News

Back

Lindsay Cross invited to ‘The NewDEAL’ nationwide coalition of center-left leaders

News Category: Media

By Janelle Irwin Taylor | Florida Politics

State Rep. Lindsay Cross has been invited to join The NewDEAL, a coalition of left-of-center state and local elected leaders from across the nation working to expand opportunity, spur economic growth and create sustainable progress.

Cross announced her invitation on social media Thursday.

“This national network brings together state and local leaders working to create real change in our communities,” she posted to her official Facebook page. “It’s about collaboration, smart policy, and amplifying local voices on a national stage.”

Cross added that she was “excited for the opportunity to help advance bold, community-driven policies,” specifically listing some of her priorities in Florida, including protecting waterways and addressing the state’s affordable housing crisis.

“We need strong, proactive leadership, and I am ready to get to work,” she continued.

The NewDEAL network includes “a diverse array of rising Democrats” who participated in the program before achieving national prominence, including former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, former Georgia state Rep. Stacey Abrams and 15 current and former members of Congress.

In all, the group says that one in four of its members has moved on to a higher office since joining the coalition.

“NewDEAL Leaders are on the forefront of addressing critical issues, including: climate change, voting rights, education, broadband access, high-quality childcare, and housing,” the group explains on its website.

Members collaborate through virtual and in-person meetings, where they “exchange lessons learned and ideas with one another as well as with issue-area experts from non-profits, the private and philanthropic sectors, and the federal government.”

“These are not ordinary times, and Americans across the country are rightly calling for extraordinary individuals to step up and deliver on the issues that matter most,” said NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan.

“This new class of leaders are heeding that call, and give all of us hope for a brighter tomorrow. From cities and towns to state governments, this new class is developing, implementing, and sharing policy ideas that focus on key issues like education, climate change, economic opportunity and security, and a strong democracy that values everyone.”

Cross is one of 19 elected officials in the 2025 NewDEAL cohort, and the only one from Florida. Others include:

— State Rep. Stephanie Simacek, Arizona

— Tempe Mayor Corey Woods, Tempe, Arizona

— State Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw, Connecticut

— State Rep. Sam Park, Georgia

— State Sen. Troy Hashimoto, Hawaii

— Boise City Council member Colin Nash, Idaho

— State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, Iowa

— State Rep. Brandon Woodard, Kansas

— State Sen. Katurah Herron, Kentucky

— State Sen. Sarah Anthony, Michigan

— Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams, North Carolina

— State Sen. Jamaal Bailey, New York

— Cincinnati City Council member Mark Jeffreys, Ohio

— Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols, Oklahoma

— Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones, Texas

— Houston City Council member Edward Pollard, Texas

— Delegate Michael Feggans, Virginia

— Delegate Kayla Young, West Virginia

“These leaders know what good governance looks like, and it is not the chaos emanating from Washington, D.C. Members of the new class exemplify the thoughtful, results-oriented approach to governing that NewDEAL is known for, and we look forward to working closely with them as they thrive in 2025 and beyond,” Cox Bultan added.