Meet the candidates we supported in 2024

  • Aisha Farooqi is running for House District 57 in Michigan.  Aisha immigrated to the US in 1993 and saw first hand the disparities in educational resources between school districts.  She is now an assistant prosecuting attorney in Wayne County, and has spent her adult life as a public servant, fighting for the vulnerable and marginalized members of our community. She was motivated to run for office when a good friend died of COVID19 and she narrowly lost the election in 2022.  She fell in love with her community as she was campaigning and was asked to run again, to ensure people can live comfortably, afford groceries and healthcare, access good education with school resources like mental health, and have reproductive freedom.

  • Allison Riggs is running for the North Carolina Supreme Court, hoping to retain her position as the youngest woman ever to serve in this position. She spent 14 years as a civil rights attorney fighting to protect and restore voting rights across the South. Then

    Roe v. Wade

    was overturned and she knew that state supreme courts would become battlegrounds for reproductive rights. Allison was right, and women in North Carolina need her on the bench to protect their independence, their safety, and their freedom.

  • Ashwin Ramaswami is running for Georgia Senate for District 48. A dedicated advocate from Johns Creek, he left his job in election security to serve the community. With experience in cybersecurity, Ashwin has worked to keep Georgians safe online and invest in technology that benefits everyone. He is passionate about better gun safety laws, education, and protecting reproductive healthcare. From building startups to inspiring legislation, Ashwin brings a unique tech-forward perspective to the table.

  • Brandy Reese is running for Arizona State House District 13, one of few competitive districts that could be decisive in gaining a democratic majority in the legislature. Brandy’s pathway out of poverty was through access to quality education, so she was motivated to run in response to her alarm around Arizona’s “Red for Ed” movement. Brandy’s daughters and the repeal of Roe v. Wade inspired her to fight for women’s reproductive rights and their future. Through canvassing, she recognized that electing good people was essential to creating solid legislation. In addition to access to public education and reproductive healthcare, Brandy is invested in making gains for voting rights, gun safety, and water safety. A forensic scientist and peace officer by training, Brandy’s law enforcement background makes her more approachable on public safety. Brandy has knocked on 1400 doors in the last month, and can’t think of anything more important to do than to work to flip the Arizona legislature.

  • Christina Hines is running for Macomb County, Michigan Prosecutor. Christina has spent her entire career fighting for justice for crime victims and is running to bring dignity, transparency, and integrity back to the Prosecutor's Office. Her priorities include implementing a trauma-informed approach to working with victims of crime; creating diversion and deflection programs for appropriate cases involving substance use disorders, mental health issues, and "crimes of poverty;" working to increase trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve; and staffing an Environmental Protection Unit to hold polluters accountable. Christina has also been recognized as one of Crain’s Notable Women in Law, a D Business 30 in their Thirties, and a Future Leader by the Detroit Regional Chamber.

  • Dane Pittman is running for District 24, North Carolina House of Representatives because he believes Wilson County is worth fighting for. His county is a key pathway to winning the state and breaking an extremist supermajority. A current captain of the North Carolina National Guard, he has spent his career serving on a variety of non-profit and public service boards. Raised by a single mother, he is committed to policies that protect freedom, preserve individual rights, and give families the ability to thrive regardless of background or zip code; including improving public education, the state foster care system, and reproductive healthcare. 

  • Elizabeth Moro is running for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 160, trying to flip that seat blue. A mother of five, she works as a real estate agent and owns a local café where the community can come together to discuss issues.  She is the author of The Civil Graces Project, which focuses on “uniting principles that uplift us and bring us together to pursue common ground.”  The issues Elizabeth hopes to focus on include reproductive rights, voting rights, environmental preservation, access to health care, and public education.

  • Fern Leard is running for Pennsylvania State House District 120. A mother of twins and long-time healthcare advocate, Fern’s political journey began when a health insurance company denied an essential part of her son’s treatment and she began to advocate for a bill in Congress that would mandate coverage - which ultimately passed with bipartisan support. Fern was raised by a single mom, her grandmother, as well as foster parents. Fern entered the workforce after high school washing dishes, waiting tables, and tending bar before earning her Nurse Aide Certification and spending nearly a decade working in pediatrics and the elderly community. As someone with firsthand experience of the issues state legislators are elected to fix, she is running to help strengthen PA’s public school system, improve healthcare access, and improve working conditions and wages.

