FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 1, 2026
Contact: [email protected]

Run for Something Endorses 37 Young Candidates Across 21 States

NEW YORK, NY – Today, Run for Something (RFS), a national organization that recruits and supports the next generation of leaders for state and local office, announced 37 new endorsements for the 2026 election cycle. With this class, Run for Something has now endorsed 489 candidates for 2026 across 48 states. 

The September class includes candidates running for positions ranging from local board seats to state senates, each centering their campaign on local issues affecting people’s everyday lives, such as affordable housing, accessible health care, and protecting their communities.

“Communities around the country are reeling from decisions made by the old guard, but a new generation is ready to step up,” said Amanda Litman, co-founder and president of Run for Something. “These are candidates who truly understand their communities — and have the skills and passion needed to fight for something different. We’re proud to endorse this slate of local leaders.”

This class spotlight includes young candidates tackling local issues head-on, including pushing back on data centers and corporate overreach like Flock cameras. More than half come from low-income backgrounds, and nearly half are renters. This class also includes 15 candidates running in red-to-blue opportunities, bringing the number of red-to-blue flip candidates endorsed by RFS this cycle to 188. Notably, this class also includes one Independent, Abigail Pepper, which comes after RFS expanded its endorsement criteria this cycle in recognition of the urgent need to support the next generation of values-aligned leaders.

Learn more about Run for Something’s latest endorsements here or see the full slate of candidates below:

Alabama

  • Liliana Peinder, Huntsville City Council, District 3

Arizona

  • Joysaphine Waitman-Powell, Peoria City Council, Pine District


California

  • Anthony DiMartino, Escondido City Council, District 2
  • Charlene Wang, Oakland City Council, District 2
  • James Santana, Montebello City Council, District 5
  • Jozef Maldonado, Fullerton City Council, District 5
  • Leslie Garcia, West Covina City Council, District 2
  • Sabrina Oliver, Robla School District Board of Education
  • Shelby Hebert, Chico City Council, District 2
  • Stephen Post, West Hollywood City Council

Colorado

  • Michael Farrington, RTD Board of Directors, District K

Georgia

  • Ray Smith, State Senator, District 46
  • Rohit Malhotra, Fulton County Commissioner, District 4

Illinois

  • Sarah Mertens, State Senator, District 35


Indiana

  • Bryan Duarte, Indianapolis Public Schools Board of Commissioners, District 2
  • Daqavise Winston, Indianapolis Public Schools Board of Commissioners, District 3
  • Derek Camp, Wayne Township Assessor
  • Kimberly Duff, Clinton County Commissioner, District 3


Iowa

  • Elinor Levin, State Representative, District 89


Kentucky

  • Emma Curtis, Lexington Fayette Urban County Council, District 4


Louisiana

  • ReAzalia Allen, 19th Judicial District Court Judge, Division M


Michigan

  • Kenzie Colton, Bay City Commissioner, Ward 3
  • Rebecca Amidon, State Senator, District 32

Missouri

  • Taigan Plummer, State Representative, District 54

New Hampshire

  • Nate Giffard, State Representative, Merrimack County District 20


New York

  • Josh Taveras, State Senator, District 8


North Carolina

  • Abigail Pepper, Monroe City Council, At-Large
  • Madison Segal, Wake County School Board, District 7
  • Tyler Swanson, Wake County Board of Education Chair


Ohio

  • Daquan Neal, State Representative, District 39
  • Mason Blankenship, State Representative, District 68


Oregon

  • Ivette Pantoja, Hillsboro City Council
  • Peren Tiemann, Lake Oswego City Council


Rhode Island

  • Yulyana Torres, Providence City Council, Ward 3


South Carolina

  • Ralph Prioleau, Berkeley County Council, District 7


Tennessee

  • Ali Simpson, State Representative, District 32


Texas

  • Jordan Wheatley, State Representative, District 67

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Run for Something (RFS) recruits and supports young values-aligned 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 90,000 people reaching out since November 2024 with interest in running for office.