Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Dominique Johnson, Connecticut House of Representatives District 143

One thing that we at Jejune are pleased to see is the number of LGBTQ+ candidates who are running this year, and we have profiled quite a few of them! This week we are highlighting Dominique Johnson (she/they), who is the incumbent representative in District 143 in the Connecticut House of Representatives. Dominique is a genderqueer millennial who has gone from humble political beginnings as a community organizer to Assistant Majority Leader. A former professor and punk rock bassist, they are a published author with work appearing in works ranging from Teen Vogue to The Nation. Dominique is passionate advocate for educational equity, the health and well-being of youth, women and LGBTQ+ people, and sustainability.

The Crane Wives - Crafting Myths Through Melody

Dive into the captivating journey of The Crane Wives, a band that began in a small Michigan college town and has since become a force to be reckoned with in the music world. What started as a chance meeting between waitressing shifts at a Chinese buffet has evolved into a dynamic collaboration that blends raw emotion with musical experimentation. From exploring the complexities of adoption trauma in their single "Scars" to addressing imposter syndrome in "Bitter Medicine," The Crane Wives are unafraid to tackle deep, personal themes in their music. Discover the powerful melodies behind their latest work and learn how they are using their platform to inspire change. Read on to learn more about The Crane Wives.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 54, zissue 54.3Chelsea ChanSeptember 9, 2024women's health, Music Group, band, album, election, tourComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Aime Wichtendahl, Iowa House of Representatives District 80

Well, primary season is officially over, and the candidates are in! This week’s candidate advanced from the Iowa primary on June 4. Aime Wichtendahl (she/her) is the first transgender elected official in the state of Iowa. She is the chair of the city council in Hiawatha, Iowa and has been on the council since 2015. Aime is also a novelist and journalist, and is a dues paying member of American Federation of Musicians local 137. She is passionate about transgender and LGBTQIA+ rights, green energy, and small businesses.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 54, zissue 54.3Andrew FAugust 28, 2024Government, Transgender, Women's rights, vote, democracy, electionComment

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 - Dani Isaacsohn, Ohio House of Representatives, District 24

Today we are profiling Dani Isaacsohn (he/him), a state representative in Ohio running for re-election. A proponent of what he calls “supply-side progressivism”, he advocates investing in the “supply” that brings America prosperity: education, childcare, and affordable housing. Dani, a millennial small business owner, is passionate about restructuring the American economy away from corporate power and more towards workers and consumers; he cites Federal Trade Commission chair Lina M. Khan and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) as role models.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 54, zissue 54.2Andrew FAugust 7, 2024election 2024, election, #election, education, housing, economy, childcareComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Greta Neubauer, Wisconsin State Assembly, District 66

Greta Neubauer (she/her/hers), is a millennial representative in the Wisconsin State Assembly, where she currently serves as the youngest minority leader in Wisconsin legislative history, a role she has served in since January 2022. Greta is also the first openly queer caucus leader. She is passionate about LGBTQ+ rights, addressing climate change, protecting democracy, and creating a state where everyone can thrive!

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.

I’m With Her

I am an American woman and I have been increasingly terrified over the past two years. The loss of Roe vs Wade was the first gunshot wound, and it feels like the American women have been under rapid (AK47 level) attack since (and they are hitting a lot more than just an ear). While other countries are celebrating electing female presidents (good job Mexico!) the USA feels like we are going back to the Victorian Era.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Tanya Vyhovsky, Vermont Senate, Chittenden Central

This week we are profiling Tanya Vyhovsky (she/they), the only member of the Vermont Senate from the Vermont Progressive Party, the 3rd-largest political party in Vermont (in 2022 we profiled Taylor Small, the leader of the Vermont Progressive Party in the Vermont House of Representatives). As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Tanya’s platform is about bringing working class, younger voices that have often been shut out of power into the statehouse. The issues Tanya cares most deeply about are; a sustainable and just economy, healthcare, mental health, climate, criminal legal change and democracy.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Christina Khalil, U.S. Senate, New Jersey

This week we are profiling Christina Khalil (she/her), the Green Party candidate for this fall’s U.S. Senate race in New Jersey. With the current embattled incumbent, Bob Menendez, indicted for bribery for accepting cash gifts from the Egyptian government in exchange for influence, the field is wide open to a wide range of party candidates, including Menendez himself, running as an independent. However, this millennial Green Party candidate, a first-generation Egyptian-American, has no such ties to foreign governments. As a formerly homeless teenager, Christina grew up in the foster care system and was emancipated at age 16. Today she is forced to work two jobs to make ends meet, both as a therapist and a drug and alcohol addiction counselor. Christina put herself through college twice, with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s from Ramapo College of New Jersey. Her lived experience makes Christina passionate about giving voice to the unheard, providing the tools for the poorest and least privileged Americans to work for a better life, and creating safety, freedom and prosperity for all New Jerseyans regardless of race, gender identity, sexuality, or immigration status.

