Meet your Future Leaders

DeKalb and Henry Counties | Running for State Senate District 10

Larry Johnson is a longtime public servant and former DeKalb County Commissioner running for the Georgia State Senate. His campaign focuses on expanding economic opportunity, improving public education, strengthening infrastructure, and supporting safer, healthier communities. He emphasizes experienced, results-driven leadership and a commitment to improving the quality of life for families across Senate District 10.

Pottawattamie County | Running for Board of Supervisors

Shawna is a mom, wife, grandmother, and small business owner. She has worked to advocate for her community through her work with Concerned Citizens of Pottawattamie County. She helped get a bill passed in the Iowa legislature to create funding for infrastructure around blocked rail crossings. Shawna looks forward to continuing to serve her neighbors by putting the people first once elected to the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors. She is running on transparency, respect for county employees, being a good steward of taxpayer dollars, advocating for affordable housing, and protecting water and property rights.

Polk County | Running for Polk County Supervisor

Heather Jones-Brown is an experienced community leader and lifelong Polk County resident running for Polk County Supervisor, District 4 in Iowa. She believes leadership starts in our neighborhoods, and she is running to bring people together, make county government work better for working families, and ensure everyday residents have a voice in the decisions that shape our future. As she continues to tell people through this campaign - Polk County belongs to all of us. 

Polk County | Running for County Attorney

With 26 years of legal experience in Iowa’s criminal, juvenile, and family courts, County Attorney Kimberly Graham has consistently delivered on her promises to the people of Polk County including advocating for abused and neglected youth, guiding parents through child in need of assistance cases to build healthy homes and resolve family conflicts, and defending constitutional rights for low-income Iowans.

Washington County | Washington County Commissioner

Les McIntosh has spent his life serving people—as a husband, father, grandfather, pastor, small-business owner, community leader, and advocate. Through his ministry, his work with the NAACP, his business experience, and his involvement with community organizations, he has learned that effective leadership starts with listening to and bringing people together to solve problems.

He is running because he believes Washington County deserves a County Commissioner who will listen to residents, communicate honestly, demand accountability, and put people before politics. His commitment is simple: government should work for the people it serves. Les will bring a servant-leadership approach to the County Commission and work every day to make Washington County more equitable, affordable, connected, and accountable.

Platte County | Running for Platte County Commissioner

A longtime Platte County resident and communications professional, she’s running for Presiding Commissioner to ensure every resident has a voice and strong representation. With a track record of community advocacy, she’s committed to transparency, accountability, and bringing people together. She’s focused on managing growth, strengthening infrastructure and public safety, and moving beyond partisan politics to get results.

Platte County | Running for Platte County Clerk

Hans Peter is a Platte County resident and currently works in supply chain management and operations. He is running for Clerk to ensure that we have local government dedicated to serving all its citizens, not just the loudest voices, and making sure our government delivers on real improvements, not just empty promises that sound good, but don't deliver. He is focused on increasing accessibility, improving government efficiency, and making sure there is room for all voices at the table. 

St. Charles County | Running for Missouri House District 105

For Caterina "Cat" Clayton, service is rooted in family. As the daughter of a veteran and wife of an Air Force servicemember, Cat knows firsthand the commitment required to protect and serve a community. She also knows that progress comes from bringing people together around a shared goal.

Cat is running in one of Missouri's most competitive and flippable House seats. She is fighting to lower costs for working families, strengthen public schools, protect fundamental freedoms, and make state government transparent and accountable. She is fighting to lower costs for working families, strengthen public schools, protect fundamental freedoms, and make state government transparent and accountable.

She's building her campaign with a broad coalition of labor, grassroots, and community supporters who believe working families come first.

Erie County | Running for County Clerk

A current Village Trustee in the Village of Williamsville and small business leader, he’s running for Erie County Clerk to restore trust, integrity, and accountability to the office. With a proven record of transparency and fiscal responsibility, he’s focused on modernizing operations, expanding access, and delivering efficient, reliable service for Erie County residents.

Erie County | Running for County Legislature District 8

A working mom of three and dialysis nurse, she’s running for Erie County Legislature District 8 to bring practical, people-first leadership rooted in real-life experience. She’s committed to advocating for families, strengthening community connections, and ensuring transparency and accountability in government.

