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NewDEAL Elevates New Class of Rising Democratic Leaders

News Category: Media, Statements and Press Releases

For Immediate Release:

DATE: May 1, 2025

CONTACT: Jonathon Dworkin, 202-660-1340 x5

NewDEAL Elevates New Class of Rising Democratic Leaders

Diverse set of state and local officials join a selective network of innovative, results-driven Democrats from across the country

Washington, D.C. - NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders) has announced a new class of 19 forward-thinking elected officials to join its selective center-left network of state and local leaders who receive support in their efforts to develop good policy and govern effectively.

At this critical moment in our nation’s history, NewDEAL Leaders embrace a two-fold mission: Delivering pragmatic solutions on the issues Americans most care about while standing up against anti-democratic and harmful policies coming from the White House. From bringing down the cost of housing to addressing climate change to protecting reproductive and voting rights, these officials will join NewDEALers who are focused on keeping America true to the ideals of freedom and opportunity.

Through in-person and virtual convenings, this new class of leaders will work with colleagues across the country to bring forth a better, more prosperous future for all Americans. Many of them will join a group of 50 NewDEALers who will gather May 5-6 in Atlanta at the NewDEAL Forum Ideas Summit. The event will provide a forum to share policy ideas on expanding economic opportunity and making government work better; hear about models from Atlanta; and explore leadership strategies for governing successfully in challenging political environments.

Four members of the new class were endorsed by The Next 50 in 2024, representing the inaugural cohort of a partnership with NewDEAL announced in March to further cultivate the next generation of exceptional Democratic talent. They include: Arizona State Representative Stephanie Simacek, Georgia State Representative Sam Park, Iowa State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott, and Virginia Delegate Michael Feggans.

See a full list of the new class below.

“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. 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."

Members of the 213 leader network from all 50 states work each day to enact pragmatic, common-sense solutions in a diverse array of communities. They have been chosen from among more than 2,200 nominations over the organization’s fourteen years. NewDEAL alumni include newly-elected members of Congress like Sen. Ruben Gallego (AZ) and Rep. Janelle Bynum (OR); Governors Josh Shapiro (PA) and Josh Stein (NC), and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, along with numerous members of the U.S. House and Senate. In the last six years, 56 NewDEALers have risen to higher office, adding to the more than one in four members who have done so over the organization's history. NewDEAL's honorary co-chairs are U.S. Senator Chris Coons (DE) and U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland (WA-10).

The newest members of the NewDEAL hail from 16 states and were chosen for their unwavering commitment to the equitable expansion of opportunity. Their work aims to move their communities forward in uncertain economic times and offers solutions that are both practical and on the scale required to address the biggest challenges facing the country. Their leadership includes efforts to streamline the housing permitting process in Tulsa; bring new renewable energy jobs to West Virginia; protect and improve water quality in Florida; and address Hawaii’s statewide teacher shortage so every child has the best possible education.

These leaders’ work will also help refine, expand, and build on policy recommendations made by NewDEAL’s sister organization, the NewDEAL Forum, through its Democracy Working Group, AI Task Force, Education Policy Group, Housing Task Force, and Climate Solutions Working Group.

The new class of NewDEAL Leaders includes:

Stephanie Simacek, Representative, Arizona
Corey Woods, Mayor, Tempe, Arizona
Eleni Kavros DeGraw, Representative, Connecticut
Lindsay Cross, Representative, Florida
Sam Park, Representative, Georgia
Troy Hashimoto, Senator, Hawaii
Colin Nash, Councilmember, Boise, Idaho
Sarah Trone Garriott, Senator, Iowa
Brandon Woodard, Representative, Kansas
Katurah Herron, Senator, Kentucky
Sarah Anthony, Senator, Michigan
Leonardo Williams, Mayor, Durham, North Carolina
Jamaal Bailey, Senator, New York
Mark Jeffreys, Councilmember, Cincinnati, OH
Monroe Nichols, Mayor, Tulsa, OK
Lesley Briones, Commissioner, Harris County, TX
Edward Pollard, Councilmember, Houston, TX
Michael Feggans, Delegate, Virginia
Kayla Young, Delegate, West Virginia

About NewDEAL

The NewDEAL is a selective center-left network of state and local elected leaders from across the nation. Our mission is to scour the country to lift up the best and brightest elected officials who are pragmatic and get results – including councilmembers, county executives, mayors, state legislators, and statewide leaders below the level of governor. We promote their ideas for expanding opportunity, spurring economic growth, and creating broadly shared, sustainable progress. Through virtual and in-person meetings, NewDEAL brings leaders together to 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.

NewDEAL Quick Facts:

In 2024, every NewDEAL Leader who ran for reelection in their current position won their race.
Currently, 69 percent of NewDEAL state legislators hold one or more leadership roles in their caucuses and/or committees, including Speaker of the House, Majority or Minority Leader, caucus chair, and/or as chair, vice chair, or another leadership position on nearly 70 committees or subcommittees (data prior to May 2025 class).
Since 2018, 56 NewDEALers have risen to higher office. Historically, one in four NewDEAL Leaders has run for and been elected to higher office.

Learn more about the NewDEAL and its members by visiting http://www.newdealleaders.org/leaders.

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