Run For Something

In the final episode of the Run for Something podcast, Amanda and co-founder Ross Morales Rocketto dig in on how to run for office. They answer questions like how to know which office to run for, what dooms a campaign, and why it matters for people like you to get involved. To learn more about Run for Something (the organization), check out runforsomething.net or learn more about the book at runforsomething.net/book. We're here to help. Produced by Dear Media.

First, a programming note: Next week will be the last episode of this podcast! Then, a conversation with Elsa Mejia, an Indigenous Mexican woman, bilingual journalist and communications specialist for a local union who turned her community roots into community leadership. We talk about running for office as an introvert, how she overcame partisanship to connect with her community, and what surprised her most throughout this process. Produced by Dear Media.

In November, Amber Sellers became the first Black woman elected to the Lawrence City Commission in Kansas. At first, Amber didn't think she'd be the one to run -- in fact, she was trying to recruit someone else to fill the spot. But after months of conversation, she realized she should do it, even if she was afraid, and even if it meant putting herself out there. We talk about how she ran and won, what it means to her community to have her serve, and her priorities for next year. Learn more at https://sellers4lawrence.org Produced by Dear Media.

In around 1300 counties across the country, we still elect coroners. Run for Something has worked with a handful of them over the years -- Sophia Garcia-Jackson of Chester County, PA, is our first winner! We talk about how she got into the line of work, what a coroner actually does, the story she tells at cocktail parties, and why it matters to have competent people handling non-natural death investigations. Happy Thanksgiving! Produced by Dear Media.

I talk with two members of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners in Georgia -- Ben Ku and Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. Ben won his seat in 2018 and became the first LGBTQ member of the board; Nicole won in 2020 and completed the full flip to give Democrats control of the board. We dig in on how county government works, what the experience has been like now that Democrats control the county, and why flipping a state blue doesn't mean it stays blue forever. Produced by Dear Media.

First, a quick run-through of how previous guests did on Election Day, and some thoughts on VA & NJ. Then: We talk with Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon on what it was like running an election during a pandemic, what county clerks actually do, and what you should do now if you might want to run for that position one day. You can find Brianna on social media at @briannalennon, or listen to her podcast, "High Turnout, Wide Margins" wherever you get your shows. Produced by Dear Media.

First, a quick rundown of some of the previous guests who are on the ballot today -- some of the 271 Run for Something folks up for a vote! Then, a conversation with Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who went from lawyer to the state representative, fighting hard for voting rights, equality, and safety. As a new member of the legislature, she was constantly told to sit down and stay behind the scenes, but that's not Jasmine's style. Listen in then help her out at https://www.jasminefor100.com/. Produced by Dear Media.

When Kelly Ross Krout was a teenager, she fell into a crowd of Evangelical conservatives and identified as a Republican -- over the last decade, she's been slowly but surely changing her mind as she realized some of the policies she believed in were not inclusive of people she loved. In 2020, Kelly ran for state house in deep red Arkansas as a Democrat, surprising many in her community -- but as a foster mom for a decade and now leading a family of seven kids, she knew there was more the state could do for families like hers. She came up short, and now she's running for lieutenant governor to give a megaphone to the causes she cares about. You might occasionally see Kelly on TIkTok, where she's explaining politics and Arkansas for her nearly 70k followers. Learn more about her campaign at kellyforarkansas.com Produced by Dear Media.

Denzel McCambell grew up in Detroit as the son of social worker mom and an autoworker dad -- it was a union family. He always understood why civic engagement mattered and how precious the right to vote is; during and after college he got involved in LGBTQ+ organizing, worked for a state representative and other community organizations, then took on a role with Rep. Rashida Tlaib's office. Now he's running for Detroit City Clerk at a time when local election administrators are under attack from anti-democracy opponents. We talk about the role city clerk plays, why he's not afraid, and the joy he's finding in campaigning. Learn more about Denzel's race at https://denzelfordetroit.com/. Produced by Dear Media.

Shan Rose never imagined she'd be running for office. She's experienced teenage homelessness, lost her husband to gun violence, lost a son to medical problems -- and instead of letting all that heartbreak stop her, she turned it into a desire to fight for her community. She's been a nonprofit exec and community activist for years; now she's running for Orlando City Council to bring community and government today, and create a city where kids can just be kids. Learn more at vote4shan.com Produced by Dear Media.

