New American Leaders Action Fund Celebrates 

Election of 12 Trailblazing Candidates

NEW YORK—Yesterday, New American Leaders Action Fund (NALAF) commemorated its first general election with a winning slate of 12 candidates across 4 states, with more wins expected as votes continue to be counted. 

“Last night, the New American movement that created historic victories in 2018 delivered again. By supporting candidates who successfully use their authentic experiences, we've begun to change the face of elected leadership. We celebrate the sweeping victories in the Virginia House and Senate, including the election of the first Muslim American woman delegate, Ghazala Hashmi; the election of Julia Mejia, the first Afro-Latina immigrant to serve on Boston City Council; and the New Americans and people of color, who broke down long-standing barriers to win their elections across the country,” said Sayu Bhojwani, founder and president of NALAF. 

“In critical, competitive states like Arizona and Maine, we saw Regina Romero win her election to become the first ever woman and Latina to serve as the mayor of Tucson and Safiya Khalid become the first Somali American to be elected to the Lewiston City Council in Maine. Their resounding victories and others like them show that people like us won’t settle for pale, stale, and male leadership anymore. Instead, we are taking our place at the political table and ushering in a new era of leadership.

“We will not stand for another four years of Trump and his cronies’ white nationalist hatred and policies,” Bhojwani continued. “We are incredibly proud of all of our endorsed candidates and celebrate the wins of:

  • Pious Ali; Portland City Council; Maine

  • Annissa Essaibi-George; Boston City Council, At-Large; Massachusetts

  • Safiya Khalid; Lewiston City Council; Maine

  • Julia Mejia; Boston City Council, At-Large; Massachusetts

  • Helen Moon; Pittsfield City Council, Ward 1; Massachusetts

  • Regina Romero, Mayor of Tucson; Arizona

  • Lane Santa Cruz, Tucson City Council Ward 1; Arizona

  • Sumbul Siddiqui; Cambridge City Council; Massachusetts

  • Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler; Cambridge City Council; Massachusetts

  • Michelle Wu; Boston City Council, At-Large; Massachusetts

  • Bryan Yambe; Fife City Council, Position 1; Washington

  • Quinton Zondervan; Cambridge City Council; Massachusetts

“These victories are just the start. The New American Majority has shown that we have the power to sway elections and we will not stop until we win in 2020 and create a democracy that is of, for and by people like us.”