Vin Gopal

New Jersey

Running for: New Jersey State Senate District 11

Vin Gopal is a lifelong resident of Monmouth County, born at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune and raised in Freehold. He is proud to be a small-business owner, having built his business from the ground up. Vin is also the Founder and President of a 501c(3) organization dedicated to helping Monmouth County charities and individuals in need. He holds a Masters in Public Administration from Rutgers University.

Never having held elected office before, Vin ran for the State Senate in 2017 against an 18 year incumbent politician and won, going on to re-election in 2021. During his time in the state senate Vin has worked tirelessly across party-lines to champion the causes of working families in Monmouth County, small-business owners, students and seniors. Vin Gopal is currently the youngest member of the New Jersey State Senate and is the first South-Asian American to be elected to the Senate in New Jersey history. He is committed to making a difference for his District 11 community. Vin and his family now live in Long Branch.

Priorities: 

• Provide funds for education and local businesses

• Make mental health services more accessible

• Improve public safety

• Decrease barriers to employment for the disabilities community

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Margie Donlon

New Jersey

Running for: New Jersey State General Assembly District 11

Margie Donlon is a practicing physician and mom currently serving as Deputy Mayor of Ocean Township where she was elected twice to serve on the council with her bi-partisan ticket. Dr. Margie Donlon graduated from Middlebury College before receiving her Masters in Public Health from Yale University and her Medical Degree from the University of Rochester. Margie is now a Board-Certified Doctor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

“As a Doctor, my job is to help people. I’m running for the Assembly for the exact same reason.”

 Running for New Jersey State General Assembly District 11, she advocates for open space, shared-services and programs supporting seniors and veterans. Margie is also an avid surfer and volunteers teaching adaptive surfing to kids with disabilities and serving on the board of the Surfers Medical Association. She and her husband live with their daughters in Ocean Township. By running for the State General Assembly, Margie aims to prepare the state of New Jersey for the future. 

Priorities: 

• Support for seniors and veterans  

• Stronger public safety measures 

• Promote bipartisanship

Luanne Peterpaul

New Jersey

Running for: New Jersey State General Assembly District 11

Luanne Peterpaul is running for General Assembly in District 11. She graduated from Duquesne University and Seton Hall School of Law and is currently the managing partner of Peterpaul Law in Asbury Park, where she focuses on labor and employment law and general litigation. She is a former prosecutor and served as a Municipal Judge for the Cities of Long Branch and Asbury Park before stepping down to run for Assembly.

Luanne is active in her community. She previously served as the Chair of the Board for Garden State Equality, where she was instrumental in creating the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights that passed with bipartisan support in the NJ State Legislature. Now, she is on the Advisory Committee of the Unterberg Children’s Hospital of RWJ/Barnabas Hospital at the Monmouth Medical Center. Luanne and her wife, Robin, live in Long Branch, New Jersey. If elected, Peterpaul would become the first openly gay woman serving in the NJ Legislature.

Priorities: 

• Providing equal rights 

• Improving access to mental health services 

• Providing fair taxes 

Andrew Zwicker

New Jersey

Running for: New Jersey State Senate District 16

Andrew Zwicker was raised in Englewood, New Jersey, where his love of learning and his passion for science came from his mother, a public school English teacher, and father, a chemical engineer. Andrew graduated from Bard College with a bachelor’s degree in physics and then went on to receive his master’s and Ph.D. in physics from Johns Hopkins University. He works as a scientist and educator at Princeton University’s Plasma Physics Laboratory. As a member of the New Jersey Senate, Andrew serves on the Budget and Appropriations, Higher Education, Labor, and Military and Veterans’ Affairs committees. Along with those committees, he is also a member of the Manufacturing Caucus, the Disability Caucus, and the NJ Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology. 

