about new leaders to watch
In 2018 and again in 2020, Leadership Now members worked together to build a New Leaders to Watch candidate list. Following a rigorous process involving the collection, scoring, and analysis of over 100 candidate recommendations, Leadership Now members interviewed dozens of candidates for the U.S. House and Senate before settling on a final slate. The 2020 New Leaders to Watch list includes 18 candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, including 16 incumbents, and 4 candidates for U.S. Senate.
In selecting our candidates, we prioritized talent and diversity. Our candidates bring strong academic credentials and deep professional experience from outside of politics. They are scientists, business executives, medical doctors, engineers, military leaders, and national security experts. Representing communities across the country, both urban and rural, our candidates are forty percent racially or ethnically diverse and more than half are women.
While our New Leaders List for Congress does not currently include any Republicans (all candidates selected lost in their primaries), we look forward to endorsing other principled Republicans in the future. To complement this year’s New Leaders List you’ll find our 2020 Democracy Defender list that went beyond current Congressional candidates to identify conservative and Republican leaders who have shown extraordinary commitment to our principles.
Congratulations to our 2020 New Leaders to Watch.
2020 House candidates
COLIN ALLRED, TX-32
Attorney | Department of Housing and Urban Development | NFL Player | JD
Congressman Allred represents the 32nd district of Texas. He was elected to office 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 Veteran’s Affairs Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He cosponsored the Restoring Integrity to America’s Election Act, which proposed to reform the FEC so it can enforce our nation’s campaign finance laws. Congressman Allred is a graduate of Baylor University and UC Berkeley School of Law. Congressman Allred was a 2018 New Leader to Watch.
Carolyn BoUrdeaux, GA-7
Professor | GA Senate Budget and Evaluation Office | MPA | PhD
Carolyn Bourdeaux is 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. In 2018, she ran in GA-7, losing by just 433 votes, making it the closest congressional race in the entire country. In 2020, Carolyn is running again on a platform that includes creating a fair economy, fixing healthcare, and restoring our democracy. Carolyn is a graduate of Yale, University of Southern California, and Syracuse University.
Sean Casten, IL-06
Clean Energy Entrepreneur | MS Engineering
Congressman Casten represents the 6th district of Illinois. He was elected to office in 2018 on a platform of voting rights and economic reform. Prior to taking office, he was a clean energy consultant and co-founded Recycled Energy Development which focused 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. As a part of his commitment to addressing underlying issues related to a warming climate, Congressman Casten introduced the Promoting Grid Storage Act of 2019 to establish certain 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. She was elected to office in 2018 on a platform that included healthcare and economic reform. Prior to taking office, she was a small business investor and head of Global human resources for a 16,000+ person workforce. 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 serving as 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. He was elected to office in 2018 on a platform of economic and healthcare reform. Prior to taking office, he 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. He was elected to office in 2018 on a platform of campaign finance reform 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 small farmers in Kenya and Uganda. Congressman Harder sits on the Committee on Agriculture and 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 Branch. 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. She was elected to office in 2018 on a platform of voting rights and healthcare reform. Prior to taking office, she served in the Air Force, was a chemistry teacher with Teach for America, and held several non-profit leadership positions. Congresswoman Houlahan sits on the Armed Services Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and Small Business Committee. She was recently announced as a finalist for the Democracy Award from the Congressional Management Foundation for her efforts to improve government transparency and to foster innovations on Capitol Hill. 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
Mondaire Jones is an attorney and former Department of Justice fellow. Most recently, he served 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. Mondaire is also the co-founder of the non-profit Rising Leaders, Inc., which teaches leadership skills to underserved middle school students. He is running on a platform that makes democracy reform a priority including automatic voter registration and making Election Day a national holiday. 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. He was elected to office in 2018 on a platform that included campaign finance reform and lowering 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 advisor to Generals Petraeus and Allen. Congressman Kim sits on the Armed Services Committee and Small Business Committee. His legislation, the SAVE Act, which would increase access and lower health care costs by incentivizing the transition to state-based health insurance exchanges, passed through the House of Representatives and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago and the University of Oxford where he was a Rhodes Scholar. Congressman Kim was a 2018 New Leader to Watch.
