about Candidates to watch
Leadership Now members work together to build a congressional candidate list. Following a rigorous process involving the collection, scoring, and analysis of candidate recommendations, Leadership Now members interview all candidates for Congress before selecting a final list. The 2022 Candidates to Watch list includes six new candidates and 21 returning leaders who are currently serving in Congress.
In selecting our candidates, we prioritize talent and diversity of experience. Our candidates bring strong academic credentials and deep professional experience from outside of politics. They are scientists, business executives, engineers, military leaders, and national security experts. Representing both urban and rural communities across the country, our candidates are 35% racially or ethnically diverse and half are women.
To complement the Candidates to Watch List, you’ll find our Democracy Defender list that went beyond current congressional candidates to identify current leaders who have shown extraordinary commitment to our principles.
Congratulations to our 2022 Candidates to Watch.
New leaders
Jay Chen, CA-45
Non-profit and Community Leader| Veteran
Jay is running in California’s 45th district on education, healthcare, economic opportunity, and public safety. He is a veteran, business professional, community leader, and the president of the board of trustees of Mt. San Antonio Community College. His campaign is about strengthening the best parts of the America his parents discovered when they immigrated from Taiwan. Jay received a BA in social studies from Harvard University.
Quaye Quartey, CA-27
Veteran | Engineer | M.S. | M.A.
Quaye is running to represent California’s 27th, one of the country’s most economically and racially diverse districts. A veteran naval intelligence officer who spent 20 years helping keep America safe, Quaye has a bold vision based on expanding the opportunities his father found when he immigrated to the US from Ghana. Quaye graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a B.S. in political science and an M.S. in engineering; he most recently received his Masters in Business Management from Stanford.
conor lamb, pa senate
Congressman | Veteran | Lawyer | JD
Congressman Lamb is running for Senate in Pennsylvania to bring economic development, clean government, and modern, clean industry back to the state. He currently represents Pennsylvania’s 17th district, which he flipped back in 2018. A marine-turned-prosecutor, Conor received both a B.A. in political science and J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Will rollins, CA-41
Public Servant | National Security Expert | J.D.
Will is running in California’s 41st district and has spent his career on both sides of the aisle. As an advisor and national security prosecutor, he served under two California governors and two presidents. Now Will is running to help return a strong pro-facts, pro-democracy agenda to Washington. Will received a B.A. in government from Dartmouth College and later received his J.D. from Columbia Law School.
angie normoyle, il-17
Professor | Local Public Servant | M.A. | PH.D.
Angie is running to represent a rural district in central Illinois’ 17th district. A college professor, community activist, and local politician, Angie currently serves on county council. She is running to expand economic and educational opportunities in her district, with an aim to modernize trade policies to benefit both the commodity exporters and the manufacturers in her district. Angie graduated with a B.A. from Augustana College in Illinois and received an M.A. and Ph.D. from Northwestern University.
max rose, ny-11
Veteran | Public Servant | Healthcare Executive | M.Sc.
Max was elected to New York’s 11th district in 2018 and was previously endorsed by Leadership Now. Max is a veteran, public servant, healthcare executive, and former representative. He is running to improve the public health, safety, and security of his district—and the country. Max received a B.A. in history from Wesleyan University and an M.Sc. in public policy from the London School of Economics.
Returning leaders
Jake auchincloss, ma-04
Veteran | Entrepreneur | MBA
Congressman Auchincloss represents the 4th district of Massachusetts. He was elected in 2020 on a platform of improving education, infrastructure, and immigration. He served in the Marine Corps for five years and later worked as a product manager for a cybersecurity startup and Solaria Labs. Congressman Auchincloss serves as the Vice-Chair of the Financial Services Committee and sits on the Transportation and Infrastructure committees. He received a B.A. from Harvard University and later got his M.B.A. at MIT Sloan.
