FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | July 8, 2020

WOW Dems Announces 2020 Slate

Org supports Texas Dems running for office in critical election year

North Texas—July 8, 2020—Today, Women Organizing Women Democrats (“WOW Dems”), a North Texas-based women’s democratic group, announced its endorsement of 22 Democrats running for elected office in the 2020 general election. Additional endorsements will be announced following the July 14 runoff election.

Nineteen of the candidates endorsed so far are women; as a women-led group dedicated to increasing women’s political participation and awareness of women’s issues, WOW Dems is especially interested in supporting and raising awareness of female candidates.

“The Candidates Committee was pleasantly surprised at the number of endorsement applications received from women candidates. These female candidates have the skills, and confidence, to lead, and will represent all Texans,” said Candidates Co-Chair Rebecca Arredondo. “We also appreciate the male candidates who seek our endorsement, realize the value of a WOW Dems endorsement, and their commitment to fight for the values that WOW Dems stands for. We appreciate the sacrifices that the candidates, and their families, make when seeking office. Therefore, we take the evaluation process seriously and spend many hours reviewing, and discussing, the applicants. We look forward to celebrating their victory on November 3.”

The 22 endorsees are:

  • Sandy Swan, Denton County Commissioner, Precinct 1

  • Delia Parker-Mims, Denton County Commissioner, Precinct 3

  • Sam Johnson, District Judge D366

  • Penny Robe, District Judge D380

  • Tonya Holt, District Judge D401

  • Theresa Creevy, District Judge D416

  • Christy Albano, District Judge D468

  • Dana Huffman, District Judge D469

  • Michael Payma, District Judge D471

  • Michelle Beckley, Texas House District 65

  • Sharon Hirsch, Texas House District 66

  • Angie Bado, Texas House District 70

  • Ana-Maria Ramos, Texas House District 102

  • Terry Meza, Texas House District 105

  • Jennifer Skidonenko, Texas House District 106

  • Victoria Neave, Texas House District 107

  • Joanna Cattanach, Texas House District 108

  • Brandy Chambers, Texas House District 112

  • Rhetta Bowers, Texas House District 113

  • Brandon Birmingham, Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9

  • Delonia Watson, Justice, 2nd Court of Appeals, Place 6

  • Kathy Cheng, Justice, Texas Supreme Court, Place 6

Endorsees are selected by WOW Dems’ Candidates Committee, which uses a rigorous process of identifying strong candidates – both men and women – and evaluating their commitment to WOW’s values if elected.

“Texas isn’t a red state; it’s a non-voting state. We have more Democrats and more women running for more elected office than ever,” said Candidates Co-Chair Sarah Lassberg. “People are inspired to be the change they want to see in the world, and we’re excited about what each of these passionate leaders can accomplish.”

The 2020 election could turn out to be one of the most important of our lives. Trump’s term has served only to divide Americans, imperil our democracy, and put our country at odds with longtime allies while cozying up to autocrats, dictators, and despots. The failure of the administration and Texas Republican leaders to contain and slow the spread of Covid-19 has demonstrated a crucial need for regime change. Now that Texas is considered a swing state, Democrats in Texas may finally see that change in leadership and have true representation for the first time in decades. WOW Dems hopes its 2020 endorsements will draw attention to the importance of voter turnout and turning Texas blue.

“This exemplary group of endorsed candidates and incumbent representatives will fight for and achieve the changes we need to defend education, the environment, health care, gun sense, and so many more of our Democratic values,”  said WOW Dems President Debbie O’Reilly. “We are eager to watch them shine.”

WOW Dems Taking Lead on Women in Politics

The organization that is now WOW Dems was formed in 2010 by a small group of mostly Collin County-based women and called The Democratic Women of Collin County. It was renamed Women Organizing Women Democrats in 2013. In the organization’s early years, there were barely enough women on the ballot to endorse and support. WOW Dems has grown into an organization that not only supports and endorses women Dems, but recruits more of them to run.

WOW Dems has grown to about 200 members, become a leading voice for women’s issues in North Texas, and supported the campaigns of dozens of female candidates.

Between 2018 and 2019, WOW Dems endorsed more than 33 municipal, local, state, and federal candidates and donated more than $40,000 to the campaigns of female candidates who reflect the values of the organization. Past endorsees who won their elections include Michelle Beckley (HD 65), Ana-Maria Ramos (HD 102), Rhetta Bowers (HD 113), Lauren Doherty (Allen City Council, Place 3), and Victoria Neave (HD 107).

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Women Organizing Women Democrats (WOW Dems) is a North Texas-based organization dedicated to expanding the participation of women in politics: increasing their political engagement; raising awareness about women’s issues; and recruiting, supporting, and electing women Democrats for partisan and nonpartisan offices.

For more information:

Sarah Lassberg & Rebecca Arredondo, Candidate Committee Chairs | candidates@wowdems.org

For more information on WOW Dems: www.wowdems.org