Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Katie Bansil, New Jersey's 6th Congressional District

In February 2026, former US President Barack Obama said that one of the problems with Democrats is gerontocracy: “There is an element of, at some point, you age out. You’re not connected directly to the immediate struggles that folks are going through.” Frankly, Obama is late to the conversation. For over the past year, Democrats in Congress have been bedeviled by their age, so much so that three of them died in 2025 while in office, and many others are starting to see the political handwriting on the wall, that they no longer have the connection or energy to represent their constituents adequately.

One of the most egregious offenders of this in the Democratic Caucus is Representative Frank Pallone (NJ-6). Elected to Congress in 1988, he is now one of the oldest and longest-serving members of Congress and is running for a 20th term in office. He is being challenged in the Democratic Primary by Katie Bansil (she/her), a queer millennial Filipina who immigrated to New Jersey at age 15 and has lived in the area ever since. Pallone not only has been in office for as long as Katie has lived in the neighborhood, but for longer than she has been alive. Katie brings a fresh perspective not only to the times we live in but also the problems of the day. Her electoral platform is supported by a triad of issues: universal health care, universal child care, and abolishing ICE. With New Jersey’s particular party system giving more power to established politicians than the residents of New Jersey, Katie will have to win over the state party, but with the political winds changing and the unique threats facing Americans today, and trying to replicate the recent success of Analilia Mejia in winning the Democratic nomination for New Jersey’s nearby 11th District, Katie aims to bring similar change to NJ-6 as Zohran Mamdani in nearby New York City.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Erica Mosca, Nevada Assembly District 14

This is the final week we are highlighting progressive candidates running in the 2024 elections! Erica Mosca (she/her/hers) has the distinction of being the first Filipina to serve in the Nevada State Legislature. This millennial teacher and military spouse grew up in a low-income household and became the first in her family to go to college, graduating with highest honors from Boston University, and then pursuing postgraduate studies in education at UNLV and Harvard. To inspire others to follow in her footsteps, Erica founded a non-profit foundation to enable former students of hers to likewise become first-generation college graduates. Today, Mosca chairs the Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Caucus in the Nevada Assembly. She is passionate about empowering students to grow into leaders in their communities and upending structural inequity and systemic racism.

Enjoying ‘Peeled Fruit’ With Xavi de Guzman

Actor cum writer, Xavi de Guzman has a flair for bringing people together through shared experiences — his acting, book ‘Peeled Fruit’, his Non Profit ‘The Play On Foundation’, and through food. Xavi’s book is a sweet culmination of his childhood memories and the immigrant experience. It will leave you thinking of family, community, and a little hungry. Let Jejune Magazine introduce you to the writer that is Xavi de Guzman.

Art, zIssue 46Tejasvi PradeepNovember 28, 2022writer, Actor, screenwriting, screenplay, Non-profit, book, asian, asian artist, asian canadian, family, philippinesComment

The Re-Debut of the Multi-Talented Elisa Nicolas

Elisa Nicolas is a Canadian-born, Ohio-based Asian-American songwriter. For three decades, she has been observing, experimenting, and translating the human experience into song. Elisa’s musical talents extend beyond songwriting, as she is a multi-instrumentalist and singer. Since writing and recording across numerous styles including rock, jazz, country, pop, and R&B, this critically acclaimed Asian-American LGBTQ alternative artist makes her re-debut after a 12 Year hiatus. Her latest song “No Answers” is the leading single of her new album, Year of The Locust, which was released early November. In addition to her musical devotion, she is committed to giving back in her community. Elisa spends time at her local foodbank, MidOhio Foodbank, and dedicates time each year to building houses for Habitat for Humanity. Continue reading below to learn more about the multi-talented woman, Elisa Nicolas!