Carolyn BoUrdeaux, GA-7
Professor | GA Senate Budget and Evaluation Office | MPA | PhD
Congresswoman Bourdeaux represents the 7th district of Georgia, where she was elected on a platform to create a fair economy, fix healthcare, and restore our democracy. She sits on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Prior to taking office, Congresswoman Bourdeaux was a professor of public administration at Georgia State University. From 2007 to 2010, she served as the director of Georgia’s Senate Budget and Evaluation Office. Congresswoman Bourdeaux is a graduate of Yale University, University of Southern California, and Syracuse University.
COLIN ALLRED, TX-32
Attorney | Department of Housing and Urban Development | NFL Player | J.D.
Congressman Allred represents the 32nd district of Texas, where was elected in 2018 on a platform that included campaign finance and healthcare reform. Prior to taking office, he played in the NFL and served in the General Counsel office for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Congressman Allred sits on the Veterans Affairs Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. As a congressman, he cosponsored the Restoring Integrity to America’s Election Act, which proposed reforming the Federal Election Commission to enforce campaign finance laws. Congressman Allred is a graduate of Baylor University and UC Berkeley School of Law. He was a 2018 New Leader to Watch.
Sean Casten, IL-06
Clean Energy Entrepreneur | MS Engineering
Congressman Casten represents the 6th district of Illinois, where he was elected in 2018 on a platform of voting rights and economic reform. Prior to taking office, he worked as a clean energy consultant and cofounded Recycled Energy Development, focusing on recycling wasted energy. Congressman Casten sits on the Financial Services Committee; the Science, Space, and Technology Committee; and the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. To support climate progress, Congressman Casten introduced the Promoting Grid Storage Act of 2019 to establish effective programs for energy storage. He is a graduate of Middlebury College and Dartmouth College. Congressman Casten was a 2018 New Leader to Watch.
ANGIE CRAIG, MN-02
Business Leader | Med Tech Executive
Congresswoman Craig represents the 2nd district of Minnesota, where she was elected in 2018 on a platform that included healthcare and economic reform. Prior to taking office, she was a small business investor and led global human resources for a company with more than 16,000 employees. Congresswoman Craig sits on the Agriculture Committee, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the Small Business Committee. A champion of government reform, she introduced the HUMBLE Act, which would permanently ban members of Congress from becoming lobbyists. She is a graduate of University of Memphis. Congresswoman Craig was a 2018 New Leader to Watch.
ANTONIO DELGADO, NY-19
Rhodes Scholar | Lawyer | Media Executive | JD
Congressman Delgado represents the 19th district of New York, where he was elected in 2018 on a platform of economic and healthcare reform. Prior to taking office, Congressman Delgado worked as an attorney and a criminal justice reform advocate. He sits on the Agriculture Committee, Small Business Committee, and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Congressman Delgado co-sponsored the Save Lives Act, which would ban opioid drug manufacturers’ corporate PACs from supporting federal candidates. He is a graduate of Colgate University, Harvard Law School, and University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. Congressman Delgado was a 2018 New Leader to Watch.
Josh Harder, CA-10
Businessman |MPP | MBA
Congressman Harder represents the 10th district of California, where he was elected in 2018 on a platform of campaign finance and healthcare reform. Prior to taking office, he was a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group and a venture capital investor working with nonprofits to organize smallholder farmers in Kenya and Uganda. Congressman Harder sits on the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Education and Labor. He was a strong supporter of H.R.1 and added his own amendment that would require lobbyists to disclose their identity and clients whenever contacting a member of the legislative or executive branches. He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School and Kennedy School of Government. Congressman Harder was a 2018 New Leader to Watch.
CHRISSY HOULAHAn, PA-06
US Air Force Veteran | Nonprofit Executive | MS Technology and Policy
Congresswoman Houlahan represents the 6th district of Pennsylvania, where she was elected in 2018 on a platform of voting rights and healthcare reform. Prior to taking office, she served in the Air Force, taught chemistry throughTeach for America, and held several nonprofit leadership positions. Congresswoman Houlahan sits on the Armed Services Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and Small Business Committee. In honor of her efforts to improve government transparency and to foster innovation on Capitol Hill, she was a finalist for the Congressional Management Foundation’s Democracy Award. . She is a graduate of Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Congresswoman Houlahan was a 2018 New Leader to Watch.