Priorities:

• The role of research and development as an economic driver 

• Addressing global warming

• Voting rights

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Roy Freiman

New Jersey

Running for: New Jersey State General Assembly District 16

Roy Freiman is a father, businessman and current member of the New Jersey General Assembly where he serves the 16th District. In his bid for re-election, Roy aims to put aside our partisan ideology and work towards creating a better future for all New Jersey residents. Over his last four years he has been in office, Roy has advocated for expanding access to quality healthcare and mental health services. He has been a part of legislation to accomplish equal pay for equal work, raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour, ban plastic bags, and enact the most comprehensive gun control laws in the country. Roy is a New Jerseyan, having lived in Hillsborough for more than 20 years and having raised his family there. In the Assembly, Roy has pushed for relief from the tax burden and he helped create new jobs by attracting new business through policies that support economic development. Roy understands the challenges that New Jersey families face and what needs to be done to solve them. 

Priorities: 

• Make politics less partisan

• Raise minimum wage

• Secure women’s right to healthcare

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Mitchelle Drulis

New Jersey

Running for: New Jersey State General Assembly District 16

Mitchelle Drulis is a mom and small business owner and is ready to serve New Jersey in the General Assembly. 

No stranger to politics, Mitchelle began her career as a legislative aide to Assemblyman Bob Smith, then later served as Chief of Staff to Assemblyman Joe Egan. Drulis was the Political Director for Tom Malinowski in the 2018 midterms during which she led an outreach program to secure key endorsements for Malinowski. Gaining support from key labor and grassroots organizations, along with an army of volunteers led to flipping the longtime republican-held Congressional District (NJ07) to Democratic control. Drulis later served as the District Director for the Congressman in the district.

In addition to her political work, Mitchelle is the owner of a Somerset County based small business, has volunteered as class mom at Copper Hill and as Vice President of the RFIS PTO in the Flemington Raritan school district. Mitchelle is also a parishioner at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Readington Township where she was a volunteer RF instructor.

Mitchelle attended Rutgers University where she was an Eagleton Institute of Politics – Undergraduate Associate. Mitchelle lives in Raritan Township with her husband Michael Drulis and her daughter Torrance.

Priorities: 

• Providing aid to grassroots organizations

• Provide funding for local municipal projects

Joseph Lagana

New Jersey

Running for: New Jersey State Senate District 38

State Senator Joseph Lagana is running for re-election in New Jersey’s 38th District.

As State Senator, Joseph serves on the Judiciary Committee and as Vice-Chair on the Labor Committee. He has been a member of the State Senate since 2018 and has supported numerous bills with topics ranging from gun control to women’s reproductive rights. Prior to his legislative tenure, the senator was a member of the Paramus Borough Council, and was later elected to the State Assembly in 2013, 2015, and 2017.

Joseph Lagana was born in Teaneck, New Jersey. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Fordham University and a juris doctorate, cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He is a partner with the Secaucus law firm of Chasan, Lamparello, Mallon and Cappuzzo. Mr. Lagana and his wife, Jamie, have two daughters.

Priorities:

• Providing more gun control 

• Access to healthcare

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Lisa Swain

New Jersey

Running for: New Jersey State General Assembly District 38

Lisa Swain has represented the 38th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2018 and is running for re-election this cycle. In the assembly she serves on the Environment and Solid Waste Committee, and is committed to finding solutions for global warming and waste management. She is also a member of the Law and Public Safety Committee and the Tourism, Gaming, and Arts Committee. Previously, Lisa served on the Fair Lawn Borough Council for 11 years and as Mayor of Fair Lawn for two terms.

Lisa earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of Rochester and her Master's from New York University. Lisa lives in Fair Lawn with her husband and is the proud mother of two grown daughters raised in Fair Lawn. She is also an award-winning triathlete who coaches aspiring triathletes and swimmers.

Priorities: 

• Protecting women’s reproductive rights 

• Protecting our environment 

• Mental health treatment accessibility

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Chris Tully

New Jersey

Running for: New Jersey State General Assembly District 38

Chris Tully was born and raised in Bergenfield and has represented the 38th Legislative District in the New Jersey Assembly since 2018. He began his political career in Bergenfield, serving as council president and chair of the Finance Committee. In the Assembly, Chris is chair of the Science, Innovation, and Technology committee and Vice-Chair of the Aging and Senior Services Committee.

Chris has fought for taxpayers by reducing borough debt and delivering fiscally responsible budgets. He has also served as an aide to U.S Representative Josh Gottheimer.

