Latest POP Victories
May 6th North Carolina POP Victories
Janet Cowell, a two term state senator defeated her two male opponents in yesterday's primary for state treasurer. Cowell is a Wharton Business School graduate with experience and expertise in banking, investment, and financial management. While serving in the Senate, Cowell worked to create jobs and improve education. She is widely-recognized as a hard working and thoughtful legislator who fights hard for her constituents. Cowell was outspent by both opponents but ran a tight campaign that included a coalition of labor, business, environmental and women's organizations. Cowell will face Bill Daughtridge in the fall in a race expected to cost $2 million.
Angela Bryant defeated her primary opponent in NC House District 7 and is expected to serve her first full term representing this solidly Democratic district in Rocky Mount. Bryant was appointed to the vacant House seat in 2007. Bryant's campaign benefited from training, technical assistance and financial support from POP. A long-time community activist, Bryant is a strong progressive with a lengthy political future ahead.
The youngest member of the NC General Assembly, Tricia Cotham in District 100 defeated a three-term county commissioner with 79 percent of the vote in yesterday’s primary. Cotham is a school principal who knocked on hundreds of doors in this race. In the legislature, Cotham has focused her efforts on progressive issues including education, health care and jobs. POP provided training, technical assistance and a financial contribution to Cotham who expects to serve in the U.S. Senate someday.
Having solidly defeated a tough Primary opponent, Katie Dorsett secured her fourth term as a state senator representing District 28. Dorsett is a retired educator who focuses on improving education, creating jobs and protecting the environment. Dorsett has benefited from POP services receiving technical assistance, training and financial help as well as GOTV efforts from POP staff.
Ellie Kinnaird defeated a well-funded opponent yesterday in the Primary election for the 23rd District, securing her seventh term in the North Carolina Senate. Kinnaird has been involved in civic and community life in Orange County for decades. She is a champion for the arts, environment and neighborhood restoration. Known for her outstanding constituent service, Kinnaird instituted a massive house party effort in addition to traditional methods of voter communication in this campaign.
Annie Mobley, in House District 5, defeated her primary opponent yesterday with 58% of the vote and is expected to sail to victory in this solidly Democratic district in the general election. Mobley, a long-time public servant in the Administrative Court in North Carolina was first appointed to the legislature in January 2007. Mobley served as Chair of the Juvenile Justice Committee and focused much of her early legislative work on the agriculture and economy -- two areas critical to the citizens in her district.
Having served six years on the Pitt County Board of Education, Kathy Taft is headed to a run-off election after Tuesday's six-way primary in Senate District 5 did not allow for any candidate to receive the necessary 40% of the vote. This is Taft's first bid for a state senate seat. Taft ran a well-organized and aggressive campaign, knocking on doors and building a grassroots effort in the rural district. She ran second yesterday with 24% of the vote.
April 22nd Pennsylvania POP Victories
With 64% of the vote POP-supported candidate Judy Hirsh won the opportunity to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Jeff Piccola in November's general election. The Political Opportunity Program worked closely with Hirsh and her campaign staff giving them the tools to win, including EMILY's List staff that traveled to Harrisburg to help the campaign execute their GOTV plan.
After earning a master's degree in public administration from Penn State, Hirsh came to Harrisburg to work for the House Appropriations Committee. As the Board President of Londonderry School, a community-based school here in central PA, she was instrumental in helping them to build their own "green" school building. She runs a small business with her husband and keeps the finances. She is also very active in the Harrisburg Jewish community.
Hirsh is running for the State Senate because she is a leader who will work toward changing the legislature into a more efficient and effective body that can represent the interests of all Pennsylvanians. She wants to work with people from across the state to ensure a steady stream of funding to Pennsylvania's schools, to make sure that all Pennsylvanians have health care coverage and to find the answer to rising property taxes and find a solution that will be fair to all.
March 4th Texas POP Victories
Rep. Jessica Farrar handily held off her primary opponent in HD 148. Farrar was first elected in 1994 at the age of 27 and is the longest serving Hispanic female from Houston in the House. She currently serves on the powerful Committee on State Affairs and the Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues. She is the Vice-Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, the founder of the Women's Health Caucus, and the founder of the House Environmental Caucus. Rep. Farrar also started a non-profit mentorship program for Latina college students known as Latinas on the Rise, and co-founded the Texas Women's Health Foundation, a non-profit aimed at de-politicizing women's health issues. Farrar has a degree in architecture and is a partner at Farrar Architects. She is married to Major Marco Sanchez, they live in Lindale.
