The Next Generation Is Running. And They’re Already Changing the Map.

62 candidates. 28 states. Nearly a quarter Gen Z. From immigrant organizers to student renters to union advocates, a new class of leaders is building the next generation of local power.

TL;DR: Today, Run for Something is proud to endorse 62 candidates running for local and state office across 28 states. This class includes 24% Gen Z candidates, nearly 39% renters, and 35 first-time candidates, representing a growing pipeline of leaders who reflect the country as it actually is. These candidates are running because the systems shaping their lives are on the line, and they’re ready to lead. Meet and support the candidates → Runforsomething.net.

Across the country, the decisions that shape our daily lives are being made in school board meetings, city council chambers, and state legislatures.

Those decisions determine whether housing is affordable.

Whether public schools are funded.

Whether communities are safe, inclusive, and economically secure.

And right now, more people than ever are realizing something simple but powerful:

If we want better decisions, we need new leaders.

Today, Run for Something is proud to endorse 62 candidates across 28 states who are raising their hands to lead in their communities and fight for the future they believe in.

They are teachers who want stronger schools.

Renters who want housing they can afford.

Organizers who want a government that works for everyone.

Some are running for the very first time. Others are building on years of community leadership.

Together, they represent the next generation of public servants who understand what their neighbors are facing because they’ve lived it themselves.

A Class That Reflects the Country We Actually Live In

This endorsement class reflects America as it is.

• 62 candidates
• 28 states
• 24% Gen Z candidates
• Nearly 39% renters
• 35 first-time candidates

These numbers tell a bigger story about who is coming forward to lead.

A generation shaped by rising rent, student debt, economic instability, and political gridlock is pushing forward to lead.

Not someday. Now.

Many of these candidates are renters fighting for housing policy that works for working families. Others are educators who want to protect public schools and expand opportunities for the next generation.

And many are running because they’ve seen firsthand what happens when communities are ignored.

Leaders Shaped by Real Life

What makes this class special isn’t just the numbers. It’s the stories.

From Homelessness to Public Leadership

Michaela Burriss, running for Ohio State Representative, knows how powerful public policy can be.

Growing up, her family struggled with instability. Public education, food assistance programs, and the support of neighbors helped her rise out of poverty, earn advanced degrees, and build a career in public service.

Now she’s running to protect the very systems that helped make her life possible.

Fighting for Working Families

At just 29, Chris Thomas is running for the Pennsylvania State Senate after working construction, teaching middle school math and science, and serving as a volunteer firefighter.

Raised in a working-class family of veterans, coal miners, and educators, he understands the challenges facing families trying to get ahead.

His campaign centers on affordability, quality education, and dignity for workers.

An Immigrant Advocate Who Turned Adversity Into Leadership

Samuel Vilchez Santiago arrived in the United States as a young political asylee fleeing Venezuela’s authoritarian regime.

He began school in this country not speaking English.

Five years later, he graduated as his high school’s valedictorian and went on to earn degrees from Princeton and Oxford.

Now, he’s running for the Florida State House to expand opportunity for immigrant and working families like his own.

Students Fighting for Affordable Cities

Across the country, young people are stepping into leadership roles earlier than ever.

In Madison, Wisconsin, Bobby Gronert, a university sophomore, is running for city council to fight for housing affordability and tenant protections.

He wants to build public housing, protect renters from abusive landlords, and make the city more livable for students and working residents alike.

Another candidate in Madison, Ellen Zhang, is a student, artist, and activist working directly on affordable housing policy and voter access. She’s running to ensure marginalized and housing-insecure residents have a voice in city government.

Local Leaders With Global Roots

In South Dakota, Vince Danh is running for Sioux Falls City Council.

The son of Vietnamese refugees who opened the city’s first Vietnamese restaurant, Vince grew up watching his parents build opportunity through hard work and community.

Today, he’s a small business owner and organizer running on responsible growth, equal opportunity, and strong neighborhoods.

Building a Bench That Lasts

These candidates are running in races that rarely make national headlines.

But they matter.

Local officials decide how school districts are run, how housing is developed, and how communities respond to economic and social challenges.

They also become the bench of leaders who shape the future of state and national politics.

That’s why Run for Something focuses on recruiting and supporting candidates early in their leadership journeys, helping them run modern campaigns and connect with voters in their communities.

It’s about building power that lasts.

It’s already working. Across the country, Run for Something alumni are winning races once written off as impossible and building the governing bench that shapes future state and national leadership.

Why This Moment Matters

Across the country, people are watching national politics feel increasingly distant from everyday life.

But local leadership remains one of the most powerful ways communities can shape their future.

The candidates we’re endorsing today are stepping forward because they believe that public service should reflect the people it serves.

And they’re proving something important:

Our future leaders aren’t waiting for permission.

They are already running.

Campaigns like these rarely have massive war chests or national attention. What they have instead are communities and people who believe leadership should reflect the country as it actually is.

How You Can Help

In local races, the margin between winning and losing can be incredibly small.

A single volunteer shift. A single conversation with a neighbor. Even a $25 donation.

Any of those can help flip a seat.

If you want to be part of building the next generation of leaders:

✅ Meet and support our candidates → Runforsomething.net ✅ Take the next step → Sign up to run ✅ Spread the word → Share this post and tag a friend who should run

The future of this country won’t be decided in city halls, school boards, and state legislatures by leaders who reflect the communities they serve.

The future isn’t something we wait for.

It’s something we run for.