Today is the day we are kicking off the 2024 Presidential Election with our first wave of state legislative candidates! We are proud to publicly announce our support of eight dynamic, inspiring candidates from five critical battleground states.
Getting progressives elected to state legislative seats is part of our core mission at Sister District, and each of these states is a critical part of our overall strategy to build enduring progressive power at the state level. Read more about why Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are important states for the 2024 election here!
Our first eight candidates are:
- Judy Schwiebert
- Kevin Volk
- Dallas Harris
- Brittney Miller
- Lisa Grafstein
- Patty Kim
- Anna Thomas
- LuAnn Bird
Judy Schwiebert Arizona LD 2 – Senate | Challenger
Representative Judy Schwiebert’s upbringing emphasized the values of education, hard work, integrity, and kindness. Her educational journey, from Arizona’s public schools to Glendale Community College and Arizona State University, laid the foundation for her career in teaching. Starting at Greenway High School and later transitioning to become a school librarian at Cactus High School, Judy dedicated herself to fostering a love of reading and community among students and staff for two decades.
Raising her children in the Northwest Valley, Judy witnessed the impact of quality education in Washington and Glendale Union District schools, alongside their involvement in extracurricular activities like soccer and community theater. Her co-founding of Theater Works and board membership reinforced her belief in the power of collaboration to achieve collective goals, an ethos she carried into her teaching, nonprofit leadership, and later into public service.
Through her experiences, Judy became convinced that collective efforts yield outcomes greater than individual contributions. Now, she’s running for higher office in the Senate to continue this work!
Kevin Volk Arizona LD 17 – House | Challenger
Kevin Volk, a Tucson native, brings a diverse background to his bid for the State House. With experience as a teacher, community leader, and business owner, he embodies a commitment to his community’s well-being. After graduating from Brown University with honors in Economics, Kevin worked in education, interned for a congresswoman, and contributed to political campaigns before returning to Arizona to work in real estate.
Back in Southern Arizona, Kevin managed a local retail business and later joined his family’s real estate firm. He now focuses on revitalizing commercial and housing properties while championing affordable, sustainable housing solutions. His dedication to community development earned him recognition, including a Flinn-Brown Fellowship and the Business Champion for Early Education Award from United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona in 2022.
Kevin’s passion for addressing Arizona’s challenges is evident in his involvement with Greater Tucson Leadership and his commitment to finding innovative solutions through collaboration with experts. With a foundation in education, public service, and business, Kevin Volk is poised to bring fresh perspectives and effective leadership to the State House, representing the interests of his fellow Arizonans.
Dallas Harris Nevada Senate District 11 | Incumbent
Senator Dallas Harris is a lifelong Las Vegas resident. Her upbringing in the city saw her engaged in various youth sports, particularly tennis, basketball, and Taekwondo, while attending multiple schools across Clark County. Her personal experience within the Clark County School District fuels her dedication to enhancing education in Nevada.
After high school, Dallas pursued higher education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, earning bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Computer Science. She furthered her studies at Claremont Graduate University, obtaining a master’s degree in Public Policy, focusing on economics, policy analysis, and statistics. Her educational background serves as a foundation for her current policymaking endeavors.
Dallas’s commitment to public service led her to law school in Washington, D.C., where she interned at various institutions, gaining insight into law and policy. Following graduation from the George Washington University Law School in 2005, she embarked on a career path dedicated to serving the public interest, including roles at nonprofits advocating for broadband access and consumer protections. Returning to Nevada, she worked in state government at the Public Utilities Commission before assuming her current position as a Consumer Rights Attorney at the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. Appointed to the State Senate in 2018, Dallas has been a staunch advocate and champion for increased gun safety legislation, public school funding & teacher pay and the protection of abortion & reproductive rights.
Brittney Miller Nevada Assembly District 5 | Incumbent
Assemblywoman Brittney Miller’s commitment to equality began early in her upbringing in Detroit, Michigan, born to a Black/African-American father and Lebanese-American mother who instilled in her the values of social responsibility and community engagement. Raised by a Vietnam War Veteran father and a mother that worked as a Registered Nurse, she was taught the importance of contributing positively to society.
After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Saginaw Valley State University, Brittney pursued higher education, obtaining a Master’s in Public Administration from Oakland University and a Master’s of Arts in Teaching from Sierra Nevada College, along with her K-8 Teaching Licensure. Her academic journey equipped her with the skills and knowledge vital for effective leadership.
With over twenty years of experience spanning public service and corporate sectors, Brittney is a proven leader in Metropolitan Detroit. She has spearheaded programs in collaboration with governmental departments and excelled in the financial industry. Currently, she channels her expertise as a middle school teacher in the Clark County School District, leveraging her diverse background and genuine commitment to community welfare to make a meaningful impact in her neighborhood, as well as serving as the first Black woman to chair the Judiciary Committee in the Assembly.