He is running for re-election to keep doing the work of making his community safer, more affordable, and an even better place to live and raise a family. Chris lives in Bergenfield with his wife and two-year-old son.

Priorities: 

• Diversity and inclusion 

• Women’s reproductive rights 

• Aid to public schooling 

• Aid to innovation and technology

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Kimberly Pope Adams

Virginia

Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 82

Kimberly Pope Adams knows the importance of having a safe community and believes every Virginian deserves to live in a place they can feel safe coming home to. As a first time candidate running for the House of Delegates, Kimberly hopes to increase opportunity and economic development for the community in District 82.  Born and raised in Hopewell, Virginia, she spent most of her childhood in a single-parent home. With hard work throughout high school and the value of education instilled in her, Kimberly graduated high school and earned her college degree at Virginia Tech. In her professional career, Kimberly became a public servant, serving as an Auditor for the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is an advocate for quality public education, teacher pay and adequate funding of K-12 schools. Kimberly is dedicated to serving with transparency, accountability, and good governance for all Virginians.

Priorities: 

• Keeping communities safe

• Increasing educational opportunities

• Protecting women’s reproductive rights

• Pursuing solutions to food insecurity

• Increasing economic development

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Nadarius Clark

Virginia

Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 84

Nadarius Clark is a working-class community activist and organizer born and raised in Hampton Roads. He comes from a military family with a background in business entrepreneurship. He grew up in a strong faith community and attends Zion Community Church in Northern Suffolk. Currently serving as a Delegate in the Virginia General Assembly, he is seeking re-election for a second term. 

Nadarius graduated from Virginia Union University, an HBCU in Richmond. During college, he co-founded a chapter of Generation Now Network, an organization committed to faith-based activism, advocacy, and education. 

In 2021, Nadarius won a historic primary against an incumbent and became the first African American Delegate to represent the 79th district and the youngest Democrat ever elected to the general assembly. As a person in his twenties, he is part of the generation that knows the importance of fighting for a better future. 

Nadarius aims to put the working class families of Hampton Roads first by continuing to prioritize equity, particularly in healthcare, housing, and education. 

Priorities: 

• Funding public education

• Protecting women’s reproductive rights 

• Invest in resources to support the community’s economy and entrepreneurship

• Expand affordable housing

• Fighting for more mental health resources

• Advocating for racial justice

• Protecting the environment

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Joshua Cole

Virginia

Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 65 

Raised in HD-65,  Joshua Cole knows the challenges people face in Fredericksburg and Stafford County and understands what it means to truly serve his constituents. He is a pastor, the president of his NAACP chapter, and works with numerous local and community initiatives.  A product of Stafford County Public Schools, Joshua commits himself to advocating for improvements in education and the public school system. In 2019, Josh Cole became the first Black person and youngest person elected to the General Assemblyfrom the Fredericksburg region.  In 2021, he lost the district by less than 1,000 votes in a difficult off-year election.Delegate Cole has taken a people-first approach to law making. In his first term, he voted to cap out-of-pocket health care costs on prescription drugs for Virginians with pre-existing conditions, raise the minimum wage, expand voting rights, and make community college tuition free.  He also served on the House Public Safety and Agriculture committee— the only Fredericksburg-area legislator to represent farmers, environmental ideals, and agricultural voices. Josh is running for HD-65 to return to the General Assembly and continue his work on behalf of Fredericksburg area families.

Outside of politics, Joshua is an avid Star Wars and Marvel fan, and a husband and father dedicated to making the Fredericksburg area better for working-class citizens, parents, and the next generation.

Priorities: 

• Support education for teachers, students and parents

• Promote equity and inclusion in the community

• Engage constituents, address concerns, and promote accessibility

• Advocate for farmers, environmental ideals, and sustainability

• Attract businesses, create well-paying jobs, and improve economy

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Michael Feggans

Virginia

Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 97

Michael Feggans was raised for most of his life in the West Kempsville portion of Virginia Beach by his mother, a Norfolk Public School teacher for 30+ years, and his father, who worked for 20+ years as a Norfolk International Airport firefighter and retired as a Captain. A proud product of the Virginia Beach Public School system, Michael graduated from Tallwood High School and immediately enlisted in the U.S Air Force. 