First, a sneak preview of an exciting initiative launching today! Then: Justin Tseng grew up in Medford -- a small town outside Boston. Now as a senior at Harvard (and at only 21 years old!) he's running for city council to help lead the city he loves into the next phase of its growth. We talk about his experience campaigning and balancing a full load of classes, the way voters respond to him, and what his vision is for Medford. Listen in and help his campaign: justin4medford.com Produced by Dear Media.

Sheila Nezhad has a long history of activism and serving her community of Minneapolis. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the city (and the world) erupted in an unprecedented uprising for Black lives -- Sheila was in the center of it, working with the city government to reimagine public safety, helping create the charter amendment that's now on the ballot and would disband Minneapolis police and instead create a Department of Public Safety. The incumbent mayor failed to deliver on the promise of his election, so Sheila decided someone who was willing to represent the people ought to lead them. Now she's running for mayor in one of the biggest elections of 2021. Learn more about her campaign at sheilaforthepeople.com Produced by Dear Media.

Dontaye Carter is running for mayor of Sandy Springs, GA, a city just outside Atlanta -- his opponent is the former chair of the Georgia Republican Party. Sandy Springs has changed a lot over the last decade, but its leadership hasn't -- it's time for a new voice. Learn more about Dontaye's campaign at dontayeformayor.com Produced by Dear Media.

Elizabeth Wanczak first started caring about local government by watching the city planning meetings on public access television. (She admits, it was sometimes about as boring as watching paint dry.) But the more she watched, the more she understood what was happening and what could be fixed. When a dear friend who'd been pushing her to run for office suddenly passed away, she decided it was time to get in the game. She ran and lost by just 182 votes -- now she's running again for Alderman of district 4 in Franklin, Tennessee, and she's going to win. Help her campaign at https://liz4alderman.com/. Produced by Dear Media.

For our 50th week of podcasting (and 51st episode, whoops!), Amanda and Run for Something co-founder Ross Morales Rocketto check in to talk about their thoughts on the Biden administration and what RFS has been up to this year, then answer a few questions from listeners, including which episodes have been their favorites, what they're most excited about this November, and some hot tips for listeners who might be considering a run for office.   To be on an episode of Run for Something, leave us a message at (833) 244-5382.   Produced by Dear Media.

Dr. Aditi Srivastav Bussels never thought she'd run for office -- she got multiple degrees in public health to try and take care of people. But when the pandemic started, she realized exactly how critical her perspective would be in city government. Now she's running for Columbia City Council in South Carolina. We talk about her experience becoming a candidate, what it's like running as a South Asian woman in a southern city, the role of city government in public health, and whether or not she's having any fun. Learn more about her campaign at aditiforthecity.com Produced by Dear Media.

School boards and Florida have both been in the news lately - so we talked with Broward County School Board member Sarah Leonardi about what's going on in her community. Sarah was a public school teacher who got her start in politics by volunteering on another local campaign. She ran and won in 2020 and at 31, became the youngest member of the school board in the midst of the pandemic. Over her first year on the board, she's dealt with critical race theory, mask mandates, equity policies, protecting trans kids, and more (on top of the normal school governance issues.) Now she's in a fight against the governor about keeping kids safe during the worst wave of the pandemic yet. You can follow her on Twitter at @SarahMKLeonardi. Produced by Dear Media.

Jordan Acker was a University of Michigan alum and lawyer working hard and raising a family when he went through a health scare that landed him in the UM hospital system. That experience made him realize just how important the university was to the state -- which led him to ultimately running for the Board of Regents to help govern it. When he won in 2018, he became the first Regent to graduate from the university in this century. Since taking office, he's helped raise the minimum wage, expanded free college to thousands of Michiganders, made it easier for employees to unionize, and changed sexual assault reporting standards for the first time since 1996. Learn more then follow Jordan on Twitter at @JordanAckerMI   And remember - if you have questions or comments, give us a call at 833-244-5382 and you might appear on our 50th episode in a couple weeks!   Produced by Dear Media.

