CANDIDATES
WOMEN OF COLOR BREAKING BARRIERS
Inspiring Leaders
Representation Matters is honored to support Black Women and women of color running for elected office across the country. The candidates Representation Matters features are passionate, courageous, determined and inspiring leaders who have compelling stories of overcoming challenges and breaking barriers. Their unique experiences and perspectives need to be heard at every level of government to shape effective policy. They are all committed to preserving our democracy, and fighting for reproductive justice, racial justice, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental protection, immigrant rights, and all that we value. They are the hope for a representative democracy and our future. #2021-candidates
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SENATE CANDIDATES – 2026
Peggy Flanagan (MN)
Peggy Flanagan is Minnesota’s 50th Lieutenant Governor, a member of the White Earth Nation, and is running for Minnesota’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2026. She is currently the highest ranking Native American woman in elected office in the nation. Peggy has dedicated her career to working with and delivering for middle and working class Minnesotans. Peggy served on the Minneapolis Board of Education from 2005 to 2009. She also worked at Wellstone Action, the organization founded to carry on the work of the late Senator Paul Wellstone for nearly a decade. As one of the original trainers of Wellstone Action’s signature program, Camp Wellstone, she trained thousands of organizers, elected officials, and candidates – including Governor Tim Walz. Peggy subsequently served as the Executive Director of the Children’s Defense Fund. In 2015, Peggy was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, and in 2019, she was elected Lieutenant Governor. As Minnesota’s Lieutenant Governor, Peggy secured the largest tax cut in Minnesota history; made transformative investments in education, small businesses, and child care; and made the state a national leader in Tribal-State relations. If elected, Peggy will be the first Native woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate. Our early support will help her campaign get off to a strong start.
HOUSE CANDIDATES – 2026
Congresswomen on the Frontline
Rep. Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
Rep. Janelle Bynum is currently serving her first term in Congress, representing Oregon’s 5th Congressional District. She was one of the few candidates who successfully flipped a district red to blue in 2024. Prior to being elected to Congress, Janelle served four terms in Oregon’s State Legislature, where she built a proven track record of working across the aisle and delivering results. She was instrumental in passing legislation that invests in mental health care, expands youth voter engagement, and supports women of color in the workplace. Janelle has been an advocate for lowering the cost of prescription drugs, protecting women’s reproductive freedom, protecting LGTBQ+ rights, building more affordable housing and addressing homelessness, taking on the climate crisis, and strengthening Oregon’s economy. She is a small business owner, an engineer and a mother of four. Janelle currently serves on the House Financial Services Committee. Republicans are targeting this seat, and It is critical that Janelle wins her re-election to ensure that Democrats take back the House in 2026. Republicans will fight to win this seat back, and our early support will ensure that doesn’t happen.
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03)
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez currently serves in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, which is a Trump district, She is a fifth generation Latina Washingtonian. When she was first elected in 2022, she flipped a R+5 seat winning by less than a percentage point, by just two votes in each precinct. She became the first Democrat to represent WA-03 in twelve years, and the first Democratic Latina to win this district. Her re-election in 2024 was a rematch with the same far right conservative Republican backed by Trump, and was one of the most competitive House races in the country. She and her husband run an auto repair and machine shop, and she has deep ties to rural communities. Ranked as one of the most bi-partisan lawmakers in the House, she works hard to make things easier for working families. She currently serves on the House Committee on Appropriations. She is on the DCCC Frontline again this cycle, and in order for Democrats to take back control of the House, it is imperative that we keep this seat blue in 2026.
Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05)
Rep. Jahana Hayes currently representing Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District, made history in 2018 when she became the first African-American Congresswoman from Connecticut. This also marked her first service in public office, and she is now serving her 4th term in Congress. Previously a high school teacher, Jahana gained national attention when President Obama named her National Teacher of the Year in 2016. In this role, she traveled nationally and internationally to engage education stakeholders in discussions focused on enhancing student outcomes. Jahana’s life is a testament to triumph over adversity. Despite growing up amid poverty and addiction, and becoming pregnant at 17, she returned to school, earned multiple degrees, reached the zenith of teaching, and now serves in Congress. She attributes her success to education. Jahana stands as living proof that good government can work. She is the Ranking member of the House Committees on Education and Workforce, and a member of the Committee on Agriculture, where she serves as the Ranking Member of the Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture and Horticulture Subcommittee and on the Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Subcommittee. Her legislative interests include equitable education, affordable healthcare, food security, labor, veterans’ issues, gun violence prevention, and environmental issues. She is on the DCCC Frontline again this cycle, and needs our support to hold this seat and keep CT-05 blue.
Rep. Emilia Sykes (OH-13)
Rep. Emilia Sykes represents Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, known as the Birthplace of Champions. When first elected in 2022, she defeated a Republican Fox News commentator in a redrawn district, winning one of the toughest races in the country. According to SplitTicket.org, Emilia achieved the largest over performance of any challenger in a battleground district in the nation. The district includes two of Ohio’s 10th largest cities, Akron and Canton, as well as numerous suburban communities, and rural areas that include one of Ohio’s largest dairy farms. Sykes previously served 8 years in the Ohio House of Representatives including 3 years as Minority Leader. There she fought for tax cuts for middle-class and working families, funding for high-speed Internet, and higher wages and safer working conditions for Ohio’s workers. In particular, Emilia’s work on domestic violence issues earned bipartisan praise and resulted in her priority legislation, Ohio HB 1, to be signed into law, which protects the safety and security of people in violent relationships. In Congress, Emilia sits on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee where she works to rebuild our roads and infrastructure and protect our water resources and environment. Additionally, she serves on the Science, Space and Technology Committee where she guides research investment and technology development. Both committees are vital to the economic prosperity of Ohio and our nation. Emilia has earned several awards for her advocacy, including the EMILYs List national Rising Star award, Legislator of the Year from the Ohio Minority Business Enterprise, the Champion for Children award from Summit County Children’s Services, and 30 for the Future award from the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce. Emilia’s district continues to be one of the toughest to win. She is on the DCCC Frontline and her seat is a must win to ensure we take back the House in 2026.
CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR – 2026
Deb Haaland (NM)
Deb Haaland is a 35th-generation New Mexican, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, a small business owner, a working mother who has lived paycheck to paycheck, a former Congresswoman, and served as the United States Secretary of the Interior for four years. Deb has a history of shattering glass ceilings. In 2018 she became one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress, and in 2020 President Biden appointed her to serve in his Cabinet, making her the first Native American to ever serve as a Cabinet secretary. While in Congress, Deb served on the House Committee on Natural Resources where she was a tireless advocate for the environment and environmental justice. As Secretary of the Interior she worked to protect public lands and endangered habitats. She also launched an initiative to investigate and rectify the legacy of federal Indian boarding school policies. She is a staunch advocate for reproductive freedom. Deb is now a Democratic candidate for Governor in New Mexico and if elected, will be the first Native American woman to serve as Governor in our country’s history. Deb needs our support now to start out strong and run a successful campaign in what will be a highly competitive and very expensive race.
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