RFS feel-good update (4/14): If last week also got you bummed...
Here's some ways RFS alum keep doing the work.
Hi all -
I don’t know about you, but last week felt very very long. The tariffs & global economic chaos really got me!
But the work we’re doing continues. I joined Chris Jansing on MSNBC to talk about the surge of candidates we’re seeing sign up (we’re about to hit a huge milestone!! stay tuned!!) and why it matters to bring new voices into the fold.
If you need to be inspired: Join our next candidate intro call
On Tuesday, April 22, from 8–9 PM ET, learn the basics of running for local office. Hear from experienced candidates and elected officials, and leave with actionable steps to move forward. RSVP here.
In RFS community updates:
This is a great letter to the editor in support of Daniel Atonna, candidate for Poughkeepsie city council in NY, explaining how he’s already been a leader in the community on tackling the lead pipe crisis — and how he’ll do even more when elected to stop the crisis hitting the city in which one in five kids have dangerous levels of lead in their blood.
Watch Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas speak on local TV about the five Bhutanese immigrants in his community who were detained by ICE. This will break your heart.
For Stockton (CA) City Councilmember Mario Enríquez, creating new supportive housing options is personal: He was unhoused when he was 18.
Portland (OR) City Councilor Candace Avalos explains in a long interview how transportation and public safety issues intersect: “When we think about policing and public safety, we tend to limit it to things like crime or gun violence and things like that. But as we know, in east Portland in particular, which has 28 out of 30 high crash corridors, transportation safety is a huge part of public safety.
As we’re making decisions about improving [transportation] it needs to include the fact that many of our communities are dying needlessly on the streets and are being hit by cars. And in east Portland, it’s particularly harsh.”
Del. Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton is introducing legislation to require school board members to live in the districts they represent for at least 75% of the year (with an exception for military service), to help foster more local representation.
In Minnesota, Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn has introduced legislation to reduce the cost of child care by creating a scholarship program that would go toward daycares from birth thru kindergarten, to supplement discounts for income-eligible families.
Also in MN: Rep. Huldah Hiltsley just passed her first bill, helping tackle the housing crisis through information accessibility. We need it all.
In Montgomery County, MD, Councilmember Andrew Friedson is pushing forward legislation to speed up and reduce the cost of office-to-housing conversions.
More on housing: RFS alum Saura Jost, Cheniqua Johnson, and Hwa Jeong Kim are all pushing forward on ordinances to amend the city’s rent stabilization policies and creating more tenant protections.
KY Rep. Adam Moore: “This past weekend, I stood shoulder to shoulder with fellow Kentuckians at the Hands Off rally in Lexington. I wasn’t just there as a politician. I was there as a combat veteran, a member of the Lexington Commission on Veterans Affairs, and the founder of the Kentucky Veterans Caucus. I came to speak up for those who’ve worn the uniform —and for those still serving in other ways.”
NY Sens. Jeremy Cooney and Samra Brouk are leading on criminal justice reform, including legislation to reduce prison sentences through good time and merit time allowances, and changing parole processes.
CO Rep. Brianna Titone is sponsoring legislation to make it illegal for insurance providers to limit gender-affirming care — a protection against Trump’s anti-trans efforts.
Also in CO: Sen. Julie Gonzales is leading on legislation to protect immigrant families, limiting the ways that schools colleges, and child care centers can cooperate with ICE.
One more CO story: Rep. Manny Rutinel successfully led on legislation to make it easier for the state to invest in affordable for-sale housing.
Alum Heather Hardinger won her re-election for her seat on Springfield City Council — we love to see it!
In a bench watch:
RFS alum Christina Hines announced her campaign for Congress in a tough race — she’s fantastic and Michigan would be lucky to have her lead.
Some related reading + watching:
I joined the PoliticsGirl podcast to talk about what we do and why it matters right now. Put this on in the background today on YouTube or wherever you get your shows.
I also talked with the New York Times about how young Democrats don’t plan to wait their turn — it is their turn.
With all the chaos coming out of DC, it remains true: The best thing we can do to win big next year is practice winning now, in 2025, and recruit widely for 2026 candidates. So that’s what we’ll keep doing. You make it all possible. Thanks.
- Amanda