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John—
We’re still riding the Election Night high—and for good reason.
But I want to make something super clear: Whether you flip a district, hold a stronghold, or come this close in deep-red territory—it all builds power.
Every conversation, every volunteer shift, every courageous first step into a campaign changes what’s possible for the next one. This is what grassroots progress looks like in real time.
🧡 We’re proud beyond words of our 2025 class—young people, teachers, renters, organizers, first-time candidates—each proving that local leadership changes everything.
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While Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani deservedly grabbed headlines for his incredible win, he was not the only young person who made remarkable strides in this year’s election. Here are some other folks you should know about: |
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GEN Z CANDIDATES |
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Thirteen Gen Z RFS candidates ages 19 to 28 won their races this week. Madison Pease (19) was elected to the Hatboro-Horsham School Board in Pennsylvania, proving that students’ voices belong in decision-making and that small-town schools can think big. Samuel Bigham (23) is now Carnegie, PA’s youngest mayor ever. They’re not waiting their turn—they’re leading. |
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HISTORIC RUNOFFS |
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From Texas to Georgia, RFS candidates like Taylor Rehmet and Royce Mann are heading into high-stakes runoffs—proving what happens when we contest every seat, no matter the odds. Taylor shocked Texas politics on Tuesday, finishing first in a special State Senate election in a district President Trump won easily. And in Atlanta, 24-year-old Royce—whose late grandmother, Connie Stewart, helped create the U.S. Department of Education—now advances to a runoff for the city’s school board. For him, this fight is personal: he’s defending the very institution his family helped build, now under attack by the Trump administration. |
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BATTLE UP IN ACTION |
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Our five-year plan to invest in key states ahead of redistricting in 2030 is already paying off. In Virginia, Lily Franklin, first endorsed by Run for Something in 2023, flipped a deep-red House seat, one of three Democratic pickups powered by RFS candidates this cycle. Those wins didn’t just hold the majority—they expanded it, securing a Democratic trifecta ready to move bold legislation. In Minnesota, Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, first endorsed in 2022, won her special election, delivering Democrats the majority in the State Senate. There’s proof that early investment wins big.
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ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT |
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First-time candidate Virginia Maloney will join our eight alumni on the New York City Council. Christopher Marte, Amanda Farías, Shahana Hanif, Crystal Hudson, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Sandy Nurse, Tiffany Cabán, and Chi Ossé, all won their reelections. Meanwhile Delegates Kimberly Pope Adams and Irene Shin helped Virginia keep the majority in the state legislature, where they will continue defending reproductive justice and marriage equality. Boston City Council alumni also fared well with Ruthzee Louijeune winning reelection with more than 50,000 votes and Henry Santana winning in a landslide. |
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Every single win—and near win—fuels what’s next.
Because we’re not just electing candidates. We’re building a generation that’s ready to govern.
If you’re feeling hopeful, channel it into action: Start a monthly gift to Run for Something today to power the coaching, training, and tools our candidates rely on to win. |
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Let’s keep recruiting, training, and electing bold young progressives who refuse to wait their turn.
With gratitude and so much pride, |
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Sara Hadad |
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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. |
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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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