Mondaire Jones, NY-17
Attorney | Non-profit Founder | JD
Congressman Jones represents the 17th district of New York, where he was elected in 2020 on a platform to reform democracy. Two of his priorities included automatic voter registration and turning Election Day into a national holiday. Congressman Jones sits on the Judiciary Committee, Education and Labor Committee, and Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. Prior to taking office, he was an attorney and former Department of Justice fellow. Most recently, he worked as an attorney in Westchester County’s Law Department, where he also served as a legal advisor to the Human Rights Commission and Board of Legislators. Congressman Jones cofounded Rising Leaders, Inc., a nonprofit organization that teaches leadership skills to underserved middle school students. He is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School.
ANDY KIM, NJ-03
Rhodes Scholar | National Security Council | PhD
Congressman Kim represents the 3rd district of New Jersey, where he was elected in 2018 on a platform to reform campaign finance and lower prescription drug prices. Prior to taking office, he held positions at the Pentagon, State Department, and the White House National Security Council. He also served in Afghanistan as an adviser to generals Petraeus and Allen. Congressman Kim sits on the Armed Services Committee and Small Business Committee. His legislation, the SAVE Act, would increase access to health care and lower costs by incentivizing the transition to state-based insurance exchanges. The act passed the House of Representatives and is awaiting a Senate vote. Congressman Kim is a graduate of the University of Chicago and the University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He was a 2018 New Leader to Watch.
Elaine luria, va-02
Veteran |Small Business Owner | M.S.
Congresswoman Luria served in the Navy for twenty years and later started a successful small business in her community. She was elected in 2018 on a platform focused on economic opportunity, education, and national security. Congresswoman Luria currently sits on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Committee on Homeland Security, and House Committee on Armed Services. She received a B.S. from the United States Naval Academy and later a MS in engineering management from Old Dominion University.
Lucy McBath, GA-6
Gun Safety Advocate | Community Organizer | Nonprofit Founder
Congresswoman McBath represents the 6th district of Georgia, where she was elected in 2018 on a platform to end gun violence and increase access to healthcare. Prior to taking office, she was the spokesperson for Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety. She became a gun safety advocate after her son was wrongfully shot and killed. Congresswoman McBath serves on the Committee on Judiciary, Committee on Education and Labor, and the Gun Violence Task Force. She introduced the HAVEN Act, which amends the bankruptcy law to better protect the economic security of veterans and their families; the bill passed and was signed into law by President Trump in August 2019. She is a graduate of Virginia State University.
Dean phillips, MN-03
Business Owner | MBA
Congressman Phillips represents the 3rd district of Minnesota, where he was elected in 2018 on a platform of campaign finance and healthcare reform. Prior to taking office, he developed several businesses in Minnesota, including a coffee shop chain and the international brand Talenti Gelato. Congressman Phillips sits on the Ethics Committee, Financial Services Committee, and Foreign Affairs Committee. He is also a member of the Democracy Reform Task Force and Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. Congressman Phillips is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. He was a 2018 New Leader to Watch.
Katie Porter, CA-45
Consumer Protection Attorney | Law Professor | JD
Congresswoman Porter represents the 45th district of California, where she was elected in 2018 on a platform of economic and healthcare reform. Prior to taking office, she was appointed by then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris to serve as the state’s independent monitor of banks. Congresswoman Porter serves on the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Oversight and Reform Caucuses. A leading advocate for anticorruption efforts, Congresswoman Porter co-launched the Congressional End Corruption Caucus in January 2020. She is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School.
MIKIE SHERRILL, NJ-11
Navy Veteran | Assistant US Attorney | JD
Congresswoman Sherrill represents the 11th district of New Jersey, where she was elected in 2018 on a platform of economic and healthcare reform. Prior to taking office, she spent 10 years in active duty and served as a policy advisor on Russian affairs. Congresswoman Sherrill is the freshman whip of the New Democrat Coalition and sits on the Armed Services Committee and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. She sponsored the Election Technology Research Act of 2019, which would direct research to promote the security and modernization of voting systems. She is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Georgetown Law School, and the London School of Economics. Congresswoman Sherrill was a 2018 New Leader to Watch.
