RFS feel-good update (5/9): Still so furious
At the very least: A 200% increase in candidate sign-ups
Hi all -
I am still (forever?) so furious it’s hard to think about, talk about, or write about nearly anything else: As we saw in the Supreme Court leaked decision last week, Roe v. Wade is going to be overturned and tens of millions of people are going to suffer or even die because of it.
There is no silver lining here. This is all fucked. But I’m at least a little glad to note that we’ve seen a 200% increase in candidate sign-ups — young people are fired up, furious, and ready to run for office.
One thing is clear: The future of the fight for abortion access will be local — cities can be safe havens for people seeking care or can provide funds for residents who need to leave state lines; prosecutors will make decisions county by county on what laws they choose to enforce.
And while leaders in D.C. are dragging their feet on acting (or even making the case for why this should mobilize voters…), Run for Something candidates & alum are fighting hard. Some of the many many examples:
Nebraska Sen. Megan Hunt helped defeat her state’s abortion ban; she talks more about that experience in this interesting interview with “Ask An Atheist.”
NY Sen. Alessandra Biaggi reintroduced legislation back in January to create an abortion access fund that taxpayers could choose to pay into. Alessandra, who’s currently running for Congress, literally ran for office back in 2018 to codify Roe v. Wade into the state’s lawbooks.
Eli Savit, prosecuting attorney of Washtenaw County in Michigan (where Ann Arbor is) has vehemently declared he will not prosecute abortion patients, doctors, or any medical providers, even if the law says otherwise.
WI Rep. Greta Neubauer, minority leader in the state assembly, is pushing forward however she can.
RI Sen. Tiara Mack was inspired to run for office because of the fight for abortion rights - she and other pro-choice leaders in the state legislature are trying help folks on Medicaid get access to abortion care.
OH Rep. Jessica Miranda is helping push forward a state constitutional amendment that would ensure reproductive freedom.
FL Rep. Anna Eskamani is ready to fight with everything she’s got if the GOP calls a special session specifically to further ban abortion.
Julie Gunnigle, candidate for Maricopa County DA in Arizona, has promised that if elected, she will absolutely not prosecute abortion cases.
CO Rep. Yadira Caraveo — a pediatrician herself who’s currently running for Congress — explains what it’s like as a health care providing personally counseling patients on what to do when they’re ready to make a choice about their reproductive care, and the surge of patients CO has seen from other states.
More young leaders who will give ‘em hell:
I’m 23 years old and I’m running for office because I’m infuriated with having anti-choice legislators voting against the interests of people in my community where I was born and raised. Join me in running for office: runforwhat.net @runforsomething
The Kentucky legislature has made it clear we don't have a right to make healthcare decisions without state interference. I'm the Democratic nominee for Kentucky's HD33, I'm endorsed by @runforsomething, I will always vote to protect women's rights, because they are human rightsA 2019 “trigger law” means abortion would become illegal “effective immediately” in KY. https://t.co/RY1D0ah8Bq
Lexington Herald-Leader @heraldleaderLa’Tasha Mayes, the founder of New Voices for Reproductive Justice, is ready to bring her experience fighting for abortion access to the PA state legislature.
MI Sen. Mallory McMorrow continues to make waves as her clear fury breaks through the bullshit: “We have to let go of the idea that this is politics as usual.” ICYMI, Mallory sent an email to RFS supporters earlier this week about how this community has helped her win.
This is certainly not the last time we’ll talk about this.
But I’d be remiss if I didn’t note: The worst laws are coming from the reddest states, and what happens in a red state never stays in a red state. I’m so proud that Run for Something works everywhere — even when it makes our funding harder to find — because we believe that every single election has consequences, even the ones that don’t necessarily impact the Electoral College. Don’t forget it.
In other RFS community updates:
Last week, Gabriela “Gigi” Coletta won a seat on the Boston City Council with a handy 57% of the vote — she’s filling a seat by fellow RFS alum Lydia Edwards, who now serves in the state senate. You love to see it.
Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week, so a fun fact: Run for Something has helped elect 60 teachers to local office, including 26 school board members, 18 to municipal government, 14 to state legislatures, and one judge.
NYC Councilman Lincoln Restler introduced a bill to maintain records for complaints about NYPD officers lying in court. One small step toward accountability!
As the first Asian American member of the Missouri state legislature, Rep. Emily Weber has used her platform to speak out against colleagues using the phrase “China virus,” which was contributing to anti-Asian hate crimes across the country.
FL Rep. Andrew Learned keeps pushing the state to divest their pension fund from Russia-based companies — both morally and financially, it’s not going well!
San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera is doing his best to to make the city a good place for public employees, improving city wages and improving benefits.
For Nate Blouin, candidate for Utah state senate, fatal traffic accidents are personal: He became a lawyer for bike safety after his dad was killed in a tragic cycling accident.
ME Sen. Chloe Maxmin continues to make the case for how to win back rural voters: Respect, communication, and translation.
Dr. Sydnee Smirl McElroy is running for West Virginia state legislature in between her work as a doctor at the local hospital, taking care of her kids, and volunteering at the day shelter providing health care to patients struggling with substance abuse, severe mental illness, or HIV.
Tye Whitely is running for Savannah-chatham County school board president in part on a platform of closing the disconnect between the community and the district through digital accessibility.
Just keeping an eye on our bench:
Hawaii State Rep. Patrick Branco has announced his campaign for Congress - if he wins, he’d be only the third Native Hawaiian to serve in Congress.
Taylor Sappington is officially the Democratic nominee for Ohio Auditor of State. Watch this!
Dane County Board Supervisor Analiese Eicher is jumping in to a race for Wisconsin state assembly!
GA Rep. Matthew Wilson, who is currently running for state insurance commissioner and would be the only openly gay statewide official in Georgia, speaks out against a new law that would ban trans student athletes from competing.
NY state Sen. Michelle Hinchey is being floated to take over a new open seat in Congress.
In related reading: The fight over school boards continues; what’s happening in Texas is horrifying.
That’s why tomorrow we’re hosting a special event, “Spotlight on School Boards.”
You’ll hear from Katie Clark (President, Altadena Library District Board of Trustees), Crystal Dávila (Pasadena ISD School Board Trustee in TX), Caprice Edmond (Pinellas County School Board in FL), Millicent Rogers (candidate for Durham Board of Education in NC) and Alex Ruggiers (newly elected member of Norman Public Schools Board of Ed. in OK). RSVP now.
I’ve never been more grateful to do this work — to be focused on electing fierce leaders to the levels of office that have never mattered more — and to be doing it in partnership with all of you. Thanks for being on this team.
- Amanda