RFS feel-good update (9/22): Nearly 1,000 people signed up in the last week
The pipeline keeps growing
Hi all -
The last few weeks of events has been frightening and disorienting. (In my personal Substack, I wrote about the need for small contagious acts of bravery right now, in case you need to hear that.)
Want some good news?
Amidst all the horrors, nearly all our RFS candidates in elections won last week.
Congrats to Keanuü Smith-Brown, Julio Mejia, Lydia King, Willie Burnley, Jr., Bryce Kaw-uh, Andrew Smith, and Erin Turowski, who all won their primaries and will be moving on to the general election.
And get this: Even with all the bad, scary news, nearly 1000 people signed up to run for office just in the last week. Our overall pipeline now exceeds 230,000 people — the largest candidate pipeline around.
People aren’t shying away from the hard stuff — they’re leaning in and getting ready to do the work to rebuild democracy, one community at a time.
We’ve got one more round of 2025 endorsements to come at the end of this month — stay tuned for a full round-up of all the incredible leaders that are doing the damn thing now.
In RFS community updates:
Alli Jackson, candidate for Aurora city council in CO, points to her family’s experience with serious mental illness and a brother’s combat-related PTSD taught her the cost of going without services and how it all shapes her approach to crime, safety, and mental health.
IN Sen. Andrea Hunley spoke out against the GOP’s redistricting efforts in Indiana, noting “this is a racist power grab to silence voters who look like me.”
Allegheny (PA) county executive Sara Innamorato is going to use every lever she can to help naturalized citizens register to vote in the face of new federal rules barring non-profits from engaging with new citizens.
San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera led on raising the minimum wage for hospitality workers to $25.
OR Sen. WInsvey Campos led on new legislation to keep medical bills from ruining Oregonians’ credit.
Boone County (MO) clerk Brianna Lennon is running a fun contest for high schoolers to submit designs for the county’s “I Voted” stickers - one of the more delightful way to get people engaged!
Cleveland mayor Justin Bibb explains how Trump’s deployment of the National Guard is hurting cities.
We’ve joined our partners at People for the American Way and New American Leaders Action Fund in supporting Mussab Ali for Jersey City mayor!
Keeping that bench going:
Mai Vang officially launched her campaign for Congress, arguing that a “new generation of leaders” is needed.
WI Rep. Francesca Hong announced her campaign for governor!
Some related reading:
I talked with the 19th about what we’re seeing among people signing up running for office:
I also talked with Mike Nellis about everything in the news this week — Charlie Kirk’s murder, Jimmy Kimmel’s cancellation, and the need for big changes to the Democratic Party.
If you’re at the Clinton Global Initiative this week, please say hi (or tune in virtually) — I’m speaking on a panel about women and democracy on Thursday morning!
Hang in there. All we have is each other!
- Amanda
I live in Monterey, CA. The 19th district.
Our congressperson is Jimmy Panetta who just voted Yea, along with 91 other Democrats this last Friday for honoring Charlie Kirk.
I sure wish our district had an alternative.