Ruthzee Louijeune is the daughter of Haitian immigrants -- a history that's intimately shaped her approach to serving and fighting for her community. Her experience as a housing lawyer (who also served as counsel to Elizabeth Warren's presidential campaign) has prepared her to join the Boston City Council and bring affordable housing to a city that desperately needs it. We talk about her journey into politics, how campaigning fills her heart, and what her vision is for Boston. To support her campaign for councilor-at-large, go to www.ruthzeeforboston.com   If you have questions or thoughts on the show so far, we want to hear from you ahead of our 50th episode! Give us a call at 833-244-5382.   Produced by Dear Media.

Bridgette Craighead was born and raised in Rocky Mount, Virginia -- as a mom and small business owner, she'd never really gotten political before until the murder of George Floyd, when she organized Rocky Mount's first ever Black Lives Matter protest, where even some police officers came out to show their support. Imagine her surprise when six months later, two of those officers stormed the capitol in D.C. -- Bridgette was instrumental in them getting fired off the force.   Now as a candidate for House of Delegates, Bridgette is up against a young very-Trump-ian Republican and even while he tries to say she "doesn't fit" the community, she's taking the high road. Get to know her story and then help her campaign before the November election: https://www.bridgettefordelegate.com/   Note: This episode includes explicit language.   Produced by Dear Media.

It's the biggest story in politics right now: In order to deny Texas Republicans the quorum needed to pass egregious voter suppression laws, Democrats in the Texas state house literally left the state, and can't come back for at least three weeks. First, we reconnect with early podcast guest TX Rep. Erin Zwiener to get into the details on how they came up with their secret plans to leave, the security concerns, and the sacrifices they made (including Erin needing to bring her three year old daughter with her). Then we talk with Rep. James Talarico, a former school teacher turned youngest-legislator-in-history who's been making waves for a turn on Fox News where he called out the bullshit. This episode is a little longer than usual but it's worth every second.   You can learn more about Erin at erinforyall.com, and follow James on Twitter at @JamesTalarico.   Produced by Dear Media.

Dr. Tyler Titus grew up in poverty in rural Pennsylvania, never feeling like they quite fit in -- they were bullied and struggled with suicide ideation and depression. It wasn't until they got to college and met other queer people that Tyler finally found themselves. In between working in county family services, getting a masters in counseling, and then eventually a pH.D in social work, and starting a family, Tyler ran for and won a seat on the school board, becoming the first trans person elected in Pennsylvania, and is currently one of only nine non-binary folks elected nationwide.   Now they're running for county executive, and could make history in November if they win. We talked about identity, trauma, and the power of sharing our stories. To help Tyler's campaign, go to https://www.tylertitus.com/.   Produced by Dear Media.

At least a half dozen people called in to 833-244-5382 and requested her, so here she is: Rhode Island Sen. Cynthia Mendes talks about how she grew up never seeing people like her in office, and didn't think politics was a meaningful way to make change -- until a few years ago, when a friend asked her to run for office herself. Along with a network of other progressive folks in the Rhode Island Political Coop, Cynthia ran and won against a more conservative incumbent. Since then, she's found again and again that the things she thought disqualified her actually make her even more powerful.   To support Cynthia, make a donation now: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/cynthia4ri   You can also follow her on Twitter or other platforms: @Cynthia_Mendes_   Produced by Dear Media.

Some election updates! (Spoiler: A bunch of the folks you've met on the show in past episodes have WON -- get excited.) Then, a conversation with Andrew Grant Houston, aka Ace, candidate for mayor of Seattle. Like many millennials, Ace moved to a city for work a few years ago -- he quickly got engaged in housing activism, an issue near and dear to his heart as an architect. His campaign was one of the first in the race to hit the campaign finance limits and is pushing the debate on issues like police funding, homelessness, and climate change. Listen in, then help him out at www.agh4sea.com   Reminder: You can always call to let us know what you think at 833-244-4382.   Produced by Dear Media.

