Renae Geerlings Cannot Be Pinned Down By One Pursuit

Renae Geerlings has truly done it all. Acting, producing, writing, both for print and the screen, and now, she’s adding podcasting to her extensive resume with MANE AF. She co-hosts this podcast with her husband and fellow actor Tyler Mane, as they delve into topics ranging from the fast-paced world of Hollywood to parenting adult children. She advocates passionately for animal rights as well as human trafficking awareness, which is a present theme behind her and Mane’s graphic novel, THE LAST SPARTAN.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Jessie Lopez, California State Assembly District 68

In the city of Santa Ana, Councilwoman Jessie Lopez (she/her) is running as a Democrat for State Assembly against her fellow councilmember David Penaloza, also a Democrat. A Latina millennial, Jessie got her start in public service as a volunteer with the Public Law Center and as a campaigner against sexual assaults occurring on and around her college campus, before being elected to the Santa Ana City Council in 2020. Jessie is most passionate about and is centering her campaign around affordable housing, Medicare for All, protecting and fully funding public schools, investing in young people, abolishing ICE, advancing environmental justice, expanding economic opportunity, and creating meaningful police accountability.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 59Andrew FSeptember 15, 2026latina, latinx, millenial, city, assemble, election 2026, universal healthcareComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Joanna Whaley, Michigan House of Representatives District 2

The road from evangelical megachurch clergy to trans progressive election candidate is an unlikely journey, but it does happen! Joanna Whaley (she/her) is a former pastor at a Michigan evangelical megachurch, but actively undergoing “conversion therapy” for 15 years, during most of her time serving there. Joanna transitioned in 2022 and was forced to leave her church, but has become an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and outspoken critic of Christian nationalism, a world she was immersed in for most of her early millenial adult life.

Joanna was motivated to run after lots of encouragement from local leaders and community members, due to the fact that her current state representative, Tullio Liberati, was one of eight Democrats to vote last year for a Republican measure that would ban trans girls from school sports. Though Tullio is retiring at the end of his term, his older brother Frank decided to run to replace him. It did not turn out well for the Liberati brothers though, as Joanna defeated Frank by almost 25 percentage points. The core of Joanna’s platform is to get utilities in check, pass, single payer healthcare in the state of Michigan, and protect civil rights and freedom for all people. If elected in November, she will become the first trans woman elected to the Michigan legislature, quite a stunning turnaround from the current representation in her district.

'How Boring Would Life Be If We Never Changed': Rachel Bochner On Discovering Her Queer Identity And Releasing New Music

Rachel Bochner has been growing, learning and evolving a whole life, as we all do. Her upcoming debut album “I Guess A Sure Thing Couldn’t Go Down Gently” drops on September 25 and details heartbreak, self-discovery and exploring her queer identity and the freedom that comes with that. Bochner wants her queer fans to feel heard and loved by her music, and she raises money and spreads community through her work with The Wild Honey Pie.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 59Olivia WeberSeptember 9, 2026olivia weber, rachel bochner, LGBTQ+, singer song writer, Musician, women in music, sapphic, guitaristComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Tammy Carpenter, Oregon House of Representatives District 27

The Democratic Socialists are on the rise all over the country, including (unsurprisingly) progressive Oregon. In the Portland area, an anesthesiologist named Dr. Tammy Carpenter (she/her) is an unapologetic Democratic Socialists, having joined in 2016 during the presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders. Over her 20 years as an anesthesiologist she witnessed patients seeking treatment who couldn’t afford healthcare deductibles or healthcare plans themselves, watching patients drowning in debt. One of the three pillars of her campaign is universal healthcare, as well as taxing the rich and funding the people.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Kim Coco Iwamoto, Hawaii House of Representatives District 25

Hawaii is known for being one of the most progressive states in the country, but even there, progressives have had to fight their way into the state legislature to ensure equitable representation of all groups and to push progressive policies to move Hawaii forward and better the lives of everyone who lives there.

