2023 Endorsements | Freethought Equality Fund

2023 Endorsements

	The Candidates Below Deserve Your Support There were many municipal and four state legislature elections in 2023. Below were the candidates endorsed by the Center for Freethought Equality Political Action Committee (PAC). The four state legislatures up for election in 2023 were: Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia. Be engaged in all elections federal, state, and local!
	2023 Congressional Candidate Aaron Regunberg ran in a special election for Rhode Island’s First Congressional District. This seat was formerly held by David Cicilline. On the September 5th election, Aaron earned 25% of the vote finishing second in a field of twelve candidates. Aaron served in the Rhode Island House of Representations from 2014 to 2018 and was also endorsed by Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-8) and Jared Huffman (CA-2), co-chairs of the Congressional Freethought Caucus. Aaron is Jewish and an atheist.
	Louisiana State Candidates Support our Louisiana legislative candidates Britt Gondolfi ran for the Louisiana State Senate (District 12). She earned 13% of the vote in the October 14 primary finishing second in a field of three candidates. Ms. Gondolfi is a Buddhist and an ally of the humanist and atheist community. Tammy Savoie ran for the Louisiana State House (District 23). She came in first in the 4-way primary on October 14 with 36% of the vote, but lost the November 18 general election with 42% of the vote. Dr. Savoie is an Ethical Humanist.
	New Jersey State Candidates Support our New Jersey legislative candidates Andrew Zwicker won re-election to the New Jersey State Senate (District 16) earning 55% of the vote in the general election. He served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2016 to 2022 and was elected to the New Jersey State Senate in 2021. Dr. Zwicker is an atheist. Jodi Murphy ran for the New Jersey State Senate (District 39). She earned 40% of the vote in the general election. She is a former Westwood (NJ) Councilmember. Ms. Murphy is an atheist. Liz Graner ran for New Jersey State Assembly (District 21). She earned 24% of the vote finishing fourth in a field of four candidates with the top two candidates taking seats in the Assembly. Ms. Graner is a secular humanist. Roy Freiman won re-election to the New Jersey State Assembly (District 16). He earned 28% of the vote finishing first in a field of four candidates with the top two candidates taking seats in the Assembly. He was first elected to this seat in 2017. Mr. Freiman is Jewish and an ally of our community. Gabriel Franco ran for the New Jersey State Senate (District 9). He earned 33% of the vote in the general election. Mr. Franco is a Christian and an ally of our community. Mitchelle Drulis won election to the New Jersey State Assembly (District 16). She earned 27% of the vote finishing second in a field of four candidates with the top two candidates taking seats in the Assembly. Ms. Drulis is Catholic and an ally of our community. Christine Clarke ran for the New Jersey State Senate (District 25). She earned 46% of the vote in the general election. Ms. Clarke is not affiliated with any religion. Joseph Atura ran for the New Jersey State Assembly (District 9). He earned 15% of the vote finishing fourth in a field of five candidates with the top two candidates taking seats in the Assembly. Mr. Atura is an atheist.
	Virginia State Candidates Support our Virginia legislative candidates Mary Barthelson ran for the Virginia General Assembly (District 7). She earned 8% of the vote in the June 20 Democratic primary finishing fourth in a field of four candidates. Ms. Barthelson is an agnostic humanist. Ghazala Hashmi won re-election to the Virginia State Senate (District 15). She earned 63% of the vote in the general election. She was first elected in 2019. Dr. Hashmi is a Muslim and an ally of our community. Ronald Lee ran for the Virginia General Assembly (District 86). He withdrew from the race on April 10, 2023. Dr. Lee is an atheist and secular humanist. Benjamin Litchfield ran for the Virginia State Senate (District 27). He earned 41% of the vote in the June 20 Democratic primary finishing second in a field of two candidates. Mr. Litchfield is an agnostic. Victoria Luevanos ran for the Virginia State Senate (District 20). She earned 40% of the vote in the general election. Ms. Luevanos is an atheist. Dave Norris ran for the Virginia General Assembly (District 54). He earned 34% of the vote in the June 20 Democratic primary finishing second in a field of three candidates. Mr. Norris is a Unitarian Universalist and humanist. Cat Porterfield ran for the Virginia General Assembly (District 99). She earned 43% of the vote in the general election. Ms. Porterfield is a Christian and an ally of the humanist and atheist community. Jeremy Rodden ran for the Virginia General Assembly (District 90). He earned 36% of the vote in the general election. Mr. Rodden is a humanist. Kellen Squire ran for the Virginia General Assembly (District 55). He earned 30% of the vote in the June 20 Democratic primary finishing second in a field of two candidates. Mr. Squire was raised Methodist and is an ally of our community.
