Weekly Wrap

December 22, 2023

With the election year right around the corner, here are some of the candidates we're watching in competitive districts around the country.

Mazi Melesa Pilip is a former IDF paratrooper and Ethiopian-born Jewish mother of seven. After serving in uniform, Mazi earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Haifa and a masters degree from Tel Aviv University. 

Last week, the Republican party of Long Island nominated her to run for the seat recently vacated by George Santos. The special election will be held on February 13.

You can learn more about Pilip here.

Nancy Dahlstrom currently serves as Alaska's lieutenant governor and recently announced she would challenge Democrat Mary Peltola in the state's sole Congressional district.

She already has the backing of Speaker Mike Johnson, and this is a top target for Republicans, as it is one of just five districts in the country to have voted for former President Trump in 2020 and a Democrat for House in 2022.

You can learn more about Dahlstrom here.

Margarita Wilkinson, a Hispanic media executive who recently launched a challenge to incumbent Democrat Rep. Mike Levin, posted an impressive $1M+ haul in Q3.

She began her campaign by running ads introducing herself and her "American Dream" story to voters in both English and Spanish. 

You can learn more about Wilkinson here.

Laurie Buckhout is a retired army colonel, decorated combat commander, and business leader.

Buckhout is running in the newly redistricted NC-01 that just became significantly more favorable toward Republicans and that The Cook Report now rates as a "D Toss-up."

You can learn more about Buckhout here.

Heidi Kasama, a Nevada state legislator and realtor, announced a challenge to Democrat Rep. Susie Lee back in August.

Since then, she racked up a major endorsement from Gov. Joe Lombardo and capped off a solid Q3 of fundraising, bringing in $337K for her campaign.

You can learn more about Kasama here. 

Alison Esposito is a 25-year veteran of the NYPD who ran for Lieutenant Governor alongside Lee Zeldin last cycle. 

A November poll from the Congressional Leadership Fund showed her tied at 43% with incumbent Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan. 

You can learn more about Esposito here.

After Republican Joe Kent squandered this winnable seat last year, many are looking to Leslie Lewallen as a viable alternative to defeat Democrat Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez next year. She is a former prosecutor, sitting member of the Camas City Council, and a mother of four.

Like Alaska's at-large district, WA-03 is one of just five districts in the country to have voted for former President Trump in 2020 and a Democrat for House in 2022.

You can learn more about Lewallen here. 

• Fox News: Gingrich: These 3 Women Leaders Are Showing Us How To Take On Woke Universities

• California Globe: Michelle Steele Vs. ?: The Fight For California’s 45th Congressional District

• Oregon Capital Chronicle: Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer Reflects On First Year In Office

• CBS Mason City: Congresswoman Ashley Hinson Releases A Video On Her 2023 Work For Iowans

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Happy Holidays!