  • A Topeka native, Jacquie Whitney Lightcap is running for House District 52 in Kansas. Raised in a family of educators, she has always valued the importance of giving back. She currently works as a Volunteer Coordinator at United Way of Kaw Valley. Jacquie supports fully funded public schools, equitable tax policies, and securing quality healthcare access for everyone. Her dedication to the community is evident in her lifelong volunteer work and drive to create a better Kansas for all.

  • Janice O’Neil Robinson is a candidate for Michigan House District 28.  A longtime teacher, she was compelled to run for office by her desire to address issues plaguing public education.  Her life experience has made her a strong supporter of worker’s rights.  She is committed to the creation of green jobs to help both the environment and her district’s infrastructure and economic development.  Her passion will help her address these issues, along with the many other needs of the workers and families in her district.

  • Jennifer Atlas is running for State Senate, District 5 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is a single mother who is passionate about advocating for education and families. Jennifer is committed to investing in quality schools and ensuring all Nevadans have access to life-saving health care. Her experience and dedication will help her address other pressing needs of her constituents like affordable housing and environmental issues.

  • Jordan Lopez is running uncontested for the North Carolina House of Representatives, District 112. Speaking about his hometown and future district of East Charlotte, he notes, “‘There is so much untapped potential here.” As a proud graduate of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools, Jordan is committed to investing in public education and supporting families and children. Other key priorities are afterschool programming to address youth violence and childcare stabilization grants. Jordan has already started building bipartisan relationships in the Raleigh legislature, and he is eager to support the needs of rural communities, promote economic development and affordable housing in East Charlotte, and work to protect democracy across North Carolina.

  • Kathryn Larson is running for

    the Idaho House of Representatives - Seat 1B in Sandpoint, ID. As a child she moved 11 times before high school. As an adult she has worked in education, technology and global consulting. Her life experience has resulted in her desire to run for the common good of the Northern Idaho district that she has called home for almost 10 years.

    Kathryn

    will do this by working for local focus, freedom and an economy that works for all which she will use as the filters for her platform priorities of education, healthcare and infrastructure. One of her greatest joys in running for office has been speaking to so many members of her community. When not working to save our democracy, Kathryn is a glass artist.

  • Laura Murvartian is running for Georgia House of Representatives, District 48. From working in chicken processing plants as a teenager to becoming the first in her family to earn a college degree, Laura built a successful career in corporate negotiations and entrepreneurship. As the founder of two nonprofits supporting the Latino community and promoting literacy, she has always given back. Laura is ready to fight for the rights and opportunities Georgia families deserve—like healthcare access, economic security, and protecting women's rights.

  • Lisa Grafstein is running for re-election, to continue representing North Carolina Senate District 13. Before being elected to the North Carolina Senate in 2023, Lisa had a career as a civil rights lawyer and litigator, with more than a decade spent advocating on behalf of people with disabilities. Lisa is focused on preserving democracy by combatting the gerrymandering and election law changes being pushed by NC Republicans. As the only out LGBTQ+ member of the NC Senate, she is also actively pushing back against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Her top policy priorities include fighting for workers’ rights, preserving reproductive rights, and promoting racial equality. She is committed to swinging the pendulum back toward progress for her community.

  • LuAnn Bird is running for Assembly District 61 in Wisconsin to flip her district and bring civility back into politics. She can’t just sit back when she sees a problem, she gets involved! In addition to being a full-time caregiver for her husband, a paralyzed veteran, she has proven herself to be a tireless advocate for people with disabilities and the LGBTQ+ community. By knocking doors, she has learned that her neighbors care about the same things: safe streets, good schools, a clean environment, and voting rights. She is committed to building common ground and ensuring her community’s rights (to vote, to bodily autonomy, and safety from gun violence) are protected.

  • Megan Kocher is running for House District 119 in Pennsylvania. Megan has experienced firsthand the challenges faced by average people. She understands what’s on the line and will do the work necessary to positively impact the district and the people living here. Megan has persevered through sexism and being told “girls can’t do that” to achieve her goals. District 119 has never been represented by a woman, but Megan overcame her doubters and detractors to win her primary. She is a dedicated community organizer who cares deeply about the current and future generations of Pennsylvanians.

