PRESS RELEASE: Oakland Rising Action Announces Endorsements for November Election
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, October 11, 2024
Media Contact: Pecolia Manigo, Interim Executive Director, Oakland Rising Action | info@OaklandRisingAction.org
Oakland Rising Action Announces Endorsements for November Election
Voter guide includes endorsements for State Senate, Board of Supervisors, City Council, School Board, and state and local ballot measures
Oakland Rising Action (ORA), a community-led political organization focused on supporting candidates and issues that drive a progressive agenda for working-class residents, immigrants and communities of color living in the flatlands of Oakland and Alameda County, announced its November general election endorsements. The guide is available online and is being mailed to 60,000 of voters starting on 10/7/2024.
Oakland Rising Action’s voter guide includes endorsements for many key open seats in Oakland and Alameda County, including Nikki Fortunato Bas for Board of Supervisors and Jovanka Beckles for State Senate. The guide also urges no votes on recall campaigns for Major Sheng Tao and DA Pamela Price, citing that these efforts are funded by right wing agitators and are fundamentally undemocratic. The guide also includes helpful background and endorsements for local and statewide measures.
“Between state propositions, city and county measures and local races that don’t get as much attention as others in a national election year, Oaklanders rely on organizations like Oakland Rising Action to get familiar with their ballots and get ready to vote,” explains interim Executive Director and longtime local leader Pecolia Manigo. “We are proud to share this guide with voters and help them make decisions that will impact their lives for years to come.”
“Oakland Rising Action has a track record of policy and budget wins that uplift working-class, Black and Brown communities. I’m proud to have their endorsement and to partner with an organization that puts our shared values into practice,” said Nikki Fortunato Bas.
“We are thrilled to support Nikki Bas’s candidacy for BOS District 5. We fundamentally believe that Alameda County would benefit greatly from the leadership and commitment of Bas, particularly in ensuring that our county budget becomes more transparent, and increases our investment in our small businesses and workers,” said Manigo. “Most importantly, we trust Bas will prioritize equitable democracy by listening to the needs of our working class, immigrant and formerly incarcerated residents who want robust, effective county services as we recover from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic across the county.”
“We believe we can work side-by-side with Esteen to work towards a future that serves the needs and aspirations of every member of our community and hold her accountable to the needs of the community when we lack alignment,” said Manigo. “This includes working with Esteen to advance county policies on improving healthcare, increasing job opportunities, investing in affordable housing and improving our justice system.”
“I’m honored to receive support from the powerhouse organizers at Oakland Rising Action,” said Jennifer Esteen, RN. “As a County Supervisor, I will ensure funds are shifted into community-based, prevention focused, high-quality health care and mental health services to stop the proliferation of spending on jails and failed systems. I will ensure county vacancies are filled by hiring community members who live in our county, that our unhoused neighbors receive timely services, and are provided dignified and supportive housing, so we all can thrive.”
The election will take place on November 5, 2024.
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Oakland Rising Action (ORA)’s endorsement process includes a written questionnaire and individual interviews. ORA endorses those candidates who most align with their values, vision, and emerging progressive strategy for Oakland. To ensure that alignment, the organization’s endorsement process engages a committee of activists, organizers and leaders of Oakland’s progressive left at all stages.
ORA engages in voter education and GOTV operations that encourage working-class residents, immigrants, and communities of color to think critically about voting for or against issues, policies and candidates based on the shared dreams of health, happiness, safety, and opportunity for all. Leading up to the election, ORA’s paid team of outreach workers along with volunteers will hold conversations with over thousands of immigrant, working-class, and BIPOC voters in Oakland and Alameda County’s flatlands. ORA also shares their endorsements with the community through a bilingual printed and online voter guide. Its mailed voter guide reaches low-propensity, BIPOC voter households.
For more information about these races and ORA-endorsed candidates, please visit www.oaklandrisingaction.org