FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2026
CONTACT:
Jessica Delos Reyes, Director of Communications
New American Leaders/New American Leaders Action Fund
jess@newamericanleaders.org
New American Leaders Action Fund Announces Penultimate Slate of 37 Endorsements Prior to November Midterms
NEW YORK — New American Leaders Action Fund (NALAF) today released its last slate of endorsements prior to the November midterm elections, with 37 New American (immigrants, children of immigrants and refugees) candidates across 13 states earning NALAF’s stamp of approval.
This slate includes one candidate for the U.S. Senate, five for the U.S. House of Representatives, seven for state senate (upper legislative chamber), 15 for state house (lower legislative chamber), two for county-level posts, one for city council, one mayoral, one for community college board, three for school board, as well as one state supreme court candidate.
"This endorsement means a lot to me, not just as a candidate, but as the son of immigrants,” said Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for U.S. Senate from Michigan. “The New American Leaders Action Fund understands that Michigan's strength has always come from the rich diversity of its people. That's what drove me into public health, and that's what's driving me to Washington. I'm running because Michiganders deserve a Senator who fights like their life depends on it."
Including this new slate of endorsed candidates, NALAF has already surpassed its 2025 record of 72 endorsed candidates, with 112 endorsees named so far in 2026, with a final round of endorsements to come before the November midterm elections.
"The endorsement of the New American Leaders Action Fund means so much to me,” said State Senator Analise Ortiz, who is running for reelection. “Our immigrant community is a vital part of Phoenix and Glendale, and I would be honored to continue to fight for them and all LD 24 residents in the Arizona State Senate."
NALAF is committed to increasing New American representation at all levels of government by supporting bold candidates who are first- and second-generation Americans running for office. NALAF supports candidates who are grounded in community and want to create an inclusive and welcoming country for New Americans and a healthy democracy for all.
Tram Nguyen of Massachusetts is running for U.S. Congress and had this to say about her endorsement: “My family came to this country as refugees with not much more than a dream, so it is fitting that the endorsement of the New American Leaders Action Fund is a part of my run for Congress. Serving the people of Massachusetts continues to be part of my American dream, and I’m proud to have NALAF’s support in this race.”
Last year, NALAF announced its previous record slate of endorsees with 72 candidates in the 2025 election cycle. Of the 69 that advanced to the General Election, 77% won their races.
“As a New American myself, I’m proud to have the New American Leaders Action Fund endorsement in my run for the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Mo Seifeldein of Virginia. “I will work to bring more New Americans into leadership roles to represent the diversity of our community and will continue to fight for the rights of all Virginians, so I’m proud to have NALAF in my corner."
Applications for NALAF’s final round of endorsements for 2026 are open now and will close on September 2.
New American Leaders Action Fund Endorsed Candidates (37)
View all of NALAF’s 2026 endorsed candidates
Arizona (4)
State Senator Analise Ortiz *Incumbent*
State Senator Priya Sundareshan *Incumbent*
Jacob Martinez
Stephania Lenzi
California (2)
Huy Nguyen
School Board Member Hector Bustos *Incumbent*
Colorado (2)
Representative Elizabeth Velasco *Incumbent*
Clerk Joan Lopez *Incumbent*
Connecticut (1)
School Board Member Ruth Fortune
Florida (3)
Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet
May Thach
Samuel Vilchez Santiago
Illinois (1)
Maria Peterson
Massachusetts (2)
State Representative Tram Nguyen
Councilor Will Mbah
Michigan (11)
Abdul El-Sayed
Congressmember Rashida Tlaib *Incumbent*
Abbas Alawieh
Abraham Aiyash
Senator Darrin Camilleri *Incumbent*
State Representative Mai Xiong *Incumbent*
State Representative Ranjeev Puri *Incumbent*
Shadia Martini
Shereef Akeel
Yousef Rabhi
Daniel Rivera
Minnesota (1)
Senator Omar Fateh *Incumbent*
Nevada (4)
Assemblymember Brittney Miller *Incumbent*
Assemblymember Cinthia Moore *Incumbent*
Assemblymember Erica Mosca *Incumbent*
Assemblymember Reuben D’Silva *Incumbent*
New York (1)
Assemblymember Emerita Torres *Incumbent*
Virginia (2)
Mo Seifeldein
Salaam Bhatti
Washington (3)
Justice Theo Angelis *Incumbent*
Representative Janice Zahn *Incumbent*
State Senator Rebecca Saldaña
Earlier this year, NALAF also released Running as a New American: Inside the Campaign Trail and the Battle for Local Representation, a groundbreaking white paper drawing on in-depth, post-election interviews with 10 NALAF-endorsed candidates of New American backgrounds. The white paper goes beyond win-loss tallies to capture the motivations, strategies, challenges and support systems that define the New American candidate experience — before, during and after Election Day.
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About New American Leaders Action Fund
New American Leaders Action Fund (NALAF) was launched in 2018 to help build a democracy that represents and includes all people. By supporting New Americans as they run for office, engage voters, expand civic engagement, and conduct original research, NALAF champions leadership that truly reflects the fabric of our nation.
Stay connected with New American Leaders Action Fund (NALAF) by following us on social media @NALActionFund and sign up to receive updates at www.nalaf.org.
*New American Leaders and New American Leaders Action Fund are separate and distinct organizations. New American Leaders is a 501 (c)(3) organization and does not coordinate or participate in any aspect of the endorsement process, candidate or campaign support, or any other partisan political activity.