One such representative is Kim Coco Iwamoto (s/he, hir, hirs), the first transgender legislator in Hawaii’s history. After two terms on Hawaii’s Board of Education, she ran five consecutive elections before finally unseating Hawaii’s powerful House Speaker, Scott Saiki, who she challenged twice before. A Sansei, hir Japanese grandparents and great-grandparents worked on sugar cane plantations on the island of Kauai and cantaloupe farms in Imperial Valley, California. She is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and has a BA in creative writing from San Francisco State University and a juris doctor from the University of New Mexico. This accomplished surfer is passionate about increasing the gas tax to fund free public transportation across the state and imposing a tax on seasonal homes to help fund rent subsidies to make housing more affordable for the working class.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Ashanti Martinez, Maryland House of Delegates District 22

Ashanti Martinez (he/him) is a gay Afro-Latino millennial representative in Maryland’s House of Delegates. Active in politics from his early teenage years, Ashanti comes from a working-class family in Prince George’s County, a majority-Black county outside of Washington, DC. Ashanti attended Howard University, and is passionate about LGBTQ rights, universal healthcare, gun control, and the environment.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 59Andrew FSeptember 1, 2026millenial, latino, latinx, LGBTQ, LGBTQ Support, LGBTQ rights, lgbtq, politician, politics, Politics, #politics, election 2026Comment

"Indie Songs for Wistful Hearts": A Conversation with Darius Oon

Darius Oon is branching out on his own in the music industry. After a childhood of playing guitar and piano and listening to The Beatles with his parents, he’s been a proud member of a number of bands before releasing his first single as a solo artist this past June. Taking inspiration from Djo and Wallows, he describes his sound as having a certain “nostalgic quality.” Oon is also a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and cancer research, and has worked closely with many organizations that support these causes.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Alonna Berry, Delaware House of Representatives District 20

Alonna Berry (she/her), shows a way that Democrats can win over voters in rural areas. This Black millennial is constantly meeting with local leaders and constituents in her district, while always remaining true to her progressive principles, including advocating for protecting reproductive freedom, defending LGBTQ+ Delawareans, advancing racial equity, modernizing public education, expanding affordable housing, strengthening common sense gun safety laws, addressing climate change, and ensuring healthcare is accessible regardless of income or ZIP code. As Executive Director of the Delaware Center for Justice, Alonna works to advance restorative justice, reduce barriers to opportunity, and strengthen communities across Delaware.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Meghan Kallman, Rhode Island Senate District 15

Today we are profiling a Rhode Island Senator who has been championing progressive laws since her election in 2020. Meghan Kallman (she/her), is a triple-sociology major who after college went to work for Amnesty International. Five years before entering state government, she co-founded Conceivable Future, a nonprofit organization that advocates for climate and reproductive justice. This millennial community organizer is also a professor of sociology at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, and is an avid trumpeter (see photo below). She is most passionate about social, environmental, and economic justice.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Riley Rodriquez, Texas State Senate District 28

A hot issue in politics these days is the question of how Democrats will win elections again in rural areas. There are different answers: run on economic issues only, run blue-collar candidates, run someone deeply-embedded and well-known in the area. Today we are profiling a candidate who checks all three boxes. Riley Rodriquez (he/him), is a millennial who has held a number of jobs in his native West Texas: cowboy, oilfield hand, and small business owner. Riley’s platform focuses on healthcare and education as a human right, free school meals, and empowering the working class to take power back from the ruling elite.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 59Andrew FAugust 20, 2026latino, Native American, Native American Heritage, oil, election 2026Comment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Karen Alzate, Rhode Island House of Representatives District 60

Karen Alzate (she/her/ella), grew up in the United States under that shadow, so this issue is not new, it has just been dialed up. While in high school, Karen’s Colombian father was detained for eight months before being released. Then six years later, he was deported. Today, as a Rhode Island Representative, Karen stands up for the rights of immigrants to ensure they are treated humanely and with dignity. In the State House, she was a lead sponsor of the Millionaires Tax, and she has led legislation on women’s health, particularly menopause, going so far as to appear on The Real Housewives of Rhode Island to discuss menopause legislation.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 58.3Andrew FAugust 18, 2026women's health, latina, latine, latinx, Colombia, representatives, politics, politician, election 2026Comment

Rosalee Mayeux on being a "Model Mom," a Cancer Survivor and a Comedian

Rosalee Mayeux has had a thoroughly full and satisfying career. From modeling to acting to stand up comedy, she has experimented with every aspect of the industry possible and has worked very hard to make all her dreams and goals a reality. She has also recently overcome a devastating cancer diagnosis that she did not think she would survive, and works closely with the American Cancer Society to help other people that were once in her place.