Lisa Grafstein North Carolina Senate District 13 | Incumbent
Representative Lisa Grafstein has diligently served in the State Senate since 2023, contributing her expertise and commitment to the betterment of our community.
Lisa, a dedicated civil rights lawyer since 1995, has passionately advocated for the rights of marginalized individuals, including those with disabilities and workers facing unjust treatment. With over 16 years of experience running her own firm, she now brings her formidable skills to Disability Rights North Carolina, a non-profit organization devoted to championing the rights of individuals with disabilities.
At Disability Rights, Lisa tirelessly litigates cases to uphold the fundamental rights of individuals with disabilities, ensuring their freedom from discrimination in both the workplace and society at large. Her legal repertoire includes defending against employment discrimination, safeguarding voting rights, combating disability discrimination by public agencies, rectifying denials of access to public accommodations, and addressing violations of constitutional rights.
Patty Kim Pennsylvania Senate District 15 | Challenger
Patty was born to first-generation immigrants from Korea, who moved to California in the 1960s. She graduated from Boston College in 1995, and moved to Harrisburg in 2000 to raise a family with her husband, John. She spent years covering news across Dauphin County at a local television station. Patty has gotten to know our neighbors through decades of living, worshiping, and helping with community projects in our neighborhoods.
Patty’s public service started in 2005 with a run for Harrisburg City Council. Her daughter was one year old, and she wanted to help make Harrisburg a better place to raise our kids. Since 2012, Patty has served in the State House, fighting to pass livable wages, fully funded schools, and access to affordable health care.
Patty is running for State Senate to finish what she started in the State House and continue the fight for working families until Pennsylvania has a state government that works for everybody. Patty has been committed to transparency throughout her career. She was one of the first members of the entire legislature to post all of her office’s expenses online, and every year she returns the legislature’s annual pay raise to the state. She’s a leader in good government who we can trust to put politics aside and put our neighbors first.
Anna Thomas Pennsylvania House District 137 | Challenger
Anna Thomas, a native of Bethlehem Township, draws from her immigrant heritage and Christian upbringing, instilling values of service and community contribution. Her dedication to education led her to serve on the School Board of the Bethlehem Area School District, driving her passion for stronger education policies as a means to bolster economic opportunity in District 137. Anna prioritizes securing adequate state funding for Lehigh Valley public schools, expanding vocational training access, and ensuring affordable tuition at community colleges and state universities.
A graduate of Freedom High School and Wellesley College with a degree in Chemistry, Anna’s academic journey continued with a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. Her research, including collaboration with the Philadelphia Police Department, provided insights into Pennsylvania law enforcement and energy industry dynamics, shaping her commitment to informed policymaking.
After a narrow loss in 2022, Anna is once again running to represent the voters of District 137, advocating for fair taxation, defending personal liberties and fostering bipartisan cooperation to find solutions for all Pennsylvanians!
LuAnn Bird Wisconsin Assembly District 61 | Challenger
LuAnn’s journey of advocacy began when her husband, a Vietnam veteran paralyzed in a construction accident, faced barriers accessing Oshkosh Public Schools. Elected to the school board, she championed accessibility, ensuring all 22 facilities were wheelchair-friendly. Later, she tackled community issues, leading the installation of a sewer system and fostering partnerships across school districts and municipalities, emphasizing the link between exceptional schools and thriving communities.
As Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, LuAnn confronted the NRA to pass gun control laws and raised substantial funds for ADVOCAP, a poverty agency. Transitioning to consultancy roles, she spearheaded research projects and training programs to empower school boards for student success. In response to discriminatory policies in the Whitnall School District, she co-founded WREN, mobilizing residents to defeat harmful measures and elect inclusive candidates, despite opposition from anti-public education groups.
Residing in Hales Corners, LuAnn balances caregiving for her husband with family responsibilities. Her daughter and son-in-law are educators, her son a financial analyst, and together they provide childcare for three grandsons. Through her activism and personal commitments, LuAnn embodies a dedication to equality, community, and family.
Donate Now to support the 8 candidates!
Stay Tuned for More 2024 Endorsements
In addition to these eight candidates, we will announce more endorsements in the coming months in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin – and even possibly Minnesota & New Hampshire!
If you are interested in volunteering, stay tuned for ways to take action! Our teams around the country will be hosting virtual and in-person candidate meet & greets, fundraising events, and voter contact activities like phonebanking, postcarding, and canvassing.
We’re deeply grateful for this Sister District family, and we’re so proud to have you with us in this fight.