An alumnus of VA Tech, Norfolk State, and UVA, he values and understands the importance of education, both traditional and nontraditional. After 20 years of service in the Air Force, he knew that the best place to retire from the military and begin his next phase as a tech entrepreneur was back home in Virginia Beach. 

Michael's commitment to his community extends beyond his military service, as he has actively participates in civic organizations, disaster response initiatives, and cybersecurity research. As a former Congressional intern and Senior Enlisted Leader, he has worked closely with government officials and community stakeholders, learning the importance of reaching across the aisle.  

As a small business owner and progressive voice, he is running to serve as Delegate for the new 97th House District in Virginia Beach. He aims to address the community's challenges with compassionate leadership and focus on building a brighter future for all residents. 

Priorities: 

• Build teams and strengthen community

• Assist citizens regardless of political affiliation

• Use cybersecurity expertise to develop innovative solutions for community issues

• Advocate for high-tech skill development

• Access to higher education

• Establish disaster response and support recovery to ensure community resilience

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Joel Griffin

Virginia

Running for: Virginia State Senate District 27

Joel Griffin is an entrepreneur, veteran, and community advocate who has dedicated his life to the service of others. Running for Virginia State Senate District 27, he is a first time candidate committed to the betterment of Virginia. Joel is the Founder & CEO of Riphean, a growth management firm focusing on private equity and venture capital, hospitality, and investing in primarily veteran-owned small businesses. Joel is also committed to philanthropy,supporting local nonprofit organizations that strengthen local communities. He also founded Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation, dedicated to raising awareness and education of CPR and the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). Joel served our country in the United States Marine Corps for eight years and was awarded the Patriotic Civilian Service Award by the U.S. Army for actions taken immediately and following 9/11 at the Pentagon in 2001. Now, he is an advocate supporting economic development, workplace development, and educational and non-profit initiatives. Once elected  he aims to support women’s reproductive rights and gun safety for all Virginians.

Priorities: 

• Supporting women’s reproductive rights 

• Safety of students 

• Advocating for a fully rounded educational experience in public schools

• Supporting Virginia families

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Phil Hernandez

Virginia

Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 94

Phil Hernandez is running to serve the City of Norfolk in Virginia’s newly-created 94th House District. Born and raised in Hampton Roads, Phil attended William & Mary, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. 

Phil served as a Senior Policy Analyst in President Obama’s White House Domestic Policy Council, where he partnered with leaders across the country to expand affordable clean energy, fight for clean air and water, and help coordinate oil spill response. Phil has also worked as a civil rights attorney, bringing together people from all walks of life to create better economic opportunities for everyone. 

In recent years, Phil helped pass laws in Virginia to increase the minimum wage, lower taxes for families, and support local public schools.  Phil is now the Senior Vice President for Policy & Advocacy for a nonprofit organization where has been advocating for solutions that benefit Virginia families. 

Phil and his wife Sara have two beautiful daughters, Isa and Maia, who love growing up in Ocean View.

Priorities: 

• Ensuring quality public education

• Protecting our environment and accelerating a clean energy future

• Expanding access to quality, affordable health care

• Creating an economy that helps families and our community thrive

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Travis Nembhard

Virginia

Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 22

Travis Nembhard is an attorney, a former financial regulator, and a former administrative law judge - but first and foremost, he is a father and husband. Travis is dedicated to improving conditions for Virginia families and is running to represent District 22 in the Virginia House of Delegates. 

With a lifelong commitment to public service, Travis has a wealth of experience and expertise, including volunteering as an assistant attorney general at the Civil Rights Bureau in the New York State Office of the Attorney General, and serving as legislative counsel on the Council for the District of Columbia’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment. He has contributed to his community through mentoring underprivileged youth, offering pro bono immigration legal services, and helping adult learners attain their GED as a volunteer teacher.

As a lifelong public servant and advocate, Travis is focused on combating injustices, inequality, and misinformation to ensure transparency, accessibility, and accurate representation of Virginia residents. He is a strong advocate of building up the working class to lift the community, economy, and atmosphere of Virginia.