Lucy McBath, GA-6
Gun Safety Advocate | Community Organizer | Nonprofit Founder
Congresswoman McBath represents the 6th district of Georgia. She was elected to office in 2018 on a platform of ending gun violence and increasing accessibility 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 current bankruptcy law to better protect the economic security of veterans and their families—a bill that passed 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. He was elected to office in 2018 on a platform of campaign finance reform and healthcare reform. Prior to taking office, he led and grew several businesses in Minnesota, including a coffee shop chain and the internationally known 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. She was elected to office 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 lead advocate for anti-corruption 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. She was elected to office in 2018 on a platform of economic reform 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. She was elected to office 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 as Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs in the Obama Administration. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and Homeland Security Committee. Congresswoman Slotkin’s Iranian War Powers Resolution, which requires any President to seek the Authorization for Use of Military Force from Congress before taking the country into a protracted war with Iran, passed both the House and the Senate and is awaiting the President’s signature. She is a graduate of Cornell University and Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.
ABIGAIL SPANBERGER, va-07
National Security | Businesswoman | MBA
Congresswoman Spanberger represents the 7th district of Virginia. She was elected to office in 2018 on a platform of healthcare reform and gun violence prevention. 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. She was named a “Standout Freshman” by the Town Hall Project in 2019 and 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.
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. She was elected to office 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 set up the Office of Recovery for Automotive Communities and Workers. Congresswoman Stevens serves on the House Committee on Education & Labor, and the House Committee on Science, Space & Technology, where she also serves as Chairwoman of the Research & Technology Subcommittee. Her first sponsored bill, The Building Blocks of STEM Act, which focuses on supporting STEM education research on early childhood, passed the House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. She is a graduate of American University.
Lori Trahan, MA-03
Businesswoman | Marketing Executive
Congresswoman Trahan represents the 3rd district of Massachusetts. She was elected to office 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. She was elected to office 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 Advisor 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 Veteran’s Affairs, and Committee on Homeland Security. She helped form the Task Force Sentry, which develops solutions to strengthen election security against foreign adversaries. Congresswoman Underwood holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science in Nursing and a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. She was a 2018 New Leader to Watch.
2020 Senate Candidates
Cal Cunningham, NC
North Carolina General Assembly | Army Reserve | Vice Chairman of North Carolina Crime Commission | JD | MSc
Cal Cunningham is an Army veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, a business leader, and a former legislator who served as Vice Chairman of the Governor’s Crime Commission. Cal was awarded the Bronze Star and the prestigious General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award for his groundbreaking work prosecuting contractors for criminal misconduct. He is running for the U.S. Senate from North Carolina. As a candidate, Cal has publicly committed to supporting North Carolina’s fair maps initiatives and campaign finance reform. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, the London School of Economics, and the University of North Carolina Law School.
Dr. Al Gross, AK
Orthopedic Surgeon | MD | MPH
Dr. Al Gross is a commercial fisherman, an orthopedic surgeon, and a lifelong Alaskan. His father was Alaska’s Attorney General and his mother was the first Executive Director of the United Fishermen of Alaska and founded the League of Women Voters Alaska. Dr. Gross served as President of the Bartlett Regional Hospital Medical Staff and later founded and served as President of the Juneau Bone and Joint Center. An Independent, Al is running on a platform of health care reform, fair wages, access to education, climate change mitigation, and campaign finance reform. He is a graduate of Amherst College, Washington University, and UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
John Hickenlooper, CO
Mayor of Denver | Governor of Colorado | 2020 Presidential Candidate | MA
Governor John Hickenlooper is a former businessman, Mayor of Denver, and Governor of Colorado. As mayor of Denver, he erased a $70 million budget deficit and attracted the 2008 National Democratic Convention. As Governor, he helped take the state from 40th in job creation to the top economy in the country. After a brief presidential bid, Governor Hickenlooper declared his candidacy for U.S. Senate in Colorado in August 2019. He is running on a platform that includes gun control, healthcare reform, and climate change. Governor Hickenlooper is a graduate of Wesleyan University.
Mark Kelly, AZ
Astronaut | US Navy Veteran | Gun Safety Advocate
Mark Kelly is an engineer, former astronaut, and U.S. Navy Captain. As a naval aviator he made two deployments to the First Gulf War on the aircraft carrier the U.S.S. Midway and flew 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. Selected as an astronaut in 1996, he flew multiple missions into space between 2001 and 2011. In January 2013, in the wake of the attempted assassination of his wife, U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords, and the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Mark co-founded the organization ‘GIFFORDS,’ to unite communities against gun violence. Mark is running for U.S. Senate in Arizona on a platform that includes gun safety, climate change mitigation, and healthcare reform. He is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.