TO: Interested Parties
FROM: Run for Something and Vote Mama
RE: Moms Are Powering a Sea Change in Leadership
DATE: November 18, 2025
Moms, parents, and caregivers deeply understand the needs of their communities — and are uniquely positioned to lead. From the sky-high costs of childcare to the urgent need for affordable housing, they are experiencing firsthand the impact policies have on families.
That’s exactly why recruiting and supporting moms to run for office is so critical. In a political landscape where the status quo is increasingly out of touch with the needs of their constituents, investing in leaders whose authentic, lived experiences inform their approach to governing means taking a step towards the changes our communities need most.
IN 2025, VOTERS ELECTED MOMS TO KEY OFFICES NATIONWIDE
Voters took to the polls en masse this year to elect a new generation of leaders whom they could count on — and moms were at the forefront of that blue wave. In Virginia, they were majority-makers in the General Assembly, and in key races in red, blue, and purple states alike, they flipped seats and booted out extremists.
At Run for Something, 41% of the organization’s candidates in 2025 have been parents or caretakers. At Vote Mama, all endorsed candidates are mothers. With our support, moms saw key victories on Election Day: Nine out of the 13 seats Democrats flipped in Virginia were candidates endorsed by Vote Mama, with a national win rate of nearly 90%. Run for Something had a 65% win rate across the board (excluding another 10 headed to a runoff) and flipped 43 seats from red to blue — including many races where its endorsees were parents.
Some key wins from Run for Something and Vote Mama’s endorsed candidates include:
- Adele McClure won reelection to the Virginia House of Delegates, helping to hold the chamber’s majority and secure a Democratic trifecta. As a new mother in 2024, Del. McClure spoke about how becoming a mom underscored the urgency of her work to improve access to child care. “It’s completely changed my perspective on what’s needed and what’s affordable,” she said.
- Stacey Carroll won her race for the Virginia House of Delegates, flipping a crucial seat that expanded Democrats’ majority. As a mom of three, foster parent, and veteran, she understands firsthand the importance of investing in education, strengthening local resources, and fostering a thriving community. Her platform advocated for policies that would support working families, including creating jobs, funding education, and expanding access to health care.
- Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger won her race for a seat on the Minnesota State Senate, securing a Democratic majority. Hemmingsen-Jaegar has served in the State House since 2023, including on committees focused on children and families and health care. Supporting working families and children, including affordable child care, was a key aspect of her platform.
- Danielle Chesek won her race for Scranton School Director in Pennsylvania. She ran for re-election to continue advocating for students and her community. With a unique perspective as a parent and district alumna, she has focused on equity, transparency, and student-centered decision-making during her tenure on the Scranton School Board.
MOMS ARE LEADING FAMILY-FRIENDLY POLICIES FORWARD
Across the country, moms are already bringing their lived experiences to lawmaking, leading the charge on policies that will help move the dial for their communities as costs continue to soar and fundamental rights face unprecedented threats.
- In Georgia, moms like State Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes and State Rep. Jasmine Clark have championed policies such as access to maternal health, parental leave, free school lunches, and others that would improve the lives of working families. Just this fall, for example, Sen. Islam Parkes petitioned Gov. Brian Kemp to step in and use state funds to help feed families during the federal shutdown as SNAP was in jeopardy.
- Pennsylvania State Sen. Amanda Cappelletti and State Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes are at the forefront of the fight for reproductive rights and maternal health. Earlier this year, as a new mother and a co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, Rep. Mayes advocated for a “Momnibus” package to help address maternal health. Sen. Cappelletti was the first state senator to give birth while in office, and later bravely shared the story of her own pregnancy loss — underscoring that mothers bring critical and unique perspectives to lawmaking.
- In Los Angeles, City Council Members Ysabel Jurado and Nithya Raman are steadfast advocates for their neighbors. Just last week, a measure written by Councilmember Raman to ease the financial burden on renters by updating the city’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance for the first time in 40 years passed. Councilmember Jurado, a single mom and daughter of undocumented Filipino immigrants, has been a vocal advocate for immigrant rights and families as Trump’s ICE ramped up raids in her community.
WHAT’S NEXT
In 2025, moms ran for office on platforms that centered authentic, compassionate leadership — and voters responded by electing them to key offices across the country. These leaders are remaking the Democratic Party from the ground up, ushering in a new generation of lawmakers who are deeply embedded in their community and understand its struggles firsthand.
Recruiting and supporting more moms to run for office has proven to be a critical way to reach disillusioned voters and drive enthusiasm across the ticket, and in 2026, they are again poised to help secure victories again up and down the ballot.
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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 close to 75,000 people reaching out since last November with interest in running for office.
Vote Mama PAC endorses, funds, and mentors Democratic moms running for office up and down the ballot and across the country. Since launching in 2019, Vote Mama PAC has made more than 600 endorsements of Democratic moms running for office. In the 2024 elections, Vote Mama PAC-endorsed candidates achieved a 70% win rate. In 2025, the organization secured a nearly 90% national win rate.