Six Moms Demand Action Volunteers Elected to Congress; In 14 States, Five or More Moms Demand Action Volunteers Won Their Statehouse Races
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The 2023-2024 election cycle marked a significant milestone, as over 330 of the more than 625 Moms Demand Action volunteers running for office won races up and down the ballot in 42 states across the country and Washington, D.C. The volunteers were all part of Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund’s Demand a Seat program, which has been pivotal in transforming grassroots volunteers into successful candidates. The Demand a Seat program provides the tools and training needed to transform grassroots energy into electoral success—almost 500 volunteers from more than 40 states have been elected to office since Demand a Seat was launched in 2021.
Notably during this past cycle, six Moms Demand Action volunteers were elected to Congress and in 14 states, five or more Moms Demand Action volunteers won their state legislative races. In total, 60% of Moms Demand Action volunteers who were elected won seats in state legislatures. These victories demonstrate the political power of common-sense gun safety measures as a political platform and the power of Moms Demand Action volunteers as candidates for office themselves, no matter the state.
“Advocates know that decisions are made by those who show up – and Moms Demand Action volunteers have been on the front lines fighting for the safety of our kids and our communities for over a decade now,” said Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-07). “Seeing gun safety advocates continue to run – and win – shows that people across the country are hungry for champions who will put the needs of their constituents first. I look forward to supporting all of our newly elected gun safety champions, including my new colleagues in Congress, as we work towards a future free from gun violence.”
“Americans deserve leaders who will fight for their safety, and these volunteers are going to do exactly that,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “From breaking legislative supermajorities to defeating extremists, these leaders embody the strength and determination of our movement. The communities where these folks were elected just gained a powerful force for change, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish.”
“Our volunteers won in 42 states across the political spectrum, which says everything you need to know about the broad support for gun safety — and the appeal of authentic candidates with a proven history of fighting to keep their communities safe,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “With 60% of volunteers headed to their state legislature, it’s clear that voters want local leaders who are proven problem solvers and have spent time in the trenches as advocates.”
“Our campaign ended up being a $1.5 million campaign fueled by thousands of donors and hundreds of volunteers—a scale that felt incomprehensible at first. But at the end of the day, it was simply connecting directly with voters, empowering our volunteers, and trusting the resonance of our campaign’s message that got us across the finish line,” said Representative-elect Beth Helfrich (NCHD-98), a Moms Demand Action volunteer and Demand a Seat graduate. “We built a plan and trusted the process. My training as a Moms Demand Action volunteer helped me with this—to know going in there were going to be wins and setbacks, but no matter what, we stayed on message, put in the work, and moved forward with positivity and purpose.”
Silver Linings from the 2023-2024 Election Cycle
- Record Wins Across the Nation: In the 2023-2024 cycle, more than 330 volunteers who ran won their races, securing victories in 42 states and Washington, D.C., including many races in deeply contested regions.
- Volunteers Head to Congress: Six volunteers were elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, including historic wins like Sarah McBride (DE-AL), the first openly transgender member of Congress, George Whitesides (CA-27), who flipped a crucial battleground seat, and Maxine Dexter (OR-03), a physician and state representative who will bring her vast medical and advocacy experience to the halls of Congress. The five newly elected volunteers will join Congresswoman Lucy McBath, a former Everytown employee and Moms Demand Action volunteer, and 2022 Demand a Seat Lawmaker of the Year, in the 119th Congress.
- State-Level Impact: Volunteers clinched victories for 148 state legislative seats in 42 states, including victories that broke Republican supermajorities in North Carolina and Ohio.
- In 14 states—ranging from California to Missouri to Texas—five or more Moms Demand Action volunteers were elected to state legislative seats, showcasing gun safety’s resonance across diverse regions.
- In Ohio, Crystal Lett (HD-11) and Erika White (HD-41) achieved historic flips, breaking a Republican supermajority and creating new opportunities for progress.
- In Tennessee, Shaundelle Brooks, a gun violence survivor, channeled the tragedy of her son’s death into action by running and winning a seat in the statehouse.
- In Colorado and Texas, volunteers secured victories in contentious races, proving the movement’s growing strength in purple and red states.
- Volunteers-turned-electeds now also make up twenty percent of the Virginia House of Delegates Democratic Caucus after winning nine seats during Virginia’s 2023 election.
- In 14 states—ranging from California to Missouri to Texas—five or more Moms Demand Action volunteers were elected to state legislative seats, showcasing gun safety’s resonance across diverse regions.
- Local Momentum: With some votes still being counted in 2024 races, over 90 local offices were won by volunteers, including key roles in school boards, city councils, and sheriff departments, where decisions on public safety directly impact communities.
- School Boards: In Maryland, Andrea Chamblee, a gun violence survivor, narrowly defeated an extremist to win a seat on the Howard County School Board. And in Florida, Liz Barker in Sarasota County triumphed over a Moms for Liberty sympathizer.Rebecca Thompson in Broward County defeated a DeSantis appointee, defending public education against extreme agendas.
- Law Enforcement: Alyshia Dyer became the first woman sheriff in Washtenaw County, Michigan, while Charmaine McGuffey secured her re-election as sheriff in Hamilton County, Ohio, continuing their work to implement community-based public safety reforms. Meanwhile, in Colorado, gun safety candidates were elected as District Attorneys, John Walsh in Denver County and Amy Padden in Arapahoe County.
- City Councils: Heather Edelson helped retain a Democratic majority on the Hennepin County Commission, and Deb Henry became only the second Democrat in 25 years to win a city council seat in deeply conservative Marco Island, Florida.
From Advocacy to Legislative Impact
Electing gun sense champions to office, especially at the state and local level, has a direct impact on making communities safer. These grassroots leaders bring firsthand experience to the policymaking process, turning calls for gun safety into tangible legislative action – often making key decisions on policies like secure firearm storage, school safety measures, and local law enforcement practices. After securing gun sense trifectas in 2022, state legislators in Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota, where gun sense majorities were bolstered by Moms Demand Action volunteers, helped pass critical gun safety legislation in their respective states.
In Michigan in 2022, volunteers helped flip the statehouse, delivering the first gun sense trifecta in 40 years. This leadership passed landmark legislation, including universal background checks and Red Flag law legislation. Similarly, in Rhode Island, newly elected gun sense champions have advanced some of the nation’s strictest bans on ghost guns and high-capacity magazines. Building on this momentum, newly elected volunteers across the country are poised to advance policies that reflect the priorities of their communities, regardless of political affiliation.
These victories aren’t limited to traditionally blue states. Gun safety champions are making progress in purple and red states as well. Across the country from Alaska to Florida to Texas and Michigan, more than 11 million students and their families are receiving education on secure storage from their schools and school districts. And in states like Oregon and Tennessee, volunteers have strengthened gun safety coalitions across party lines, reflecting the reality that the majority of Americans—regardless of political affiliation—support stronger gun safety laws. These wins show that gun safety is not a partisan issue but a unifying priority for communities nationwide.
The continued victories of Moms Demand Action volunteers and gun safety advocates running and winning elected office provide a clear mandate for gun safety as a priority for voters. These new leaders, many of whom are survivors of gun violence or have witnessed its devastating impact, bring a unique perspective to the policymaking process.