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Big Win for Gun Safety: 35 Moms Demand Action Volunteers Win Elections Across the Country

11.11.2020

Newly-Elected Volunteers Join Dozens of Moms Demand Action Volunteers Elected to Public Office Since its Founding in 2012

Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Volunteers Made 3.7 Million Calls and Texts to Voters This Cycle, With Student Volunteers Registering More than 100,000 Young Voters Nationwide


NEW YORK— Today, four newly-elected volunteers from Moms Demand Action, a grassroots network of Everytown for Gun Safety, held a press call to discuss the importance and political power of Moms Demand Action volunteers this election cycle, and the road from grassroots organizing to running for office. The press call featured Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action; Marie Newman, U.S. Representative-elect for Illinois’ 3rd congressional district; Deb Andraca, Wisconsin State Representative-elect; Ranjeev Puri, Michigan State Representative-elect; and Aaron Marquez, Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board. 

Audio and a full transcript of the call are available upon request. 

Already this cycle, 35 Moms Demand Action volunteers have won races up and down the ballot, including former employee and volunteer Rep. Lucy McBath in Georgia’s 6th congressional district and former volunteer Marie Newman in Illinois’ 3rd congressional district. Volunteers have also won elected office in states including Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon, and Wisconsin.

“Since the beginning, Moms Demand Action volunteers have been showing up and proving that they’re willing to do whatever it takes to keep their families and communities safe from gun violence,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “We are incredibly proud of this latest class of volunteers who decided to make the move from shaping policy to writing policy, and we’re thrilled to have 35 more gun sense champions holding elected office.”

Everytown-endorsed volunteers who have won their races include:

  • Deb Andraca, Wisconsin, State House, District 23
  • Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, California, State House, District 16
  • Christina Bohannan, Iowa, State House, District 85
  • Liz Boldon, Minnesota, State House, District 25B
  • Nicole Clowney, Arkansas, State House, District 86
  • Heather Edelson, Minnesota, State House, District 49A
  • Dacia Grayber, Oregon, State House, District 35
  • Pam Hall, Michigan, Midland City Council, Ward 1
  • Daniel Hernandez, Arizona, State House, District 2
  • Maura Hirschauer, Illinois, State House, District 49
  • Jo Ella Hoye, Kansas, State House, District 17
  • Patty Lewis, Missouri, State House, District 25
  • Jennifer Longdon, Arizona, State House, District 24
  • Karen MacLaughlin, Minnesota, Rochester School Board
  • Aaron Marquez, Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board
  • Lucy McBath, Georgia, U.S. House, District 6
  • Marie Newman, Illinois, U.S. House, District 3
  • Maggie Nurrenbern, Missouri, State House, District 15
  • Ranjeev Puri, Michigan, State House, District 21
  • Lisa Reynolds, Oregon, State House, District 36
  • Mimi Roach, New York, District Attorney, Westchester County
  • Eve Ryser, California, Napa Valley School Board
  • Monique Smith, Ohio, State House, District 16
  • Tom Sullivan, Colorado, State House, District 37
  • Sarah Trone Garriott, Iowa, State Senate, District 22

Since 2017, over 100 Moms Demand Action volunteer leaders have run for elected office and dozens have won seats – from town council and school board to U.S. Congress. Earlier this year, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Moms Demand Action endorsed 51 volunteer leaders running for office. In addition, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action showcased their grassroots organizing ability this cycle when volunteers seamlessly transitioned to virtual campaigning during the pandemic. Together they made more than 3.7 million calls and texts encouraging Americans to vote in 2020 and registered over 100,000 young voters.

The coronavirus pandemic has not stopped gun violence. Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action volunteers are committed to continuing to advocate for gun violence prevention amid both public health crises. Moms Demand Action volunteers know that gun violence kills more than 100 Americans every day and wounds 200 more – and they ran for office to enact change and stand up to the gun lobby.