Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Erica Mosca, Nevada Assembly District 14

This is the final week we are highlighting progressive candidates running in the 2024 elections! Erica Mosca (she/her/hers) has the distinction of being the first Filipina to serve in the Nevada State Legislature. This millennial teacher and military spouse grew up in a low-income household and became the first in her family to go to college, graduating with highest honors from Boston University, and then pursuing postgraduate studies in education at UNLV and Harvard. To inspire others to follow in her footsteps, Erica founded a non-profit foundation to enable former students of hers to likewise become first-generation college graduates. Today, Mosca chairs the Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Caucus in the Nevada Assembly. She is passionate about empowering students to grow into leaders in their communities and upending structural inequity and systemic racism.

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.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Farrah Chaichi, Oregon House of Representatives District 35

As we count down the final weeks of this election season, we are ramping up our profiles of progressive candidates. This week we are profiling Farrah Chaichi (she/her/hers), a democratic socialist representative in Oregon running for reelection. This queer millennial of color and Iron Maiden superfan has a history of activism, fighting for causes such as labor rights, Black Lives Matter, and human rights. Farrah is passionate about delivering access to health care, addiction services, education, and clean water to her constituents in her hometown of Beaverton, which is a mix of working class and middle class neighborhoods.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Luz Escamilla, Utah State Senate District 10

This week we are profiling our second party leader this season, Luz Escamilla (she/her), the current minority leader of the Democratic Party in the Utah State Senate. Luz was born in Mexico to two college professors, and immigrated when she was 18 years old. Only one of six Democrats in the Utah State Senate, Luz leads her small caucus in promoting issues such as healthcare access and cost, food security, air quality, transportation access, high quality childcare, and home visiting services.

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Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Barbara Hernandez, Illinois House of Representatives District 50

At the beginning of this election cycle we featured an Illinois State Senator running for reelection. Today we are featuring an Illinois State Representative, Barbara Hernandez (she/her), a millennial who has spent most of her adult life in politics. As the daughter of undocumented Mexican immigrants, Barbara was the first in her family to go to college, and was inspired to go into politics to reform our country’s broken immigration system. At age 24 she was elected to serve on the Kane County Board, and in 2019 she was appointed to finish the term of her former boss in the Illinois State House (she has been reelected twice since then). Barbara is passionate about period poverty, higher education accessibility, immigration, and fighting for restorative justice.

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 - 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 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 - 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 - 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.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Sabrina Bousbar, Florida's 13th Congressional District

Today we have the fourth installment in 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 ensure that all Americans are equally represented in government. Sabrina Bousbar (she/her) is a Gen Z Colombian Moroccan with a background in political organizing, as well as in emergency management and natural disaster response, which is a particularly useful background in her Florida district, which was devastated in 2022 by Hurricane Ian. Sabrina has a Bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a Master’s degree from Georgetown University, and is passionate about women’s rights, the climate crisis, social security, and the affordability crisis.

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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).

Mary Hayashi - Empowering the Women of the Future

Mary Hayashi, a prominent figure in the California State Assembly, has consistently championed women's rights and emphasized the importance of their involvement in politics. Going beyond her legislative responsibilities, she has expanded her influential footprint by authoring a compelling book titled "Women in Politics: Breaking Down Barriers for Genuine Representation." This empowering and eye-opening book is a must-read. To learn more about her latest book read on.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2022 - Jessica González-Rojas, New York State Assembly District 34

This week we are profiling Jessica González-Rojas (she/her/hers). Jessica is a queer Latina and Democratic Socialist member of the New York State Assembly, running on the Working Families Party ticket. She is the former executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, an organization that advocates for access to affordable health and reproductive care for Latino and immigrant communities. Of Paraguayan and Puerto Rican descent, she is also a former professor of Latino and Latin American Studies at City College of the City University of New York. González-Rojas cares passionately about healthcare, racial justice, and immigration reform. She lives in Jackson Heights, Queens, with her partner and their son.

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.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2022 - Kim Jackson, Georgia State Senate District 41

This week we are profiling Rev. Kim Jackson (she/her/hers), an ordained Episcopal priest and the first openly LGBT+ state senator in Georgia. A Black millennial lesbian, Jackson works to protect voting rights, reform education and criminal justice, expand Medicaid, and protecting immigrants and refugees. She is the vicar of the Church of the Common Ground, a “church without walls” ministering to the needs of the unhoused in Atlanta, and is very passionate about providing affordable housing to Georgians.