FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 17, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
Run for Something Endorses 70 Young Candidates Across 25 States and DC
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 endorsements for the 2026 election cycle. This endorsement class includes 70 young, diverse, and community-driven candidates across 25 states and the District of Columbia for races from school boards to state legislatures.
“People across the country want to see change, and they understand politics-as-usual is not working for everyday people,” said Amanda Litman, Co-Founder and President of Run for Something. “These candidates understand the urgency of the moment and are done waiting. They are standing up, challenging the status quo, and working to bring bold new visions for progress to their community, and Run for Something will be there to support them every step of the way.”
Run for Something’s latest slate of newly endorsed candidates reflects 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, 12 Gen-Z candidates, and nearly a third of the endorsed candidates are renters — underscoring how housing policy continues to be a major driver in civic engagement.
Learn more about Run for Something’s latest endorsements here or see the full slate of candidates below:
Arizona
Tre’Davon Rhodes, Tucson Unified School District Governing Board
Arkansas
Kadarius Knapper, Little Rock School Board, Zone 3
California
Brianna Coston, La Mesa-Spring Valley School Board Trustee, Area 3
Estuardo Mazariegos, Los Angeles City Council, District 9
George Syrop, Hayward Council Member, District 1
Colorado
Gena Ozols, Colorado State House, District 3
District of Columbia
Aparna Raj, DC Council, Ward 1
Florida
Felipe Sousa-Lazabellet, Florida State House, District 42
Linsey Grove, St. Petersburg City Council, District 6
Illinois
Ahmed Karrar, Illinois State Senate, District 14
Kevin Hall, Illinois State Senate, District 56
Patrick Hanley, Illinois State Senate, District 9
Nabeela Syed, Illinois State Senate, District 26
Mahnoor Ahmad, DuPage County Board, District 2
Maria Sinkule, DuPage County Board, District 1
Indiana
Lindsay Gramlich, Indiana State House, District 39
Melissa Fisher, Allen County Council, District 1
Iowa
Blake Clyde, Iowa State House, District 33
Annie Craven, Iowa State House, District 46
Matt Robinson, Iowa State House, District 72
Maine
Kiernan Majerus-Collins, Maine State House, District 95
Maryland
Allison Eriksen, Montgomery County Council, District 3
Arinze Ifekauche, Howard County Council, District 2
Daniel Armando Jones, Prince George’s County Council, District 2
Geonta Simmons, Anne Arundel County Council, District 1
Megan Outten, Wicomico County Council, District 7
Massachusetts
Evan MacKay, Massachusetts State House, 25th Middlesex District
Michigan
Alex Hawkins, Michigan State House, District 55
Katrina Manetta, Michigan State House, District 58
Qamar Stamos, 67-4 District Court Judge
Minnesota
Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, Minnesota State Senate, District 47
Nevada
Minja Yan, Clark County Commission, District F
New Jersey
Mansi Patel, Long Hill Township Committee
New York
Elaine Denton, Onondaga County Legislator, District 10
Laura Donovan, Ulster County Legislature, District 11
Lindsey Grossman, Ulster County Legislature, District 19
Cat Sayles, Eastchester Town Supervisor
Thomas Boomhower, New York State Assembly, District 102
William Rivera, Oneonta Supervisor
Brian Romero, New York State Assembly, District 34
Christian Celeste Tate, New York State Assembly, District 54
Conrad Blackburn, New York State Assembly, District 70
Eli Northrup, New York State Assembly, District 69
Ryder Kessler, New York State Assembly, District 66
Vanessa Aronson, New York State Assembly, District 73
Zahava Durchin, New York State Assembly District 41
Ohio
Ashley Bryant Bailey, Ohio State House, District 26
Natasha Wheatley Caffrey, Ohio State Senate, District 3
Oregon
Athena Aguiar, Eugene City Council, Ward 5
Pennsylvania
Kofi Osei, Pennsylvania State Senate, District 24
Rhode Island
David Morales, Providence Mayor
Jacqueline Goldman, Providence City Council, Ward 5
Tennessee
Brandon Huckaby, Knox County Commission, District 3
Arriell Gipson-Martin, Shelby County Clerk
Texas
Allison Mitchell, Texas State House, District 108
Emmanuel Guerrero, Texas State House, District 144
Jordan Brown, Texas State House, District 120
Junior Ezeonu, Texas State House, District 101
Kristian Carranza, Texas State House, District 118
Orlando Lopez, Texas State House, District 33
Kristyna Payton Loundy, Texas State House, District 28
Davis Mendoza Darusman, Harris County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5, Place 2
Michael Adams-Hurta, Justice, 14th Court of Appeals, Place 7
Pernell Davis, Harris County District Clerk
Priscilla Villarreal, Dallas County Criminal Court 9
Virginia
Natalie Kidd, Hampton City School Board, At-Large
West Virginia
Lauren Hensley, Cabell County Board of Education
Wisconsin
Amy Zimmerman, Wisconsin State Assembly, District 13
Grant Mathu, La Crosse County Board, District 6
Kelly Leibold, La Crosse County Board, District 1 Supervisor
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Run for Something (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 nearly 80,000 people reaching out since last November with interest in running for office.