Newly-Elected Volunteers Join Dozens of Moms Demand Action Volunteers Elected to Office Since Its Founding in 2012
NEW YORK – Thirteen Moms Demand Action volunteers from across the country won election for office up and down the ballot in this week’s elections, highlighting the growing political power of Moms Demand Action volunteers as candidates for office themselves. These victories include Aftab Pureval, a former Moms Demand Action volunteer who is set to become the Mayor of Cincinnati and will be the first Asian American to hold that office.
Earlier this year, Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund launched “Demand a Seat,” a new program that trains volunteers and gun violence survivors to run for office and work on campaigns. The program will invest $3 million in educational training and mentorship opportunities for grassroots volunteers considering campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels. Since the launch of the program two months ago, more than 140 applicants have been accepted from 37 states, including 63 gun violence survivors. More information on Demand a Seat can be found here.
These newly elected Moms Demand Action volunteers join the forty-three Moms Demand Action volunteers who ran for office and won their races in 2020, including Rep. Lucy McBath in Georgia’s 6th congressional district and former volunteer Marie Newman in Illinois’ 3rd congressional district.
“For nearly a decade, Moms Demand Action volunteers have shown they’re willing to do whatever it takes to shape the policies that protect their families and communities safe from gun violence. Wanting to make those policies as elected officials is a logical and crucial next step,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “We are incredibly proud of this latest group of volunteers who decided to make the move from influencing laws to writing them, and we’re thrilled to have 13 more gun sense champions holding elected office.”
“Moms Demand Action volunteers have been a political force for years, so it’s no surprise that more and more of them are running for office — and winning,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “These newly elected Moms Demand Action volunteers know a thing or two about passing lifesaving laws, so you can be sure they’ll hit the ground running, and they can count on Everytown’s full support.”
Everytown-endorsed Moms Demand Action volunteers who won their races Tuesday include:
- Megan Alter, City Council, Iowa City, IA
- Sarah Bagley, City Council, Alexandria, VA
- Christine Brown, Representative Town Meeting Member, Fairfield, CT
- Danielle Gonzales, School Board, Albuquerque, NM
- Margaret Horton, Representative Town Meeting Member, Fairfield, CT
- Emily Jabbour, City Council, Hoboken, NJ
- Amy Jackson, City Council, Alexandria, VA
- Hannah Keao, City Council, Edgewater, CO
- Beth Niznik, Board of Education, Boulder Valley School District, CO
- Mary Parker, Board of Education, Jeffco Public Schools, Jefferson County, CO
- Aftab Pureval, Mayor, Cincinnati, OH
- Sarah Stankorb Taylor, City Council, Wyoming City, OH
- Justin Wilson, Mayor, Alexandria, VA
Since 2017, hundreds of Moms Demand Action volunteer leaders have run for elected office and dozens have won seats – from town council and school board to U.S. Congress. In addition, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action showcased their grassroots organizing ability this cycle, making tens of thousands of door knocks and phone calls for the 2021 election.
