We endorse candidates who believe in equal access to the voting box, stand against voter suppression and support lawful voter mobilization efforts.
Endorsements
Interested in an endorsement? Request one here
The SPLC Action Fund is a catalyst for racial justice in the South—we’ve won lawsuits, we’ve passed legislation and we’ve helped build organizing capacity throughout the region. This work is getting harder.
The radical right is drawing political boundaries designed to reduce Black voting power and recruiting candidates at every level of government. This means local officials are increasingly ideological and less open to ideas that do not fit within their own narrow agenda.
With increasingly radical and intractable judges and elected leaders, it does not matter how good we are at filing lawsuits or lobbying lawmakers. No amount of persuasion will convince a conspiracy theorist in local office to do the right thing.
For better outcomes in our courtrooms, statehouses and city halls, we have to identify pro-democratic candidates for office. It’s not enough to hope better people find their way to elected office: We have a responsibility to help educate voters about their choices.
The SPLC Action Fund makes endorsements in select races throughout the southeast. We seek out candidates for local office who are committed to dismantling white supremacy, strengthening intersectional movements and advancing human rights of all people.
In pursuit of this bold agenda, the SPLC Action Fund supports candidates who share our commitment to addressing the deep inequities that plague our nation.
We endorse candidates who…
Showing results 1-10 of 16
-
Alabama
Portia Shepherd
Portia Shepherd is running for mayor of Uniontown, Alabama. A community advocate with deep roots in the town, Shepherd currently serves as executive director of BlackBelt Women Rising, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting environmental justice and providing culturally sensitive support services to individuals in crisis. Among its many projects, the organization has worked on Alabama’s…
-
Alabama
Randall Woodfin
Randall Woodfin is running for reelection as mayor of Birmingham, Alabama. Prior to assuming office as mayor, Woodfin served his community in numerous capacities, including in the Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services, as an assistant city attorney and as president of the Birmingham Board of Education. As mayor, Woodfin has prioritized creating pathways to…
-
Alabama
Patrick Braxton
Patrick Braxton is running for reelection as mayor of Newbern, Alabama. Braxton, who was elected to the seat in 2020, is Newbern’s first Black mayor. However, his first term has been unfairly marred by the town’s previous administration, which removed him from office shortly after the election and refused him access to the city’s accounts,…
-
Alabama
Ciara Smith
Ciara Smith, running to be Mayor of Anniston, Alabama, has served as vice mayor of Anniston for almost five years before being elevated to the role of mayor in May, following the resignation of her predecessor. Smith has earned the support of her constituents by showing she had her finger on the pulse of the…
-
Alabama
Barbara Drummond
Barbara Drummond, running to be Mayor of Mobile, Alabama, is a former Alabama state representative and Public Affairs Director for Mobile County who has dedicated her life to serving citizens of Mobile by improving city services and fighting for resources for families and local businesses. Her track record includes securing $11.4 million in new state…
-
Georgia
Dr. Alicia Johnson
Dr. Alicia Johnson, running for Public Service Commission in District 2 is a proven leader who prioritizes people over politics. As a Georgia native with nearly 30 years of experience in human services, healthcare, and economic development, she is a driving force for change in communities across Georgia. Her efforts helped over 10,000 households access…
-
Louisiana
Marshall Simien Jr.
Marshall Simien Jr., candidate for Mayor of Lake Charles, brings a bold vision for progress and a deep commitment to serving every resident. With a focus on economic development, community safety, and strategic investment, and a proven public servant with deep community roots, Simien’s leadership is grounded in experience, solutions, and results–building a stronger Lake…
-
Georgia
Erick Allen
Erick Allen, running for Cobb County Commissioner, aims to address critical issues such as access to public education, access to quality and accessible health care, and establishing a functioning government. Allen is a former Georgia state legislator and has decades of experience in public service in the state of Georgia.
-
Mississippi
Sonya Williams-Barnes
Sonya Williams-Barnes, running for Gulfport Mayor, aims to address critical issues such as public safety, expanding economic growth, and establishing transparent governance practices. Barnes is a former Mississippi State Legislator, whose efforts to pass excess lottery funds to public education are now a critical investment in Mississippi schools.
-
Louisiana
Shaunn Wyche
Shaunn Wyche, running for St. George Parish Councilman At-Large, is committed to advancing government transparency and creating economic opportunities for all residents within St. George. Wyche is the founder of People United to Lead St. George Engagement (PULSE) and a proven leader with more than two decades of management, financial and administrative expertise.