Sisterhood News Vol 2 Issue 4

Volume 2, Issue 4

April 11th, 2025

Welcome to Sisters Lead Sisters Votes, Sisterhood News—where information meets action and sisterhood reigns supreme. This is where we give you the most up to date information on what is happening with Black women across the country and how you can take action. Together, we celebrate the strength of our sisterhood.

In this edition:

• Black Women Running: Identifying black women who are running / have ran for office in April.
• Key information impacting Black women: Several important articles to help you stay in the loop of current events and local ongoings impacting you.  
• Clapback: Get the Facts: Our podcast that highlights the news going on in the sisterhood and clapping back against attacks on Black women and the community.
• Upcoming & Important Elections: Upcoming elections that you should be aware of.

Get ready to dive in and let’s turn information into impact, one story at a time!

Dear Sisters and Allies,

 

In moments of challenge, we find our greatest strength. This week has shown us, yet again, the undeniable power of disruption as a force for positive change.

 

Senator Cory Booker's historic speech, stretching beyond traditional boundaries, reminds us that sometimes the most powerful act is to stand firm and make our voices heard. His dedication echoes the spirit that drives our movement forward – showing us that when conviction meets courage, remarkable things happen.

 

The landscape of change isn't just in our halls of Congress. Every day, Black women are being elected to offices across the nation, breaking barriers and reshaping the political landscape. In the face of persistent mis- and disinformation campaigns, we stand strong, armed with truth and determination.

 

This is what disruption looks like: It's not just about making noise – it's about making change. It's about challenging the status quo while building something better. It's about turning moments into movements.

 

Sisters Lead Sisters Vote remains committed to:

• Supporting and amplifying Black women's voices in politics

• Fighting against misinformation that targets our communities

• Building networks of support and empowerment

• Creating pathways for the next generation of leaders

 

The road ahead may be challenging, but we've never been afraid of a challenge. After all, disruption is in our DNA. It's how we've always made history.

 

Together in Power and Purpose,

Holli Holliday,

President

P.S. Want to join us in making history? Get involved today by joining SLSV with a $10 monthly commitment.

For the month of April, Sisters Lead Sisters Vote has identified XXX Black women running in either local municipal elections or local school board elections from the following states: Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Nebraska.

 

Below are the results of each state’s results for their local primary election for municipal and school board elections.

 

Alaska No. of Candidates: 1, Wins: 1, Losses: 0 

School Board Elections: Anchorage, AK - April 1st General

 

Anchorage School Board: Margo Bellany, Incumbent, won the Anchorage School Board election

Municipal Elections: Colorado Springs, CO - April 1st General

 

Colorado No. of Candidates: 2, Wins: 0, Losses: 0 

Municipal (City Council) Elections: Colorado Springs, CO - April 1st General

 

Colorado Springs City Council District 4: Kimberley Gold and Sherrea Elliot-Sterling are in the running for the open District 4 seat. Kimberley Gold is currently leading with 38% of the vote while Sherrea Elliot-Sterling is trailing with 30% of the vote. The official results will be certified on April 11, 2025

 

Illinois No. of Candidates: 1, Wins: 1, Losses: 0 

School Board Elections: Keeneyville, IL - April 1st General

 

Keeneyville Elementary School Board: Terre Taylor, won the open Keeneyville School Board seat.

 

Oklahoma No. of Candidates: 2, Wins: 1, Losses: 1

School Board Elections: Tulsa, OK - April 1st General

 

Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education, District 3: Kyra Carby and Dorie Simmons were in the running for Tulsa Public Schools’ open District 3 Board of Election seat. Kyra Carby ultimately won the election.

 

Mississippi No. of Candidates: 7, Wins: 3, Losses: 4

Municipal Elections: Jackson, MS - April 1st Primary

 

Mayor of Jackson: Democrat LaKeisha Crye ran as a challenger against incumbent Democrat Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba. Unfortunately, LaKeisha did not advance from primary. The race is now between State Senator John Horhn and incumbent Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba. The primary run-off election is scheduled for April 22, 2025. 

 

Jackson City Council, Ward 1: Jasmine Barnes, Rhonda Barnes, and Jessica Carter ran as Democrat challengers against Independent incumbent Ashby Foote for the Jackson City Council, Ward 1 seat. From the Democratic primary election, Jasmine Barnes advanced from the primary election and is now headed to a primary run-off election against Democrat Stephen Thompson. The primary run-off election is scheduled for April 22, 2025. 

