GALEO Impact Fund is proud to endorse progressive Latina/o candidates who aspire to lead their communities from the frontlines of public office. Our mission is clear: to endorse, uplift, and support candidates who share our values and vision for a just, inclusive, and forward-thinking society.
For more information regarding our candidate endorsement program, please contact Darrick Alvarez at dalvarez@galeoimpactfund.org
Candidate: U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff
Jon Ossoff
U.S. Senate
Born and raised in Atlanta, Jon Ossoff represents Georgia in the United States Senate.
Jon has established a reputation as a legislative workhorse and a relentless investigator exposing corruption and the abuse of power.
Candidate: Keisha Lance Bottoms
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Georgia Governor
Keisha Lance Bottoms is the Democratic nominee running to serve as the next governor of Georgia to deliver for working families and stand up against the chaos coming from Washington.
As governor, she will fight to lower costs, expand Medicaid so that more Georgians can get the health care coverage they need and prevent more hospitals — especially those in rural communities — from closing. She will make housing more affordable and crack down on corporate landlords that are making it harder for Georgians to buy a home or afford rent. Additionally, she will invest in education across Georgia by guaranteeing pre-K to every 4-year old, requiring Georgia students to start their education at kindergarten, and recruiting more quality educators by eliminating income taxes for teachers.
Keisha previously served as the 60th mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022 where she made major investments in affordable housing, delivered historic pay raises for police officers and firefighters, supported small businesses, and brought in billions in capital investment.
Keisha is at least a fifth generation Georgian and has served as a judge and city councilwoman. She resides in Atlanta with her husband, Derek, and their four children.
Candidate: Josh McLaurin
Josh McLaurin
Lieutenant Governor
Senator Josh McLaurin is running for Lieutenant Governor to give Georgia Democrats something we need now more than ever: a messenger who can advocate for our values and challenge Republican narratives with clarity and precision. Josh has been a state legislator for eight years, first serving in the State House and now in the State Senate.
At the Capitol, he’s earned a reputation as one of the leading voices fighting back against Republicans’ efforts to stack the deck for corporations and bully vulnerable people for political gain. He has passed bipartisan consumer protection laws, including a widely recognized bill establishing statewide regulations on the predatory car booting industry for the first time in Georgia’s history. Josh also secured the first-ever funding in the state budget for breakthrough therapies to treat veterans’ post-traumatic stress.
A Yale educated attorney and a proud Double-Dawg graduate of the University of Georgia, Josh currently represents Georgia’s 14th Senate District, which includes key Democratic growth areas like Sandy Springs, Roswell, Johns Creek, and Alpharetta.
Candidate: Judge Penny Brown Reynolds
Penny Brown Reynolds
GA Secretary of State
The Honorable Dr. Penny Brown Reynolds is a nationally recognized public leader whose career
spans government, law, higher education, the judiciary, media, faith, and the nonprofit and
private sectors. For more than three decades, she has built a legacy of purpose, integrity, and trailblazing leadership.
During the Biden-Harris Administration, Dr. Brown Reynolds served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Deputy Assistant Secretary, and Chief EEO Officer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, leading civil rights enforcement, equity strategy, and compliance for more than 117,000 employees. She directed the agency’s first five-year civil rights strategic plan, eliminated over 90% of a longstanding case backlog, and implemented landmark anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies.
Candidate: Nikki Porcher
Nikki Porcher
Labor Commissioner
Nikki Porcher is a U.S. Air Force veteran, former public school teacher, and founder of award-winning nonprofit organization Buy From A Black Woman. Under her leadership, what began as a simple online directory has grown into the highest-ranking platform for Black women-owned businesses and a thriving ecosystem that has supported over 700 women founders across North America.
Through practical, scalable solutions, Nikki has helped these underserved entrepreneurs generate over $6.12 million in revenue, connecting more than 50,000 consumers to their brands every year. Her work goes beyond visibility, it’s about infrastructure. She builds systems that ensure business owners can thrive long term.
Candidate: Peter Hubbard
Peter Hubbard
Public Service Commission, District 3
Peter Hubbard is a native of Tennessee and holds a degree in Physics, Mathematics, and International Affairs. With 15 years of experience in the energy sector, he specializes in resource planning, market analysis, and clean energy solutions. In 2019, Peter founded the Georgia Center for Energy Solutions to advocate for renewable energy and lower power bills. He also develops solar and energy storage projects that support clean energy in various states. Living in Atlanta’s Edgewood neighborhood since 2015, he is dedicated to building a sustainable energy future for his family and community.
