RFS feel-good update (6/10): The work is (still) working!
Check out these incredible recruitment stats...
Hi all -
First: Big congrats to RFS winners from last week’s primaries — Elinor Levin for IA state house, Jacinda Morigeau for MT state senate, Cindy Nava for NM state senate and Katharine Clark for Santa Fe county clerk. We’re still waiting on results for two more races in Montana, so stay tuned. We’ve also got another 14 candidates up tomorrow, because it’s always Election Day here in Run for Something-world.
Second: Let’s talk about how the work is WORKING — across the country, we’re seeing incredible full or near-full slates of candidates running for office.
Kansas Democrats will have candidates in 92 out of 125 state house races and 34 out of 40 state senate races — meaning we’re competing in enough districts to protect the Democratic governor’s veto power.
In Wisconsin, we’re running candidates in every single state senate race for the first time in more than 20 years, and have got 97 candidates running for state assembly — the most since the GOP gerrymandered and rigged the maps back in 2011.
We’re fielding candidates in all 110 state house districts in Michigan.
In North Carolina, we’re running candidates in all 50 state senate races and all but one state house race.
One of the biggest reasons why this is happening this year: Run for Something has been on the ground recruiting candidates for nearly 8 years — over time, that work pays off (and compounds on itself). Even four years ago, we’d get calls from folks alarmed that we ran public candidate recruitment campaigns. Now those same folks are doing similar efforts — it’s been a sea change in how the Democratic party considers who could be part of leadership.
Even if these folks don’t win, their campaigns matter. Campaigns galvanize communities. Even in a 70/30 Trump district, that means 30% of the community is on our side, and perhaps even a few more could be if we gave them an opportunity to make their voice heard. Plus — a 70/30 district doesn’t become a 50/50 one overnight; it goes from 70/30 to 65/45 to 60/40 cycle after cycle. Long-term investment in organizing combined with community-connected candidates who can make that organizing urgent and personal can transform a place, taking it from red to purple to blue.
And of course, the voters these candidates talk to may be in places that the top of the ticket isn’t investing in as much — but if even a few more folks show up and vote blue this year, that can help run up the score in key house, senate, and presidential battlegrounds. It all helps.
You’ve made this possible. Thank you.
In other RFS community updates:
OH Rep. Munira Abdullahi, who has Type 1 diabetes herself, is introducing legislation to cap the costs of insulin at $35. “I went to school full time and really had to debate sometimes — tuition or food or different life expenses and insulin,” she said.
Alyshia Dyer, candidate for Washtenaw County Sheriff in MI, wants to get police out of non-safety traffic enforcement. This would include ending indirect quotas for traffic stops, dramatically shifting the culture of the police department, and making life meaningfully better, especially for people of color in her community.
In PA, Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas voted against the county giving the NRA $110,000 for the event they host in the area — while other commissioners out-voted him, calling attention to how much the county has given to the NRA over the years was a strong principled stand to take.
Somersworth City Councilmember Crystal Paradis-Catanzaro up in NH is leading on the city’s new community outreach and communications committee, to better connect the government with city residents.
Lindsay Horvath, LA Board of Supervisors chair, is leading on reimagining the county’s Office of Child Protection, to create holistic support, better coordination, and a stronger framework around child and family wellbeing.
CO Reps. Brianna Titone and Manny Rutinel led on making Colorado the first state in the country to create a regulatory framework for AI.
A bunch of PA alum — Sen. Lindsey Williams, and Reps. Jessica Benham and Malcolm Kenyatta — are pushing forward on the Fairness Act, which would prevent discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
Philadelphia City Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson is unwavering on her commitment to bring equity and transparency to how the city brings in vendors for the Office of Homeless Services.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb is a new co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, leading an important coalition to make all communities safer.
Somerville City Councilor Willie Burnley, Jr. is cosponsoring a Safe Streets ordinance, that would require considering the needs of non-drivers in street enhancement projects. (Imagine! Thinking of pedestrians, bikers, and public transit users!!)
NYC Councilmember Lincoln Restler is introducing legislation to empower the city’s Campaign Finance Board to take more concrete action against corrupt fundraising practices… we love to see it.
Three ways local leaders are, ahem, leading on climate!
Alum across the country — including TX Rep. James Talarico and NY Sen. Andrew Gounardes — are fighting hard for increased climate education in schools.
IL Sen. Rachel Ventura has successfully passed legislation to allow local governments to apply for loans through the state’s climate bank in order to expand green energy infrastructure.
Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves has brokered a new partnership to give his community more affordable options for energy efficiency upgrades and access to solar power. Huge.
In related reading:
I was fascinated by new research out about how voters (especially young voters) barely hear politicians talking about the cost of housing and rent. A good reminder of why it matters to elect more renters.
Finally, save the date, because on Tuesday, June 18th, we’re partnering with LGBTQ+ Victory Fund for a special event for folks thinking about running for office.
Incredible Run for Something alumni will share their firsthand experiences about running for and serving in office as a LGBTQIA+ community member.
Folks will hear from Genesee County Clerk and Register of Deeds Domonique Clemons – the first openly LGBTQIA+ clerk/register in Michigan and the first African American to hold the position in the county’s 187-year history.
AZ Rep. Lorena Austin will share their story about how they rose up to join the state legislature, advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout their work for District 9.
Don’t miss the event — RSVP now & share it widely.
Thanks for making programming like this happen. You’re doing it!!
- Amanda
I had never realized that there were uncontested races and the impact of that on local and state politics until reading Jess Piper from Missouri. It seems to me that it all comes down to those state and local races. The media is focused on national races. But what affects peoples' lives every day happens at the local and state level. What you're doing is majorly important!
It took Dems a long time to (stupidly) get ourselves in this fix—abandoning states as un-winnable and letting a thousand offices a year go unchallenged. I am encouraged and somewhat awestruck that you are taking this on, and that you have had so much early success. Ten years from now—and maybe even sooner—some of these states will have a Democratic delegation in Congress, and an internal Democratic state government.
Thank you for the work you and your team are doing.