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 - Christina Haswood, Kansas State Senate, District 2

This week we are profiling Christina Haswood (she/her/hers) is a Diné (Navajo) millennial who is the only Native American serving in the Kansas state legislature. In her first year in office, she helped pass Kansas’ first Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) bill. A public health advocate, Christina is a champion of reproductive rights and the right to abortion. Christina also stands out for using social media more than her colleagues to inform her constituents with updates from the legislature. Though she currently represents District 10 in the Kansas House of Representatives, Christina is now running for the State Senate.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Molly Cook, Texas State Senate District 15

As we get further into election season, the races are starting to heat up! This week we are profiling Molly Cook (she/her), a millennial ER nurse who is the latest addition to the Texas State Senate. On May 4, Molly won a special election in District 15 to fill an open seat left by the departure of John Whitmire to take over the mayorship of Houston. While she is locked in for the remainder of the term (which ends on January 14, 2025), Molly is having another election on May 28 — this time the Democratic primary runoff for the general election (on November 5) of the next term of District 15, where she is facing the same candidate who she defeated in the special election.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - JP Lyninger, Louisville, KY Metro Council District 6

In the upcoming May 21 primary in the Metro Council District 6 race in Louisville, KY, Jejune is profiling JP Lyninger (he/him/his). JP is running as a Democratic Socialist for the seat, after several years organizing with the Democratic Socialists of America at both the local and national levels. In 2022 he managed fellow Democratic Socialist Robert Levertis Bell’s run for State Representative and co-managed Kentucky Access for All’s campaign to defeat a state constitutional ban on abortion, contacting every voter in the state regardless of voter ID to explain that abortion bans harm the working class regardless of whether they identify as Democrats or Republicans. This year, JP has personally knocked on over 6000 doors for his campaign, and has made it his goal to talk to every voter in District 6 by election day.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Katrina Fallick-Wang, Utah's 4th Congressional District

This week we are profiling Katrina Fallick-Wang (she/her). No, you did not read that name wrong. According to her website, “My maiden name is pronounced phallic. Yes. Just like that. I married someone with the last name of Wang. We hyphenated our names to make it more funny.” Growing up on a commune, Katrina had her first child at age 15, and today works counseling teen mothers. Katrina is openly queer and polyamorous. In her personal life she is an avid hiker and kayaker, and she fosters kittens. She participates in art and alternative communities, and she mentors young women who are interested and involved in STEM disciplines. She is passionate about neurodiversity and disability activism. Although running as a Democrat, Katrina believes that a multi-party system would better serve the American people than a two-party system.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Lindsay Sabadosa, Massachusetts House of Representatives, 1st Hampshire District

This week we are highlighting Lindsay Sabadosa (she/her), an activist who is a current representative in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Lindsay, a mother of one, has been a protest and community organizer since the age of nine. The issues that she champions are promoting women candidates, reproductive rights, Medicare for All, the rights of immigrants, and increasing the minimum wage. Sabadosa has been active with organizations such as the Women’s March on Washington, Planned Parenthood, the Pioneer Valley Resist Coalition, and is a board member of both the Abortion Rights Fund of Western Massachusetts and the Doula Association for Reproductive Loss and Abortion (DARLA).

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Emily Kinkead, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 20

This week we are highlighting Emily Kinkead (she/her), a millennial lawyer who is a founding member the Leadership Team of the Pennsylvania Progressive Caucus. Collectively, this Caucus works to push progressive priorities like criminal justice reform, affordable housing, access to healthcare, affordable childcare, expanding access to public transit, and more. She is the House Chair of the Legislative Hunger Caucus and Secretary of the House Agriculture Committee, working to address hunger-related issues as well as advocate for more investment in programs that would address food insecurity. She serves on the Advisory Board for the Capitol All-Stars Softball Game, which is a softball game where legislators raise money for their charitable food network. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime & Corrections, she has been working hard to address criminal justice reform.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 54, zissue 54.1Andrew FApril 24, 2024millenial, woman, woman rights, election day, election, #electionComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Jason Morgan, Michigan House of Representatives, District 23

This week we are profiling Jason Morgan (he/him/his), a gay millennial who has had an active career in Michigan politics. Despite being diagnosed with Becker’s Muscular Dystrophy as an adolescent, Jason is an active member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Jason is passionate about issues such as eliminating economic inequality, investing in public transportation, and protecting LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights.

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.