Ricky Hurtado made history in 2020: He became the first Latinx leader in the NC state house, and was one of the rare Democrats anywhere to flip a state legislative seat red to blue. His story is both incredibly special and deeply common -- Ricky grew up in an immigrant household, was the first generation in his family to go to college, went to work in education, and decided to run because he felt like the students he was working with were being heard in government. His campaign made a lot of news over the last year; listen in to understand the story behind the headlines. You can find Ricky on any social media platform @RickyHurtadoNC.   If you want to call and leave Run for Something a voicemail with feedback, that number is 833-244-5382.   Produced by Dear Media.

When India Walton was growing up working class in Buffalo, she always knew she'd serve her community in some way -- but she never would have guessed that one day she'd be in the running to be the first woman mayor of Buffalo.   From being a mother at 14 to having twins in the NICU that nudged into going into nursing to her later role as a non-profit executive, India brings her full self to her campaign against a four-term incumbent who literally hides from his constituents. Listen to her story, then head to http://www.indiawalton.com to find out how you can help before Election Day on 6/22.   If you have questions or ideas on who we should talk to, give us a call at 833-244-5382. Produced by Dear Media.

First, our very first voicemail!! Listen in as Amanda responds to a caller about the 1/6 commission and talks about how she gets her news. (Then leave a voicemail yourself at (833) 244-5382!)    Then, a conversation with Amanda Farías, candidate for New York City Council in the Bronx. She ran in 2017, came up short, then kept fighting as she worked her way through the NY Democratic party leadership elections. She always knew she'd run for city council again, but when the incumbent who had beaten her said some egregiously homophobic things, she decided to jump back in the race sooner than she expected. Now it's an open seat and she's absolutely crushing it. Learn more and help Amanda win at amandafarias.nyc.   Produced by Dear Media.

After the 2016 election, Jennifer Kitchen started getting involved -- in spite of a chronic pain disorder that made marching and canvassing hard, she kept showing up and organizing her rural community. She ran in 2019 and lost, but won more votes than any Democrat in her district had before. She almost immediately launched her 2021 campaign, then was diagnosed with cancer. Now in remission, she's running an exponentially stronger campaign than she did the first time around, and she's showing up in rural communities that Democrats have neglected for too long. Learn how she's going to flip her seat blue and what you can do to help at www.electjenniferkitchen.com   Remember, if you have questions or thoughts, give us a call at (833) 244-5382!   Produced by Dear Media.

First, some news! The Run for Something podcast now had a voicemail box. Give us a call at (833) 244-5382 with any questions, hopes, fears, dreams, or thoughts on who you want us to talk to next.   Then, a great conversation with Chi Ossé, who's been making headlines as an activist and culture-driver, and now as a fresh 23 year old, one of the youngest candidates for NY city council. He announced his campaign on Juneteenth during the protests after the murder of George Floyd and has been on the doors and talking to voters non-stop for the last 11 months. Learn about his story, his campaign, and whether being "cool" is part of the strategy. Then get involved at osse2021.com; you can sign up to join Run for Something for a phone bank for Chi's campaign on June 2nd.   Produced by Dear Media.

Missouri native Rigel Robinson started at UC Berkeley in 2014 as an eager student, ready to learn and to fall in love with the city he'd call home. Four years later, just as he was about to graduate, folks started clamoring for him to run for office. He jumped in the fight, won, and throughout his first term, has already pushed forward necessary reform on policing and housing that is broadening what is possible for municipal government. You're going to love his passion, his intellect, and the contagious love he has for his city. Follow Rigel on all social media platforms - @RigelRobinson. Produced by Dear Media.

When Liliana Bakhtiari ran for Atlanta City Council in 2017, she made national headlines as a queer Muslim millennial seeking leadership. She came up a few hundred votes short, but kept organizing, because her campaign was never really about what happened on Election Day -- it was about engaging her community. When every problem she ran to solve the first time just got worse, she knew she couldn't stay silent. She's running again, this time in an open race, and she's going to win. We talked about her experiences running, the good and the bad of being a trailblazer, and how she stays inspired, even when it's hard. Support her campaign at https://www.lilianaforatlanta.com/ Produced by Dear Media.

