FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 7, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
Run for Something Endorses Nearly 50 Young Candidates Across 24 States
NEW YORK — Today, Run for Something (RFS), a national organization that recruits and supports the next generation of progressive leaders for state and local office, announced its newest slate of 49 endorsements for the 2026 election cycle. With this class, Run for Something has now endorsed 408 candidates in 2026 across 45 states for local seats on school boards, courts, city councils, and state legislatures to enact changes big and small that impact voters’ day-to-day lives.
“Run for Something is working to transform the face of politics – and that starts locally with young, progressive candidates willing to fight for their communities,” said Amanda Litman, co-founder and president of Run for Something. “From a 17-year-old running for school board to protect public education to a 24-year-old seeking to secure affordability in the state legislature after growing up in rural poverty, our candidates are running to power bold, historic change. These are the candidates who are energizing voters across the country and showing what can happen when authentic candidates who understand their communities decide to run and lead.”
Run for Something’s endorsed candidates reflect its mission to recruit and support everyday leaders age 40 and under who bring real, lived experience and bold ideas to office. This slate includes 36 first-time candidates, 30 red-to-blue seats, and 13 Gen Z candidates. Over half of the candidates identify as having a low-income background and over a third of the candidates are renters — underscoring how affordability and housing continue to be major drivers in civic engagement. This slate also includes at least eight candidates who are educators, former educators, or education advocates.
Learn more about Run for Something’s latest endorsements here or see the full slate of candidates below:
Arizona
Angel Algarin, Maricopa County Special Healthcare District Board, District 3
Michael Abramson III, Tempe Elementary Governing Board
Stephania Lenzi, Tempe Union High School District Governing Board, At-Large
Wilmarie Maldonado Castro, Governing Board Member, Alhambra Elementary School District
Naomi Miguel, State Representative, District 23
California
Athena Burciaga, Marina City Council, District 4
Brandon Macias, Rowland Unified School District Board of Education, Area 3
Chris Castorena, Banning City Council, District 5
Isuri S. Ramos, Santa Ana City Council, Ward 6
Jessie Lopez, State Assembly, District 68
Colorado
Coleman Erickson, RTD Board Of Directors, District J
Connecticut
Rob Blanchard, State Senator, District 28
Florida
Dinah Escarment, State Representative, District 108
Erin Toler, Escambia County School Board, District 1
Michael Ferguson, State Representative, District 100
Richard Lamondin, State Senator, District 38
Georgia
Danielle Bell, State Representative, District 44
Maggie Goldman, Fulton County Commissioner, District 1
Margaret Spear, State Representative, District 3
Illinois
Rachel King, Madison County Board, District 11
Indiana
Ranjan Rohatgi, St. Joseph County Council, District B
Kentucky
Melina Hettiaratchi, Louisville Metro Council, District 11
Massachusetts
Michelle Badger, State Representative, 1st Plymouth District
Michigan
Jalal Abdallah, State Representative, District 15
Mallak Anani, Dearborn School Board
Minnesota
Daniel Wilson, State Representative, District 26A
Hunter Cantrell, State Representative, 55B
Jen Fox, State Representative, District 41B
Missouri
Brenna Barksdale, State Representative, District 163
Katelyn Zach, State Representative, District 133
New Mexico
Luke Jungmann, State Representative, District 60
New York
Alexander Sewell, Supervisor, Town of Kent
Ohio
Caleb Price, State Representative, District 30
Oklahoma
Hannah Cole, State Representative, District 86
Jeffrey Perez, State Representative, District 84
Pennsylvania
Andrew Harbaugh, State Representative, District 63
South Dakota
Adam Bair, State Representative, District 10
Tennessee
Arriell Gipson-Martin, State Representative, District 91
Margaret Price, State Representative, District 83
Marlayna Trego, State Representative, District 37
Texas
Ayaan Moledina, Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees, Place 3
Matthias Early, State Representative, District 20
Utah
David Chappell, State Representative, District 62
Sarah Reale, State Board of Education
Vermont
Audrey Grant, State Representative, Caledonia-2
Washington
Danny Tarkenton, Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney
Dusti Arab, Clark County Council, District 1
Katherine Bryant Ingman, San Juan County Council, District 3
Samantha Cruz-Mendoza, Bellingham Port Commission, District 4
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The Run for Something network includes Run for Something Civics, Run for Something Action Fund, and Run for Something PAC. Run for Something PAC (RFS) recruits and supports young progressive candidates running for state and local offices. Since its founding, RFS has helped elect over 1,600 candidates across the country, including 43 candidates in red-to-blue seats in the 2025 election cycle. Today, RFS has the largest database of any other Democratic organization, with over 80,000 people reaching out since November 2024 with interest in running for office.