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NewDEAL Welcomes New Class of Exceptional Democratic Leaders

News Category: Media, Statements and Press Releases

NewDEAL Welcomes New Class of Exceptional Democratic Leaders

A diverse set of state and local officials join a selective network of results-driven Democrats from across the country.

For Immediate Release:

DATE: November 6, 2025
CONTACT: Christian Hall, The NewDEAL, christian@newdealleaders.org

(Washington, D.C.) NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders) has announced a new class of 25 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.

Coming on the heels of Democrats’ sweeping victories across the country this week, the announcement elevates pragmatic, results-oriented leaders who embody the approach to governing that was so successful in Virginia, New Jersey, and elsewhere, where Americans rewarded candidates focused on solving problems and improving lives. This new class of leaders is already providing key contributions to a roadmap for Democrats that empowers and provides opportunities to hardworking Americans.

NewDEALers at the state and local levels are investing in solutions to the issues Americans care about the most, from addressing the housing crisis to tackling the costs of energy and child care and investing in strong local economies. This new class adds more frontline voices who exemplify how to communicate effectively with voters and make progress on the issues that matter in these turbulent times. They will join NewDEALers who are committed to embracing freedom and opportunity, even in the face of roadblocks thrown up by the Trump Administration.

“I’m thrilled to welcome this new class of talented and diverse elected officials to NewDEAL,” said Andy Berke, NewDEAL Board Chair and a NewDEAL alum as the former mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee. “These leaders exemplify the practical, tangible progress NewDEALers have made for their constituents over the last 15 years. At a time when so much of politics is defined by division and darkness, this new class shines exceptionally bright with unity and optimism.”

The newest members of the NewDEAL hail from 23 states and were chosen for their unwavering commitment to the expansion of opportunity for everyone. They offer solutions that are both practical and on the scale required to address the biggest challenges facing the country. Their leadership includes investing in infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of climate change in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; establishing landmark investments in affordable housing in Montana; leading efforts to create Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve; and spearheading the creation of a county health department and county maternal health coalition in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Five members of the new class were endorsed by The Next 50 in the 2024 election cycle, representing the second cohort of a partnership with NewDEAL, announced in March 2025, to further cultivate the next generation of Democratic talent. They are:

Alaska Representative Genevieve Mina,
Michigan Representative Mai Xiong,
Pennsylvania Representative Jennifer O’Mara,
Nevada Assemblywoman Elaine Marzola, and
North Carolina Representative Dante Pittman.

See a full list of the new class below.

“The chaos emanating from Washington has only reinforced the importance of the leadership of NewDEALers across the country who are solving problems and showing what good governance looks like,” said NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan. “This new class of leaders embraces a pragmatic, results-driven ethos in addressing issues central to Americans daily lives, like the cost of housing, energy, and child care, availability of educational opportunities, and access to health care. Their approach provides a roadmap for developing and implementing thoughtful policies that empower Americans, and I’m excited to work closely with this new class to support and promote their great work.”

This new class brings the ranks of the NewDEAL Leader network to 234 members from all 50 states. They have been chosen from among more than 2,200 nominations over the organization’s fifteen years. NewDEAL alumni include members of Congress like Sen. Ruben Gallego (AZ) and Rep. Janelle Bynum (OR); Governors Josh Shapiro (PA), Josh Stein (NC), and Matt Meyer (DE), and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, along with numerous other members of the U.S. House and Senate. In the last six years, 57 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).

Many of these rising Democratic stars will gather in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 19-21 for the 15th annual NewDEAL Leaders Conference. The event will provide a forum for elected officials and industry-area experts to share policy ideas on expanding economic opportunity and making government work better; hear about successful models in cities and states across the country; and explore leadership strategies for governing effectively.

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

The new class of NewDEAL Leaders includes (in alphabetical order by state):

Alaska State Rep. Genevieve Mina
Arizona State Rep. Kevin Volk
Monterey County, California, Commissioner Chris Lopez
Delaware Lieutenant Governor Kyle Gay
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, City Commissioner Ben Sorensen
Macon-Bibb County, Georgia, Mayor Pro Tempore Seth Clark
Iowa State Sen. Matt Blake
Lawrenceburg, Indiana, City Councilor Dylan Liddle
Kentucky State Rep. Joshua Watkins
Michigan State Rep. Mai Xiong
Minnesota State Sen. Grant Hauschild
Montana State Sen. Laura Smith
Mississippi State Sen. Rod Hickman
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson
North Carolina State Rep. Dante Pittman
New Hampshire State Rep. Alexis Simpson
Nevada State Rep. Elaine Marzola
New Rochelle, New York, Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert
Oregon State Sen. Anthony Broadman
Pennsylvania Rep. Jennifer O’Mara
Delaware County, Pennsylvania, County Chair Monica Taylor
South Carolina State Rep. Courtney Waters
Virginia State Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg
Redmond, Washington, Mayor Angela Birney
Wyoming State Rep. Mike Yin

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.
Of NewDEAL state legislators, 69 percent 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 from April 2025).
Since 2018, 57 NewDEALers have risen to higher office.
Historically, one in four NewDEAL Leaders has run for and been elected to higher office.
According to the Center for Effective Lawmaking, state legislators selected as NewDEAL Leaders have performed about 20 percent above their benchmarks on average prior to joining NewDEAL and 38 percent above their benchmarks after joining NewDEAL.

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

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