John,
In 2017, Charmaine McGuffey was fired from Hamilton County’s sheriff department because she's gay. After she was fired, Charmaine sued her boss but it didn't take long for her to decide that just wasn't good enough.
She decided the most powerful way she could fight back was to run for Sheriff and replace him.
Earlier this month, with help from DFA members in district and across the country, Charmaine McGuffey won!
She defeated the Trump supporting, racist, sexist Democratic Sheriff in the primary with 70% of the vote. That's right, with your help, she overwhelmingly defeated the same man who fired her.
DFA members helped put Charmaine over the top, but she's not the first. With highlights like Kim Foxx in Chicago, Larry Kasner in Philadelphia, Rachael Rollins in Boston, Wesley Bell in Ferguson, Chesa Boudin in San Francisco, and now Charmaine McGuffey, we're electing transformational criminal justice reformers to District Attorney and Sheriff in cities nationwide. Make a contribution today.
As we're seeing in Georgia right now, the importance of electing reformers who will transform law enforcement from the inside is critical if we want real criminal justice in America. Ahmaud Arbery was murdered in the middle of the street in broad daylight with it all caught on video -- yet no charges were filed against the assailants for over 2 months.
It took public pressure to force local law enforcement to arrest Ahmaud's killers. Showing once again how the people who are in local positions of power have a huge impact on the safety and well-being of our community, and the difference can either save or cost lives.
When we elect criminal justice leaders like Charmaine to Sheriff, we can count on police accountability without requiring a public outcry to make it happen.
From her 33 years working in law enforcement, Charmaine has direct knowledge of the system which is the reason why she champions justice reform. She understands that progressive jail reform policy, with a focus on rehabilitative, rather than punitive strategies, results in lower recidivism and healthier communities.
She's seen it firsthand. Now, as Sheriff, she'll be able to make it happen thanks in part to you.
This is the work that DFA is all about - putting progressives into office to make real change at all levels of office nationwide. Contribute now to help DFA continue our work and to keep electing leaders like Charmaine nationwide in November.
Thank you for your support. The work we do wouldn't be possible without it.
— Charles
Charles Chamberlain
Chair, Democracy for America
