Can you be a progressive representing a legislative district that is deeply conservative? In politics, it is often the belief that it's not possible. But there are moderates and conservatives who've represented more liberal districts (and states even!).

This is a question that my friend and guest, Sammi Brown, challenged when she ran for office as an unabashed young progressive woman of color in a West Virginia legislative district that had gone double digits for Trump in 2016.

Raised in a Union household Sammi would work multiple jobs to pay her way through college and grad school (and would earn both her Bachelors and MBA from  Shepherd University). A career in media, would eventually lead her into organizing on behalf of her state’s working families, advocate for the Healthcare of our population’s most vulnerable, and train movement leaders across the country to carry on this work in their respective spaces.

I had the privilege to work with Sammi on this race. As a young progressive woman of color in West Virginia, she was viewed as an “underdog” from the start, she would proceed to knock over 3000 doors, earn the endorsement of many progressive organizations and ultimately FLIP the 65th District in the West Virgina House of Delegates in 2018. As a result, she is credited with the State’s largest “comeback” in a single cycle: covering a 30 point spread.

She talks about her journey to political service to the community in which she was raised, what it looks like to embrace your voice as an elected official, especially when it's in the best interests of your constituents, how she dealt with sexism and racism in political leadership, and more.

If you enjoyed the show and you want to join our community of other women of color who are embracing their voice head over to https://embracingyourvoicepod.com/

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