2025 Endorsements | CFE PAC

Daniel Hernandez ran for Congress in Arizona’s 7th District. In the special Democratic primary election on July 15, he earned 14% of the vote finishing 3rd of five candidates. This seat was vacant following the death of Raul Grijalva. Hernandez was a member of the Arizona State House (2017-2023) and prior to that a school board member. He is credited with saving the life of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords in the assassination attempt in 2011. Hernandez is nonreligious.

Paloma Aguirre won election to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in District 1. She earned 54% of the vote in the July 1 special election runoff. The Democratic incumbent in this seat resigned in January. Ms. Aguirre is the current Mayor of Imperial Beach and a member of the California Coastal Commission. She was raised Catholic but is now an agnostic.

Paul Chakalian is running for Congress in California’s 23rd District. This is an early endorsement for a 2026 contest to unseat Republican incumbent, Jay Obernolte, who won in 2024 with 60% of the vote. So far, there are four Democrats in this race. Chakalian is a small business owner, community advocate, and an agnostic.

Tanya Cook is running for the California State Assembly in District 70. This is an early endorsement for a 2026 contest to unseat Republican incumbent, Tri Ta, who won in 2024 with 54.7% of the vote. So far, there are no other Democratic candidates in this race. Cook is a lifelong advocate for working families, social justice, and bold progressive change. She is a recovering Catholic, who identifies "as both an atheist and spiritually grounded in aspects of paganism, especially nature-based values and personal connection to the world around me."

Brianna Titone is running for Colorado Treasurer. This is an early endorsement for 2026. The Democratic incumbent, Dave Young, is term-limited so cannot run in 2026. There are four Democratic candidates, so far, for the primary on June 30, 2026. Titone is currently a member of the Colorado State House (District 27). We proudly endorsed her for her legislative seat and are thrilled that she is taking her experience, knowledge, and bold ideas to a statewide race. Rep. Titone is spiritual but not religious.

Vance Ahrens ran for the Florida State Senate in District 19. She earned 46% of the vote in the special election on June 10 to replace the seat vacated by Republican Congressman Randy Fine (FL-6). She ran against Fine in 2024 and earned 41% of the vote in the general election. Ms. Ahrens is an atheist.

Marialana Kinter is running for Congress in Florida’s 7th District. This is an early endorsement for 2026. A U.S. Navy veteran and former nuclear reactor supervisor, Kinter is running a powerful, grassroots campaign for the working class to unseat Republican incumbent Cory Mills. She has proven her commitment to fighting for a government guided by reason and evidence that fiercely protects both the separation of church and state and an individual's freedom of belief. We are proud to endorse a candidate who embodies the values of integrity, service, and a commitment to evidence-based policy. Kinter was raised in a Catholic/Christian household and now is non-religious.

Josh Weil ran for Congress in Florida's 6th District. This was a special election to replace Republican Mike Waltz, who left the seat to take a position in the Trump administration. Waltz won re-election in 2024 with 67% of the vote. The special election was on April 1 and Weil earned 43% of the vote. Mr. Weil won the Democratic primary with 61% of the vote. He is as a non-practicing Muslim.

Dylan Parker won re-election as an Alderman for the City of Rock Island, IL (Ward 5) with 70% of the vote in the April 1 election. This will be his third four-year term in this office. Alderman Parker is a humanist.

Randal Bruce ran for Mayor of Farmington Hills, MI. He earned 29% of the vote in the general election. He was elected in 2021 to a four-year term on the Farmington Hills City Council. He also served on the Council from 2003 to 2019 and has served as Mayor Pro Tem. Councilmember Bruce is an atheist.

Heath Howard is running for Congress in New Hampshire’s 1st District. This is an early endorsement for a 2026 contest in which the Democratic incumbent, Chris Pappas, is running for the U.S. Senate. Rep. Howard is serving his second term in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. At just 25, Howard is a strong voice for a new generation of leadership, which is rooted in lived experience, fresh ideas, and a commitment to building a more just and inclusive future. Rep. Howard is an atheist.