Candidate: Shelia Edwards
Shelia Edwards
Public Service Commission, District 5
Shelia Edwards is a respected community leader, proven strategist, entrepreneur, and Democratic leader with a record of delivering results at the local, state, and
federal levels. As the 2026 Democratic nominee for the Georgia Public Service
Commission, she brings a unique combination of technical experience, public
policy expertise, and community engagement to the fight for fair utility rates,
consumer protection, and government accountability.
Shelia is also an outspoken advocate for Georgia ratepayers, and a vocal critic of the repeated utility rate increases that have been approved by the Public Service Commission. She has raised concerns about the rapid proliferation of data centers across Georgia, and the potential impact
their growing energy demands could have on residential customers, small businesses, and the
state’s energy infrastructure. Shelia believes that utility regulators must prioritize transparency,
accountability, and consumer protection to ensure that every day Georgians are not forced to bear the costs of decisions that primarily benefit large corporate interests. Shelia has also been a critic of the misuse of eminent domain to take land from Georgia families, farmers, and small business owners for projects that do not clearly serve the public interest. She believes government should protect private property rights, not undermine them, and will continue fighting for transparency, accountability, and fairness whenever the rights of Georgia property owners are threatened.
Candidate: Representative Dr. Jasmine Clark
Dr. Jasmine Clark
U.S. Congress
(GA-13)
Rep. Dr. Jasmine Clark is a mom, microbiologist, and State Representative who found her passion for science and helping others at a young age. Inspired by her father, a doctor, and her mother, a nurse,
she received her BA in biology and her PhD in microbiology and cellular genetics from Emory University, where she now serves as an Assistant
Clinical Professor in the Nursing School.
In 2017, in the wake of Donald Trump’s first election, Jasmine recognized the need for a strong science voice in government and decided to run for a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives that had been in Republican hands for over 20 years. Despite facing a powerful incumbent Republican who outspent her more than 2:1, Jasmine won and defended the seat again in 2020, 2022, and 2024, despite Gov. Kemp’s re-drawing her district to make it more competitive twice since 2020.
Candidate: Tony Kozycki
Tony Kozycki
U.S. Congress
(GA-7)
Tony Kozycki has spent his life stepping into the moments that matter.
Raised in LaGrange, Georgia, he learned early the values of discipline, accountability, and hard work as a student-athlete. Those lessons carried with him to the United States Naval Academy, where he was nominated by Senator Saxby Chambliss and trained to lead with integrity under pressure.
After earning his commission, Tony became a Naval Aviator, flying the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
He completed three combat deployments, leading missions in complex environments where decisions carried real consequences. He worked closely with allied forces, building trust and coordination across nations, and served with the discipline and accountability that only comes from knowing others are counting on you.
After returning home, Tony continued his life of service as an attorney, fighting for families across Georgia and standing up to systems that too often fail the people they are supposed to protect.
Candidate: Ruwa RomMan
Ruwa Roman
Georgia Senate
District 7
Georgia State Representative Ruwa Romman is not only a legislator—she is also an organizer, a policy strategist, and a bridge builder. Born in Jordan and the granddaughter of Palestinian refugees, Ruwa moved to Georgia with her family when she was just eight years old. Growing up as a Muslim girl in post-9/11 America, she learned early on what it meant to be misunderstood—and what it would take to be heard.
She’s carried that lesson with her into every aspect of her work. Ruwa has volunteered in every election cycle since 2014 to help flip Georgia blue. Whether she was organizing at the grassroots level, informing thousands of Georgians on how to vote in 2020, or helping launch the Georgia Volunteer Hub to mobilize thousands of national and local volunteers, Ruwa has been laser-focused on empowering communities to take ownership of their civic power.
Candidate: State Senator RaShaun Kemp
RaShaun Kemp
Georgia Senate
District 38
Senator Rashaun Kemp proudly represents Georgia’s 38th Senate District, a Fulton County seat that includes portions of Atlanta, Sandy Springs, the City of South Fulton, Fairburn, East Point, Union City, Palmetto, and Chattahoochee Hills. In his very first legislative session, Senator Kemp delivered results by passing his first bill, Senate Bill 93, a bipartisan measure signed into law by the Governor. SB 93 addresses Georgia’s literacy crisis—where nearly 70% of children are not reading on grade level—by ensuring all Georgia teachers are properly trained in evidence-based reading instruction.
