Received this e-mail yesterday from former presidential candidate, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I. VT):
Before I ask you to contribute to some great state legislative candidates, I hope you'll give me a moment to explain why your contribution matters — especially today.
I've always said that no single person can transform this country alone. The only way we will do it is when millions of us come together in communities across this country to fight for justice. That includes electing more progressive candidates and advancing progressive policies at the state and local level.
Policies passed by the states have a huge impact on our day-to-day lives, which is why it is so important that we do not lose sight of state legislative races. And some have primaries happening very soon.
Today I am proud to announce my support for eight candidates who are running for state legislatures across the country, and today I am hoping you will join me.
You can read below to learn a little bit more about these candidates and the issues they are fighting for.
Reggie Jones-Sawyer is an assemblymember in California where he represents one of the poorest districts in the state. He is a strong supporter of Medicare for All and has led local efforts on criminal justice reform and affordable housing initiatives. After facing a tight primary contest earlier this year he now goes to a November runoff, and it's important that we come together to help him defend his seat.
Yousef Rabhi serves in the Michigan House of Representatives where he has led the charge for the state's universal health care bill and renewable energy plan. He previously worked for social change as an activist in peace, labor, and environmental movements. Right now he is facing a primary challenger, and it is up to us to help him continue leading our movement in Michigan.
Abraham Aiyash is a 26-year-old community organizer who is running in a special election for a Michigan Assembly seat. He is the son of Yemeni immigrants and is committed to creating a government that works for all of us. From Medicare for All and a $15 minimum wage to a Green New Deal and college for all, he is someone we can count on to fight for our agenda in Michigan.
Ron Kim is a state representative in New York who supports guaranteeing health care as a right to all and canceling all student debt. He was one of the first elected officials in New York to support the issues that were at the center of our campaign. And now, during this coronavirus crisis, he has led the effort to demand measures that will prevent the spread of coronavirus and protect the most vulnerable.
Yuh-Line Niou is a state representative in New York who came to the U.S. as an infant when her parents emigrated from Taiwan. With a career built on advocacy and community organizing, she is a lifelong voice for low-income people, people of color, and immigrants. She has led the fight to create green energy jobs, protect tenants, and expand affordable housing and her continued leadership will be important to the future of our movement in New York.
Jabari Brisport is running in a three-way primary for a recently vacated State Senate seat in New York. He has been recognized as a rising star in progressive politics, and has been an advocate for affordable housing and health care for all. The district he's running in is one of the most rapidly gentrifying areas of New York City, which is why we need to elect Jabari to stand with working people, not the billionaire class.
Amanda Cappelletti is running for the Pennsylvania State Senate while campaigning on health care as a right, a quality education for all, and protecting our planet for generations to come. She understands that our economy and government work for the wealthy while everyone else struggles to get by, and she's ready to fight for a progressive agenda that meets the needs of working people.
Rick Krajewski is a community organizer and educator who is running for the State House in Pennsylvania. If elected, he will put people before profits while fighting to uphold workers' rights, end the war on drugs, and win a Green New Deal for Pennsylvania. He grew up in a working class family and knows that our government must be held accountable to truly represent the people, not just the wealthy and well-connected.
During our campaign for president, I always said that our campaign was never just about winning an election. It was about building a movement.
That is because real change never happens from the top on down — it happens from the bottom on up. That is why it is so important that we support these eight candidates running for state legislatures. These are the people we can count on to continue building our movement in the states.
If you can afford to, I hope you will make a contribution to support them today.
