State Legislative Races 2022

I’ve pulled together this list of state legislative races that I think need your investment at any level: these races help have the potential to flip statehouses, hold Democratic majorities, put progressive champions into higher office, and ensure Democratic governors have the legislatures they need to advance their agendas (or Republican governors have a legislature to hold them accountable). Most of these races are in states with competitive gubernatorial and/or U.S. Senate races, and have the potential to drive turnout for those important statewide elections. Finally, all of these candidates have the potential for long political futures in their respective states, and getting or keeping them in office now will ensure they are able to continue those trajectories.

I strongly recommend picking just a few of these candidates and customizing your donation to just those races. $100 to one campaign is more meaningful that $5 to twenty campaigns. Just hit "customize amounts" under "Your Contribution" and allot your giving accordingly.

Melissa Cerrato (PA House 151)

Melissa Cerrato is running to flip a Pennsylvania House seat in the Philly suburbs. As a working mom, she’s been a nanny, an Uber driver, and a housekeeper to support her family, and she currently runs the district office of Pennsylvania Representative Liz Hanbidge – she knows what working families need, and she knows what the people of her district deserve. Watch her rip up a cease and desist letter her opponent sent her here (he is pissed that Planned Parenthood unendorsed him to endorse her post-Dobbs). Electing Melissa will help make progress towards flipping the Pennsylvania House.

Mandie Landry (LA Senate 5)

There are only four women in the Louisiana Senate, and all of them are vehemently anti-abortion. Mandie is running to be a true champion for abortion rights and reproductive justice in her home state. Mandie grew up in a working-class home in New Orleans, and is the first person in her family to graduate from college. She has been a lawyer and advocate for over 14 years, including representing abortion clinics. Electing Mandie will ensure Louisianans have the voice they need in their Senate.

Sydney Batch (NC Senate 17)

Sydney Batch is a current state senator, family law attorney, small business owner, and social worker. She has sponsored dozens of bills, with a focus on public education and healthcare. Re-electing Sydney will help block a possible Republican supermajority in the North Carolina Senate.

Sarah Trone Garriott (IA Senate 14)

A Lutheran minister and current Iowa Senator, Sarah has devoted her career to working for others. In the Senate, Sarah has been a champion for fully funding schools, protecting reproductive rights, and accessible economic opportunities for individuals and families. Re-electing Sarah will help block a Republican supermajority.

Lindsey Williams (PA Senate 38)

Lindsey Williams has spent her career advocating for the rights of wrongfully terminated employees – including whistleblowers who were retaliated against for reporting fraud and abuse. In the Senate, Lindsey has continued to advocate for working families, affordable health care, and reproductive freedom. Re-electing Lindsey will help move us toward a Democratic-controlled Pennsylvania Senate.

Elaine Marzola (NV Assembly 21)

A Brazilian immigrant and single mother, Elaine Marzola has spent her life fighting for women and families in her community. Elaine worked at a domestic violence shelter, later earning a law degree to further deepen her advocacy for her clients. As a first-generation college student, Elaine understands the value of education, and she's running for the Nevada Assembly to make quality education accessible for all Nevadans. 

Samra Brouk (NY Senate 55)

Samra Brouk has represented the 55th district of the New York State Senate, based in Rochester and its eastern suburbs, since January 2021. She serves as the Chair of the Mental Health Committee and sits on Health, Education, Elections, Aging, Women’s Issues, and Alcoholism and Substance Abuse committees. Her legislative priorities include strengthening the local economy, investing in New York’s public schools, ensuring timely, affordable and adequate healthcare; and fighting climate change. 

Janelle Perez (FL Senate 37)

Growing up, Janelle saw her parents become successful entrepreneurs after fleeing Castro’s dictatorship. A cancer survivor, wife, and mother at the forefront of the fight for equality, she’s running for the Florida State Senate to fight for families in the community she’s always called home.

