It’s time for the WFP February Newsletter, your monthly update on how we’re fighting to build a country where everyone can thrive.

Keep reading for more info on how WFP champions and activists have been making change in our cities, our states, and in Congress this month.

Let’s get started:

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We share our vision in the WFP State of the Union Response

Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (IL-03) delivered the sixth annual Working Families Party response to President Biden’s State of the Union Address.

If you missed it, check out some highlights or watch the full recording in English, Spanish, or ASL here.

We were proud to share our vision for a government that has working people’s backs in a speech that James Downie of MSNBC called “real leadership.”

You can read more coverage of the WFP State of Union Response in Politico, Rolling Stone, and MSNBC.

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WFP champions are making waves in Congress

In January, WFP champions Greg Casar, Delia Ramirez, Summer Lee, Maxwell Frost, Jasmine Crockett, and Becca Balint were sworn into Congress — and they’re already making waves as they fight for worker’s rights, climate change, immigration reform, and more.

Pennsylvania Rep. Summer Lee shared with Politico how she plans to wield power, “I think that as legislators, our job is to agenda-set. It’s to govern, it’s to create policy, but it’s also to put forth that best case, and bring people over to us. That’s what progressives have to do, whether we’re in the majority or the minority…That’s going to be where a lot of power is: in expanding the realm of what’s possible.”

Read more.

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WFP makes an impact in Virginia, Wisconsin races

The midterms may be over, but election season continues with key races around the country in 2023.

On Tuesday, voters in Virginia’s 4th Congressional District elected Jennifer McClellan, who will be the first Black congresswoman from Virginia.

We were proud to support Jennifer in her competitive primary, and again in the general election against a Republican opponent who was at the January 6 insurrection. She’s a bold leader who passed landmark laws to protect voting rights, safeguard abortion access, tackle climate change, rebuild crumbling schools, expand Obamacare in Virginia, protect workers rights, and reform Virginia’s criminal justice system as a State Senator. We know Jennifer will keep up the fight as she joins other WFP champions in Congress.

In Wisconsin, Working Families Power has been turning out voters for an open swing seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court — what may be the most important race of the year. Here’s what Wisconsin Working Families Party State Director Jake Spence had to say about Tuesday’s primary results:

“Tonight’s results give us a fighting chance. We’re 42 days away from striking down Wisconsin’s abortion ban and protecting our democracy from a right-wing takeover. Wisconsinites know how to fight like hell for what we believe in, and with our basic freedoms on the ballot, anti-choice candidates can count on us to spend the next 6 weeks organizing to keep them as far from this seat as possible.”

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ENDORSEMENT ALERT: Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, and more

And we’ve got more elections coming down the pike, starting with the Chicago mayoral election on February 28. The race could very well go to a runoff — and a new poll released this week shows WFP-endorsed Brandon Johnson in second place, behind the Fraternal Order of Police’s favorite candidate. As Mayor of Chicago, Brandon would work to ensure fully funded public schools, affordable housing, green jobs, and access to mental health care.

The Pennsylvania Working Families Party is throwing down hard, as we organize for Helen Gym for Philadelphia Mayor, as well as to elect three candidates on the WFP ballot line — Jarrett Smith for City Commissioner and Nicolas O’Rourke and Kendra Brooks for Philadelphia City Council. If we win, we’ll shut out Republicans from city government. And with the help of supporters like you, our Philadelphia slate has already raised $340,000 to take on the Republican Party in the city. Read more.

In New York City, we released 16 new endorsements for City Council after successfully expanding abortion access, increasing services to survivors of domestic violence, improving access to Narcan in bars and clubs, mitigating the rat crisis, and more in the last two years.

New York WFP Director Sochie Nnaemeka shares: “With a Mayor intent on cutting down public services and critical agencies, we need a strong New York City Council ready to push the kind of policies that will make life better and more affordable for working families. To create a safe and thriving New York, our communities need deep investments, not deep cuts.”

In Ithaca, the NYWFP shared its endorsement of Robert Cantelmo for Mayor, as well as candidates for Town Justice and five City Council seats. These champions will work hard to create a safer, healthier, and more equitable community for all.

And in Hartford, Connecticut, three City Council candidates are running on the WFP line. Josh Michtom, Tiana Hercules, and Alex Thomas understand that working people need allies who are unapologetically on their side in local government and have pledged to prioritize infrastructure, education, health, and housing.

The Jonesboro, Georgia mayoral election is just a few weeks away, and we're all in for Donya Sartor — a former Special Education teacher for nearly three decades and a progressive voice on the Jonesboro City Council. Donya went through a WFP candidate training program, and is fighting for affordable housing, expanded wifi, the protection of green spaces, and more sidewalks and bus lanes for her city.

Do you know someone amazing running for office? Click here to nominate a candidate for WFP endorsement this cycle.

You can find a full list of our endorsed candidates here.

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Spotlight on WFP member Apurva Tandon

“I’ve lived in Pennsylvania for almost six years. I grew up in decidedly blue states, and moving to PA for grad school was an impetus to pay more attention to electoral politics and eventually start volunteering, originally with Bernie’s 2020 campaign.

I now find it incredibly empowering to be part of WFP’s volunteer network. Through WFP I’ve learned or practiced lots of organizing skills (like phone/text banking or facilitating volunteer training virtually). I’ve had opportunities to support recruitment and party building through writing and speaking. I’ve learned about and joined endorsement interviews for local office. I’ve met and become part of a truly engaged, responsive community.

But beyond so many personal learning opportunities, it’s empowering to give my time to a political movement that I feel genuinely aligned with — rather than one I feel forced to align with under a two-party structure designed against the interests of most people.”

— Apurva Tandon

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Upcoming Events

Working Families Power Wisconsin Supreme Court Postcard Parties

Working Families Power is spreading the word about the Wisconsin Supreme Court election this April! Join an upcoming virtual Postcard Party to remind your friends, family, and loved ones in WI to get out and vote.

Campaign Camp

The free, virtual WFP Campaign Camp is designed to provide grassroots organizers and activists with the tools they need to win elections and continue fighting for the poor, the working class, and the marginalized in moments like this.

RSVP for our Recruiting Awesome Candidates session on Saturday, February 25 to learn what makes a good candidate, the role of a candidate in a campaign, as well as how to find and recruit good candidates where we need them and prepare them to run in the future. We will also contextualize WFP as a political party, debunk some myths about winning an election, and map out how to get a campaign started.

WFP National Director Maurice Mitchell in Brooklyn

Come join WFP National Director Maurice Mitchell and bestselling author Anand Giridharadas at the Brooklyn Public Library on Tuesday, February 28 for a wide-ranging discussion about our movements, our democracy, and where we go from here.

WFP Welcome Gathering

Whether you’re a new supporter or a longtime WFP member, Welcome Gatherings are an energetic space where you can meet other working people with the same vision of building a world where we can thrive, and not just survive. Sign up for our next virtual Welcome Gathering on Thursday, March 16 to connect with fellow WFP members about how we’re building power across the country.

For more volunteer opportunities and events, click here.

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Thank you for reading all the way through! We know that was a lot of information, and it’s still only a small portion of what WFP champions, staff, activists, and supporters are achieving every month to build a country where everyone can thrive.

But this work takes resources, and we need your support. Can you pitch in to help fund our organizing in March and beyond? Whatever you can give will help grow our momentum and make real change for our communities.

Pitch in

Thank you, and we’ll see you next month!

All of us at the Working Families Party

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