|
|
Arena Community,
🤩 It’s hard to believe, but it’s almost our five-year anniversary 🎉.
Thank you for being a part of this community. Whether you ran for office, worked on a campaign, donated, volunteered, or are just getting started, you’ve had an impact.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be reflecting back on the amazing things we’ve accomplished together, sharing inspiring stories from the last five years, and talking about what’s next. We’re starting today with the stories of five incredible Arena candidates. |
|
|
Alessandra Biaggi Rep. Biaggi was a 2018 Arena Fellow and flipped New York State Senate District 34. Her victory helped Democrats regain control of the New York State Senate and take down the IDC -- a group of “Democratic” State Senators who sided with Republicans instead of their own party. In office, Alessandra has passed transformational legislation that includes tenant-centered housing reforms, bold climate-change initiatives, comprehensive workplace protections, and making it easier to vote. She has also has held sexual abusers to account. She was one of the witnesses who spoke with the New York State Attorney General’s Office during their investigation of former Governor Andrew Cuomo, shining a light on his pattern of sexual harassment and abuse of power. |
|
|
Lina Hidalgo In 2018, at the age of 27, Judge Hidalgo was elected Harris County Judge, unseating an 11 year incumbent. In this role, she serves as the county executive for the third largest and most diverse county in the U.S., which includes Houston. She is the first woman and first Latina to win this seat. While in office Judge Hidalgo has become a rising star and has been touted for creating a model of how progressives can govern. She has been at the forefront of hurricane relief; a steady, clear leader in the face of COVID; a champion of expanding voting rights; and so much more. |
|
|
Liuba Grechen Shirley Liuba was a 2018 Arena Fellow and ran for Congress in NY-2. Although she didn’t win, she changed politics forever. When she learned she couldn’t use campaign funds for childcare, Liuba decided to do something about it. She petitioned the Federal Election Commission to change that outdated rule -- and won! This opened the door for more working moms and dads to run for office -- bringing an important perspective to all levels of our government. Now Liuba is the founder and CEO of Vote Mama, the first PAC in the country dedicated to increasing the political power of Democratic moms by disrupting the systems that hold women back. |
|
|
Colin Allred Rep. Allred was a 2018 Arena Fellow and flipped Congressional District 32 in Texas, helping Democrats regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. While in Congress, he’s led the fight to lower prescription drug prices, championed a bipartisan paid family leave bill, and secured the Garland VA Medical Center to help serve thousands of veterans in Texas and create thousands of jobs in the process. He made headlines in 2019 as the first member of Congress known to take paid paternity leave and now is advocating for paid leave nationally for parents, including fathers. |
|
|
Gina Ortiz Jones Gina Ortiz Jones was an Arena Fellow in 2018 and ran for Congress in Texas’ 23rd District, coming within 926 votes of unseating incumbent Representative Will Hurd. Although she didn’t win, she is making history. When she joined the Air Force in 2003, she had to hide that she was gay. Now Ortiz Jones is the Undersecretary of the Air Force, the department’s second-highest-ranking civilian leader.
These are just a few of the inspiring candidates we’ve supported in the last five years, but there’s still so much more work to do.
It’s no secret that many elections in 2021 didn’t go as we hoped and that 2022 will be an uphill battle. But we know when we work together and inspire passionate, diverse, people who reflect this country to step into the arena, we can change lives for the better.
With gratitude, |
|
|
Arena Managing Partner |
|