Niagara County | Running for County Legislature District 8

A lifelong North Tonawanda resident and longtime Board of Education leader, he’s running for the 8th District seat to bring experienced, community-focused leadership to Niagara County. With a strong record supporting public education and professional experience in a Fortune 100 company, he brings a collaborative, accountable approach. He’s committed to strengthening infrastructure, workforce development, and ensuring North Tonawanda has a strong voice at the county level.

Oswego County | Running for County Legislature District 16

Christine Novak, an incumbent Oswego County legislator, is a retired special education teacher with 30 years’ experience who also served as union steward for her school (United Teachers of Monroe - UTM) for several years. She currently serves as a literacy and hospice volunteer. She is running for re-election to keep delivering practical community-centered county representation and services to all. 

Ostego County | Running for Town of Oneonta Supervisor

William Rivera Jr is the incumbent Town Supervisor of Oneonta, elected in 2025 in a district that broke Republican by 77 points. He also serves as New York State Organizer at Housing Works and as a New York State Democratic Committee Member for AD 122. A 9/11 cancer survivor, first-generation SUNY Oneonta graduate, and former director of Otsego County’s domestic violence safe shelter, Will has spent his career showing up for people in their hardest moments. He is running for re-election to protect local water and farmland from harmful corporate development, finish the town’s first short-term rental policy, and build a town government that answers to the community. 

Running for NYS Assembly District 131 - includes Ontario, Seneca, Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Broome, and Chenango Counties

Phillip is committed to expanding opportunity, strengthening public education, improving access to affordable healthcare and mental health services, and protecting our environment. His dedication to responsive, community-focused leadership makes him the right choice to represent the residents of the 131st Assembly District.

Running for US House District 23 | Includes parts of Erie, Schuyler, and Steuben counties, and the entirety of Allegany, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Tioga counties.

Aaron Gies is a teacher, nonprofit leader and community advocate running for Congress to ensure every hardworking family has a fair opportunity to build a stable and affordable life.

Drawing on his experience serving local communities, Aaron is focused on expanding access to quality healthcare and affordable housing, strengthening public education, creating dignified jobs, supporting workers and protecting the family farms that are essential to New York’s rural communities.

Putnam County | Running for County Executive

We are proud to endorse Brett Yarris for Putnam County (NY) Executive. A special education teacher, entrepreneur, behavior scientist, business leader, and community advocate running for Putnam County Executive. Brett is running for County Executive because he believes Putnam County needs leadership with vision, experience, and urgency.

Yarris is fighting to build a community college and trade school, create real pathways for young people and working adults, support local businesses, protect farms and open space, revitalize downtowns, and make county government more accountable to the people it serves.

Brett Yarris believes Putnam should stop managing decline and start leading growth and we are proud to support him. Learn more at https://yarrisforputnam.com/.

Monroe County | Running for NYS Assembly District 134

Kurt VanWuyckhuyse is the Democratic and Working Families candidate for New York State Assembly District 134, representing Greece, Hilton, Spencerport, Ogden, and Parma. As General Manager of a local family business, Chip’s Auto, Kurt brings practical management experience and a deep understanding of our community’s day-to-day needs to public service. Kurt is running to tackle the most pressing issues facing our neighborhoods: passing the NY Health Act, securing housing stability, and fully funding our public schools. Believing in a government that puts people over corporate interests, he is ready to be a strong, passionate voice for the people in Albany.

Erie County | Running for Erie County Legislator District 11

Zach Beaudoin is a veteran, a husband, and a father running for Erie County Legislature in District 11.

He grew up on a farm in Angola, graduated from Lake Shore Central, and lives in Lake View with his wife and son. He served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserves as an interior electrician. He has worked at Tops in Derby and at Lowe's in Hamburg, and he supported adults with developmental disabilities at Claddagh Commission, now SASi, in Derby.

District 11 is his home. It is also Erie County's southernmost and most rural legislative district, running from the Lake Erie waterfront through small towns that depend on county services: EMS, road maintenance, public health, and veterans' programs.

Folks are struggling to afford their bills, and the services they rely on are becoming few and far between. Beaudoin is running on a simple test for county spending: not whether taxes are too high, but whether every dollar buys something worth having. Cut what does not work. Protect what does.

