WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, The Collective PAC  — the nation’s largest political action committee dedicated to increasing Black political engagement, representation, and power across all levels of government — has endorsed state and local candidates in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. 

Alabama 

• Mr. Wesley Thompson is running for the Alabama House of Representatives in District Three. Mr. Thompson is a local pastor, a substitute teacher, and a community leader, he understands the importance of creating a strong community.  If elected, Mr. Thompson plans to uplift and empower the students in the community and be a sounding board for the voiceless. 

 

Georgia

• Dr. Adrienne Simmons is running for Gwinnett County School Board District Four. Dr. Simmons has been a dedicated servant in public education for 20 years. If elected, she plans to advocate for intentional parent and community engagement, expand educational opportunities, and improve the decision-making process of the board.  

• Ms. Candice D. McKinley is running for DeKalb School Board District Two. Ms. Candice McKinley is an educator, an advocate, and civil rights lawyer. If elected, Ms. McKinley plans to uplift and improve the educational system in the district. 

• State Representative El-Mahdi Holly is running for re-election in Georgia’s 111th District. Rep. Holly plans to continue to empower his community by creating more job opportunities, fostering stronger communication between the community and law enforcement, and working to protect small businesses. 

• Ms. Joyce Barlow is running for Georgia’s 151st District. Ms. Barlow is a registered  nurse and small business owner. Ms. Barlow plans to advocate for the expansion of Medicaid, increase economic opportunities and funding for education, and accessible broadband.  

 

• Ms. Laverne Lewis Gaskins is running for Augusta Judicial Circuit Superior Court. Ms. Lewis Gaskins has been serving the community as a lawyer for the past 30 years. If elected, Ms. Lewis Gaskins plans to lead the community relying on her strong commitment to justice and judicial experience.

 

• Dr. Michelle Morancie is running for the Fulton County School Board. Dr. Morancie is a retired School Psychologist, and if elected she plans to increase staffing to address the mental health and wellness of students and focus on improving the quality of education in the district.  

 

• Judge Shalanda Miller is running for Atlanta Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge. Judge Miller currently serves Fulton County as a Juvenile Judge and aspires to serve as Superior Court Judge with integrity, compassion, and the passion to lead with legal knowledge. 

 

• Mrs. Tanya Miller is running for Georgia State House in District 62. Mrs. Miller is a civil rights and criminal defense lawyer and former Fulton County Assistant District Attorney. If elected, Mrs. Miller aspires to protect voting rights, and advocate for criminal justice reform, safer communities, and accessible healthcare. 

 

Kentucky

• Mr. Arnold L. Farr is running for an At-Large seat on the Lexington City Council. If elected, Mr. Farr plans to stimulate economic growth and community development in Kentucky.

• Ms. Denise Gray is running for Lexington-Fayette County Urban Government City Council, District Six. If elected, Ms. Gray plans to end gun violence and create economic opportunities throughout the county. 

• Mr. Lamin Swann is running for Kentucky House District 93. If elected, Mr. Swann plans to raise teacher salaries and the minimum wage, and advocate for affordable healthcare and reproductive rights.

 

New York 

• Ms. Lea Webb is running for New York State Senate District 53.  Ms. Webb formerly served as a Binghamton City Councilmember, and understands the need for continued civic engagement, creating new job opportunities, and advocating for her community. If elected, she aims to increase jobs, uplift small businesses, and advocate for health care expansion. 

 

North Carolina

• Mr. Allen Buansi is running for North Carolina House District 56. Mr. Buansi’s vision for North Carolina is to actively invest in public education, foster opportunities for everyone, especially for the vulnerable, and make healthcare more affordable and accessible for everyone. 

• Mr. Anthony Pierce is running for Board of Alamance County Commissioner. If elected, Mr. Pierce plans to improve education, public health, and safety throughout Alamance County. 

• Ms. Bettina Umstead is running for re-election for Durham Board of Education District Two. If re-elected, Ms. Umstead aims to continue to invest in the students and educators of Durham.

• Mrs. Diamond Staton-Williams is running for North Carolina House District 73. Mrs. Staton-Williams is a registered nurse and small business owner. If elected, she plans to focus on economic development, education, and infrastructure for rural communities. 

 

• State Senator Sydney Batch is running for re-election for North Carolina Senate District 17. If re-elected, Senator Batch plans to continue to fight for supporting families and small businesses, education, affordable healthcare, and safer communities.

• Ms. Yvette Townsend-Ingram is running for an At-Large seat on the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commission. Ms. Townsend-Ingram aims to improve services for families, address food insecurity, and uplift and improve the Minority Women and Small Business Enterprise Program.

 

Oregon

• Ms. Libra Forde is running for Clackamas County Commission. Ms. Forde currently serves as the CEO of a non-profit organization and she aspires to improve housing, education, child care, and health care for Clackamas County. 

 

Pennsylvania

• Mr. Izzy Smith-Wade-El is running for Pennsylvania State House District 49.  Mr. Smith-Wade-El is the current President of Lancaster City Council, and if elected will continue his fight for affordable housing and quality education.