  • Nicole Sidman is running for North Carolina House District 105.  After Representative Tricia Cotham betrayed voters’ trust by switching parties and providing the deciding vote for Republicans to gut reproductive freedom, Nicole decided it was time to run for office.  

    As an attorney, educator, community leader and mom, Nicole is running for the State House to take up the fights that matter to her community: protecting reproductive freedom and access, drawing fair campaign maps, improving and funding North Carolina’s public education system, and passing common sense gun safety reforms.

  • Patty Kim is a candidate running for State Senate, District 15 in Pennsylvania. Patty’s public service started in 2005 with a run for Harrisburg City Council. Throughout her career, Patty has led with her values and is committed to transparency. She was one of the first members of the entire legislature to post all of her office’s expenses online, and every year she returns the legislature’s annual pay raise to the state. Just as importantly, Patty has spent a significant amount of time learning from her constituents and is committed to meeting them where they are and serving their needs. Her top priorities are supporting working families by fighting for living wages, affordable housing and healthcare, ensuring there is fair funding across public schools, and protecting reproductive rights and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

  • Shadia Martini is running for the Michigan House of Representatives, District 54. Shadia arrived in Michigan after fleeing her homeland, Syria, and has been an active member of her southeastern Michigan community for 30 years. She lived through the experience of an authoritarian takeover, and is determined to defend democracy and human rights. With a background in real estate, she is acutely aware of the affordable housing challenges faced by Michiganders, and is committed to solving this complex issue. In addition to affordable housing, preserving a women’s right to choose and funding public education are top priorities. She looks forward to using her voice to advocate on behalf of the Michigan community that has given her so much.

  • Stefanie is a Lehigh Valley Native and practicing Cardiology Physician Assistant running for the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives District 187. At age 33, Stefanie was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, and through her experience as a breast cancer patient, survivor & healthcare provider, she witnessed firsthand how damaging exorbitant healthcare costs and barriers to healthcare access are for Pennsylvanians. She is running to lower healthcare costs, protect reproductive rights, fully fund public education, and promote smart growth and development in the Lehigh Valley.

  • Mother, attorney, and community advocate, Susie Greenberg, is running for George House of Representatives, District 53. For nearly three decades, Susie has worked within her community as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster children, a mentor for legal refugees, a volunteer college counselor for Sandy Springs Education Force, and a former board member of Planned Parenthood Southeast. Susie key priorities are to restore reproductive freedoms, improve safety through common sense gun measures, and ensure economic opportunity by addressing taxes, education, and healthcare.

  • Tanneshia Dukes is running for the North Carolina House of Representatives, District 59.  A former teacher, Tanneshia has advocated for early intervention, PreK, and quality child care.  She recognizes that economic development depends on a strong public school system and will champion the needs of that system.  In addition to education, Tanneshia will fight for women’s rights, reproductive freedom, and will be a strong voice for black maternal health.  She is committed to serving the needs of the people in her district to ensure a better future for all.

  • Veda Kanitz is running for House District 57A in the southern Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minnesota.  She is a retired local high school science teacher, who got her start in community organizing to defeat a constitutional ban on gay marriage in 2013.  Veda is the Recipient of the Willard Munger Award for Distinguished Environmental Stewardship.  In addition to environmental stewardship, she is committed to supporting public schools, inspiring young people to become teachers by increasing pay and benefits, and supporting the rights of LGBTQ and immigrant communities.

  • Woodson Bradley is running for North Carolina Senate District 42. Woodson has been a realtor in Charlotte since 2002 and is running for office to bring common sense solutions to the challenges facing public schools, women's health, civil rights, and the local economy. Woodson has dedicated her life to public service, volunteerism, advocacy, and being a community leader. As a domestic violence survivor and advocate, she serves as

    a speaker and classroom instructor/facilitator for Love Speaks Out, a teen dating violence prevention program. Woodson is also a member of the Rotary Club, a group fitness instructor and ambassador for the Greater Charlotte YMCA, and a dedicated volunteer with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District.