Justan Parker Fields had never really been involved in politics before -- it had run in his family, sure, but he'd never been too engaged. But when the police shot and killed Philando Castile back in 2016, he decided to try and organize a protest in his hometown of Allentown, PA. Not too many people showed up. A few years later, when George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis, Justan tried again -- and this time, hundreds came out to show their support for Black lives. From there, Justan became one of the founders of Black Lives Matter Lehigh Valley, and now he's fighting for a seat on the Allentown City Council, because as he says: while there's power in protest, there's also power in policy. If he wins, he'll be the first gay Black man on the city council. Learn more at his website: https://www.justan4allentown.com/ Produced by Dear Media.

Housing activist Katie Valenzuela ran against an incumbent member of the Sacramento City Council and won, in spite of being outspent 3 to 1. A few months later, she was joined on the council by organizer Mai Vang, the first Asian American woman to join the body. The two have built a beautiful friendship and in just a few months, revolutionized politics in Sacramento. Listen in as they explain how they won, the "Squad" they've cultivated, and the kind of progress they've made. Produced by Dear Media.

IL State Sen. Robert Peters was born to a mom with addiction problems and was then adopted by a social worker and a civil rights lawyer, who raised him in the politically-active Hyde Park area in Chicago. He had a tough childhood -- he was born deaf, had a speech impediment, and tended to get into trouble as a kid. In spite of deaths in his family, unemployment, and a little bit of aimlessness, Robert's grit and commitment to his community brought him home. Now, he's the state senator representing the neighborhood he grew up in -- following in the literal footsteps of Barack Obama -- cosponsoring 13 different bills in his first year, and leading on making Illinois the first state to end cash bail. Listen to his story and learn more at https://senatorrobertpeters.com/ Produced by Dear Media.

Climate activist Chloe Maxmin first ran for Maine state house in 2018 and won, becoming the first Democrat to ever represent her very rural very old community. (She was only 26 years old!) Then in 2020, she ran for Maine state senate and beat out the top-ranking leader of the Republican party. Listen in to find out how she did it, why rural America is not a lost cause for Democrats, how to talk to people you fundamentally disagree with, and what Maine politics is really like. To get regular updates, you can follow Chloe on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChloeForSenate/ Produced by Dear Media.

Kendra Hicks is an activist, an organizer, a mom of a son on the autism spectrum, and a possibly history-making candidate for Boston City Council. She's a rising star and win or lose, you're going to see her on the national scale in a big way in the next few years. Listen now to see why we're obsessed - then head to her website to help her campaign: www.hicksfordistrictsix.com Produced by Dear Media.

When his mom told him he was never going to be the next LeBron James, Ohio native Justin Bibb was crushed -- until a chance encounter with a presidential campaign in a hotel lobby redirected his passion to politics. Now he's running for mayor of Cleveland, because his city can't wait for someone else to bring about change. We talk about his path to the campaign, the moments that inspired him to run now, what's surprised him most as a first-time candidate, and how you can help him win. Learn more at www.bibbforcle.com Produced by Dear Media.

First, Amanda talks through some new Run for Something research that shows local candidates really do have "reverse coattails." Then: A conversation with Tay Anderson, Denver School Board Director and the youngest elected official in Colorado, who ran and lost in 2017, but didn't let that stop him -- he ran again in 2019 and handily won, and has now been leading the work to make Denver schools safer, more equitable, and more welcoming. Listen in, then find him at @TayAndersonCo on any social media platform you like. Produced by Dear Media.

We don't often hear from Democrats running in Alabama - let's fix that! Meet Marche' Johnson, a veteran and single mom running for Montgomery City Council, ran for the first time in 2019 and lost by just six votes. Then the incumbent who beat her died in office -- often the only way space is made for new leaders, unfortunately -- and now she's fighting again in a wide open race. This time, she's not going to lose. Learn more at marcheonthemove.com   Produced by Dear Media.

NY state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi talks about her path to elected office, what Democrats got done over the last few years, and why she's so (righteously and appropriately) furious with NY Governor Andrew Cuomo. Tune in for some outrage, and follow her on Twitter at @Biaggi4NY Produced by Dear Media.

