Hi John xxxxxx,

Earlier this year, we emailed about one of our first endorsements of the campaign cycle: Joanna Whaley, candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives. We’re reaching out today with some disturbing news from this race.

If elected, Joanna will be the first openly transgender woman in the Michigan state house. While this district leans liberal, throughout her time on the campaign trail, Joanna has endured an onslaught of transphobic harassment from every corner.

Most recently, and, perhaps most horrifically, that transphobic harassment is now coming from her DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY OPPONENT.

Before we share more, we need to take action to ensure Joanna has resources to fight back, defend her campaign, and, most importantly, stay safe. Help us show her opponent and ANYONE else who’s watching that transphobia will only be met with UNRELENTING support for our candidate. Please consider donating a split $25 contribution between Her Bold Move and Joanna’s campaign immediately.

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will be processed immediately and automatically split between Her Bold Move and Joanna Whaley:

Here’s the deal: Joanna’s opponent filed a formal complaint with the County Clerk in Michigan to challenge her name change (😡). In the complaint, he misgenders her and unleashes a number of transphobic claims which do nothing but attack her gender identity. This is harassment.

Joanna released the following statement addressing voters directly:

Yesterday, our campaign learned that my Democratic primary opponent is pulling a page from the Trump Administration’s transphobic playbook. My opponent filed a complaint with the county clerk to challenge my name change in an attempt to disqualify me from your ballot, rather than face me on the issues on primary Election Day. This is not a good-faith action on his part; it is a direct, transphobic attack on my identity.

In his filing, he deliberately used incorrect names and pronouns, even mocking me as “she/he.” That kind of language mirrors the same harmful rhetoric being used right now to target and dehumanize trans people across this country, and I know it does not reflect the values of the voters of this community.

When a candidate cannot run on their own merits, they resort to attacks and distractions, and that is exactly what this is.

I will not be distracted. My campaign is focused on lowering water and utility bills, fixing our infrastructure, and protecting freedom for everyone in this district.

While my opponent chooses to obsess over my gender, I will continue to obsess over the issues that matter to you.

*****

Believe it or not, Joanna’s opponent, Frank Liberati, was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2015 and served until 2021. We must demand more from our leaders. Americans need leaders who will defend constituents and work tirelessly to improve their lives. What we don’t need are more bullies and bigots in the rooms where decisions are being made – especially from the Democratic side.

Community advocates like Joanna did not just enter politics for power. She continues to endure this harassment on the campaign trail because she knows, if she wins, she will improve her community. Now, she needs our help. We need to show unrelenting support for our brave trans candidates who are running through some of the toughest hurdles of all and still, despite everything, keep up the fight.

Due to this latest attack, Joanna needs funding for security, lawyers, as well as staff to help her field calls from the press and an onslaught of new threats. Please rush a split send of $25 to show support for Joanna’s increasingly difficult campaign TODAY.

Onward,

Erica Henry
Senior Political Advisor

Her Bold Move is working tirelessly to elect pro-WOMEN women to office in the 2026 election cycle and beyond – and we want you to join us! Women candidates are more likely to be subjected to sexual harassment, sexism, misogyny, double standards, and even death threats.

If you want to join our effort for the 2026 election year, you can start by making a monthly donation in support of Her Bold Move and our phenomenal, glass-ceiling-shattering candidates today.