	Local Incumbents Support our local government incumbents running for re-election *Maryland* James Kole won re-election to the Laurel City Council (Ward 1). He earned 36% of the vote finishing first in a field of four candidates with the top two candidates taking seats on the Council. Mr. Kole is a diest and was first elected in 2021. *Montana* Danny Choriki ran for re-election to the Billings City Council (Ward 3). In the September 12 election, he earned 27% of the vote finishing third in a field of six candidates. Mr. Choriki is a humanist and was first elected in 2019. He is also a board member of the Association of Secular Elected Officials. *New York* John Deer won re-election as Supervisor of the Manlius Town Board. He earned 52% of the vote in the general election. Mr. Deer is an atheist and was first elected in 2021. Heather Waters won re-election to the Manlius Town Board. She earned 18% of the vote finishing third in a field of six candidates with the top three taking seats on the board. Ms. Waters is a nontheist and was first elected in 2019. *Texas* Jalen McKee-Rodriguez won re-election to the San Antonio City Council District 2 on May 6, 2023 with 56% of the vote. Mr. McKee-Rodriguez is an agnostic and was first elected in 2021. *Virginia* Karl Frisch won re-election to the Fairfax County School Board. He earned 66% of the vote in the general election. Mr. Frisch is an agnostic and was first elected in 2019. *Washington* Kristiana de Leon won re-election to the Black Diamond City Council. She earned 95% of the vote in the general election. Ms. de Leon is a humanist and atheist and was first elected in 2019. She is also a board member of the Association of Secular Elected Officials.
	Local Challengers and Open Seats Support our local government candidates running for office *California* Janessa Goldbeck ran for San Diego County Supervisor earning 25% of the vote finishing third in a field of four candidates in the August 15 election. Ms. Goldbeck is an agnostic. *Florida* Mike Grieco ran for Mayor of Miami Beach. He earned 20% of the vote finishing fourth in a field of four candidates. He was a member of the Florida State House from 2018 to 2022 and also served in the Dade County State Attorney’s office and on the Miami Beach City Commission. Mr. Grieco was raised Catholic and is not religious now. *Texas* Obioha “Obes” Nwabara ran for the Houston City Council, At-Large Position 2. He earned 8% of the vote finishing sixth in a field of six candidates. Mr. Nwabara is an agnostic. *Virginia* Blaizen Buckshot Bloom ran for the Chesapeake Soil & Water Conservation Board of Directors. He earned 23% of the vote finishing third in a field of four candidates with the top two candidates taking seats on the Board. Mr. Bloom is an atheist and humanist. *Wisconsin* Aaron Wojciechowski ran for Mayor of Oshkosh earning 47% of the vote in the April 4 election. Mr. Wojciechowski is non-religious and is a City Councilmember of Oshkosh.
	Early 2024 Endorsements *California* Konstantine Anthony is running for Los Angeles County Supervisor, campaign website and donation page. He is currently the Mayor of Burbank, California. Mayor Anthony is an atheist. *Florida* Carlos Guillermo Smith is running for the Florida State Senate (District 17), campaign website and donation page. He served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2016 to 2022. Mr. Smith is an agnostic. Sarah Henry is running for the Florida House of Representatives (District 38), campaign website and donation page. Ms. Henry worked at the American Humanist Association and is nonreligious. *U.S. Congress* Joshua Bocanegra is running for the U.S. Congress in California’s 30th District, campaign website and donation page. Mr. Bocanegra is an atheist. Antonio Daza is running for the U.S. Congress in Georgia’s 11th District, campaign website and donation page. Mr. Daza is an atheist. Nancy Goroff is running for the U.S. Congress in New York’s 1st District, campaign website and donation page. Dr. Goroff identifies as a secular Jew. Craig Herskowitz is running for the U.S. Congress in New York’s 1st District, campaign website and donation page. Mr. Herskowitz is Jewish and an atheist. Kyle Kilbourn is running for the U.S. Congress in Wisconsin’s 7th District, campaign website and donation page. Mr. Kilbourn is non-religious. Mel Manuel is running for the U.S. Congress in Louisiana’s 1st District, campaign website and donation page. Mel Manuel is an apatheist. Jan McDowell is running for the U.S. Congress in Texas’ 32nd District, campaign website and donation page. Ms. McDowell is a non-religious Unitarian Universalist. John Padora is running for the U.S. Congress in Colorado’s 4th District, campaign website and donation page. Mr. Padora is an agnostic. Ty Pinkins is running for the U.S. Senate in Mississippi, campaign website and donation page. Mr. Pinkins is a Christian and ally of the humanist and atheist community. Franklin Delano “Denny” Roth II is running for the U.S. Congress in Missouri’s 8th District, campaign website and donation page. Mr. Roth is an agnostic. Brandon Saffold is running for the U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 2nd District, campaign website and donation page. Mr. Saffold is an agnostic. Marshall Travis is running for the U.S. Senate in Indiana, campaign website and donation page. Mr. Travis is an agnostic.