He is passionate about taking care of his district, and he believes representation should reach all of it, not just the places where the representative happens to live or spend time.

Erie County | Running for NYS Assembly District 143

Ryan Taughrin is a husband, father, educator, and proud product of Western New York. Born in Buffalo and raised in Cheektowaga, Ryan was a first-generation college graduate who has spent more than 15 years at the University at Buffalo, where he serves as Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management at the Graduate School of Education. A proud union member, he has given back to his community as a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor, a PTO volunteer, and a supporter of youth programs like the Carnival Kids Steel Orchestra in Lancaster.

Ryan is running on a platform of universal health care, affordable child care, standing up for union values and workers' rights, opposing unchecked AI data center development, fighting back against Flock surveillance and big tech corporate interests, and delivering transparency and real results for families in Cheektowaga, Lancaster, Depew, Sloan, and Buffalo, 

Learn more about Ryan Taughrin at ryantaughrin.com or https://www.facebook.com/taughrinforassembly/. 

Albany County | Running for County Legislature District 6

I’m running because I believe strong communities are built when government listens, invests, and gives residents the tools they need to thrive.

Our campaign is centered on strengthening our neighborhoods through greater support for families, young people, seniors, small businesses, and community-based organizations. I want county government to be a stronger partner in connecting residents to resources, expanding opportunity, improving quality of life, and making sure people feel supported rather than overlooked.

District 6 is also entering an important period of growth, with significant development proposed in and around our neighborhoods. I want to be a vehicle for ensuring that development does not simply happen to our community, but works for our community. That means advocating for local jobs, opportunities for small businesses, affordable housing, community investment, strong infrastructure, and meaningful resident input when major decisions are being made.

I’m running to make sure the people who have built and sustained these neighborhoods have a real voice in shaping what comes next, and that growth in District 6 translates into tangible benefits for the people who call it home.

Niagara County | Running for County Legislator District 13

Jocelyn Welton is a mom, educator, and community leader. She advocates for the people of Lockport through her work leading PTAs and the group Stand Up Lockport.  Jocelyn believes we need people in public office who have the drive, passion, and commitment to strengthen our community.
Jocelyn is running to ensure Niagara County residents have access to quality housing, healthcare and educational opportunities, smart economic development that creates living wage jobs - with particular attention to tourism and agriculture, and responsible fiscal leadership. She’ll lead with empathy, transparency, and fact-based decision making. Jocelyn is focused on making Niagara County a place where all families thrive.

Erie County | Running for West Seneca Town Council

Jeff is a proud resident of West Seneca where he resides with his wife, Deirdre, and their two rescue dogs, Argus and Kai.

Jeff is an economic development professional, working everyday to help businesses grow and bring jobs across Upstate New York. He is a former public servant on the local, state and federal levels, working to make our state safer for New Yorkers and advocating for communities. Jeff is a graduate of SUNY Cortland and received his Masters of Public Administration from Binghamton University. He also serves on the boards of local economic development organizations. He’s been a vocal proponent for greater transparency in West Seneca Town Government.

Jeff is stepping up to run for Town Council in West Seneca to bring greater transparency to decision making and appointments and to restore balance and independence in a town under one party control. His additional priorities include identifying opportunities for the Town to obtain grant funding, updating the Town's zoning code, updating the Town's comprehensive plan, and prioritizing community focused development.

Chautauqua County | Running for County Legislature District 19

John is a former Special Education Teacher and retired Ripley School Superintendent. He has been elected to every Board within his hometown of Ripley [School, Library, Fire Commissioner and Town Board] and has held leadership roles in numerous county and not-for-profit organizations. He continues to produce and host a cable TV show, in its 13th year and writes a monthly column for the local newspaper.

17.4% poverty in Chautauqua County is unacceptable to John and he is determined when elected to work to break down barriers to the near 21,000 people who presently live in poverty. “Being the second poorest county in NYS, should be addressed immediately. Giving these folks a fighting chance, helps everyone in the long run.” John will bring to bear his background in leadership and creative problem solving.

Monroe County | Running for Greece Town Council Ward 2

Frank Femia is a professional software engineer running for Greece's Town Council in Ward 2. He has built his career solving complex problems, leading technical projects, and using data to make systems work more effectively.

