2026 Electoral Candidates
“According to a University of Oslo study, 50 percent of regime breakdowns or “dictatorship deaths” have occurred during an election year, because elections act as a meeting point on which oppositional individuals and groups can focus their attention.”
– Scot Nakagawa
This year’s midterm elections are a critical opportunity on many fronts: election years are tipping points for authoritarian regimes. Working-class champions have historic support across the country. And we can use this momentum to strengthen our movements for the long haul, especially by flanking Black political power.
Because of racism– like the gutting of the VRA and the racist roots of the electoral college– white people have out-sized power in elections. And so white people have a crucial role to play in organizing our own!
SURJ contributed towards major wins for progressives in primaries across the country and our movement’s justice agenda (and candidates who represent it) is in one of the best positions we’ve been in decades. So in the general election, we’ll be shifting to phase two of our 2026 campaign, Block by Block, to win back the House with as many progressive fighters as possible, flip the Senate, and show up to protect election results.
Our Races
CA-22
Randy Villegas
Randy Villegas is an educator, activist, and proud son of immigrants. Randy is running for Congress in California’s 22nd District to bring bold, compassionate leadership to Washington.
MI-07
Will Lawrence
Will Lawrence is an organizer and coalition-builder with over a dozen years of experience working to address climate change, and more recently, housing and tenants’ rights in Michigan.
TN-09
Justin Pearson
Justin Pearson is running for Congress in Tennessee’s 9th District, the state’s only majority-Black district that was recently carved up by state Republicans as a result of the weakening of the VRA. You may know him as one of the “Tennessee Three,” expelled from the state legislature in 2023 after protesting for gun safety. He has been a leading voice for racial justice and working-class people in the South, taking immense personal risk and proudly locating himself in the legacy of Black Southern freedom fighters.
MI
Abdul El-Sayed
Abdul El-Sayed is a physician, epidemiologist, and public servant fighting for an economy that works for everyone, healthcare for all, affordable housing, quality education, clean air and water, taxing the billionaire class, and much more.
ME
Troy Jackson
Troy Jackson is a former Maine Senate president and fifth generation logger running on a platform of Medicare for all, abolishing ICE, taxing billionaires and corporations, ending US support to Israel, trans rights and reproductive rights.
North Carolina Senate
Roy Cooper
House District NC-11
Jamie Ager
Georgia Senate
Jon Ossoff
Mississippi
Scott Colom
What exactly constitutes an endorsement?
An endorsement is a public declaration of support for a candidate, generally to indicate shared values and alignment on policies and platforms.
However, not all races we work on are endorsements. Our block-and-build strategy is focused on stopping MAGA where we need to, advancing working-class fighters where we can, and growing power for our movements to build for the long haul.
The “block” segment of our electoral work can mean supporting a candidate who may not be aligned with all of our values and platform in order to block a MAGA candidate, shift the balance of power in Congress or work on shifting political terrain for the long haul.
Primary Races
Working-class champions we endorsed in the 2026 primaries
NJ-11 • February 5
Analilia Mejia
PA-7 • May 19
Bob Brooks
CA-22 • June 2
Randy Villegas
MI-07 • August 4
Will Lawrence
AZ-6 • August 4
JoAnna Mendoza
Primary Races
Working-class champions we’re endorsing in 2026
NJ-11 • February 5
Analilia Mejia
Analilia Mejia is a mom, grassroots organizer, and nationally recognized advocate for working families. She’s running for Congress to make government work for working people. Analilia won the NJ-11 special primary in a massive upset. SURJ members called 20,000 voters in majority-white districts for Analilia to help deliver this reckoning to mainstream Democrats and ensure Analilia joins the ranks of the Squad in Congress.
PA-7 • May 19
Bob Brooks
Bob Brooks is a retired firefighter, former local union official, and president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association.
CA-22 • June 2
Randy Villegas
Randy Villegas is an educator, activist, and proud son of immigrants. Randy is running for Congress in California’s 22nd District to bring bold, compassionate leadership to Washington.
NY-03 • June 23
Danielle Welch
Danielle Welch is a public defender and union member who comes from a working-class background and is running against centrist Democratic incumbent Tom Suozzi who also voted to fund DHS and ICE.
MI-07 • August 4
Will Lawrence
Will Lawrence is an organizer and coalition-builder with over a dozen years of experience working to address climate change, and more recently, housing and tenants’ rights in Michigan.
NY-04 • June 23
Taylor Darling
Taylor Darling is a psychologist, mother of three, and former NY state representative running against centrist Democratic incumbent Laura Gillen who voted to fund DHS and ICE along with six other Democrats.
AZ-6 • August 4
JoAnna Mendoza
JoAnna Mendoza is a proud mom, dedicated lifelong public servant, and retired United States Marine running for Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District.
Paid for by SURJ PAC.