Today, we’re thrilled to announce the endorsement of thirteen additional state legislative candidates from key presidential battleground states! These dynamic, inspiring individuals have our full support as they step up to represent their communities.
Backing progressive candidates for state legislative seats is at the heart of our mission at Sister District Project. Each of these states plays a critical role in our overall strategy to build lasting progressive power at the state level. Read more to learn why states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin are pivotal for the 2024 election.
Meet our thirteen outstanding candidates who are ready to make a difference:
- Karen Gresham
- Nicholas Gonzales
- Lorena Austin
- Jasmine Clark
- Michelle Au
- Jaime Churches
- Shadia Martini
- Woodson Bradley
- Dante Pittman
- Mandy Steele
- Kris Alfheim
- Jodi Habush Sinykin
- Lee Snodgrass
Karen Gresham Arizona LD 4 – House | Challenger
Karen Gresham is a third-generation Arizonan and current President of the Madison Elementary School District’s governing board. She began her career as an accountant, but left to raise her three children and quickly became passionate about education policy. Karen volunteered in the classroom, on PTO boards, and eventually ran for the school board to ensure her community had the strongest schools possible. Karen now recognizes that the policies coming out of Phoenix need to change, so she is running in a must-win seat for Democrats to take control of the AZ State House.
Nicholas Gonzales Arizona LD 13 – House | Challenger
Nicholas Gonzales, a small business owner and community planner, is running for an open seat in his home district – Arizona’s LD-13. Nicholas is committed to advocating for affordable housing, expanding access to reproductive health care, and fighting the far-right agenda of Republicans aiming to institutionalize racial profiling in local law enforcement. This seat is a critical win for Democrats to flip the Arizona House for the first time since 1966.
Lorena Austin Arizona LD 9 – House | Challenger
Rep. Lorena Austin, a fifth-generation Arizonan, was elected to the AZ House from LD-9 in 2022. Since then, they have fought to protect abortion access, reform unaccountable school vouchers, defend the LGBTQ+ community, and improve the lives of Arizonans. Sister District endorsed Lorena in 2022, and is proud to do so again in 2024. Reelecting Lorena is essential to breaking Republicans’ narrow majority and flipping the AZ House of Representatives blue this year.
Jasmine Clark Georgia HD 108 | Incumbent
Rep. Dr. Jasmine Clark, a Lecturer and Professor at Emory University, was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2018, successfully flipping a seat from red to blue. Dr. Clark has been a strong advocate for reproductive rights, voting rights, environmental protection, public education, and more. Sister District first supported Dr. Clark in 2020, and is proud to endorse her again in 2024, when new legislative maps favoring Republicans have made this seat highly competitive.
Michelle Au Georgia HD 50 | Incumbent
Dr. Michelle Au was first elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2020. Following Republican gerrymandering of her Senate district, she successfully ran for and won in the House of Representatives in 2022 – with Sister District’s support. In 2024, the GOP is targeting Dr. Au, with Republican Governor Brian Kemp identifying her as a top priority for defeat. As the sole Democratic physician in the General Assembly, she advocates for expanding Medicaid coverage, protecting reproductive health care access, and reducing prescription drug costs. Democrats must hold this seat to continue building Democratic power in Georgia.
Jaime Churches Michigan HD 27 | Incumbent
Rep. Jaime Churches was elected to the MI House of Representatives in 2022. Her dramatic victory by just 660 votes was one of the closest races in the entire state, and it was critical for Dems to win the majority. As a 5th grade public school teacher, Jaime is passionate about ensuring that all children are able to reach their full potential through public education. She wants to continue with the progress that Democrats have made over the last session by supporting small businesses and helping working families. If Democrats are going to protect their narrow two-seat majority in the MI House, we must reelect Rep. Jaime Churches.
Shadia Martini Michigan HD 54 | Challenger
In 2022, Shadia Martini narrowly lost her race for this seat – and she hasn’t stopped running since. Now, she’s back for a rematch against the Republican incumbent. Shadia immigrated to the US in 1992 and made southeast Michigan her home, where she got her MBA from the University of Michigan and now owns a real estate brokerage firm and a construction company. Democrats hold a narrow two-seat majority in the House, and winning this seat will help protect and grow the majority for better governance in Michigan.
Woodson Bradley North Carolina SD 42 | Challenger
Woodson Bradley is a mom, wife, business owner, community leader, and tireless volunteer. Raised by a public school teacher and social worker, Woodson has dedicated her life to public service. As a domestic violence survivor, Woodson has advocated for families, children, and teens across NC and currently speaks for the Mecklenburg County Domestic Violence Speakers Bureau. As a small business owner, she wants to ensure that Charlotte is a place that has opportunities for all. If Democrats are going to break the dangerous Republican supermajority in NC, Woodson must be elected in November.
Dante Pittman North Carolina HD 24 | Challenger
Dante Pittman is a lifelong resident of Wilson County, NC and a proud product of his home state’s public school system – all the way through his undergraduate degree at UNC-Chapel Hill. He serves as a Captain in the North Carolina National Guard and on several community boards and committees. Dante’s deep roots in the community make him an outstanding candidate to flip this red seat and help Democrats pick up the one seat necessary to break the Republican supermajority.
Mandy Steele Pennsylvania HD 33 | Incumbent
Rep. Mandy Steele was elected in 2022, flipping one of the seats that gave Democrats control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the first time in decades. She is a lifelong resident of Southwestern Pennsylvania, holds a degree from the University of Pittsburgh, advocates for action on climate change and is passionate about improving green space. Mandy’s seat is on the GOP target list, and she has already been attacked by far-right dark money groups as Republicans attempt to take back control of the PA House.
Kris Alfheim Wisconsin SD 18 | Challenger
Kristin Alfheim currently serves on the Appleton Town Council, and is running for a must-win seat in the Wisconsin Senate. She is an advocate for Alzheimer’s research and retirement issues, and is passionate about the issues facing her community. If Kristin is successful this fall, her seat will be the critical one to break the Republican supermajority.
Jodi Habush Sinykin Wisconsin SD 8 | Challenger
Jodi Habush Sinykin is a small business owner, attorney, policy expert, and community leader. She attended the University of Michigan for her undergraduate degree and went on to Harvard Law School to earn her J.D. Jodi now serves as an environmental expert and advocate, and owns a textile mill based in Milwaukee with her husband. If she is elected this fall, Democrats will be squarely on the path to winning control of the WI Senate in 2026.
Lee Snodgrass Wisconsin AD 52 | Incumbent
Assemblywoman Lee Snodgrass was elected to the WI Assembly in 2020. Sister District supported Lee in 2022, when she persevered despite heavily gerrymandered maps and helped prevent Republicans from gaining a supermajority. Lee has been a passionate advocate for public schools and the LGBTQ+ community in Wisconsin, and Sister District is proud to endorse her once more. If Democrats are going to be able to flip the WI Assembly, Lee Snodgrass must be reelected.
