FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Contact: press@runforsomething.net

Run for Something Primary Day Preview: Candidates to Watch in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maryland

NEW YORK, NY—Today, voters in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maryland are heading to the polls for primaries, and Run for Something—the nation’s leading organization in progressive candidate recruitment—is proud to support a slate of young, bold, and values-driven candidates in each state. These down-ballot races will shape everything from public education and housing to climate policy and civil rights in their communities.

“These down-ballot races may not grab national headlines, but their impact is felt deeply in our communities. They determine how schools are funded, how cities grow, how climate policy is implemented, and how inclusive and responsive our governments can be,” said Amanda Litman, President and co-founder of Run for Something. “We’ve endorsed candidates who saw a problem in their community and chose to do something about it. They are not waiting for permission to lead—they’re already doing the work.”

Below is a preview of the candidates Run for Something has endorsed and the races we are watching closely this week:  

New Hampshire

  • Bryce Kaw-uh, Manchester Board of Aldermen, Ward 1
    Bryce Kaw-uh is running because he believes that city leaders must be willing to show up and do the hard work. Over the past few years, he has stood strong in his support for affordable housing, fiscal responsibility, safe streets, and public education. He brings a wide range of experiences to the table, from his upbringing as a military brat to his four-year tenure as Chair of the Manchester Planning Board. 
  • Liz O’Neil-Wong, Manchester School Board, Ward 11
    Liz O’Neil-Wong is running for reelection because she believes that the children deserve to grow up in a city that invests in them. As a public school teacher, she knows this requires well-funded public education, safe and supportive places for them to grow and learn, and a community of people ready to do the work. She has experienced firsthand how valuable a Manchester public school education is.

Massachusetts

  • Andrew Smith, Salem City Council, Ward 2
    Andrew Smith is running because he knows that what happens at a national level starts locally, and he wants a brighter future for his two kids. He believes that Salem is an empathetic and compassionate city that can be a change leader for the cities and towns around it and beyond, and sees a chance to grow smartly as a city by building quality housing for all, strengthening the workforce, education, and resiliency to climate change, and working together to affect change locally.
  • Erin Turowski, Salem City Council, Ward 1
    After a series of fatal crashes in Salem, Erin Turowski created a grassroots pedestrian safety organization to advocate for vulnerable road users in her city. She was subsequently appointed to Salem’s Transportation Commission and Safe Streets for All Task Force, and is now running for Salem’s Ward 1 City Councilor. Erin’s campaign focuses on safe transportation, climate resiliency, improving access to housing, reducing the cost of living, and improving Salem’s tourism economy. 
  • Lydia King, Salem City Council, Ward 5
    Lydia King is a community organizer and local non-profit leader in Salem, Massachusetts. Lydia has tirelessly advocated for affordable housing, education funding, workers’ rights, and civil rights for our immigrant neighbors. Lydia was raised in a union household in Lynn, MA, and is running to make the working class a priority, through affordable housing, climate resiliency, traffic calming, and education funding in Salem.
  • Katherine Cabral, Chelsea School Committee, At-Large
    Kati is a lifelong Chelsea resident, Black Latina, educator, and alumna of Chelsea Public Schools and Bates College. She currently serves as Vice-Chair on the Chelsea School Committee and is running for re-election. Kati’s journey on the School Committee began as a high school senior when she was nominated to serve as the student representative. This experience fueled her determination to give back to the community that supported her. She has taught science to 7th and 8th graders in Chelsea and worked as a recruitment and retention manager. 
  • Willie Burnley, Jr., Somerville Mayor
    Willie is a Somerville City Councilor At-Large and a vocal advocate for social justice. He has worked tirelessly to create transformative policies, including the abolition of medical debt and the establishment of an unarmed alternative emergency response program. As a renter, former union steward, and writer, he has been a voice for those most impacted by policy decisions. His experience as a former campaign staffer for Senators Warren and Markey has given him the skills necessary to create meaningful change.
  • Ace Tayloe, Northampton City Council, Ward 3
    Ace Tayloe is running for Ward 3 City Council because their ward deserves affordable housing, repaired sidewalks, and a transparent government. They entered city government through their work on Northampton’s Housing Partnership, penning a bill protecting renters from brokers’ fees. They’ve held careers as a computer programmer, a teacher, and now a retail worker, and understand firsthand how perspectives and needs change based on income.

Maryland

Keanuú Smith-Brown (KSB) is the eldest of six siblings and a first-generation college graduate born in Annapolis, MD. Keanuú is a visionary leader with over 15 years of experience in community service and political leadership. He has been involved in politics and government since the age of 13 and manages his own political/social consultancy. He is running to represent Ward 3 and Annapolis in order to ensure a brighter, better, more equitable future for all.

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Run for Something (RFS) recruits and supports young progressive candidates for down-ballot offices. Since its founding, RFS has helped elect nearly 1,500 candidates across the country, including 18 candidates in red-to-blue seats in the 2024 election cycle. Today, RFS has the largest database of any other Democratic organization, with over 67,000 people reaching out since November with interest in running for office.