RFS feel-good update (5/27): "I can't ever let this happen again."
And other notes from our latest candidate call
Hi all -
Last week we held our monthly candidate intro call with more than 900 people thinking about running for office, who got to hear from the RFS team, partners, and this month, RFS alum Justin Lofton, Pike County Board Supervisor, District 1 in Mississippi.
A few snapshots from the chat and feedback:
“The webinar was both informative and inspiring. The guest speaker did an exceptional job of explaining key aspects of his political journey and his bipartisan approach to addressing important issues that affect his community. I gained valuable insights from this event and now have a clearer understanding of the steps I need to take on my journey to becoming an elected advocate for my community.”
“So inspiring to see so many young people care enough about their country and local communities to take action (or at least get informed for consideration of potential future campaigns). I am not at a stage where I can run yet myself, but found the information very helpful for when I am ready to more formally explore a run.
“I'm a trans active duty Marine Corps Captain stationed in California, probably getting booted with the trans ban. I can’t ever let this happen again. Not in my America.”
“Affordable housing is a big deal for me and my generation (Gen Z). I intend to run for city council next year!”
“I live in a really small community (less than 1K year-round residents) and with it comes small minds that need changing. I’m ready to stand up and make a change!”
“I'm from Kansas. I feel unrepresented in Kansas right now so I want to run for something!”
“I’m looking to run for judge. Courts are pretty bad for punting on tough questions and letting people get hurt. I want to bring some change.”
“It’s the first time I’ve felt motivated in a while to see people fighting for what’s right and anti-MAGA.”
“When politicians put their own desires above the needs of their constituents, we need to act to replace them. I am a single mom who has worked in education for the past 17 years. My son, as well as the students I serve in Las Vegas, deserve better.”
“I want to try and connect the people who are actually trying to save humanity and have now-solutions. I want to bring attention to groups that need help and eyeballs in order to keep fighting oppression.”
“I honestly didn’t expect to see so many people tonight, but this is inspiring and reassuring.”
“I’m ready to be a part of the change that’s much needed. Our country is sick — we need healing.”
These calls and the surging interest in running for office are only possible because of your support. Thanks.
We need new leaders
Last week, once again, the topic of generational change in the Democratic Party flooded the news, as the gossipy book about Joe Biden & the sad death of Rep. Gerry Connolly hit on the same core conversation about the gerontocracy.
If you care about fixing the Democratic Party and rebuilding our way out of this, you need to care about bringing new leaders into the fold.
In The Ink, I wrote about why it’s time to make space for younger leadership:
This is all deeply sad; facing our imminent mortality always is. Death, illness, the ways our body fails us — it's all uncomfortable.
But that sadness and discomfort shouldn't stop us from having hard conversations about when it is time for aging leaders to let go of their (in some cases literally) dying grasp on power.
It's not just any one person — it's a system that has privileged seniority and entitlement over efficacy and purpose. It's a mindset that the individual is more important than the whole.
I talked with the New York Times about why it matters to keep having this conversation about the gerontocracy in public — even and especially when it’s hard or uncomfortable — because sadly, as we’ve seen with President Biden, we can’t count on these hard conversations happening in private.
I had the same convo in NBC News, where I explained: Even if the margin of the vote wouldn't have changed, we're leaving possible points of leverage on the table by letting leaders die in office instead of making space for new voices.
The Guardian explained how Run for Something has been building for this moment, as we’ve spent the last 8+ years recruiting young leaders to run and pushing for generational change.
I also talked with Mehdi Hasan for his podcast about the same topics if you’re a subscriber to
.And finally, you should read Michelle Cottle in the NYT about how elderly leadership is destroying the Democratic Party. I agree.
I know this is all messy and hard. But it matters to keep pushing on this. Growth is uncomfortable, but wow oh wow do we need to grow.
In RFS community updates:
First, a bunch of election results!! Of our 32 candidates in contested elections, 21 won their primaries and 2 won their elections outright. Amazing night.
St Paul (MN) City Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson led the work on the city’s newest comprehensive set of tenant protections — her goal was to balance tenants’ needs with the ability of the protections to stand up to any legal challenges. Fellow RFS alum Saura Jost noted: renters deserve the same level of stability as homeowners.
Seattle mayoral candidate Ry Armstrong makes the case for standing firm on renter protections. (I’m obsessed with the art on this article.)
VA Del. Adele McClure was the cosponsor of successful legislation to offer tenants more protections and boost housing for Navy sailors.
Milwaukee County Board Supervisor Jack Eckblad are looking to partner with a new tool to help renters navigate the market, especially around affordable housing.
NJ state assembly candidate Katie Brennan’s housing proposal is all about doing more to protect and expand access for renters.
IL Sen. Rachel Ventura led on passing a new law about expanding broadband to all rural communities — in response to the federal government failing to act and pulling funding for it.
Joi Washington could become the first woman and first Black person to lead the Media Borough Council in PA if she wins in November.
NYC Council candidate Edafe Okporo has a must-read op-ed:
Last month, the unthinkable was reported: a 4-year-old girl – an asylum seeker – sat in a New York courtroom with no lawyer, no parent and no one to speak on her behalf. She was one of many children facing immigration court alone in our city. The cruelty is not abstract. It’s here, now, in New York.We often hear politicians speak about how “New York values” set us apart. But if we are allowing toddlers to be put on trial without legal representation, then what are those values really worth?
I came to this country alone, seeking safety after surviving violence in Nigeria. I was detained, I was homeless and I know the fear of facing a system that treats you like a problem instead of a person. But at least I was an adult. I cannot imagine what it would have meant to go through that as a child.
St. Paul City Councilmember Nelsie Yang talked with local NPR about her journey to elected office as the daughter of Hmong refugees and how she’s fueld to do the work to fight for working class families like hers.
WI Rep. Alex Joers and colleagues introduced legislation to make a $480 million investment in childcare. Says Alex: “As a parent of two kids under 5, I’m sure I join many other parents across this state to say we are exhausted from having to wait for this state legislature to take affordable child care seriously. Now, time’s up.”
Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam explains how the county budget works and what the decision at play are in this thoughtful op-ed that ties it all back to her values.
In a regular bench watch:
RFS alum Jaime Arroyo won the primary for mayor of Lancaster City, PA!
Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark announced a campaign for New Mexico Secretary of State!
Eli Savit’s campaign for MI attorney general is grounded in his experience fighting against the Trump administration as county attorney.
In other related reading:
Yes! Magazine highlights how we’re hearing from folks that they are done waiting their turn.
The Daily Beast ran an excerpt from my new book about social media and why leadership might come with some trolling — and how to handle it.
I talked with CNBC about my best advice for gen Z: You don’t get what you don’t ask for.
This is a really beautiful essay about David Souter, who stepped down from the Supreme Court when it was his time and modeled true leadership.
I talked with Vanity Fair about the opportunity we have: As everything is being destroyed, we get to build it better and refuse to let the way things looked yesterday dictate the way things are tomorrow.
With Memorial Day behind us, it’s summer (or close enough). You might be tempted to check out. I get it! But there’s so much work to do ahead of us. Thanks for staying in this fight.
- Amanda