Candidate: Saira Draper
Saira Draper
Georgia Senate
District 44
The daughter of immigrants, Saira was raised in Georgia, attended public schools, and earned her degree from Georgia Tech and her law degree from Georgetown. As a civil rights attorney at the SPLC, she represented a national class of immigrant children separated from their families.
In 2020, she led voting rights efforts for the Biden, Warnock, and Ossoff campaigns, directing more than 12,000 volunteers to ensure fair and free elections across Georgia. Saira continued that fight in the State House, working to tear down barriers to the ballot box and ensure every Georgian’s voice was heard and protected.
Candidate: Laura Murvartian
Laura Murvartian
Georgia Senate
District 48
Laura Murvartian has been active in the Atlanta community, serving on several nonprofit boards and being involved in politics for decades. Laura has campaigned and hosted fundraisers for Georgia Democratic candidates up and down the ticket and has served on the board of two Georgia-based PACs. Laura believes that running for office is the natural next step in a life committed to service and to electing strong democratic candidates.
Candidate: Bella Bautista
Bella Bautista
Georgia House
District 14
Bella Bautista is a nonprofit executive and award-winning civil rights activist born and raised in Cartersville, Georgia. The daughter of proud immigrant small business owners, Bella grew up understanding the value of hard work, community, and perseverance. Watching her family build a life through dedication and sacrifice shaped her belief that every family deserves the opportunity to succeed.
Candidate: Mateo Sanabria
Mateo Sanabria
Georgia House
District 28
Mateo Sanabria is a 23 year old software developer running for GA State House in HD28. He
has been a Forsyth county resident for his whole life. As the child of two Colombian immigrant
entrepreneurs he looks forward to building legislation to help all Georgians rise above their
stations no matter where they come from, what their educations are, or what their struggles are.
As a software engineer he has the background to understand how AI is changing our world and
help protect everyday people. His primary campaign focus centers around 3 things. Improving
education, signing off on the medicaid expansion we are already paying for, and building right to
repair legislation.
Candidate: State Representative Gabriel Sanchez
Gabriel Sanchez
Georgia House
District 42
Representative Gabriel Sanchez, first elected in 2024, is a long-time community organizer and advocate for working people. Gabriel was born and raised in Cobb County to Colombian immigrants striving for a better future.
Gabriel worked for several local organizations,
non-profits, and campaigns to advocate for voting rights, the Latino community, and working families. Now he is the State Representative for House District 42, which includes Smyrna, Cumberland, and parts of South Marietta, and is currently the third youngest legislator in Georgia.
Candidate: Michelle Schreiner
Michelle Schreiner
Georgia House
District 45
Michelle lives in East Cobb and is running to represent the community she calls home. Her campaign is focused on affordability, strong public schools, access to quality health care, reproductive freedom, voting rights, and responsive leadership that listens to constituents and shows up consistently.
Candidate: State Representative Phil Olaleye
Phil Olaleye
Georgia House
District 59
Phil was elected in 2022 to represent Georgia House District 59, which includes parts of Atlanta and East Point. He also serves as Executive Director of Next Generation Men & Women (Next Gen), a nonprofit that connects high school students with local businesses and colleges to provide real-world career exposure and mentorship.
Candidate: Bentley Hudgins
Bentley Hudgins
Georgia House
District 90
Bentley Hudgins is a Georgia born Japanese-American union member and organizer. A graduate of Mercer University, Bentley has spent the last decade fighting for Democracy and protecting civil and human rights. They have worked for organizations including the ACLU, the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, and the New Georgia Project.
As the Georgia State Director for the Human Rights Campaign, Bentley has led efforts to defend LGBTQ+ rights at the local, state and federal level, successfully stopping every anti-LGBTQ+ bill that Georgia Republicans introduced in 2024 and leading the largest advocacy day in state history in 2025. An experienced campaign strategist and organizer, Bentley has helped elect countless progressive and LGBTQ+ Democrats in Georgia, including Sen. RaShaun Kemp, the first openly gay man elected to the Georgia Senate.
When elected in November, Bentley will make history as Georgia’s first openly nonbinary legislator. In the legislature, Bentley will continue the work they have been doing for the last decade: fighting to empower working families, safeguarding democracy, and protecting the civil and human rights of all Georgians.
