RFS feel-good update (4/15): Another Moms for Liberty loss!

When we run, we can win.

Hi all -

One final election update from earlier this month: Carl Jacobs officially won his race for Anchorage school board, beating a Moms for Liberty-affiliated candidate. Congrats, Carl!!

Keeping bad people off of school boards and other education-related positions continues to be a high priority for us. Later this month, we’re partnering with Every Library to host a virtual training for folks thinking about running for office in order to stop book bans. You can RSVP now and invite some friends:

More to come!

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In RFS community updates:

• Considering printing this headline and putting in on my wall as a reminder of why electing young leaders into office is so necessary. CA Assemblyman Alex Lee is leading when it matters most - as one of only five renters in the entire state legislature, he understands in a different way exactly how his generation is experiencing the housing crisis.

• Amanda Gonzalez, Jefferson County Clerk in Colorado, makes the case for increased funding for literally administering the election — she’s going to have to hire between 700-900 temporary workers alone to enable voting this fall.

• VA Del. Nadarius Clark, the youngest representative in the VA general assembly, is part of a wave of young people stepping into power (with Run for Something’s help!) and who are bringing their community with them.

• NY Sen. Andrew Gounardes is leading on a tax credit proposal that would slash child poverty in New York by 20%. Huge.

• Representation matters: CO Rep. David Ortiz, the first CO lawmaker to use a wheelchair, is working to ensure that even after he leaves office, there are disability advocates in power. He’s pushing to establish the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office to fight for his community across all parts of the state government.

• In OH, Rep. Michele Grim is co-sponsoring legislation to allow people to run for office under their chosen, legal names - rectifying an issue that kept a trans candidate off the ballot.

• Loved to read this powerful op-ed by three RFS candidates in NY - Claire Cousin, Claire Valdez, and Jonathan Soto - about the need for a state budget that prioritizes working people and community investment.

• Congrats to RFS alum NYC Councilmember Tiffany Cabán and Chicago Alderwoman Maria Hadden for joining the board of one of our excellent partners, Local Progress! Team work makes the dream work.

• Alum Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams outlines his vision for the state of the city, drawing on his experience as an educator.

And as we keep an eye on our folks running for higher office, I wanted to make sure you saw this op-ed from RFS alum Lucia Báez-Geller, former Miami-Dade school board member now running for a competitive congressional seat in Florida, sharing her personal experience getting an abortion last year for a non-viable pregnancy.

Lucia joins other RFS candidates and alum (including Allie Phillips in TN, Sen. Eva Burch in AZ, and Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam) who’ve shared their stories in an effort to make it clear: Abortion bans have real-life consequences. I hate that they have to do this — but am so glad they’re willing to do it.

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In related reading:

• A reminder of why Clerk Work matters: The far right is pushing local election administrators to count ballots by hand — a process that takes much longer and introduces much more uncertainty and error into the outcomes. Having pro-democracy leaders in office to stand strong against this is necessary to a functioning election.

• Recommended listening: Take 45 minutes to put on Culture Study, a great podcast from Anne Helen Petersen — last week’s episode tackled Moms for Liberty in a very accessible and entertaining way, explaining who they are, how they’re funded, and the history of “parental rights” activism.

• This is an equal parts sad-and-inspiring interview with the president of the American Library Association, about all the ways the right is attacking public libraries — which are the core of communities and of the imagination.

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Finally, shout out to

Jessica Craven

of Chop Wood, Carry Water, an amazing newsletter and community who does incredible work giving folks concrete actions to save democracy. Her network is raising money for Run for Something, with a generous supporter matching all gifts up to $10k:

OOH YOU GUYS I am so excited! My wonderful subscriber who funded our last matching campaign for Run For Something saw yesterday’s post and offered to do another one! She is putting up another 10K for Run For Something and will match ALL donations up to that. This is a special Chop Wood, Carry Water exclusive, folks! Let’s show them what we can do! You can give here to be matched. And if you know anyone who’s wondering where best to give, please forward this to them.

Also, let them know that RFS has a new poll being highlighted in Teen Vogue: 61% of young Democrats in battleground states say they are more likely to turn out if there’s also a young, progressive candidate running down-ballot.

RFS is racing against filing deadlines to get folks on the ballot, so every donation helps!

You don’t have to be a subscriber to Jess’s newsletter (although it’s great) have your donation matched. Give if you can!

Thanks for being on this team.

- Amanda