Elissa Slotkin, MI-8
Department of Defense | CIA Analyst | M.I.A.
Congresswoman Slotkin represents the 8th district of Michigan, where she was elected in 2018 on a platform that included securing equal access to healthcare, passing campaign finance reform, and protecting clean water. Prior to taking office, she was a CIA analyst and served in the Obama administration as acting assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. Congresswoman Slotkin serves on the House Armed Services Committee and Homeland Security Committee. Her Iranian War Powers Resolution—which requires any president to seek authorization for use of military force from Congress before taking the country into a protracted war with Iran—passed the House and Senate and is awaiting the president’s signature. She is a graduate of Cornell University and the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.
ABIGAIL SPANBERGER, va-07
National Security | MBA
Congresswoman Spanberger represents the 7th district of Virginia, where she was elected in 2018 on a platform to reform healthcare and prevent gun violence. Prior to taking office, she was a federal agent with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and a higher education consultant at EAB. Congresswoman Spanberger sits on the Agriculture Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee. In 2019, the Town Hall Project named Congresswoman Spanberger a “Standout Freshman.” She cosponsored the Taxpayers Right to Know Act, which would increase transparency and accountability in government spending. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Purdue University’s Krannert School. Congresswoman Spanberger was a 2018 New Leader to Watch.
ritchie torres, ny-15
Community Leader | Activist
Congressman Torres represents the 15th district of New York. He was elected in 2020 with a platform emphasizing economic opportunity, housing, and racial justice. Congressman Torres serves on the Committee on Financial Services and is the vice chair of the Committee on Homeland Security. He has introduced legislation to improve housing quality to prevent fires, and he voted in favor of the America COMPETES Act to improve manufacturing and reinforce supply chains. Congressman Torres attended New York University and later served on New York City Council to represent the Bronx.
Haley Stevens, MI-11
U.S. Auto Rescue Task Force | U.S. Chamber of Commerce | M.A.
Congresswoman Stevens represents the 11th district of Michigan, where she was elected in 2018 on a platform that included expanding educational opportunities and protecting access to healthcare. Prior to taking office, she was the chief of staff to the U.S. Auto Rescue Task Force and helped establish the Office of Recovery for Automotive Communities and Workers. Congresswoman Stevens serves on the House Committee on Education and Labor, and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, where she also serves as chairwoman of the Research and Technology Subcommittee. Her first sponsored bill, the Building Blocks of STEM Act—which would support STEM education research on early childhood—passed the House and is awaiting a Senate vote. She is a graduate of American University.
Lori Trahan, MA-03
Businesswoman | Marketing Executive
Congresswoman Trahan represents the 3rd district of Massachusetts, where she was elected in 2018 on a platform that included education and election reform. Prior to taking office, she served as chief of staff to former Congressman Marty Meehan and was deputy treasurer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Congresswoman Trahan sits on the Committee for Education and Labor, and the Committee on Armed Services. A strong advocate for democracy reform, she added two amendments to the H.R.1 bill that protected independent redistricting commissions and ensured that spouses of military members were still able to vote in elections. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and Harvard Business School. Congresswoman Trahan was a 2018 New Leader to Watch.
Lauren Underwood, IL-14
Dept of Health and Human Services Advisor | Nurse | MSN | MPH
Congresswoman Underwood represents the 14th district of Illinois, where she was elected in 2018 on a platform that included health care reform and reducing gun violence. Prior to taking office, she worked as a nurse and then as a senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration. Congresswoman Underwood sits on the Committee on Education and Labor, Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and Committee on Homeland Security. She helped form the Task Force Sentry, which strengthens election security against foreign adversaries. Congresswoman Underwood holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.S. in nursing and an M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins University. She was a 2018 New Leader to Watch.