Rosy Bagolie won re-election to the New Jersey General Assembly in District 27. She earned 35.7% of the vote in the four-person general election race. She won the Democratic primary on June 10 with 32% of the vote. This was a contested primary with four candidates running for two seats. Assemblymember Bagolie is Jewish and an ally of our community.

Debra Di Donato ran for the New Jersey General Assembly in District 10. She withdrew from the contest prior to the general election. She won the Democratic primary on June 10 with 42% of the vote. This was a contested primary with three candidates running for two seats. Both incumbents in this district are Republican. Ms. Di Donato was raised Christian but does not practice.

Mitchelle Drulis won re-election to the New Jersey General Assembly in District 16. She earned 29.4% of the vote in the four-person general election race. She won the Democratic primary on June 10 with 45% of the vote. This was a contested primary three candidates running for two seats. She was first elected to this seat in 2023. Assemblymember Drulis is Catholic and an ally of our community.

Roy Freiman won re-election to the New Jersey General Assembly in District 16. He earned 29.5% of the vote in the four-person general election race. He won the Democratic primary on June 10 with 44% of the vote. This was a contested primary with three candidates running for two seats. He was first elected to this seat in 2017. Assemblymember Freiman is Jewish and an ally of our community.

Steven Pylypchuk ran for the New Jersey General Assembly in District 25. He earned 24.1% of the vote in the four-person general election race. He and his running mate, Marisa Sweeney (see below), were unopposed in the Democratic primary on June 10. The incumbents in this district are both Republican. He is a current member of the Morristown Council. Councilman Pylypchuk is an atheist and a humanist.

Carolyn Rush ran for the New Jersey General Assembly in District 1. She earned 22.5% of the vote in the four-person general election race. She won the Democratic primary on June 10 with 41% of the vote. This was a contested primary with three candidates running for two seats. The incumbents in this district are both Republican. Ms. Rush is a non-affiliated Christian.

Brandon Saffold ran for the New Jersey General Assembly in District 1. He finished third of three candidates in the contested Democratic primary on June 10 earning 24% of the vote. The top two candidates moved on to the general election. The incumbents in this district are both Republican. Mr. Saffold is an agnostic.

Balvir Singh won re-election to the New Jersey General Assembly in District 7. He earned 32.7% of the vote in the four-person general election race. He was elected to this seat in a special replacement convention in January. He won the Democratic primary on June 10 with 28% of the vote. This was a contested primary with three candidates running for two seats. Assemblymember Singh is a Sikh and an ally of our community.

Marisa Sweeney won election to the New Jersey General Assembly in District 25. She earned 25.2% of the vote in the four-person general election race. She and her running mate, Steve Pylypchuk, were unopposed in the Democratic primary on June 10. The incumbents in this district are both Republican. She serves on the Morristown Planning Board and Grow It Green Morristown’s Board of Directors. Dr. Sweeney is an agnostic atheist.

Alexander Caruso ran for the New York City Council in District 19. He earned 32% of the vote in the Democratic primary on June 24. The Republican incumbent in this seat is Vickie Paladino. Mr. Caruso is Roman Catholic and an ally of our community.

John Deer won re-election for Manlius Town Supervisor. He earned 52.5% of the vote in the general election. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary on June 24. He first won this seat in 2021. Deer is an atheist.

Harvey Epstein won election to the New York City Council in District 2. He earned 78% of the vote in the general election. He is a current member of the New York State Assembly in District 75. He won the crowded June 24 Democratic primary with 57% of the vote. Assemblymember Epstein is Jewish and agnostic.

Kyle Herman won re-electon to the Stow (OH) City Council (At-Large). He earned 23% of the vote in the general election with five candidates running for three seats. He was first elected to this seat in 2023 for a two-year term. Councilmember Herman is a Christian humanist.  

