DMO Blue Star Rising 

DMO Board Member and Blue Star Rising candidate Tameika Isaac Devine made it to the runoff of her race for Mayor of Columbia, SC. Council Member Isaac Devine would be the first Black woman to lead the city as mayor, and has a reputation as a community representative who gets things done. The runoff election is Tuesday, November 16th, and you can learn more and provide support at devineformayor.com.

DMO Blue Star Candidates

Zack Zappone

DMO Blue Star Candidate Zack Zappone won his race for Spokane, WA Council District 3. Zack is a former school teacher who ran to ensure his students received the support they need both in and beyond the classroom. He is the first openly LGBTQ lawmaker to serve in Spokane. 

Danny Herrera

Danny Herrera won his race for Yakima, WA Council District 2. He is also an educator who threw his hat in the race so that members of his community could see themselves when they looked to local government. He is the first person of color to represent the majority Latino district. 

Mohamed Egal

SeaTac is a majority minority city that has been taken over by Republican city council. Along with Savannah, it was part of the original inspiration for the resources we provide through the DMO Blue Star Candidate program. And as with Savannah, Mohamed Egal highlighted the success of the program in his victory for SeaTac, WA Council Position 4. He defeated a Republican who participated in the January 6th insurrection, and we look forward to SeaTac swinging further blue with his help.

DMO Victories

• DMO President Emeritus Scott Benson won his reelection campaign for Detroit, MI City Council.
• DMO Board Member Chris Roberts won his reelection campaign for Shoreline, WA City Council.

Election Night Firsts

• Ken Welch, first Black Mayor of St Petersburg, FL
• Crystal Hudson, first openly LGBTQ Black woman elected to the New York City Council.
• Ruthzee Louijeune, first Haitian-American elected to an At-Large Council seat in Boston, MA.
• Michelle Wu, first AAPI woman elected Mayor of Boston, MA.
• Sharrett Smith, first Black woman elected Mayor of Lima, OH.
• Aftab Pureval, first AAPI Mayor of Cincinnati, OH.
• Abdullah Hammoud, first Arab American Mayor of Dearborn, MI.
• Elaine O’Neal, first Black female Mayor of Durham, NC.
• Ed Gainey, first Black Mayor of Pittsburgh, PA.
• Bruce Harrell, first AAPI Mayor of Seattle, WA.

Mayoral Election Victories

• Mike Padilla, Mayor of Topeka, KS
• Mark O’Brien, Mayor of Augusta, ME
• Gavin Buckley, Mayor of Annapolis, MD
• Mike O’Connor, Mayor of Frederick, MD
• Mike Duggan, Mayor of Detroit, MI
• Andy Schor, Mayor of Lansing, MI
• Bill Wild, Mayor of Westland, MI
• Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis, MN
• Melvin Carter, Mayor of St Paul, MN
• Collins Wilmot, Mayor of Helena, MT
• Jim Bouley, Mayor of Concord, NH
• Steven Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City, NJ
• Tim Keller, Mayor of Albuquerque, NM
• Alan Webber, Mayor of Santa Fe, NM
• Kathy Sheehan, Mayor of Albany, NY
• Byron Brown, Mayor of Buffalo, NY
• Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City, NY
• Justin Bibb, Mayor of Cleveland, OH
• Wade Kapszukiewicz, Mayor of Toledo, OH
• Wanda Williams, Mayor of Harrisburg, PA