Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Priya Sundareshan, Arizona State Senate District 18

This week we are profiling Priya Sundareshan (she/her), a woman of many talents. With a BS in chemical engineering from MIT and a JD from University of Arizona law school, and a MS in natural resource economics from University of Arizona, this millennial attorney and mother-of-two teaches natural resource law at the University of Arizona, was a lawyer for the Environmental Defense Fund, and is a voting rights advocate, focusing on voter protection efforts and engagement on redistricting within the Arizona Democratic Party. Priya is currently the only South Asian member of the Arizona Legislature, and the first South Asian elected to the Arizona Senate. She is passionate about protecting Arizona water for long-term use, addressing climate change through state policies, and making voting as easy as possible.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Liz Sheehan, Lexington, KY Urban County Council District 5

Three months ago, we profiled a candidate running at the local level to be a city councilmember in Louisville, Kentucky (the largest city in the state). Today, we are profiling another candidate running at the local level, who is an incumbent on the city council of Lexington, Kentucky (the second-largest city in the state). Dr. Liz Sheehan (she/her), is a professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky and is the first openly bisexual individual to hold elected office in the state. Having served two terms on the city council, Liz is passionate about creating policy solutions to tackle problems associated with housing and homelessness, environmental sustainability, LGBTQ rights, pedestrian and biker safety, and mental health. Liz lives in Lexington with her husband Dan and daughter Ash.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Alison Beale, Tennessee House of Representatives, District 45

One such candidate is Alison Beale (she/her/hers), a millennial mom who was motivated to run because of a law passed by the Tennessee legislature and signed by the governor that went into effect on July 1, 2021, allowing citizens to openly or concealed carry handguns without a permit. This has led to a rise in mass shootings in Tennessee, including one at an elementary school in March 2023. But Alison has been a gun control advocate since before this law was passed. A former teacher, Alison taught a student who was the younger sibling of a victim of a mass shooting at a Nashville Waffle House in 2018, subsequently getting involved with a foundation named for this young man.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Lexi Melton, Tennessee House of Representatives, District 35

In 2024, we have a large number of young people running for office to challenge the status quo upheld by older, long-entrenched representatives at all levels of government. Today we are highlighting one such person. Lexi Melton (she/her/hers), is a millennial wife and mom of two. In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lexi decided to go back to school to finish her degree and graduated with an A.A.S. degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology from Chattanooga State Community College! Lexi fiercely advocates for strong public schools and women’s rights, and believes in gun safety and equitable healthcare, especially in rural areas.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Yasmin Trudeau, Washington State Senate, District 27

Yasmin Trudeau (she/her) is a millennial attorney who currently serves as a Washington State Senator. A Bengali-American, Yas is the first Muslim to serve in the Washington state legislature. After spending much of her childhood in poverty, including being homeless during her teens, she was motivated to make a difference for people whose experiences were like hers. After a stint working as a Legislative Assistant to Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, the current chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, Yas entered politics in her home state of Washington, where she focuses on issues like housing justice and equitable housing development, corporate responsibility and accountability, and continuing to provide the kind of resources for young people that she benefitted from in her youth to put her on the path to success.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Kyra deGruy Kennedy, Colorado House of Representatives, District 30

Today we are profiling Kyra deGruy Kennedy (she/hers), a bisexual millennial community organizer, running for the Colorado House of Representatives. Kyra currently works as a business and political consultant, advising a wide range of organizations. As a former healthcare worker, Kyra has influenced a number of legislative efforts in Colorado pertaining to healthcare, and is most passionate about enacting single-payer healthcare, ensuring that healthcare be treated as a basic human right and not a system that profits off the ill health of patients, including mental health, reproductive health (including legalized abortion), and lower prescription drug costs. Kyra also supports transitioning away from fossil fuels (including in vehicles), reducing access to firearms, and protecting labor, worker, immigrant, tenant, and democratic rights.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Ysabel Jurado, Los Angeles City Council, District 14

