary Election: June 20, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    Kellen, an emergency department nurse, first ran for the Virginia House of Delegates in 2017, where he was a part of RFS’s first group of endorsed candidates.

  • Kimberly Adams

    Virginia House, District 82

    Primary Election: June 20, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    A skilled accountant and auditor, Kimberly wants to bring accountability to the Virginia House of Delegates.

  • Mike Pruitt

    Albemarle County Board, Scottsville District

    Primary Election: June 20, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    Mike, a veteran and policy advocate, deployed twice to hostile waters in the Persian Gulf before joining the Office of Naval Intelligence.

  • Padreus Pratter

    Prince William County School Board, Neabsco Magisterial District

    General Election: November 7, 2023

    A lifelong career civil servant with a deep understanding of education policy and budget auditing, Padreus has spent over a decade serving the U.S. Department of Education across several administrations.

    Twitter avatar for @PadreusP
    Padreus Pratter @PadreusP
    I am proud to have been endorsed by @runforsomething. On Day 1 I’ll be ready to hit the ground running to ensure PWCS are the best they can be. #NewEnergyforNeabsco
    Image
    8:09 PM ∙ Feb 16, 2023
    26Likes4Retweets
  • Victor McKenzie, Jr.

    Virginia House, District 82

    Primary Election: June 20, 2023; General Election: November 7, 2023

    Vic is a nonprofit executive and community leader running in one of the most competitive districts in Virginia.

  • Zachary Coltrain

    Virginia House, District 98

    General Election: November 7, 2023

    Zach is a university music student, and he is the youngest candidate to file for the upcoming Virginia general assembly elections.

  • Julia Matthews

    Madison City Council, District 12

    Primary Election: February 21, 2023; General Election: April 4, 2023

    Julia is a lifelong Madison resident, renter, and works in clinical research at UW-Madison.

  • Juliana Bennett

    Madison City Council, District 2

    Primary Election: February 21, 2023; General Election: April 4, 2023

    Juliana, who won her election to become an alder on Madison Common Council, became a community organizer during the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement and co-founded the Madison BIPOC Coalition, alongside fellow young, queer, people of color.

  • Maxwell Laubenstein

    Madison City Council, District 4

    Primary Election: February 21, 2023; General Election: April 4, 2023

    Max, a biological systems engineering student, is passionate about the intersections of climate action and access to clean water for residents.

  • MGR Govindarajan

    Madison City Council, District 8

    Primary Election: February 21, 2023; General Election: April 4, 2023

    MGR, a first-generation immigrant and advocate for students, is a student at UW-Madison.

We’ve now endorsed 72 candidates up for election in 2023, and you can see them all on our candidate directory.

That’s all for this week!

Ross and Abe

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