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The NewDEAL Selects Fall 2024 Class of the Nation’s Top Democratic State and Local Leaders

News Category: Statements and Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 5, 2024

Contact: Jared DeWese, 202-660-1340 x702

The NewDEAL Selects Fall 2024 Class of

the Nation’s Top Democratic State and Local Leaders

A diverse group of pro-growth officials joins a network of innovative, rising Democrats who are making policy impact in the states.

Washington, D.C. - The NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders) has announced a new class of 15 forward-thinking elected officials to join its selective national network of Democratic state and local leaders who receive support and promotion in their efforts to develop sound policy and govern effectively.

At a moment when state and local influence on issues ranging from climate change to reproductive rights to the strength of our democracy continues to grow, these officials join NewDEAL Leaders who are playing critical roles in implementing the significant legislation approved during President Biden’s term while helping each other think big and share model policies and programs.

See a complete list of the new class below.

Today’s announcement brings the total number of NewDEAL members to 214 across 49 states. They are statewide officials, legislators, and city and county leaders who get results and are working to expand access to economic opportunity for their communities with a forward-looking approach to governing. Leaders in the network have had success across blue, red, and purple places and have been chosen from more than 2,000 nominations throughout the organization’s history. NewDEAL alumni have included Pete Buttigieg, Josh Shapiro, Stacey Abrams, and many members of Congress. More than 20 NewDEALers have risen to higher office since 2020, 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).

About 70 leaders will gather at the organization's next event, the 14th Annual Leaders Conference, November 20-22 in Washington, DC, to share solutions for building an America that works better for everyone and learn from partners in the federal government and the private sector.

“This new class of NewDEAL Leaders understands that we cannot take American democracy or our hard-fought-for freedoms for granted,“ said NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan. “They also understand that supporting the future of our democracy and our country is not only about the electoral process but also the work by leaders in the trenches every day to make government work better. Each state and local elected official selected for this class has shown passion, determination, and effectiveness in getting results for their communities. They are on the front lines of not only strengthening and protecting democracy and freedom but also ensuring that government meets modern challenges with common sense and efficacy.”

Members of the diverse new class of leaders hail from 13 states and have been selected for their unwavering commitment to pragmatic governance. Their work aims to move their communities forward in the changing economy and offer practical solutions on the scale required to address the country's biggest challenges.

Their leadership includes protecting democracy through election security and expanded voter access in Arizona, building a stronger, more equitable, and inclusive education system in Georgia, ensuring every citizen has access to government services in Pennsylvania, and making certain that every woman has abortion access and the freedom to choose in Colorado.

These leaders’ work will also help build on policy recommendations that NewDEAL Leaders have developed, including aiding in the implementation of recommendations made by its sister organization, the NewDEAL Forum, through the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force, Democracy Working Group, Education Policy Group, Broadband Policy Group, and Climate Solutions Working Group.

The new class of NewDEAL Leaders includes:

Kesha Hodge Washington, Councilmember, Phoenix, Arizona
Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, Councilmember, Santa Cruz, California
Lindsey Daugherty, Representative, Colorado
Jena Griswold, Secretary of State, Colorado
James Maroney, Senator, Connecticut
Jason Esteves, Senator, Georgia
Juliana Stratton, Lieutenant Governor, Illinois
Emma Kerr-Carpenter, Representative, Montana
Jayme Davis, Representative, North Dakota
Dontavius Jarrells, Representative, Ohio
Rachael Heisler, City Controller, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Derek Slaughter, Mayor, Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Xay Khamsyvoravong, Mayor, Newport, Rhode Island
John Bucy, Representative, Texas
Mike Doenges, Mayor, Rutland, Vermont

About The NewDEAL

The NewDEAL, a center-left network, brings together Democratic state and local elected officials focused on expanding opportunity, helping them develop and spread innovative ideas to spur equitable and sustainable economic growth. The organization facilitates the exchange of solutions among its members and connects them with other pro-growth, pragmatic, forward-thinking political, policy, and private-sector experts and policymakers.

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

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