RFS feel-good update (8/8): Winners in OH, MI, KS, AZ, MO, WA & TN!
Hi all -
August usually feels slow but this year, we’ve got primaries nearly every week so lots and lots of results to share out! Here’s what we’ve notched since last Monday:
In Ohio: Claire Osbourne, Dr. Michele Grim, Dani Isaacsohn, and Lauren McNally all won their primaries for state house
In Michigan: Brendan Johnson won his primary for Oakland County Board, Natalie Price, Jason Hoskins, Noah Arbit, Jimmie Wilson, Joey Andrews IV, and Carrie Rheingans won their primaries for state house, Annie Somerville won her primary for Washtenaw County Commission, and Mai Xiong won her primary for Macomb County Commission
Candice Alcarez advanced in her primary for Wyandotte County District Court Judge in the 29th district in Kansas - if she wins in November, she’ll be the first Black woman district court judge in her county.
Arizona: Priya Sundareshan won her primary for state senate and Analise Ortiz won hers for state house!
Missouri: Anthony T. Ealy, Jr. won his primary for state house and Megan Marshall won her primary for Jackson County Legislature,
Washington: Adison Richards won his primary for state house, and Emily Randall and Julianne Gale won their primaries for state senate
Rep. Torrey Harris won his re-election fight in the Tennessee State House!
It doesn’t stop yet. Tomorrow there are 13 RFS candidates on the ballot in Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Get to know the folks we’re supporting and find one or a few to make calls for before it’s too late.
In other good news, albeit not directly RFS-related, abortion access won in Kansas — reminding us that it’s worth fighting for our values in every state (red or blue) because we are on the right side of popular opinion, and when we meaningfully engage, we can win. We talked with the New Yorker about how the results align with how we’ve always been working with candidates: While the way they talk about abortion access can vary from place to place, voters want to hear what they have to say — they can and should communicate on it in alignment with their convictions.
In what is now a regular drumbeat on why our Clerk Work program to recruit and support pro-democracy local election administrators matters, the Washington Post breaks down exactly what happens if an election official refuses to certify results — there are many different breaking points in the system, one of which is the level of office we’re helping elect folks to.
In RFS community updates:
A bunch of trolls are coming for Shoshanna Kelly with body-shaming attacks. Watch this then chip in to help a badass woman of color win a seat on the New Hampshire Executive Council.
I don’t normally respond to bullies. I refuse to give them space in my head. But I woke up today and remembered there are a lot of people watching—both young and old. So to anyone watching: you are beautiful as you are. And your body is the least interesting thing about you. https://t.co/b7JtROPjJnIf @jeremykauffman is gonna body shame a NH woman candidate, we’re gonna help that candidate raise funds. Please watch and donate to @VoteForSho #nhpolitics https://t.co/KJeGmTHjHC
Kathleen Cavalaro @KCavalaroMeanwhile, a month later, RI Sen. Tiara Mack is still dealing with harassment and trolls attacking her, and official state leadership is leaving her without support. We’ve got her back no matter what.
The Miami Herald has endorsed Ashley V. Gantt in her primary against an anti-abortion Democrat in the FL state house.
In Texas, Denton City Councilmember Alison Maguire is leading on a resolution to make investigating abortion a low priority for the city police, modeled after the resolution passed by RFS alum in Austin. San Antonio City Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez is pushing for similar action in his city.
Chicago Alderman Matt Martin is pushing for campaign finance reform to cap the influence of larger donors in city elections.
Minnesota Rep. Esther Agbaje successfully sponsored the state’s CROWN Act, which protects folks, especially Black women, from discrimination based on hair texture or style.
San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera is leading on updating the city’s Climate Action Plan, including setting a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.
Alum like Rep. Alex Lee in CA and Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson in MD are pushing forward on new models for building affordable housing.
Lots of related reading this week!
In the Washington Post: “The biggest danger for American democracy is that Trump or a figure like him succeeds at something bold and extreme like Jan 6. But an almost equally important danger is that a bunch of mini-Trumps, some of whom you have never heard of, take several hundred actions, most of which you will never learn of, that gradually create either a national government or 25 to 30 state governments where elections are rigged by gerrymandering and voting restrictions, where news coverage and other forms of public accountability are nonexistent, and where people worry about retribution if they disagree with their political leaders. America stopped Trump on Jan. 6. But we are not yet stopping Trumpism.”
Jane Mayer goes long in the New Yorker about how state legislatures are destroying democracy. This is what we’re up against.
Also what we’re up against: Conservative groups are running a long-term effort to destroy public libraries.
On why it matters to elect parents of young kids, especially moms.
Finally, a reminder we’re still hiring for a ton of open positions - we’ve added two more since I last shared these! Take a look and help us find the past talent for our team.
Thanks for making all this possible. I’ll take a chaotic August over a slow one anytime.
- Amanda