Biribá Union is Bringing Back Real Instruments and Cultural Diversity to the Music Industry

Biriba Union is a band that celebrates unity, cultural expression and the warmth and authenticity that comes from playing a real instrument. Their advocacy for democracy and freedoms for all translates into their work as musicians and their humanitarian work through the organization “Play for the Vote.” You can stream all their unique and creative music through the links at the bottom of this article and be on the look out for more music from them at the end of the year.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Jennifer O'Mara, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 165

The control of the Pennsylvania state legislature is split between a Republican majority in the Senate and a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives. But the majority in the House is extremely slim - currently 102 to 100, with one vacancy. In order to maintain their majority, strong Democratic candidates need to run across the state to capture more seats. One such strong candidate is Jennifer O’Mara (she/her), is a millennial representative who is the first Democrat to hold her seat. Jenn is passionate about protecting the environment, the LGBTQIA community, a woman’s right to choose, the right to vote, and the strength of unions and working people in Pennsylvania.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 58.3Andrew FAugust 13, 2026election 2026, election, politician, politics, Politics, #politics, #electionComment

Musical Duo CA in LA Encourage Women in Media to 'Have The Audacity' and 'Take Up Space'

CA in LA have been friends and collaborators since 2012, and always found a connection to one another through their passion for all things media. Whether it be film or music, they derive their greatest joy from creating and working together creatively. In an industry where standing up for yourself and your visions as a woman can be very difficult, this team wants to remind other women to find solace and comfort in their female friendships and peers. Be on the look out for their new single “Waking Up” that drops at the end of August.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Angie Nixon, U.S. Senate, Florida

Angie Nixon (she/her), a Florida State Representative, is running of the Democratic nomination. There has not been a Democrat in the U.S. Senate from Florida since 2018. Angie is a Black millennial ally to and fighter for the LGBTQ+ community who advocates for economic justice for the working class: a $25 minimum wage, rent stabilization, curbing corporate purchasing of residential housing, protecting reproductive rights, Medicare for All, and universal childcare and Pre-K.

Angie co-wrote a children’s book with her daughter called The Adventures of Moxie McGriff to help her embrace her natural hair, which ultimately transformed into a movement to boost self-esteem in young Black girls. She co-founded the Melanin Market in Jacksonville, FL, to provide healthy food options in a food desert while supporting local minority-owned small businesses. Angie also owns a bookstore and coffee shop in Jacksonville called Cafe Resistance, which she specifically created to serve as a community hub, provide free tutoring, and proudly stock the books that extremist Republicans in Florida are trying to ban. In May of this year, Angie was reprimanded by the Florida State House because for protesting the racist new congressional voting maps and she is now being prosecuted by DeSantis for peacefully protesting these maps in his office after he refused to meet with her.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Andie Ho, Texas House of Representatives, District 12

In rural Texas, Andie Ho (she/her) is running to unseat a first-term incumbent, in a district long held by the GOP. Andie, a Xennial French to English translator and a Director of the American Translators Association, is a second-generation American running to ensure that all Texans, regardless of national origin, have the same rights and freedoms under the law and rights like health care, which is a cornerstone of her campaign.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 58.3Andrew FAugust 6, 2026asian american, asian representation, Texas, election 2026, #electionComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Jennifer Clancy, Maryland House of Delegates District 29A

Maryland House District 29A, has been represented by the same Republican legislator since the 2014 election. This year, candidate Jennifer Clancy (she/her) is trying to become the first Democrat to hold the seat in 12 years. A millennial therapist, she raises her five children on her homestead in rural St. Mary’s County. Jennifer’s campaign is centered on a triad of issues: more readily available education, a stronger health care system (including the Maryland Children’s Health Program) and greater community resources.

Singer-Songwriter Amy Jo on the Rising Country Music Scene in the UK and Mental Health Advocacy

Amy Jo is a rising star in the UK’s, shockingly buzzing, country music scene, and she draws inspiration from her coastal hometown and passion for gender equality. Taylor Swift, Kacey Musgraves, Alicia Keys and more have all inspired her style of sound and storytelling over the years as she releases music with her own unique point of view. Her Master’s degree in gender studies informs her songwriting about topics like men’s mental health, and she has plans for new music in the coming weeks.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 58.3Olivia WeberJuly 31, 2026olivia weber, amy jo, country pop, women, singer song writer, music, mental healthComment