Today we are continuing our profiles of candidates across the country who want to bring progressive change to America at all levels of government! Ysabel Jurado (she/hers) is an eviction defense attorney and affordable housing activist running for LA City Council. A daughter of undocumented Filipino immigrants, she became a mother as a teenager and later she put herself through UCLA for both undergraduate and law school. Her work as a tenants rights attorney focused on building pathways to home ownership for communities of color, the preservation of open space, and reparative justice. This millennial single mom identifies as Queer and is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Her platform focuses on expanding affordable housing, ending homelessness, supporting small businesses, tackling the climate crisis, and building a more just economy for all.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Mandi Remington, Board of Supervisors for Johnson County, Iowa

Mandi Remington (she/her) is a queer millennial political activist running for a position on the County Board of Supervisors in Johnson County, Iowa. A single mother of three, including a trans child, Mandi is a lower middle-income wage earner. She is most passionate about advancing platforms that prioritize equity for disadvantaged socioeconomic groups. Mandi recently lost an election in 2023 for a position on the Iowa City Council but is running again on a platform of abortion rights, as well as affordable housing, childcare, food, and transportation.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - DeShanna Neal, Delaware House of Representatives District 13

This week we are profiling DeShanna Neal (she/they), a single mother of four who is an LGBTQ+ rights activist and Democratic Socialist Delaware State Representative. Elected in 2022, they ran on a platform focusing on mental health, the environment, and the legalization of marijuana; this year their focus is on Accessibility for all, Maternal Healthcare for Incarcerated Women, and LGBTQ+ rights. DeShanna is the author of the children’s book My Rainbow, about their transgender daughter, and they are the co-organizer and creator of New Castle County's first ever LGBTQ Youth Pride Festival, as well as, Delaware's first Drag Queen Story Hour. They have a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix (UoPX), and just recently graduated with a master’s degree from Wilmington University (WilmU).

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2022 - Christy Holstege, California State Assembly District 47

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Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2022 - Katie Darling, Louisiana's 1st Congressional District

This week we are profiling Katie Darling (she/her/hers). Katie is a millennial executive in Covington, Louisiana who works in education technology, with previous experience in the hospitality industry. When the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade this past June, Katie was seven months pregnant and suddenly inspired to run for Congress. She recently made waves when her campaign released a campaign commercial that incorporates footage from the delivery of her son Ollie on September 14, 2022. Katie is passionate about reproductive freedom, expanded and improved education, and better hurricane preparedness.

Bonnie Wallace Is Helping The World Read

Bonnie Wallace is more than a celebrity mother. She is an amazing author and podcaster, but her latest adventure is is the creation of We Can Books. In true humanitarian and author style, she believes in giving back to society in the form of individually tailored books that help children learn how to read through personal familiarity. Please read below as Bonnie walks us through her brainchild, We Can Books, as we learn more about the importance of education at all ages.

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Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2022 - Nikki Merritt, Georgia State Senate District 9

Today we are continuing our profiles of our favorite Progressive candidates who are running to represent their communities at the state and federal levels, and move the country forward, to continue to ensure that all Americans are equally represented in government.

This week we are profiling Nikki Merritt (she/her/hers). Nikki is a Georgia State Senator representing Gwinnett County. She is a Black progressive Democrat and CWA Local 3204 labor union member. In the Georgia State Senate, she prioritizes healthcare, worker protections, voting rights, and education. She is married with two children.

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COVER: Toni Trucks- Military Mother Made

Toni Trucks is currently kicking ass and taking names as Lisa Davis on the CBS hit series SEAL Team. In her interview with Jejune, Toni tells us what originally drew her to the character and what she has learned from playing this role. Inspired by her role on the show, this October Toni curated family themed boxes in partnership with Military Made. The boxes feature fun and luxurious items for the whole family and are made by entrepreneurs who were either in the military or are military spouses. Partnering with Military Made has given Toni the unique opportunity to engage and bring awareness to the military community. You can continue to purchase the boxes well into the New Year and of the proceeds go directly back to the business owners and Military Made. For her next role, Toni is gearing up to become a mother, as her and her partner Brandon are expecting a baby boy! Read on to learn more about her various roles, her partnership with Military Made and other charitable organizations, and the advice she has received regarding motherhood.