John,

We’re back with another installment of 21 to Watch in ‘21 – a biweekly
series where we spotlight and introduce you to some of the people and
issues to keep your eye on in the progressive movement.

So far, we’ve shown you candidates we have our eyes on this year. Our
sixth spotlight belongs to a current elected official! Rep. Jessica
Benham, another DFA-endorsed progressive powerhouse,  was elected to the
Pennsylvania State House in November of 2021, making history as the
Keystone State’s first openly bisexual female, as well as the first openly
autistic lawmaker. 

DFA endorsed Benham early on as part of our purple-to-blue strategy in
Pennsylvania, where we’re working to flip both chambers of the state
legislature over the course of several cycles. Progressive all-stars like
Benham are helping us get there!

 

[ [link removed] ][IMG]Check out her entire interview [ [link removed] ]HERE:

Help us maintain and expand the Democratic majority in Pennsylvania and
other key purple-to-blue states by making a contribution today.

Check out a few highlights from her interview below:

[ [link removed] ]On what led her to run for office:

“For me, it was seeing all of the ways in which my community was
struggling – whether that was lack of access to economic opportunities or
the ways in which climate change has been devastating. My district has
landslides and floods (sic), and I was watching what was happening in my
community and felt called to step up and begin to address these problems.”

[ [link removed] ]On how being an elected official has changed her perspective on
politics:

“I always say that I never saw running for office in my future. It wasn't
something that was part of the plan for my life. I always thought I would
be someone working outside those traditional systems of power to try to
make change and hold people accountable. So now, being in a place where I
have the opportunity to uplift voices, that for so long have been unheard,
it's incredible. It really is wonderful.”

[ [link removed] ]On putting an end to gerrymandering, and passing pro-democracy reforms:

“When politicians can choose the borders at their districts in a way
that's really political, they're choosing their voters instead of voters
choosing their elected officials... when folks are accountable to the
people that they represent, then we're going to pass legislation that is
good for everyday Pennsylvania.”

Thank you for checking out Rep. Jessica Benham in 21 to Watch in ‘21. 

[ [link removed] ]As always, there was lots of good stuff we couldn’t fit into these
clips, so be sure to watch our full interview with Benham and consider
making a contribution to keep amazing legislators like her in office.

Until next time, keep fighting for change.

- Kelley

Kelley Jackson
Communications Director
Democracy for America




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