Twenty two Obama '08 Staffers win Seats in Congress and States

Young staffers were the heart of the Obama '08 victory.  Like my daughter who just returned from Michigan campaigning for victorious Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), they have remained loyal, committed, and connected.  Eight alumni are among the new Democratic majority in the House of Representatives and fourteen won state government positions.  Here is the Alumni Association report to members.  - gwc

Obama Alumni Association

“If you're disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself.” President Barack Obama, Farewell Address WE DID IT! In just 8 weeks, the 44 Fund raised nearly $270,000 for Obama alumni running for Congress. And today, because we came together to help our friends and former colleagues, EIGHT of those alumni will be joining the new Democratic majority in the 116th Congress! And it wasn’t just the House. Democrats won up and down the ballot, flipping Governors mansions and state legislative chambers. That includes FOURTEEN Obama alums who will join state and local governmentsacross the country. IN CONGRESS: Colin Allred - flipped TX-32 and will replace Rep. Pete Sessions Debra Haaland - won NM-01 and will be one of the first two Native American women ever in Congress Andy Kim - flipped NJ-03 and will replace Tom MacArthur, who *wrote the bill* to repeal Obamacare Tom Malinowski - flipped NJ-07 and will replace Rep. Leonard Lance Elissa Slotkin - flipped MI-08 and will replace Rep. Mike Bishop   Haley Stevens - flipped MI-11 and will replace Rep. David Trott Rashida Tlaib - won MI-13 and will be one of the first two muslim women ever in Congress Lauren Underwood - flipped IL-14 and will replace Rep. Randy Hultgren Most of these races were very close. Andy Kim’s race was won by less than 1%. As former campaign staff know, those are “field margins.” In other words, your donations, phone calls, and door knocking put our Obama alumni candidates over the top. THANK YOU for your support. IN LOCAL AND STATEWIDE RACES: Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor of California Buffy Wicks, State Assembly, California Giselle Hale, City Council, Redwood City, California Matt Haney, San Francisco Board of Supervisors Phil Weiser, Attorney General of Colorado Jena Griswold, Secretary of State of Colorado Dylan Roberts, State House, Colorado Joshua Tenorio, Lieutenant Governor of Guam Julian Cyr, State Senate, Massachusetts Wiley Nickel, State Senate, North Carolina Jordan Acker, University of Michigan Board of Regents Andrew Friedson, Montgomery County Council, Maryland Will Jawando, Montgomery County Council, Maryland Hans Riemer, Montgomery County Council, Maryland We have a lot of victories to celebrate. But we know that building a movement isn’t about one election. So today, we also want to celebrate the Obama alumni who had the courage to step into the arena and run for office - often against long odds - and who came up a little bit short. Thank you. You’re laying the foundation for a better kind of politics across America. And we’ll get ‘em next time. Finally, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who stepped up, in ways large and small, for the most important election of our lifetimes. Because of you, millions of Americans’ healthcare can’t be repealed. Because of you, we have checks and balances in Washington again. Because of you, a far-right legislative agenda has just been stopped in its tracks. We’ve got plenty of work to do, but because of you, change is possible. And together, we will keep bringing change to America. Sincerely, Your Friends at the Obama Alumni Association