Priorities: 

• A working economy for working families

• Strengthening the education system

• Protecting fundamental rights of marginalized groups

• Expanding access to affordable healthcare

• Investing in local infrastructure

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Russet Perry

Virginia

Running for: Virginia State Senate District 31

Russet Perry is dedicated to public service and helping people and is running to represent her community in the  Virginia State Senate.

Growing up, Russet's family struggled financially. Her father was a public school teacher with chronic illness, and her mother was a student who returned to school after surviving Stage IV breast cancer. These struggles made Russet passionate about issues around the cost of living, families being able to put food on the table, access to affordable health care, and the necessity for excellent and safe public schools with well-paid public school teachers.

After graduating from The George Washington University, Russet moved to Loudoun county where she worked while attending Georgetown School. During law school she focused on issues related to advocacy, criminal justice, women, and minorities 

After law school, Russet served as a prosecutor in the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. She also served as a CIA officer, working alongside people of various ideologies to protect American citizens, our nation, and our democracy. She is a fierce advocate for protecting women’s rights and fighting for healthcare for all Virginians. Additionally, she aims to push for common sense reforms on gun control and to protect our most vulnerable citizens. 

Russet lives with her husband, two children, two dogs, and three cats in Round Hill. She is running to represent District 31 in the Virginia Senate.

Priorities: 

• Protecting women’s rights

• Making Virginia more affordable

• Ensuring gun safety 

• Providing accessible healthcare 

• Fair criminal justice system

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Danica Roem

Virginia

Running for: Virginia State Senate District 30

A journalist, reporter, and member of the House of Delegates, Danica Roem has a passion for staying informed and listening to others. After serving as a Delegate since 2018, she’s now running for State Senate in District 30 to continue to listen, represent, and prioritize constituents’ in the larger community. Roem holds a degree in journalism and spent over a decade reporting on a wide range of topics in Prince William County, including schools, business, development, and transportation. She now brings her reporter's sensibility to the political arena, running for office to address the very issues she spent years reporting on. Her primary role as an elected representative is to listen to the concerns, ideas, and questions of residents, integrating them into her policy platform. Inspired by legislative role models known for their ability to build consensus and prioritize results, Danica strives to be a consensus builder and changemaker, committed to serving constituents in District 13.

Priorities: 

• Improve transportation infrastructure and alleviate congestion

• Enhance quality of life through education and development

• Research-based approach for effective policy and decision making

• Foster consensus and bipartisan collaboration for positive change

• Secure funding for vital infrastructure projects in the district

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Josh Thomas

Virginia

Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 21 

Joshua (Josh) Thomas grew up in a small southern town and is committed to ensuring all Americans can pursue the American dream.  He graduated college through an ROTC scholarship and joined the Marine Corps upon graduating. After his five years of service, Josh attended law school at the College of William and Mary. Now as an attorney, Josh has committed to improving communities, expanding affordable housing, and helping entrepreneurs and small businesses grow in Virginia. He also works in his pro bono practice to represent veterans and members of the LGBTQ community. By running for delegate, Josh aims to advocate for clean energy and programs that allow greater access for individuals to take advantage of energy-saving resources in their own homes. During the pandemic, Josh volunteered for the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps, where he saw families struggling to find affordable and effective healthcare. Josh plans to ensure access to healthcare for all people and especially stands with women to ensure reproductive rights. Finally, Josh aims to secure funds for transportation to prevent congestion and overdevelopment in Virginia. 

Priorities: 

• Improving communities 

• Expanding affordable housing 

• Helping entrepreneurs and small businesses grow

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Schuyler VanValkenburg

Virginia

Running for: Virginia State Senate District 16

Schuyler VanValkenburg is a father, teacher, and currently a member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 72nd district since 2018.   Schuyler has served for six years in the House and is now running  for State Senate in the 16th district. In the Senate, he is ready to continue to advocate for meaningful investments to improve our public schools, introduce legislation addressing gun violence and increase economic opportunities for all Virginians. 

Priorities:

• Investing in education

• Protecting women’s right to choose

• Preventing gun violence 

• Improving access to healthcare

• Creating economic opportunity

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