Wisconsin – Today, the Working Families Party announced its newest round of state endorsements for the 2020 election cycle. The progressive party’s new endorsements include Kristin Lyerly (AD-88), Sara Rodriguez (AD-13), Sarah Yacoub (AD-30), Abigail Lowery (AD-37), Melissa Winker (AD 38), unapologetically progressive women running against Republican incumbents; Francesca Hong (AD-76), Lee Snodgrass (AD-57), Samba Baldeh (AD-48), who are running for open seats; and incumbents Rep. Beth Meyers (AD-74) and Rep. Jodi Emerson (AD-91).
WI WFP have members showed up in force to support endorsed candidates this cycle, sending over one million texts since June and making over ten thousand calls per week. So far WFP has identified over 20,000 voters for their candidates with over half committing to vote by mail.
“It has never been more crucial to elect candidates that can speak authentically about the needs of working families, and propose bold, transformative solutions to meet the urgent crises we face,” said Aaron Shapiro, 2020 Campaigns Director for the Wisconsin Working Families Party. “These candidates are leaders on making healthcare affordable and accessible to all, they have the political will to overturn the regressive legacy of Scott Walker, and they’re committed to building a Wisconsin that works for the many, not the few. We are proud to have their back in 2020 through the general election, and beyond.”
Dr. Kristin Lyerly is a physician, a mom, and a community leader who cares deeply about the people of Wisconsin. She’s running to unseat Republican incumbent John Macco, who has worked to restrict women’s rights, block racial justice reform, and encouraged constituents to defy CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
“I am thrilled to accept the Working Families Party’s endorsement,” said Kristin Lyerly, AD-88. “Standing together we will continue the fight to provide every Wisconsinite with easy access to affordable healthcare, repeal Act 10 and other regressive legislation from the Walker administration, and establish an independent redistricting council to keep our legislators accountable.”
Francesca Hong is a mother, community organizer, and service industry worker Madison. A daughter of immigrants, Francesca would be the first Asian American in the Wisconsin Legislature.
“There is no group more committed to representing the interests and needs of working class people than the Working Families Party,” said Francesca Hong, AD-76. “I am thrilled and honored for their endorsement. I am ready to work alongside them to champion and push our movement forward to empower and center our working class communities.”
The 2020 class of WI WFP candidates are united in their fight for racial, economic and social justice that goes beyond piecemeal reforms. If elected, they will harness the power of their office toward criminal justice reform, working alongside local leaders to invest in public safety, and passing a progressive political agenda that includes a living wage, rebuilding our infrastructure, expanding healthcare and fighting for the working class.
The Working Families Party is a grassroots political party that recruits, trains, and elects the next generation of progressive leaders to office. After the Party helped elect Gov. Tony Evers and WFP Board Member and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, the Party swept the MPS elections, a victory that served as a mid-point for an incredible progressive winning streak for the WFP in local elections across America. The WI WFP then went on to pass the MPS referendum and win key seats in the April election.
Nationally, the WFP is driving a progressive wave in elections across America. This year the WFP helped elect progressive champions Jamaal Bowman and Mondaire Jones to Congress in New York, ousted five conservative Democratic state senators in New Mexico, helped DC Council Member-elect Jannese Lewis George beat back scaremongering attacks about defunding the police department, helped three progressive district attorneys in Colorado triumph in their primaries and won a slew of elections throughout Pennsylvania.