Jennifer O’Mara (PA House 165)

Jen has spent her time in the Pennsylvania House advocating for quality education for children, affordable healthcare for all, good job opportunities for all skill levels, and the finest care for our veterans. After losing her father to suicide as a young teenager, Jen saw how her father’s union pension, her mother’s union job, and the availability of public support were essential to her family’s survival. With loans and multiple jobs, she put herself through college, married a combat veteran and two-time Purple Heart recipient, and had became a new mom earlier this summer. Re-electing Jen will put flipping the Pennsylvania legislature within reach.

Denise Mentzner (MI House 61)

Denise Mentzer, a life-long community leader and volunteer, is passionate about improving the lives of all who live in HD-61. Serving as City Commissioner and local Union Steward, Denise is dedicated to revitalizing local infrastructure and advocating on behalf of small businesses.

Sarah Anthony (MI Senate 21)

Sarah Anthony was the first African-American woman to represent her home city of Lansing in the Michigan House. Sarah has led the fight to expand the freedom to vote. If elected to the Michigan Senate, Sarah will continue to combat discrimination, strengthen education, and create an economy that works for everyone. Sending Sarah to the Senate is essential to putting a Democratic Michigan Senate within reach.

Sandra Jauregui (NV House 41)

Sandra Jauregui learned Nevada politics while working in the office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, directly serving her community and helping Nevadans across the state secure affordable housing. Sandra has proven throughout her career that she will fight for working-class Nevadans and their families. Re-electing Sandra will ensure a blue majority in the Nevada House.

Melanie Scheible (NV Senate 9)

A prosecutor in the Clark County District Attorney’s office and member of the LGBTQ+ community, current Senator Melanie Scheible brings valuable experience and representation to Nevada’s state legislature. Born and raised in Nevada, Melanie is devoted to giving back to the community that raised her by ensuring future generations have access to quality education, health care, and good-paying jobs. Re-electing Melanie will help ensure a strong Democratic majority in Nevada.

Lorena Austin (AZ House LD9)

Already a leader in her community, Lorena Austin is running for LD-9 to champion the needs of students and to fight for opportunity for all Arizonans. As a former student body president at Mesa Community College and an ASU graduate with honors, Lorena has worked in both the public and private sectors and with non-profits to improve educational opportunities for her community. With a unique combination of passion and experience, Lorena is ready to employ her strong work ethic and sense of service for her district for all of Arizona.

Christine Marsh (AZ Senate 4)

Christine Marsh is a former public high school teacher for 27 years, Arizona’s 2016 Teacher of the Year, the daughter of small business owners, and trusted member of her community and a respected leader in the state legislature. Christine brings an experienced perspective to the state’s education lawmaking process and is committed to helping all Arizonans thrive. One of these days we’re going to get the Arizona Senate to flip, and it will only be possible because we helped re-elect Christine.

Genevieve Mina (AK House 19)

The daughter of Filipino immigrants and a lifelong Alaskan, Genevieve is a community advocate and activist with a background in government and health policy. Since 2015, she has dedicated her life to policy making and people while working at the Alaska Primary Care Association and as a Legislative Aide for Rep. Ivy Spohnholz, where she developed health policy legislation and carried the successful passage of HB 265 (2022), permanently expanding telehealth services in Alaska. Genevieve is a recipient of the Nick Begich Scholarship, an inaugural graduate of the Alaska Women Ascend program, and an alum of the New American Leaders program. She has a passion for challenging institutions for the interests of working Alaskans and growing Alaska’s young progressive base through bottom-up statewide organizing.

Maxine Dibert (AK House 31)

Maxine is Koyukon Athabascan with deep roots in Alaska. Born and raised in Fairbanks, she has worked as an educator in the area for the past 21 years and knows many of her voters personally, having been their teacher. Maxine has been married to her husband John, a smoke jumper, for 25 years and has two kids. Inside and outside of the classroom, Maxine is driven by youth voices, young activists, and ensuring that we create a safe future for the next generation of leaders to be successful, and is committed to working with other legislators to find common ground and solutions that will improve the lives of Alaskans and Fairbanksans.