RFS feel-good update (2/24): Our first wins of the year
Plus: Two events coming up to put on your calendar
Hi all -
As promised: Election updates! Congrats to Derek Field & Julia Matthews for winning their primaries for Madison Common Council — both will move on to the April general election.
Meanwhile, people keep signing up the thousands to run for office. Every day we’re seeing more and more people say stuff like this:
(Need to hear someone not of AOC’s politics say this? Tune in to Tim Miller from the Bulwark say basically the same thing here in a conversation with for GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger.)
We’re continuing to grow the largest candidate pipeline out there — people want to run for office; we are here to help them.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 25th, we’re hosting our monthly ntro call for people considering a run for office. Special guests include MI Sen. Mallory McMorrow and PA Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, two amazing RFS alum, who will speak about their experiences running for office.
And put this on your calendar: Next week, on Wednesday, March 5th, at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30pm PT, we’re hosting a free briefing to talk through our 2025 plans (and beyond.) I’ll be joined by some great members of the RFS team to dig in on our priorities and how you can get involved.
RSVP now to make sure you’re on the list.
In RFS alum updates:
More action on housing! NM Rep. Andrea Romero introduced legislation to prohibit the use of algorithms to manipulate rent prices.
And more! Austin City Councilmember Paige Ellis is leading on a plan to streamline the creation of more middle housing by reducing permitting processes for smaller projects.
More still: San Diego City Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert announced a new program giving public school teachers at least $40,000 to help with a down payment - a big lift when the housing crisis in San Diego is so bleak.
Our alum don’t stop fighting, even when they come up short: Dr. Teresa Borrenpohl, who we worked with back in 2020, spoke out at a local townhall against the repeal of Medicaid expansion, ultimately finding herself in the middle of a violent struggle.
KY Rep. Adam Moore has filed a bill addressing the abortion ban in Kentucky - his legislation would at the very least allow for abortions in the case of emergencies, medical necessities, and non-viable pregnancies.
NM Rep. Andrea Romero has been busy - she’s also cosponsoring legislation that would ban state and local governments in New Mexico fro collaborating with ICE on immigrant detention centers.
PA Rep. Jen O’Mara is introducing legislation to temporarily block people from buying guns if a judge rules them a threat to themselves or others — for Jen, this is personal: Her dad died by suicide with a gun.
GA Rep. Saira Draper is doing what we need every local elected to be doing: Explaining how the DOGE cuts hurt her community.
RI Reps. Karen Alzate, Brandon Potter, and other RFS alum in the chamber introduced legislation to prohibit ICE agents from entering RI schools, places of worship, health facilities, or public libraries without judicial warrants. Hell yeah.
MA Sen. Becca Rausch is proving to be one of the legislators known for putting the taxpayers above party leadership as she fights for more transparency and accountability in hearings and public records.
NY Assemblymember Jen Lunsford explains why the LOCAL Act matters — a bill that would give NY small businesses a tax credit for marketing in local news outlets. This is super smart.
MI Sen. Mallory McMorrow talked with Newsweek about how to reach gen Z voters (and really all voters): Enough with the bullshit. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not.
VA Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy passed new legislation to require health insurance companies to cover contraception.
How female mentorship led Megan Kilgore to be the first woman to serve as auditor for the city of Columbus.
In NE, Sen. Megan Hunt is advocating to move to permanent daylight savings time — we love to see it.
GA Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes fighting for free meals for kids in Georgia schools.
MD Del. Joe Vogel is working to pass legislation to give tax credits to local news organizations — one way to support community press.
Atlanta City Councilmember Jason Dozier helped pass a resolution to urge governments to expedite their hiring procedures to help people impacted by the recent layoffs.
This is a lovely profile of MS Rep. Justis Gibbs and his family’s long legacy of public service in all forms.
Charlotte City Councilmember Dimple Ajmera is working hard on the city’s Vision Zero, a plan to reduce the number of traffic deaths and make city streets safer. Quality of life stuff!
In related reading/watching:
In the NYT: Uncompetitive elections are making us more polarized and eroding public trust. It matters to fight everywhere, in every race.
I sat down with Brian Tyler Cohen to talk about the wave of young people wanting to run for office and why it’s time for the older generation to step back. Warning: I get pretty riled up!
“Democrats’ gerontocracy problem is front and center in the Trump era” - an excellent round-up of some of the broader discourse around the need for fresh young leadership.
I joined CSPAN’s Washington Journal show on Sunday morning for a solid hour to talk through Run for Something’s work and answer a ton of questions from callers. It was a good time!
Thanks for making all this possible. The news out of DC continues to be absolutely horrific — this community keeps fighting forward regardless.
- Amanda
To the extent that the Democratic Party is successful over the long term, much of the credit should go to this organization and similar groups. It is here that Dems learn the practicalities of how to win elections. Some will remain at the local level and deliver great work in our communities for years to come. . Some will succeed at seeking higher office.
Amanda Litman seems perfectly suited to this role. Indefatigably optimistic and with great perseverance.
Best one ever, thank you!!