FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 15, 2025
Contact: press@runforsomething.net
Run for Something Announces 51 New Endorsements for State and Local Offices
NEW YORK, NY— Today, Run for Something announced its May 2025 endorsement slate of 51 candidates across 16 states who represent the next generation of Democratic leadership. Run for Something (RFS) is a national organization that recruits and supports young, diverse candidates running for down-ballot offices. RFS-endorsed candidates receive strategic campaign support from RFS’s network of staff, partner organizations, volunteers, and alumni.
“We are so proud to announce our May endorsement class because these candidates aren’t just running for local office, they are building the future of the Democratic Party from the ground up,” said Amanda Litman, Co-Founder and President of Run for Something. “At a time when our democracy is under threat and vulnerable communities are demanding real change, we need bold and fearless leaders stepping up at every level. These are the candidates that will build the bench and the movement that will define our future.”
The May endorsement class underscores RFS’s commitment to helping young and diverse candidates who are reflective of the communities they are running to represent. Nearly half of the candidates identify as women, half identify as people of color, and over a quarter of them identify as LGBTQIA+. With this new slate, RFS has endorsed over 127 candidates in 2025 alone, fueling a rapidly growing bench of young and bold leaders.
“At every level of government, we need leaders who reflect the urgency and values of this moment,” said Johanna Silva Waki, Executive Director of Run for Something. “Our endorsees understand the stakes, and they’re rising up to meet this moment with urgency, empathy, and action. They’re not only responding to the challenges of today—they’re shaping what’s next for their communities.”
Since its founding in 2017, Run for Something has helped elect nearly 1,500 candidates in 49 states and D.C. – including over 250 candidates in 2024, 18 of whom flipped their seats from red to blue. And just since the 2024 election, over 45,000 people have reached out to Run for Something expressing interest in running for office—more than in the organization’s first three years combined. Today, RFS has built the largest pipeline of potential candidates in the country, with over 200,000 people from all 50 states.
Learn more about Run For Something’s 2025 endorsement class here and see the full slate of today’s endorsement class below:
ALABAMA
Alexandria Braswell for House of Representatives, District 11
COLORADO
Rebecka Lovisone for Arvada City Council, District 3
FLORIDA
Matthew Crowley for Winter Haven City Commissioner, Seat 4
GEORGIA
Kelsea Bond for Atlanta City Council, District 2
LOUISIANA
Danyelle Christmas for New Orleans City Council, District E
MASSACHUSETTS
Amanda McGonigle for Falmouth School Committee
Erin Turowski for Salem City Council, Ward 1
MICHIGAN
Alex King for Livonia City Council
Clara Martinez for Lansing City Council, At-Large
Denzel Anton McCampbell for Detroit City Council, District 7
Gabriela Santiago-Romero for Detroit City Council, District 6
MINNESOTA
Michael Wilson for Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, At Large
NEW JERSEY
Balvir Singh for General Assembly, District 7
Brandon Saffold for General Assembly, District 1
NEW YORK
Becca Niitzel for Kent Town Council
Braiden McElhaney for Orchard Park Town Council
Elaine Denton for Onondaga County Legislator, District 10
Justin Perkins for Albany Common Council, Ward 6
Laura Donovan for Ulster County Legislature, District 11
Lindsey Grossman for Ulster County Legislature, District 19
Maureen Richardson for Monroe Town Supervisor
Michael Colombo for Staten Island Borough President
William Rivera for Oneonta Town Supervisor
OHIO
Darius Beckham for Dayton City Commission
Mohammad Faraj for Cleveland City Council, Ward 7
Rebecca Maurer for Cleveland City Council, Ward 5
OKLAHOMA
JeKia Harrison for House of Representatives, District 97
OREGON
Jesse Maldonado for Lane Community College Board of Directors, Zone 7
Katie Jal for Redmond Park & Recreation Board
PENNSYLVANIA
Becca Lebo for Annville Cleona School Board
Chris Belles for Luzerne County Council
Cindy Lam for Manheim Township School Board Director
Dominic Gardunio for North East School Board
Elena Young for Columbia Borough School Board
Emily Singh for Luzerne County Council
Frankie Malacaria for Scranton City Council
Jennifer Rivera for Lower Merion School Board
Jeremy Zimmerman for Manheim Township Commissioner
Joar Dahn for Darby Borough Mayor
Joi Washington for Media Borough Mayor
Joy Givens for Mt. Lebanon School Director
Koh Chiba for North Penn School Director
Kylie Morris for Millcreek Township Supervisor
Mekkai Williams for Hempfield School Board
Nicole Zelen for West Deer Township Supervisor, District 1
Pramod Dibble for Wallingford-Swarthmore School Board
Rodger Allen for Bensalem Township School Board
VIRGINIA
Lily Franklin for House of Delegates, District 41
Risë Hayes for State Delegate, District 52
Ross Svenson for Broad Run District School Board
WASHINGTON
Ry Armstrong for Seattle Mayor