A conversation with Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam on her journey into elected office, which began when an anti-Muslim shooter killed her best friend and two others. We talk about her role on the Durham County Commission and how she built her campaign, and Nida speaks candidly about the great joy she took in campaigning as a Muslim woman, as well as the threats she endured. She promises: She may be the first, but she's not the last. Learn more at https://www.nidaallam.com/. Produced by Dear Media.

Gabriella Cázares-Kelly got her start as an organizer and educator, struggling to get Indigenous communities registered to vote. Learn more about how that experience shaped her journey to becoming the Pima County Recorder, who manages (among other things), the voter registration process, how far her family has come in just three generations, and the burden and privilege of being the first to represent her community in elected office. Produced by Dear Media.

First, an explanation on impeachment, and why most Republican elected officials are morally bankrupt. Then: A conversation with Joél-Léhi Organista, a member of the Salt Lake City school board. Joél-Léhi is an activist, an educator, an immigrant, and so much more -- we talk about his path to elected office and how to be his most authentic self in leadership. Learn more at http://jloschoolboard.com/ Producer by Dear Media. 

First, a little rant about the gerontocracy. (Sorry if it makes you mad!) Then: A conversation with Kerri-Ann Nesbeth, candidate for Miramar City Council down in South Florida. She explains why she ran, what a day in the life looks like for her right now balancing her full-time job and her full-time campaign, the racism and sexism she's encountered, and why it's all worth it. You can volunteer for Kerri-Ann at http://www.mobilize.us/miramar and donate to her campaign at https://www.kerriannnesbeth.com/.  Produced by Dear Media.

First, a quick rant on why Democrats have to govern like winners. Then, and more importantly: A conversation with Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit on what district attorneys do, how he won his Michigan community over, whether or not his job is anything like what we see on The Good Wife, and the direct impact his work is already having as he's radically transformed his county's criminal justice system in just a few weeks.   Learn more at eli2020.com   Produced by Dear Media.

NY State Sen. Zellnor Myrie from Brooklyn explains his path to the state senate to take on an incumbent who outspent him 3 to 1 and what he and the Democratic majority in NY have actually done to make lives better for people. We also discuss his experience being pepper sprayed at the Black Lives Matter protests over the summer, what it's been like to balance the priorities of the last year as he represents one of the districts that's been most ravaged by COVID, and the healthy tension between activists and institutions.   Produced by Dear Media. 

Today, January 19th, 2021, is National Run for Office Day! Amanda and Run for Something co-founder Ross Morales Rocketto talk through what that means and why you should run for office. Plus: What they're hopeful for out of a Biden administration, what accountability for the Republican party looks like, and more. To learn more about the holiday, go to runforofficeday.com.   Produced by Dear Media. 

A quick rundown of the last week in politics: The victories in Georgia, the coup on D.C., and how it all relates to our focus on local politics. Then, an interview with Alex Lee, the first openly bisexual, first gen-Z and youngest member of the CA state assembly. We talk about his experience running for office as a 24 year old living at home and working in the gig economy, why housing and public transit are such big priorities for him, and how he balances governing with watching Spongebob cartoons during his breaks.    If you have questions ahead of the 1/19 episode, email them to us - hello at runforsomething dot net!   Produced by Dear Media.

Meet Senator Megan Hunt, a progressive member of the single-body non-partisan Nebraska state legislature. (Yes, there really are progressives in Nebraska!) She's a single mom, a small business owner, the first openly LGBTQ state legislator in the chamber, and unapologetic about doing what she can to fight for her values, even when it's an uphill climb. We need more people like Megan in office. Follow her on social media at @NebraskaMegan.   Produced by Dear Media.

In our last episode before the holidays, Amanda talks with Michigan state Reps. Mari Manoogian and Kyra Bolden about friendship, legislating, how they're treated as young women in the state capitol, and how they're surviving this tough year in politics. They're joyful -- you're going to love the conversation.   Produced by Dear Media.

In 2017, Virginia Del. Danica Roem flipped a seat red to blue and became the first trans state legislator in the country. Her campaign inspired Brianna Titone to run and flip a state house seat in Colorado in 2018. They both helped Sarah McBride run in Delaware and become the first trans state senator in America earlier this year. Each one is interesting enough to be an episode in her own right -- together, we had a beautiful and moving discussion on what it means to make history.    Produced by Dear Media.