RFS feel-good update (2/22): A jam-packed week
New endorsements, TV hits, & new members of the RFS community!
Hi all -
Hope your long weekend was relaxing and refreshing! Last night was absolutely jam-packed for the Run for Something team — here’s what you might have missed and why you should be optimistic for the future. (If democracy survives the next few years, the years after that will be exponentially better.)
First, we endorsed 119 amazing new candidates for local office.
This class is amazing: They’re running across 31 states; 64% identify as people of color, 55% identify as women, and 28% identify as LGBTQIA+. Scroll through these bios and get inspired. If you need some direction, we’ve got a few threads running on our school board candidates, our folks running for legal positions like DA and family court judge, and of course our local election administrators.
Also last week: I joined Alex Wagner on the Rachel Maddow show to talk about what we’re up to in 2020. I’m definitely biased but is the best 7 minute explanation of what we’re up to this year. Watch & let me know what you think.
Also last week: We popped up in Teen Vogue to make the case for why young people need to run for local and state office. Share this with all the Teen Vogue readers in your life.
On a more fun/lighter key note, we’re so glad to have Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively join the RFS community!
Our week was chaos. It was fun. We’re so excited and optimistic about the work ahead - thanks for making it possible.
In other RFS community updates:
MI Rep. Mari Manoogian’s legislation helping Michiganders create tax-exempt savings accounts in order to buy homes was officially signed into law.
KS Rep. Ethan Corson is spearheading legislation to raise the Kansas minimum wage to $16/year by 2026 — the last time the state raised its minimum wage was June 2009.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and County Attorney Christian Menefee are doing everything they can to combat the impacts of the GOP’s voter suppression laws and are begging the Dept. of Justice to join them. It matters t elect pro-democracy local leaders!
DE Sen. Sarah McBride is sponsoring legislation to give health coverage to kids who currently can’t otherwise access it because of their immigration status — a change that could help upwards of 5000 kids.
IA Sen. Zach Wahls makes a compelling case for a fair tax plan that “rewards work, not wealth.”
Also in Iowa: A new wave of inclusive leaders — including RFS-endorsed Dr. Megan Srinivas - are running for office.
CO Rep. Brianna Titone is introducing legislation that would allow workers to consume medical marijuana on the job and would prohibit employers from denying employment or firing workers because of outside-of-work pot smoking.
Hamden Legislative Councilman Abdul Osmanu has taken over the RFS Snapchat - follow along to see what life is like for a 19 year old elected official.
Ever wondered what my average coffee order or pre-council meeting routine is? Wonder no longer, hop onto the @runforsomething Snapchat to keep up with some of the exciting and relatable parts of my day!!Want to see what the life of elected official is like? RFS alum, college student, and Hamden Legislative Councilman @abdulyo13 is giving you a BTS look at his life on RFS' Snap! Follow along and learn more about Abdul's work: https://t.co/y02twZyFjPRun for Something @runforsomethingAlso in CO: Rep. Jennifer Bacon’s legislation banning people from openly carrying guns into polling locations or vote-counting facilities is moving its way through committee. Prettttty important!
Cambridge City Councilor Burhan Azeem is leading the city’s work for a fare-free bus pilot. You love to see it.
Congrats to VA Del. Danica Roem for being named executive director of Emerge Virginia, one of our excellent partners.
I’m unendingly obsessed with our alumni mentorship program — as the pandemic changes, folks can now meet in person — we were so glad to connect former CA assembly candidate Godfrey Plata with current assembly candidate James Coleman.
NY Sen. Michelle Hinchey is sponsoring legislation to repeal the fiber optic tax, which has kept broadband services out of the rural communities she represents in upstate New York.
VT Rep. Taylor Small — the first openly trans person elected in the VT House — is successfully leading the chamber to make it easier for Vermonters to amend their birth certificates to reflect their gender identity.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb played in the NBA celebrity all star game! Badass.
NH Rep. Becky Whitely is sponsoring legislation to create a child care workforce fund to give grants to childcare centers so they can recruit and maintain workers.
As we keep an eye on the bench:
TX Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s congressional campaign is gaining speed as she tries to fill an open seat in TX-30 — her work leading the fight for voting rights is what inspired her to run!
In related reading:
We talked with USA Today about the fight over “critical race theory” and how Republicans are weaponizing it in fights over education. Read up!
On the other side: The Mesa County Clerk in Colorado — a conspiracy theorist and 2020 election denier herself — is now running for secretary of state. Building the bench goes both ways — for better or for worse.
This is just really interesting: A new academic study that “repeated reminders and feedback from local officials increase turnout” Again, pro-democracy local leaders can make a difference!
In upcoming RFS events:
Tomorrow night, we’re hosting See Yourself Running for Black leaders. Help us get the word out!
And next Monday, we’re celebrating five years of Run for Something with a big party (and a virtual event!) Learn more and get your tickets now.
It’s not an event but I’ll note it anyway: It’s not too early or too late to chip in to support Black candidates running for local office.
There’s so much going on right now — thanks for making all this possible, even when it’s hard. We’re so grateful to have you on our team.
- Amanda