RFS feel-good update (3/4): Run (and win) small in order to win big
New endorsements, Super Tuesday candidates, & good vibes
Hi all -
Get excited! Last week we announced an amazing new class of endorsements.
These 48 folks across 20 states are amazing. They include:
Autumn Carter, a breast cancer survivor, single mother, organizer, and author who’s running for state legislature in Indianapolis.
Ellie Kerns, a working class software engineer and IT administrator, running for Montana state house.
Luis Mata, a community organizer running for state house in TN who would be the youngest and first Latino state legislator .
Lauren Simmons, who’s running in a primary against an incumbent Texas state representative who’s voted for anti-LGBTQ legislation.
Henry Fries, a student at UW-Madison running for Dane County board to advocate for issues like environmental conservation, social equity, child care, housing, and transit.
That’s just a handful of the amazing candidates we’re working with this year who are already out there knocking doors, making calls, and talking to voters to increase turnout in a year democracy desperately needs folks to show up at the polls.
Meanwhile, we’re tracking 44 incredible candidates on the ballot this Super Tuesday across Texas, California, Vermont, North Carolina, and New Mexico. Keep an eye on our social media for updates and watch this space next week to hear how things go.
Help us keep doing recruitment and supporting these inspiring young leaders. Between now through March 31st, a few generous supporters are matching every donation up to $100k — double your impact and give when it matters most.
In other RFS community updates:
Missouri is one of just four states where women aren’t allowed to get divorced while pregnant — RFS alum Rep. Ashley Aune is introducing legislation to undo that statute.
The Colorado state legislature is considering legislation to strengthen protections for gender-nonconforming youth by requiring schools to use a student’s preferred name. Rep. Brianna Titone, the only trans lawmaker in the state house, spoke up forcefully: “I have a right to exist, too.”
Over a decade ago, as a high school senior, Jevin Hodge brought a bill to Arizona state capitol to require the dept of education to create a special commendation for students who complete 200 hours of community service — now that he’s a member of the legislature, he’s reviving the law and passing it with bipartisan support.
TN state house candidate Allie Phillips went to D.C. to testify in front of the U.S. Senate budget committee about the economic effects of state abortion bans.
In PA, Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija joined VP Harris for a voting rights roundtable on how to make voting easier - Neil is leading on new ways to expand access to the polls
TX Rep. James Talarico has been fighting back against legislation that allows school districts to hire chaplains instead of mental health counselors — he’s notched a huge win by galvanizing Texans to call their school boards and demand they vote no — James is a seminary student himself along with being a former middle school teacher; this is personal for him.
In Indiana, Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn and Sen. Andrea Hunley are teaming up to change state law to allow candidates to use campaign funds for child care — changing the rules to bring more parents and caregivers into leadership.
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato is opening up five more additional ballot drop boxes in the key PA county she runs.
NYC Councilmember Shahana Hanif makes the case for how sanctuary policies make the city safer.
Also in NYC: Councilmember Christopher Marte is spearheading legislation to make cycling more accessible and secure by creating more bike parking stations and more storage in city-owned buildings.
OH Reps. Phil Robinson and Dani Isaacsohn are introducing legislation to require universal background checks for gun sales — persevering in spite of GOP opposition.
LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Lindsey Horvath successfully put forward a motion to incorporate more plant-based food and fewer animal products into the food offered at county-run facilities (like hospitals and schools).
Philadelphia City Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson successfully secured funding for a maternity safe haven shelter for homeless women, the first of its kind nationwide. Maternal mortality is personal for her — when Richardson had her son, she had a potentially life-threatening complication.
Alum Jae Moyer has a powerful op-ed in the Kansas City Star asking readers to consider how they could have empathy for LGBTQ+ Kansans, especially kids.
AZ Rep. Oscar De Los Santos has a great op-ed on getting corporate investors out of the Arizona market — where right now, they’ve bought 1 out of 3 homes on the market.
NE Sen. Megan Hunt successfully passed legislation to allow for the distribution of hypodermic needles to reduce the spread of disease — a huge win.
UT Rep. Sahara Hayes - the only LGBTQ+ member of the state house - is standing up against elected Republicans sharing misinformation about trans Utahns.
San Mateo County Supervisor Noelia Corzo has led on a new program to create a new countywide alternative response to law enforcement for folks experiencing behavioral or mental health crises.
MN Rep. Kristi Pursell is leading legislation to set up more on-campus polling places in order to make voting more accessible for college students.
Some related reading:
Stop me if you’ve heard or read this before, because we’ve been saying it for literally years — the way to win big is to run (& win!) small. Read this column in the NYT: “The specificity and detail with which state-level Democrats, working on a smaller canvas, can portray problems, sketch solutions and describe successes make me wonder if Democrats would be wise to pitch more of their policies and concentrate more of their energies outside Washington. They often find better traction and make readier connections that way.”
This is not something to read, but rather, something to put on your radar: Next month, the Leadership Institute (a nearly 40 year old mega-donor-funder Republican center for recruiting & training candidates & activists) is hosting the “Learn Right Summit”, a conference for school board candidates, members & interested parties. The speakers are primarily anti-LGBTQ+ bigots and political operatives who are working to destroy public education. This is why Run for Something’s 50 State School Board Strategy matters — the right isn’t backing away from this fight.
Related: 60 Minutes talked with Moms for Liberty about their work banning books in South Carolina — it’s worth watching because wow oh wow do they crumble under even the slightest pressure!
Thanks as always for making all this work possible. We’ve got a lot to do and not a ton of time to do it — your support is so appreciated.
- Amanda
Love your updates!! Thanks for spreading good political news.