His campaign is focused on practical local issues. Those priorities include modernizing Town Hall services, improving transparency, planning proactively for aging infrastructure, and making it easier for residents to understand how their tax dollars are being spent. Frank has also emphasized the importance of long-term planning so the Town can identify problems before they become more expensive emergencies.

Throughout the campaign, Frank has spent significant time speaking directly with Ward 2 residents about their neighborhoods, town services, and the issues they want their local government to address. He hopes to bring his engineering background and problem-solving approach to the Greece Town Council.

Pickens County | Running for SC State House District 3

After four years serving on Pickens County Council, Claiborne Linvill is ready to represent Clemson, Central and Six Mile in the South Carolina State House. With a focus on common-sense leadership and productivity, Linvill will work diligently to make life more affordable, to improve our schools, and to reduce government overreach.

Greenville County | Running for County Council District 28

Thomas Sanders is a longtime Greenville County resident, small business owner, technology consultant, and community volunteer running for Greenville County Council District 28. For more than 26 years, Thomas has built his business around listening to people, solving problems, and delivering results. He is running to bring pragmatic accountability to county government. Thomas is focused on improving roads and reducing traffic, managing growth responsibly, expanding housing opportunities for current residents, and protecting the quality of life that makes Greenville County a great place to live. Thomas believes local government should listen to the people it serves, plan for the future, and deliver real results for our community.

Pickens County | Running for County Council District 1

Erin is an English professor at Clemson University and the mom of a 7th grader. She is running for Pickens County Council because she believes in a council that works for everyone in the county. Focusing on sustainable development that protects the inherent value of natural spaces while also helping people thrive, on keeping public institutions like the libraries free and accessible for all, and on bringing new voices into local government, she is committed to finding ways to make local government work for all the people of Pickens County. 

Wilson County | Running for County Commissioner District 6

A lifelong Wilson County resident, middle school teacher, and mother, she is running for the District 6 seat to bring a grounded, community-first perspective to local government. Through her work in civics education—leading Model UN and Youth in Government—she has inspired the next generation to engage in public service while strengthening ties across the community. She is focused on managing growth responsibly, supporting strong schools and infrastructure, and preserving Wilson County’s rural character through transparent, forward-thinking leadership.

Wilson County | Running for County Commissioner District 3

Running for County Commissioner District 3 seat. Lifelong resident, registered nurse, and mom of two aspiring to be a better voice for her community.

Wilson County | Running for County Commissioner District 11

I'm Courtney Nyange, a wife, mother, nurse, and nurse educator running for Wilson County Commissioner, District 11. Throughout my career—from serving in the Peace Corps to caring for patients and educating future nurses—I’ve been committed to improving lives and bringing people together to create positive change.

Wilson County is growing rapidly, but that growth has brought challenges like traffic congestion and overcrowded schools. My top priorities are smart growth, better transportation, and strong schools. I will advocate for responsible development that ensures infrastructure keeps pace with growth, support solutions to improve daily commutes, and work to ensure our schools have the resources they need to maintain quality education, manageable class sizes, and competitive teacher salaries.

I’m running because I believe we can protect our quality of life while building a stronger future for all Wilson County families.

Wilson County | Running for County School Board

As a public school parent, Michael is focused on strengthening public education by supporting great teachers, keeping schools safe, ensuring students have the resources they need to succeed, and putting families first. His campaign is centered on practical solutions that will benefit students, educators, and the entire Wilson County community. 

Denton County | Running for County Commissioner Precinct 2

Candace is running for Denton County Commissioner in Texas. She's a mother, a former school board trustee, and the Biden-Harris Appointee to HUD as Southwest Regional Administrator, overseeing housing policy in 5 states.  Now she's running to represent Texans at the County level because she knows the most impactful decisions happen locally. When it comes to housing affordability, better infrastructure, and better access to healthcare, Candace is ready to fight to ensure her community receives what it needs. 

Portage County | Won his race for Portage County Executive in April

A candidate for Portage County Executive with more than 20 years of public service, he brings deep expertise as a University Extension educator in natural resources and local government. He is committed to transparent, inclusive leadership, strong community engagement, and science-based decision-making that supports sustainability and responsible development. Following a successful campaign, Eric won the general election in April 2026.