This is the last episode in our series celebrating National Voter Registration Month. For the past three weeks we’ve covered a range of topics, from threats to our elections system to how to remove barriers to voter participation, and shed light on the leaders who are helping to restore our democracy. In this episode, host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan talks with Jefferson County, CO, Clerk and Recorder Amanda Gonzalez, who, after being elected in 2022, is now the first Latina and first openly bisexual Leader to hold the office in Jefferson County. They talk about Gonzalez’s leadership in Jefferson County’s recent redistricting process, her experience running for office against an election denier, and her trailblazing role inspiring marginalized groups to run for elected office. Gonzalez and Cox Bultan discuss the need for elected officials who care more about their constituents than their political parties, and Gonzalez shares her reasons for cautious optimism for 2024. Tune into this engaging conversation on local leadership in the democracy space, and be sure to join us next week as we celebrate our 200th episode with a special guest.

IN THIS EPISODE

(0:01:05) Introducing the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder, Amanda Gonzalez.

(0:02:45) Gonzalez’s history in civil engagement, and why this work is important for her.

(0:04:23) What drew her to the democracy space; how she landed in this work.

(0:06:22) Clerk and Recorder Gonzalez details her experience of running for office.

(0:09:30) Why we need more elected officials who care more about the people than they do political party.

(0:12:57) The intricacies of redrawing state lines.

(0:13:38) Host Debbie Cox Bultan revisits one of this podcast’s best moments with Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell as we gear up for our 200th episode.

(0:21:07) Gonzalez’s role in engaging more previously underrepresented groups to take up public office.

(0:26:26) Why election work happens all year round, every single year.

(0:29:47) What Amanda Gonzalez is most cautious and most optimistic about heading into 2024.

Today kicks off a three week series celebrating National Voter Registration Month. Over the next few episodes, we’ll cover a range of topics, from threats to our elections system to how to remove the biggest barriers to voter participation, and shed light on the leaders who are helping to restore our democracy. We begin with Hannah Fried, the Executive Director of All Voting is Local, an organization that exposes and dismantles threats to voter freedom. Hannah speaks with host Ryan Coonerty about the keys for leaders across all levels of government to protect and advance voter rights. They discuss the current state of our democracy, expanding access to the ballot, and reasons for optimism in a world plagued by anti-democratic conspiracies. Hannah also shares her perspective on how to combat rampant election misinformation and tells us about her journey into protecting voting rights and what she enjoys most about the work. Tune in and watchto learn more from this engaging conversation that reminds us all of our power to shape a better future for our communities and our country.

IN THIS EPISODE:

(02:15): A brief background of Hannah’s professional experience.

(03:07): All Voting is Local, its mission, and how it protects voter rights.

(04:33): Overview of the organization’s approach to its mission.

(07:20): The current state of democracy and politics in America.

(08:54): Reasons to be hopeful for the future of democracy in America.

(09:17): Highlights of challenges and threats to American democracy.

(16:25): A quick clip of a favorite moment from a past episode.

(18:18): Hannah’s career journey and what led her to All Voting is Local.

(23:40): Navigating the murky waters of voter policy and regulation objectively.

(28:35): Unpacking the polarization, misinformation, and disinformation around voting.

(29:39): Pragmatic steps for voters to take back their democracy.

(31:08): What Hannah thinks is the biggest issue facing democracy.

In this week’s episode, co-host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Representative Nicole Clowney, who is working hard to address gun violence, protect reproductive rights, and support firefighters and teachers in the overwhelmingly Republican state of Arkansas. Clowney discusses her unusual journey to the legislature, offering broader insights on political theory and societal change drawn from her studies in the Classics. She gives us an optimistic view of what it’s like to work in a Democratic superminority, while predicting a centrist swing in her home state in the coming years. The conversation also touches on how to better confront the opioid crisis, and the new terrain for fighting for reproductive rights in the wake of Arkansas’s recent abortion ban. Tune in to learn more about how Representative Clowney is working across the aisle to enact change. 

In this week’s episode, co-host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Nashville, TN, Representative Caleb Hemmer, who has finished his first session in the state legislature. They talk about the national attention that Tenneese has received this year for the Republican party’s profoundly undemocratic actions, including the expulsion of two Democratic lawmakers for minor infractions, and how Representative Hemmer fights on the side of democracy. Hemmer also reflects on the recent mass shootings in his state and why he advocates for laws to reduce gun violence. They also talk about his path to public service, how he won a divided district, and the challenges his hometown is facing as it rapidly grows into a city where everyone wants to be. Listen now to learn more about his legislative priorities, his successful campaign, and what it is like being a blue dot in a red state.

In this week’s episode, co-host Ryan Coonerty speaks with Washington State Representative Kristine Reeves. They talk about her youth in the foster care system and her path to becoming the first Afro-Latina woman elected to the Washington House in eighteen years and the only woman in the legislature with children under the age of five. Representative Reeves has authored critical legislation to expand child care, protect consumers, and support working families. She also advocates the need to give more resources to legislators, especially those from underrepresented communities, so they can succeed and create the representative democracy we desperately need. Tune in to learn more about her evidence-based practices in decision-making and the importance of unpacking bias as a legislator.