Victory for Gun Safety: Three Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Volunteers Advance to General Election in Texas

Dozens of Moms Demand Action Volunteers Elected Recently Show Growing Political Power

Everytown Victory Fund’s Demand A Seat Program Trains Volunteers and Survivors to Run For Office and Work on Campaigns

Three Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers across Texas advanced to general elections, highlighting the growing political power of volunteers as candidates for office. Becca De Felice is the former volunteer Texas Chapter Leader of Moms Demand Action, and Angi Aramburu and Jesus Salgado-Ramos were participants in Everytown Victory Fund’s “Demand a Seat” program.

Last year, Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund launched “Demand a Seat,” a new program that trains volunteers and gun violence survivors to run for office and work on campaigns. The program will invest $3 million in educational training and mentorship opportunities for grassroots volunteers considering campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels. Since the launch of Demand a Seat, hundreds of people have expressed interest and more than 250 people have participated in the program from 41 states, including 120 gun violence survivors. More information on Demand a Seat can be found here.

“For years, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers have shown they’re willing to do whatever it takes to shape the policies that protect their families and communities from gun violence,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “Wanting to make those policies as elected officials is a logical and crucial next step and we’re incredibly proud of this latest group of volunteers who are Demanding a Seat.”

“Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers have been a political force for years, so it’s no surprise that more and more of them want to make the jump from advocating for laws to writing them,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “These Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers running for office know a thing or two about passing lifesaving laws, so you can be sure that when they’re elected, they will hit the ground running.” 

Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers who advanced to Texas’s November general elections include:

• TX State Rep. Candidate Becca DeFelice (HD-121), Moms Demand Action volunteer
• TX State Rep. Candidate Angi Aramburu (HD-122), Moms Demand Action volunteer
• Canutillo Independent School District At-Large Candidate, Jesus Salgado-Ramos, Students Demand Action volunteer

Since 2017, hundreds of Moms Demand Action volunteers have run for elected office and dozens have won seats – from town council and school board to U.S. Congress.