RFS feel-good update (3/3): "Our school board just banned books, and I have no choice but to run. If I don’t, no one else will."
Read the comments from our latest candidate call...
Hi all -
In the last week, thousands more people have joined the Run for Something candidate pipeline — inspired in part by the illegal firings across the federal government.
Check out this heatmap of where candidates are coming from — literally, we’ve got folks signing up everywhere. (Plus Hawaii & Alaska!)
There is something a-brewing here — we held our February candidate intro call on Wednesday and wow oh wow the comments and feedback were amazing.
Check out some of the response and comments — read through these for hope.
"It was exactly what I was hoping for. The political environment has me wanting to get involved politically, but I have no idea how to start. The meeting pointed me towards ideas and resources that turn a nebulous, scary idea into something that seems achievable and concrete."
"I’m an RN of 14+ years, a mother, an immigrant, and a POC. I am proud of all that our country has accomplished but deeply ashamed of recent events which tear down social safety nets for our most vulnerable populations."
"In 2021, my wife and I became parents. Before that, we experienced the pain of miscarriage. Only a few short years later, we saw our state legislature push to criminalize the medical procedures that saved my wife. Now we're seeing those same people push to eliminate and undermine my state's public education system. I want to build a better world for my son."
"I’m running in 2025 for my local school board because I’m very concerned about the possible dissolution of the Department of Education and what that might mean for children like mine."
"I’m a 38-year-old progressive living in a very red community in Illinois. Our local races are becoming more and more right-wing. I have a 6th-grade son who is an immigrant, and our community is becoming less safe for him every day. I either need to fix my community or leave for his sake, and I want to try to fix it first."
"It was absolutely incredible! The speakers were so powerful. I was in tears. I felt hopeful for the first time in months."
"I am a fifth-generation Black Deaf Detroiter with the passion to see changes in improving our transportation, employment opportunities, and housing for people with disabilities in Detroit. Running for Detroit City Council will give me the opportunity to serve my community that’s been marginalized and ignored for too long."
"I'm a single mom of twin girls who wants to make the world better for my daughters, and for everyone else’s children as well."
"I'm from Baltimore, MD, and a federal employee frustrated with how state and federal leadership have failed working people."
"I’m a federal employee (Veterans Affairs) and brokenhearted and angry about how federal employees are being treated. The damage being done to our agencies will take decades to repair."
"I’ve never been in a situation that exhausted me so much it inspired me to do more."
"My city council decided to pull some BS to keep our city from opening rec marijuana shops even though the people voted for it. There are several council seats up for grabs, so I'm taking one of them."
"Our school board just banned books, and I have no choice but to run. If I don’t, no one else will."
"I’m watching our state legislature push bills that directly harm my family and my community. If they won’t represent us, then I will."
"I don’t have a political background. I don’t have rich friends. But I know my community, and I know we need change."
"If Trump has to be president again—let’s make it MOTIVATE EVERY ONE OF US to run and win."
This is what it’s all about. We’re going to keep doing the work.
Join us on a strategy call on Wednesday at 6:30pm ET to learn more about how you can get involved.
In broader RFS alum updates:
“At 28, I’m one of the youngest [city] councilors in Portland’s history. I came from grassroots organizing, anti-hunger policy work, & I’m the first city councilor to have experienced homelessness. I am also the only immigrant currently serving." - Portland City Councilor Angelita Morillo in Teen Vogue, making the case for fighting hard on immigration
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb lays out how he plans to fight for his city and his community as Trump prepares to enact revenge on Democratic-led cities (even those inside red states.)
Saint Paul is joining San Francisco in a lawsuit against Trump’s illegal immigration orders, which withhold federal funding from cities that refuse to cooperate with ICE. A majority of the (all women!) Saint City City Council are RFS alum.
Cambridge City Councilor Burhan Azeem explains exactly how the massive zoning reform he just led will transform the community for the better by creating more housing, driving prices down.
MN Rep. Huldah Hiltsley, whose family once faced deportation, held a town hall to focus on constituents concerns around immigration. This is the kind of community work that can make a difference.
NV Assemblymember Cecelia González introduced a bill to help keep schools safe from ICE overreach.
Congrats to Albuquerque Public Schools board member Janelle Astorga, who will be taking a brief leave of absence to have her first kid! This is good modeling of leadership.
We just love to see this.
Right now, NV lawmakers make $12,000 a year — a pay that hasn’t changed since 1988. Assemblymember Howard Watts is introducing a proposed constitutional amendment to create a commission to review and then set new pay, independent of the lawmakers.
Anthony Tordillos has been endorsed by Equality California in his campaign for San Jose city council, a chance to rebuild trust with the LGBTQ community after the previous incumbent had to resign over a scandal.
A great endorsement for re-electing Detroit city councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero: “Santiago-Romero was quick to acknowledge something else that we are all in desperate need of remembering: Difficult things are still accomplishable. This does not only bear witness to a difficult fundraising goal, though. It also speaks to Santiago-Romero’s career and what she has done for Detroiters.”
RFS alum Deshawn Williams has won his campaign for Urbana mayor — moving on up!
SC Rep. Heather Bauer introduced legislation to support a freedom to read bill, which would help stop book bans by protecting the autonomy of school librarians and establish requirements for formal challenges.
AZ Sen. Analise Ortiz introduced legislation to protect construction workers from extreme temperatures — in 2023, nearly 1000 people statewide died from heat-related causes.
ME Rep. Nina Milliken is sponsoring a bill to create a new office to re-examine criminal convictions — ensuring justice is pursued fairly.
Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune makes the case for ranked choice voting in city elections!
AL Rep. Phillip Ensler is introducing a number of pieces of legislation to reduce gun violence — as a former teacher, he’s lost at least ten students to guns over the years.
Keep an eye on that bench:
Brianna Titone announced her campaign for Colorado state treasurer — the second RFS alum to be running statewide in Colorado so far.
In related reading:
We talked with Anand Giridhadas’s newsletter, The Ink, on running for office, authentic messengers, and why we have to be ready to take on JD Vance.
I also joined law/comedy podcast Opening Arguments for a fun conversation on running for office.
On Friday morning, we jumped into the AOC subreddit for an AMA on running for office — the questions were super thoughtful and I had a good time! Reddit has become a really interesting place for conversations around running for office and we’re going to keep looking into it as a recruitment space.
Read Molly Jong Fast on why she’s not running for office but you should!
Finally, a quick operations note: If you prefer to make your donations through Oath, great news: Run for Something is now up and running over there! Chip in now.
Thanks for making all this possible. We’re going to keep doing the work, all because of this community.
- Amanda
P.S. Last week I announced the book I wrote last year, WHEN WE’RE IN CHARGE, is now available for pre-order! I won’t be talking about that too much in this newsletter, but if you want to get updates on it, you can sign up here.
RFS has accomplished an amazing amount in a short time. Congratulations to everyone who has participated and to the next generation of candidates.