Monica Wilson won re-election to the Parma (OH) City Council (Ward 1). She was unopposed in the general election. She was initially appointed to this seat and in 2023 she was elected to a two-year term. Councilmember Wilson is a humanist.   

Amy Hossain ran for the Oklahoma State House in District 74. She earned 35% of the vote in the special election on June 10 to replace the Republican incumbent, Mark Vancuren, who resigned in January. As a mom, non-profit leader, and dedicated community advocate, Hossain is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of all Oklahomans. She is a Muslim.

Jennifer Brothers is running for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 9th District. This is an early endorsement for a 2026 contest to unseat Republican incumbent, Dan Meuser, who won in 2024 with 70% of the vote. Brothers’ diverse background spans private investigation, correctional law enforcement, higher education administration, banking, and entrepreneurship, and she is a devoted mother, proud neighbor, and member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Brothers is an agnostic.

Erica Deuso won election for Mayor of Downingtown in Pennsylvania. She earned 64% of the vote in the general election. She had the endorsement of the current mayor, who chosen not to seek re-election. She won the Democratic primary on May 20 with 62% of the vote. Ms. Deuso was raised Catholic and now identifies as an atheist.

Daniel Miller ran for Mayor of Harrisburg in Pennsylvania. He finished second in a field of five candidates. Just 83 votes separated him from the winner. He is serving in his second term as the Harrisburg City Treasurer. He has also served as City Controller and Vice President of the Harrisburg City Council. The primary election was on May 20. Mr. Miller is an agnostic.

Chis Rabb is running for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 3rd District. This is an early endorsement for a 2026 contest in which the Democratic incumbent, Dwight Evans, is not seeking re-election to this seat. RepRabb, as he prefers to be called, is in his fifth term in the Pennsylvania State House (District 200). He has built his career standing up for social justice and fighting corporate greed. RepRabb is not religious.

Vikki Goodwin is running for Texas Lt. Governor. This is an early endorsement for 2026. She is currently the only Democratic candidate in this race. The Republican incumbent, Dan Patrick, won re-election to this seat in 2022 with 53.8% of the vote. Goodwin is currently a member of the Texas House of Representatives (District 47). We endorsed her for her current office and are thrilled she is running statewide to return sanity to Texas government and focus on real issues, not distractions. Goodwin is a Lutheran and an ally of our community.

Jalen McKee-Rodriguez won re-election to the San Antonio, TX City Council (District 2) earning 61% of the vote in the May 3rd election. He will serve a third two-year term in this office. Councilmember McKee-Rodriguez is an agnostic.

Christian Menefee is running for Congress (TX-18) in a runoff election in early 2026. In the November 4 special election, he came in first of 16 candidates with 29.4% of the vote. This is an open seat following the death of Sylvester Turner. Christian Menefee has served as the Harris County Attorney since 2021. He is a Christian and an ally of our community.

Jon Rosenthal is running for the Texas Railroad Commission. This is an early endorsement for 2026. This is a statewide election for a powerful state agency that regulates oil and gas, pipelines, and utilities. He will be running against Republican Jim Wright (Chairman of the Commission) who won in 2020 with 53% of the vote. Jon Rosenthal has been a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2019. He is an agnostic.

Blaizen Bloom ran for the Virginia House of Delegates in District 89. They were a delegate to the 2024 Democratic Convention in Chicago. They earned 22% of the vote in the Democratic primary election on June 17. The Republican incumbent won the seat in 2023 with just 50.8% of the vote. Mx. Bloom is a humanist.

Melody Cartwright ran for the Virginia House of Delegates in District 48. She earned 35% of the vote in the general election. She ran for this seat in a special general election in this district in 2024 and earned 30% of the vote. She was unopposed in the Democratic primary on June 17. Melody's father, a Western Civilization and World History educator and confirmed Christian in the 1950s, taught that people need to be tolerant and supportive of all world religions and the right to non-denominational options. Ms. Cartwright is a Christian and ally of our community.

