Unsung Heroes
Check out our other political project that helps visualize the ridiculous differences between the wealthy and the rest of us.
The progressives you may have never heard of! These candidates score 80 or higher on our progressive rubric, have no more than 2 endorsements from the organizations we track, are not incumbents, and are running in districts not overshadowed by another progressive candidate with 4 or more endorsements. There might be more than one highly-progressive candidate in a district, which means you have an embarrassment of riches to choose from, and you'll want to consider other factors in your decision. These are the unsung heroes — amazing progressives who aren't getting much national attention! See our methodology for more details.
Dear candidates: Your progressive commitment is amazing — and there are three ways to turn it into a stronger listing here: apply for endorsements, sign progressive pledges, and spell out your positions in detail on your own website (we can only go by what you publish). Our candidate information page walks through all three.
Longtime public school teacher and civil rights organizer from Palm Harbor who quotes Fannie Lou Hamer and refuses corporate and PAC money. Campaigns for a $20 federal minimum wage, a path to Medicare for All including dental, mental and vision care, abolishing ICE with automatic citizenship for DACA recipients, a federal amendment overturning Citizens United, and no drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
Emergency veterinarian and former State Department foreign affairs officer who managed $20M+ in foreign aid for human rights and conservation; member of the queer community. Champions Medicare for All wiping all medical debt, abolishing ICE and dismantling DHS, $25/hour minimum wage indexed to inflation, 100% clean energy by 2040, banning corporate PAC money and overturning Citizens United, and invoking Leahy Laws to end the genocide in Gaza.
(Alternative to higher-scoring Mariah Lancaster)
First Arab-American woman elected to the Massachusetts state legislature; spent her career expanding healthcare access for mothers and babies through the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. Backs Medicare for All, a $20 minimum wage, the PRO Act with sharply increased union-busting penalties, the Green New Deal, universal childcare, free community college, and an end to all weapons sales and military aid to Israel.
(Alternative to higher-scoring Mariah Lancaster)
Escaped an authoritarian regime at age five, arriving with $100; first in her family to graduate college; legal aid attorney for survivors of violence, immigrants, and low-wage workers. Champions a transition to Medicare for All, abolishing ICE with a pathway to citizenship, a $20 federal minimum wage, the PRO Act, the Equality Act, and tuition-free public college.
Honorable Mentions
A step below our top unsung heroes: candidates scoring 70 or higher on our progressive rubric, with no more than 2 endorsements from the organizations we track.
Progressive Democrat from North Central Florida's Alachua County running to represent rural and agricultural communities. Backs climate action with off-fossil-fuels target by 2035, abolish ICE, simplify path to citizenship, end endless wars by banning military contractors in war zones, legalize marijuana and abolish for-profit prisons, fully fund public schools through university, $18/hour minimum wage. Running for children and their future.
HousingImmigrationAlso Worth Mentioning
Candidates scoring 60 or higher, showing pretty good signs of being progressive — we'd like to see a more detailed, progressive platform spelled out on their campaign websites.
Candidates with Potential
Candidates scoring 50–59, showing real promise but with more ground to cover on their progressive platform.
- Mark Heggestad, Florida, FL-05 Vote Aug 18JusticeCorruptionPolicing
- Jan Schneider, Florida, FL-16 Vote Aug 18HousingImmigrationPolicingDiplomacyDemocracy
- Jeff Appelhans, Delaware, Senate Vote Sep 15ClimateHousingImmigration
- Matthew Gromlich, Louisiana, LA-04 · Nov 3ClimateImmigrationDiplomacy
- Shevrin Jones, Florida, FL-24 Vote Aug 18ClimateCorruptionDiplomacy
- Robin Peguero, Florida, FL-27 Vote Aug 18ClimateDiplomacy
In the November Election
These unsung heroes have advanced to the November 2026 general election — primary winners plus independents and third-party candidates who skip the primary.
Community organizer and activist in Los Angeles; advocated for the Pico neighborhood's 19th Street community garden in Santa Monica; mother and daughter of immigrant communities. Backs a National Health Insurance system (all-inclusive with dental, vision, and mental health), the Green New Deal, "End Israeli Aid," tuition-free public college, Homes for All Act, ranked choice voting, For the People Act, and ending Citizens United.
Son of a 35-year elementary school teacher and a fourth-generation farmer from Indiana; honorably discharged from the US Marine Corps in 2012; used the GI Bill to earn a doctorate in music from the University of Illinois; visiting instructor at Purdue University; member of Marine Corps League and American Legion Post 11; performs as percussionist with Lafayette Symphony Orchestra and Lafayette Citizens Band; recently earned an Associate's in Energy Technology. Backs Medicare for All, PRO Act, clean energy transition, cancel student debt.
Colin Allred, TX-33, Texas Primary Winner
Grandson of a Customs Officer in Brownsville who spent childhood summers in the Rio Grande Valley; served three terms representing Dallas. Refuses corporate PAC money and commits to a lifetime lobbying ban. Backs legislation to abolish ICE and redistribute its functions, the Price Gouging Prevention Act, the Democracy for All Amendment overturning Citizens United, and a refundable first-time homebuyer credit.
DiplomacyAlso worth mentioning:
Candidates with potential:
- Adrian Boafo, Maryland, MD-05DiplomacyDemocracy
- Christina Bohannan, Iowa, IA-01ImmigrationDiplomacy
- Rachel Fetty Anderson, West Virginia, SenateHousingImmigration
- Erik Osberg, Minnesota, MN-07ImmigrationDiplomacy
- Josh Turek, Iowa, SenateClimatePolicingDiplomacy
- Donna Miller, Illinois, IL-02CorruptionHousingDiplomacy
- Kevin Burge, Texas, TX-24ClimateCorruption
- Robert White, District of Columbia, DC-ALClimateImmigrationDiplomacy
- Cyril Jefferson, North Carolina, NC-06ClimateImmigration
- Rebecca Cooke, Wisconsin, WI-03CorruptionImmigrationPolicingDiplomacy
- Brad Meyer, Indiana, IN-09CorruptionHousingImmigrationPolicingDemocracy
- Trina Swanson, Minnesota, MN-08CorruptionHousingDiplomacy
- Marni von Wilpert, California, CA-48PolicingDemocracy