 

 

ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE PAC 

The Collective PAC is working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. The Collective PAC is strategically focused on creating a truly equitable democracy where our nation’s local, state, and federal governments have diverse and talented elected leadership and Black people are fully represented in positions of power to create the policies necessary to progress our communities forward. Over the past five years, The Collective PAC has successfully helped 300 Black candidates win elections across the United States.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, The Collective PAC  — the nation’s largest political action committee dedicated to increasing Black political engagement, representation, and power across all levels of government — has endorsed local candidates in Texas. 

 Texas 

• Master Sergeant Dannion McLendon is running for Midlothian City Council. MSgt. McLendon plans to create transparency within the government, improve infrastructure, and uplift minority small businesses. 

• Mr. Robert E. Shelton is running for Justice of the Peace in Ellis County Precinct 4. Mr. Shelton is a paralegal, licensed investigator, and mediator; he plans to use his experiences to fight for equity within the justice system. 

 

 

ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE PAC 

The Collective PAC is working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. The Collective PAC is strategically focused on creating a truly equitable democracy where our nation’s local, state, and federal governments have diverse and talented elected leadership and Black people are fully represented in positions of power to create the policies necessary to progress our communities forward. Over the past five years, The Collective PAC has successfully helped 300 Black candidates win elections across the United States.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, The Collective PAC — the nation’s largest political action committee dedicated to increasing Black political engagement, representation, and power across all levels of government — congratulates all of our endorsed candidates on their primary victories in Tennessee.

• Judge Rachel L. Bell is running for re-election for General Sessions Court Division eight.  Judge Bell aspires to continue to advocate for criminal justice reform and public safety. 

• Mrs. Robin Kimbrough Hayes is running for General Sessions Court Division five. Mrs. Hayes has dedicated over a decade working as Legal Counsel for the Tennessee Coalition; she aims to increase judicial access, use restorative justice for criminal and civil matters, and conduct community town hall meetings.

 

ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE PAC 

The Collective PAC is working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. The Collective PAC is strategically focused on creating a truly equitable democracy where our nation’s local, state and federal governments have diverse and talented elected leadership and Black people are fully represented in positions of power to create the policies necessary to progress our communities forward. Over the past five years, The Collective PAC has successfully helped 300 Black candidates win elections across the United States.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, The Collective PAC — the nation’s largest political action committee dedicated to increasing Black political engagement, representation, and power across all levels of government — congratulates all of our endorsed candidates on their primary victories in Ohio. 

• Councilmember Cheryl Stephens is running for Lieutenant Governor in Ohio.  Councilmember Stephens represents Cuyahoga County’s 10th District and serves as CEO of the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation which provides affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization services. If elected, Cheryl Stephens will be the fifth woman and second Black woman to serve as the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio.

 

• State Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) currently represents Ohio’s 34th State House District and is the former Ohio House Minority Leader. Rep. Sykes is running to represent Ohio’s 13th Congressional district to uplift and improve access to affordable, quality healthcare, and create more economic opportunities in Northeast Ohio. 

 

• Representative Shontel Brown (OH-11) is running for re-election for Ohio’s 11th Congressional District. During her term, she has expanded public education and health services for senior citizens as well as delivered economic opportunities to the district. If re-elected, Congresswoman Brown will work to reduce gun violence, create equity and inclusion in healthcare, and strengthen criminal justice reform in the community. 

 

• Councilwoman Chelsea Clark is running for Secretary of State in Ohio. Councilwoman Clark aims to create job opportunities through small businesses expansion, provide transparency between the government and the community, while putting the needs of the community at the forefront. If elected, Councilwoman Clark will become the first Black woman elected Secretary of State in Ohio.

 

• Judge Terri Jamison is running for the Ohio Supreme Court and currently serves Franklin County on the Tenth District Court of Appeals for the State of Ohio. Judge Jamison will fight for transparency and restore the public’s trust in the justice system.

• Mr. Jeffery Saffold is running to represent Cuyahoga County as a Judge for the Common Pleas Court. Mr. Saffold has been fighting for the people as an attorney for over 25 years and plans to continue the fight for justice if elected. 

 

• Councilwoman Meredith M. Turner is running for re-election for Cuyahoga County Council District 9. Councilwoman Turner plans to empower the community through civic engagement efforts and job opportunities. 

• Judge Michael John Ryan is running for Ohio’s Eighth District Court of Appeals.  Judge Ryan is committed to creating equity within the courtroom and improving the community’s participation in court proceedings. 

 

• Mrs. Rickell Howard Smith (Juvenile Court Judge) is running to represent Hamilton County as a Juvenile Court Judge. Mrs. Howard Smith plans to use her knowledge as a civil rights attorney, child advocate, and juvenile law expert to strengthen the communities of Hamilton County. 

 

ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE PAC 

The Collective PAC is working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. The Collective PAC is strategically focused on creating a truly equitable democracy where our nation’s local, state, and federal governments have diverse and talented elected leadership and Black people are fully represented in positions of power to create the policies necessary to progress our communities forward. Over the past five years, The Collective PAC has successfully helped 300 Black candidates win elections across the United States.