Photo by Yes! Magazine.
BY: JULIET SCHULMAN-HALL, SUMMER 2020 COLLABORATOR AT POWER IN PLACE
Power in Place has interviewed many influential politicians since its founding. Many of these politicians are up for re-election! Here are a few highlighted politicians:
When Power in Place last interviewed Tanya Cook, she was the Nebraska State Representative for District 13, a position she held from 2009 to 2017. She assumed office in 2019 as a member of the Metropolitan Utilities District Board of Directors, representing Subdivision 5 in Nebraska [1]. Tanya Cook is passionate about addressing intergenerational poverty. In office, she has focused on “quality public education, access to career education, removing barriers to working oneself towards stability, [and] home ownership” [2]. After advancing from the primary election on May 12, 2020, Cook is on the ballot for re-election to this position during the general election on November 3, 2020 [1].
Power in Place interviewed Rena Moran while she held the position of Minnesota State Representative for District 9. Since 2011, she has been a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 65A [3]. She has and continues to fight for healthcare access, eliminating racial disparities, criminal justice reform, strong public education, living wage jobs with benefits, and affordable housing [4]. Moran is running for re-election for this position and is on the ballot for the Democratic primary on August 11, 2020 [3].
Jessica Ramos is a member of the New York State Senate, representing District 13. She is running for re-election for this position and is on the ballot for the general election on November 3, 2020 [5]. Supported by Bernie Sanders, Ramos is running to help provide economic relief for people of color and low-income individuals who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 [6].
Tram Nguyen is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 18th Essex District. She is running for re-election for this position and is on the ballot for the Democratic primary on September 1, 2020 [7]. Among many key issues, Tram is running to keep the cost of housing in check, address the opioid crisis, advocate for environmental protection and climate resiliency, advance reproductive justice, and protect working families [8].
Sharon Tomiko Santos is a member of the Washington House of Representatives, representing District 37-Position 1. Santos is running for re-election to the Washington House of Representatives to represent District 37-Position 1 and is on the ballot for the primary election on August 4, 2020 [9]. Santos is passionate about “civil rights, women’s rights, economic and environmental justice, affordable housing, and quality public education” [10].
Ayanna Pressley is a United States Congresswoman, representing District 7 in Massachusetts. She is running for re-election to this position and is on the ballot for the Democratic primary on September 1, 2020 [11]. Throughout office, Pressley has advocated for low-wage workers, immigrant communities, supported sexual assault survivors, promoted the restructuring of our criminal legal system, and is dedicated to continuing these fights [12].
When Power in Place interviewed Andrea Stewart-Cousins, she was the New York State Speaker. Since 2007, she has assumed the role of a New York State Senator, representing District 35. She is running for re-election for this position and is on the ballot for the general election on November 3, 2020 [13]. Stewart-Cousins has been a proponent of legislation relating to gun safety, voting reform, women’s rights and healthcare, immigration and DREAMers, among others [14]. She hopes to continue to fight for these issues in office.
Nicole Malliotakis is a New York State Assembly member, representing District 64. She is running for election for a new role, to the United States House to represent New York’s 11th Congressional District. She is on the ballot for the general election on November 3, 2020 [15]. In office, Malliotakis fought to drain the swamp in Albany, rein-in high taxes, and advocated for more legislative transparency [16].
Donzella James is a Georgia State Senator, representing District 35. She is running for re-election for this position and is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2020 [17]. James has brought about “progressive change” while in office, fighting for crime reduction, the environment, stronger drunk driving and drug trafficking laws, economic development, affordable healthcare, and quality education [18].
When Power in Place interviewed Lois Frankel, she was a United States Congresswoman for District 22 in Florida. She is running for re-election and is on the ballot for the Democratic primary on August 18, 2020 [19]. Frankel is noted to be “a loud voice and leading voice” and a defender of “racial injustice, human rights and women’s reproductive freedom” [20].
Remember that it is essential to vote and stay up to date on whom you are voting for! We hope that you will consider supporting some of the amazing female politicians listed above.
References
[1] “Tanya Cook.” Ballotpedia. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://ballotpedia.org/Tanya_Cook.
[2] “POLITICIAN STORIES.” Power In Place. Accessed July 30, 2020. http://www.powerinplaceproject.com/stories.
[3] “Rena Moran,” Ballotpedia. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://ballotpedia.org/Rena_Moran.
[4] “RENA'S VISION.” Vote Rena Moran. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://www.renaforrep.org/rena-s-vision.
[5] “Jessica Ramos,” Ballotpedia. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://ballotpedia.org/Jessica_Ramos.
[6] “Jessica Ramos.” Bernie Sanders Official Website. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://berniesanders.com/get-involved/jessica-ramos/.
[7] “Tram Nguyen.” Ballotpedia. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://ballotpedia.org/Tram_Nguyen.
[8] “MEET TRAM.” Tram Nguyen. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://www.votetram.com/meet-tram.
[9] “Sharon Tomiko Santos.” Ballotpedia. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://ballotpedia.org/Sharon_Tomiko_Santos.
[10] “Biography.” Washington State House Democrats. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://housedemocrats.wa.gov/santos/biography/.
[11] “Ayanna Pressley.” Ballotpedia. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://ballotpedia.org/Ayanna_Pressley.
[12] “Meet Ayanna.” Ayanna Pressley for Congress, January 9, 2020. https://ayannapressley.com/about/.
[13] “Andrea Stewart-Cousins.” Ballotpedia. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://ballotpedia.org/Andrea_Stewart-Cousins.
[14] “About Andrea Stewart-Cousins.” NY State Senate. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/andrea-stewart-cousins/about.
[15] “Nicole Malliotakis.” Ballotpedia. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://ballotpedia.org/Nicole_Malliotakis.
[16] Nicole, Team. “Meet Nicole.” Nicole Malliotakis for Congress. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://nicolemalliotakis.com/meet-nicole/.
[17] “Donzella James.” Ballotpedia. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://ballotpedia.org/Donzella_James.
[18] Member. Accessed July 30, 2020. http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/member.aspx?Member=372.
[19] “Lois Frankel.” Ballotpedia. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://ballotpedia.org/Lois_Frankel.
[20] “About Lois.” Lois Frankel. Accessed July 30, 2020. https://loisfrankelforcongress.com/about/.
Juliet Schulman-Hall is a rising junior at Smith College majoring in English Language & Literature, minoring in Sociology, and concentrating in Poetry. At Smith, she is involved in Emulate Magazine, the club volleyball team, and the Sophian Newspaper. She is passionate about criminal justice reform and animal rights and advocacy and is the Communications Lead for an animal nonprofit called Global Strays.