Carol Alvarado won her primary for HD 145, an open seat currently held by Rep. Rick Noriega, who is running against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Carol served on the Houston City Council from 2002 - 2007. Her involvement in local politics began as a child. Prior to her election to the city council, Carol worked in City Hall as Senior Executive Assistant to Houston Mayor Lee P. Brown. Her past work experience includes serving as legislative assistant to Congressman Gene Green in Washington D.C. and as a consultant in economic and community development in the neighborhoods of the East End. Carol is a graduate of the University of Houston, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She is currently enrolled in the University of Houston's MBA program. Carol is actively involved in several charitable endeavors including serving as a mentor for Latinas on the Rise, collecting clothing for Dress for Success and serving on the Board of Planned Parenthood.
February 5th Illinois POP Victories
Sen. Iris Martinez won her hotly contested primary yesterday against two opponents to retain her seat in the Illinois State Senate. Senator Martinez made history on the day she was sworn in by becoming the first Hispanic woman in Illinois to be elected to the State Sentate. She again made history in January 2007 when Senate President Emil Jones, Jr. named her Assistant Majority Leader, a position never before held by a Latina. Martinez will work to keep Chicago's neighborhoods safer, make transportation more available to Illinois residents, and make health care more affordable for the people of her state.
Deb Mell won a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives yesterday, making her the first open gay woman elected to the Illinois general assembly. She currently serves on Mayor Richard M. Daley's advisory council for Human Relations and has served as a chair of the Equality Illinois Justice For All Gala. Deb works for Christy Webber Landscape, Chicago's largest landscaping company, as a project manager and supervisor in the commercial division.
In Illinois, Anita Alvarez defeated five male opponents in a primary to become the first woman and first Latina candidate for Cook County State's Attorney. In her previous role as Chief Deputy in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, Anita Alvarez oversaw the day-to-day operations of more than 900 assistant state's attorneys in eight different divisions handling felony prosecutions and civil actions. She and her staff deal with the major issues confronting the community, from child abuse to consumer scams to criminal gangs to environmental protection. She now faces Tony Peraica, a Cook County commissioner from Riverside, in the general election. Cook County is heavily Democratic but has elected Republican State's Attorneys in recent years, so Alvarez will have to put together a strong organization to win in November.
In a Chicago State Senate seat vacated by Sen. Carol Ronen's retirement, Heather Steans won the Democratic primary yesterday with 63 percent of the vote. An advocate for good public policy, Heather's professional career has focused on government finance, economic development and education reform efforts. In addition, Heather promotes strong community forums and child development initiatives as a member of the Boards of WBEZ Public Radio and the Erickson Institute. She also is a past chair of the Donor's Forum. Heather has received support from Senator Ronen and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.
Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie has been the Democratic Majority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 25th District, which includes the communities of Woodlawn, South Shore, Hyde Park, and Kenwood, since 1979. Yesterday, she won her primary election. Currie remains the top expert on revenue issues and has been a strong champion of civil rights.
Jehan Gordon defeated her opponent in the primary for the 92nd House District in Peoria, Ill., on Tuesday with 52 percent of the vote. Gordon graduated from Limestone High School in Bartonville, Illinois, and attended Parkland Community College and the University of Illinois - Champaign/Urbana. After college, Jehan worked at the Small Business Development Center at Bradley University before deciding to enter public service by becoming an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) worker at Illinois Central College. Jehan goes on to face Republican Joan Krupa, former CEO of the Heartland Clinic, in the November general election.
In the west suburbs of Chicago, Rep. Deborah Graham won her primary election yesterday. Deborah L. Graham, State Representative of Illinois's 78th District, was born and raised on the west side of Chicago and has devoted most of her life to community service. Since 1995, she has been a leader in the Austin neighborhood, earning the respect of her peers as well as local and state politicians. She defeated a hand-picked challenger who was recruited to defeat her because of her work on anti-crime legislation.
In Chicago, AmySue Mertens was defeated by incumbent State Senator Ricky Hendon in the February 5 Democratic Primary, coming in second in a three way race. AmySue Mertens brings rich, varied careet experience to the table, including work with Literacy Chicago, Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC), Housing Opportunities for Women (HOW), and University of Illinois Extension. She also has work experience in health care, the environment, and the arts. She sees the role of public servant as a broad one. AmySue will be a leader for the whole community, not just a selected few.
Click here for the 2007 election results.
Click here for the 2006 election results.