Hi John,

I want to introduce you to Braiden McElhaney who is running for Orchard Park Town Council in upstate New York this year.

If he gets elected, Braiden will be the first openly LGBTQIA+ person and the first Indigenous person elected to the Council. His story reflects what our work is all about: helping diverse, young candidates get elected to lead their communities

We urgently need even more people like Braiden in our candidate pipeline. We want hundreds of Indigenous people and LGBTQIA+ candidates to raise their hands and get ready to run for office—because diversity is the only way we achieve a people-first democracy.

We have to scale fast—find more candidates, train them up, and get them elected. John, you are an integral part of this strategy, so please consider making a donation of $10 right now to help power this work.

As we mark National Coming Out Day from Saturday and today’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrations, we’re reminded that representation isn’t just a talking point. It’s the foundation of a democracy that actually works for everyone—and it’s core to what we’re attempting to do here at Run for Something.

We know that to change the system, we have to change who’s in it. That means starting local and electing candidates who reflect the communities they serve, who know what it means to struggle with rent, to face discrimination, to feel left out of decisions made in rooms they’ve never been invited into.

You can help ensure these voices get a chance to lead. Your donation is an investment in extraordinary young candidates like Braiden.

Every school board, city council, and statehouse seat we flip builds the next generation of progressive leadership from the ground up.

We’re not chasing quick wins. We’re investing in people who will shape the future for decades to come.

Thanks for being a part of this work.

Manny Espitia

Northern Regional Director

Run for Something

We change the system by changing who’s in it. We start local, build the bench, and shape the future from the bottom up. Together, we’ve already helped win over 1,000 elections.

This work is made possible thanks to thousands of grassroots donors who give a little each month to fuel big change. Become a monthly donor today and help our candidates keep running — and winning.

Interested in volunteering or mentoring young, first-time candidates running for local office? We’ll connect you with our amazing candidates! Click here to find out more about volunteering and mentoring opportunities.

Throw everything you know about politics out the window. You’re qualified to run for local office — we’re here to help! Click here to find out more.

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