Mark Downey won election for the Virginia House of Delegates in District 69. In a very close race, he won with 50% of the vote to flip this district. This was his third effort to flip this district and our PAC endorsed him in each attempt. Raised in a Christian household and at a Lutheran church, Dr. Downey, a pediatrician, does not currently identify with any specific denomination.

Ghazala Hashmi won election for Virginia Lieutenant Governor. She earned 55.6% of the vote in the general election. She is currently a Virginia State Senator in District 15 and was first elected to this seat in 2019. She won the crowded Democratic primary on June 17 with 27% of the vote. The Republican incumbent, Winsome Earle-Sears, won this seat in 2021 with just 50.7% of the vote. Sen. Hashmi is a Muslim and ally of our community.

Sam Rasoul won re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates in District 38. He earned 70% of the vote in the general election. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary on June 17. In his eleven years in the General Assembly, Rasoul has worked to lower health care costs, pushed for intersectional justice through a Green New Deal, advanced the socio-emotional health of our children, fought to raise teacher pay to the national average, and advocated for good government in limiting the influence of special interests. He is a Muslim.

Dustin Wade ran for the Virginia House of Delegates in District 75. In the competitive three-person Democratic primary on June 17, he finished second earning 32% of the vote. The Republican incumbent, Carrie Coyner, won this seat in 2023 with just 52.8% of the vote. With regard to religion, Mr. Wade says, “I am spiritual, grounded in love, and guided by a belief in human dignity, compassion, and justice for all.”

Mike Williamson is running for Congress in Virginia’s 2nd District. This is an early endorsement for a 2026 contest to unseat Republican incumbent, Jennifer Kiggans, who won re-election in 2024 with just 50.7% of the vote. Mr. Williamson served 20 years as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, and says, “I’m still fighting to defend our way of life, protect our values, and a build stronger future for America.” Mr. Williamson is non-religious.

Kevin Schilling ran for the Washington House of Representatives in District 33-Position 1. He earned 48% of the vote in the general election. This was a special election to fill and open seat. In the top-two primary on August 5, Schilling finished second with 31% of the vote and advanced to the general election. Schilling serves as Mayor of Burlen and is in his second term on the city council. Mayor Schilling is a humanist and a believer in omnism.

Katia Zakharoff ran for the Issaquah (WA) City Council, Position 6. She earned 31% of the vote in the general election. She currently serves on the city's Planning Policy Commission, Climate Action Plan Commission, and Commercial Property Standing Commission. Although she does not associate herself with any religion, she believes in the freedom of individuals to choose their own beliefs and respects their choices. Ms. Zakharoff is an atheist.

Melissa Agard won re-election for County Executive for Dane County, WI with 81% of the vote in the April 1 election. She won a special election for this seat in 2024. She has previously served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and State Senate. County Executive Agard is an agnostic.

Francesca Hong is running for Governor of Wisconsin. This is an early endorsement for a 2026 contest. The Democratic incumbent, Tony Evers, is not seeking re-election so this will be a crowded primary. Francesca Hong is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and has served in this position since 2021. Rep. Hong is a humanist

Kelda Roys is running for Governor of Wisconsin. This is an early endorsement for a 2026 contest. The Democratic incumbent, Tony Evers, is not seeking re-election so this will be a crowded primary. Kelda Roys has served in the Wisconsin State Senate since 2021 and was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2009 to 2013. Sen. Roys is an atheist and secular humanist.

Aaron Wojciechowski is running for Congress in Wisconsin’s 6th District. This is an early endorsement for a 2026 contest to unseat Republican incumbent, Glenn Grothman, who won in 2024 with 61% of the vote. So far, there are four other Democrats in this race. Wojciechowski is a former Oshkosh City Councilmember and is non-religious.