Candidate: Jyot Singh
Jyot Singh
Georgia House
District 97
Jyot is a proud product of Gwinnett County Public Schools. Attending one of the best high schools in the state, right here in Gwinnett, didn’t just give Jyot a world-class education; it also gave him a sense of responsibility. Jyot saw what happens when a community invests in its children, and he saw the doors that investment could open for a kid from Norcross.
Candidate: Michelle Kang
Michelle Kang
Georgia House
District 99
Michelle Kang is a proud first-generation Korean American immigrant who’s called Georgia home since 1992. Michelle came here to build a better life for herself and her future family, and over the past 30 years, she’s grown deeply rooted in this community. Michelle is running for State House because she believes Georgia should be a place where working families can thrive, not just survive.
Candidate: Farooq Mughal
Farooq Mughal
Georgia House
District 105
As a first-generation American, small-business owner, and former Georgia State Representative, Farooq’s life experience and professional background have uniquely prepared him to serve this community effectively. Farooq grew up watching his immigrant parents work tirelessly to build a better life, and their example shaped his belief in fairness, opportunity, and the responsibility to uplift others. That perspective guides everything Farooq does: advocating for working families to ensuring immigrant and minority communities have a real voice in our state.
Candidate: Juan Estrada
Juan Estrada
Georgia House
District 109
Juan Estrada is an attorney, small business owner, and community advocate. Juan is the son of two immigrants (Mexican Father/Honduran Mother) and would be the first known person of Honduran heritage elected to the Georgia General Assembly.
As an attorney, Juan spent two years providing free legal assistance to tenants facing eviction in Fulton County, helping families who were at risk of losing their homes to Covid-19 understand and protect their rights. Juan also advocated for consumers before the Georgia Public Service Commission in 2025 where he pushed for stronger oversight of data centers and policies aimed at lowering electric bills for Georgia families.
Candidate: Scott T. Jackson
Scott T. Jackson
Georgia House
District 111
Scott T. Jackson is a husband, father, entrepreneur, and community advocate running to represent
Georgia House District 111. His experience in business, technology, and community leadership has taught him that effective public service begins with listening, building trust, and ensuring that government responds to the needs of the people it serves.
Scott is running to expand economic opportunity, strengthen public education, protect access to
affordable healthcare, support safe communities, and ensure that every eligible voter can participate freely and fairly in Georgia’s democracy. He believes government should be transparent, accountable, and accessible to all residents—not only those with wealth, influence, or political connections.
Candidate: Elliot Valdez
Elliot Valdez
Georgia House
District 139
Elliot Valdez is a distinguished leader with 23 years of military and civilian federal service, dedicated to impactful communication and public service. As a U.S. Army Combat Camera specialist, he documented history from Iraq to Afghanistan and served as a first responder during the November 5, 2009, Fort Hood shooting. His work earned him the Combat Action Badge, the 1st Place Thomas Jefferson Award for Outstanding New Broadcaster, and the prestigious 2012 Keith L. Ware “Rising Star” DoD award, where he triumphed over all military branches.
Candidate: Mo Ivory
Mo Ivory
Fulton County Commissioner Chair
Mo Ivory believes government should deliver clear, accountable leadership and real results for the people it serves. As a Fulton County Commissioner, attorney, and law professor, she has built her career on asking hard questions, explaining complex systems in plain language, and ensuring decisions lead to real outcomes for residents.
A Record of Accountable Leadership
Commissioner Ivory represents District 4 in Fulton, where she is known for her command of detail, insistence on transparency, and willingness to challenge “business as usual.” She has earned a reputation as a straight shooter—someone who reads the fine print and tells the public the truth.
Through her “Mo Knows” town halls and the Civics for the People podcast, Ivory has helped residents better understand how county government works—and where it must work better. Her approach to leadership centers on accessibility, honesty, and follow-through.
Candidate: Micheal Garza
Micheal Garza
Cobb County Board of Education, District 4
Micheal Garza is a small-business owner, long-time Cobb resident, husband, and father of a nine-year-old who attends a Cobb elementary school. Micheal is an active leader in our public schools, as a leader in PTA, as co-founder of an organization that advocates for our students, and as a member of state educational advocacy groups who frequently holds town halls and community events about legislation that affects our schools.
