DFA endorses eight 2019 candidates running for City Council across the country

Today, Democracy for America (DFA) announced its endorsement of eight candidates running in 2019 city council races in communities large and small across the country.

The 2019 City Council Candidates DFA is endorsing today include:

• Kendra Brooks, City Council At-Large, Philadelphia (PA)
• Terry Brown, City Council District 3, Charlotte (NC)
• Carrie Hartman, City Council, Maumee (OH)
• Zack Quintero,City Council District 2, Albuquerque (NM)
• Neil Sroka, City Council, Grosse Pointe Farms (MI)
• Shenise Turner Sloss, City Commissioner, Dayton (OH)
• Jeff Wise, City Council Ward 3, Lakewood (OH)
• Ashton P. Woods, City Council At-Large 5, Houston (TX)

DFA has supported local candidates running for county, city, and municipal offices since its founding 15 years ago, and remains one of the only national, multi-issue progressive organizations to do so while also endorsing dozens of state and federal candidates each cycle.

In 2019, five DFA-endorsed candidates for county, city, or municipal offices have already won their general or determinative primary elections including Kate Gallego (Mayor of Phoenix, AZ), Helen Gym (Philadelphia (PA) City Council, At-Large), Bethany Hallam (Allegheny County (PA) Council, At-Large), Tobi Jackson (Fort Worth (TX) Independent School District Trustee District 2), and Melissa Cabello Havdra (San Antonio (TX) City Council District 6).

Statement from CEO Yvette Simpson on the slate of 2019 City Council candidates DFA is endorsing today:

“The eight City Council candidates Democracy for America is endorsing today may come from different communities across the country -- some large, some small-- but they all share a deep commitment to the kind of bold, inclusive populist agenda we need to transform our country.

“As a former Cincinnati City Councilmember, I know first hand, the opportunity that city council members have to put progressive values in action to improve the lives of the communities they serve.

"The city council candidates we’re endorsing today will not only make sure the potholes are filled and budgets are balanced, they also want to take meaningful municipal action on criminal justice reform, climate change, and income inequality.

“City Council races like these also represent a critical opportunity for progressives to build the bench of experienced elected leaders we need to win today and down the road. “When a State House seat opens up or a long time House incumbent seems right for a challenge, the investment we’re making today in these city council races give us a better shot of having an experienced progressive champion who knows how to run, win, and serve.

“The city council candidates we’re supporting are committed running people-powered campaigns, putting our progressive values in action, and serving the communities that elect them. We’re honored to stand with them in their race and we look forward to fighting alongside them for years to come.” -- Yvette Simpson, CEO, Democracy for America