 

Jackson City Council, Ward 2: Democrat Montyne Clay, incumbent, ran for re-election to the Jackson City Council, Ward 2 seat against Democratic challenger Marcus Cheatham. Montyne Clay won the primary election and has advanced to the general election scheduled for June 3rd, 2025. She is up against Republican challenger Bethany Williams-Sherif. 

 

Jackson City Council, Ward 5: Democrat ReJohnna Brown-Mitchell, ran as a challenger against incumbent Democrat Vernon Hartley for the Jackson City Council, Ward 5 seat. Unfortunately, she did not advance to the general election scheduled for June 3rd, 2025. 

 

Jackson City Council, Ward 6: Democrat Lashia Brown-Thomas ran for the open Jackson City Council, Ward 6 seat. She advanced to the Democratic primary run-off election against Democrat Emon Thompson, Sr. The primary run-off election is scheduled for April 22, 2025. 

 

 

Nebraska No. of Candidates: 3, Wins: 1, Losses: 2 

Municipal Elections: Omaha, NE - April 1st Primary

 

Mayor of Omaha: Jasmine Harris ran as a challenger against incumbent mayor Jean Stothert in the non-partisan Omaha mayoral primary election. Unfortunately, Jasmine Harris did not advance to the general election.

 

Omaha City Council, District 2: Juanita Johnson, incumbent, ran for re-election for the Omaha City Council, District 2 seat against challengers LaVonya Goodwin, Cheryl Weston, and former Councilmember Ben Gray. While incumbent Juanita Johnson did not advance to the general election, LaVonya Goodwin will go up against Ben Gray in the general election on May 13th, 2025.

 

Wisconsin No. of Candidates: 5, Wins: 3, Losses: 2 

Municipal (City Council) Elections: Madison, WI - April 1st General

 

Following up on the February Wisconsin Spring primary election, Sisters Lead Sisters Vote has identified the 12 Black women who have advanced from the Spring primary election to the Spring general election that took place on April 1st, 2025. 

 

Below are the results of the April 1st Wisconsin Spring general election.

 

Madison Common Council, District 9: Nikki Conklin, incumbent, ran for re-election to the Madison Common Council, District 9 seat against challenger Joann Pritchett in the non-partisan general election. Unfortunately, Nikki Conklin was not re-elected to the seat. 

 

Madison Common Council, District 12: Amani Latimer Burris, incumbent, ran for re-election to the Madison Common Council, District 12 seat against challenger Julia Mathews in the non-partisan general election. Unfortunately, Amani Latimer Burris was not re-elected to the seat. 

 

Madison Common Council, District 17: Sabrina Madison, incumbent, ran for re-election to the Madison Common Council, District 12 seat against challenger Sean Burke in the non-partisan general election. Ultimately, Sabrina Madison was re-elected to the seat. 

 

Madison Common Council, District 18: Carmella Glenn ran for the open Madison Common Council, District 18 seat against Kevin Monroe in the non-partisan general election. Ultimately, Carmella Glenn was elected to the seat.

 

Madison Common Council, District 20: Barbara Harrington-McKinney, incumbent, ran for re-election to the Madison Common Council, District 20 seat against challenger Sammy Khiiji in the non-partisan general election. Ultimately, Barbara Harrington-McKinney was re-elected to the seat. 

 

Wisconsin No. of Candidates: 2, Wins: 2,  Losses: 0 

Municipal (Judge)  Elections: Madison, WI - April 1st General

 

Milwaukee Municipal Court, 1st Judicial District: Valarie Hill, incumbent, ran for re-election to the Milwaukee Municipal Court, 1st Judicial District. Ultimately, Valarie Hill was re-elected to the seat. 

 

Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 41: Lena Taylor, incumbent, ran for re-election to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 4. Ultimately, Lena Taylor was re-elected to the seat.  

 

Wisconsin No. of Candidates: 1, Wins: 1,  Losses: 0 

School Board Elections: DeForest Area School District, WI - April 1st General

 

DeForest Area School District Board of Education: Stephanie Sarr, incumbent, ran for re-election to the DeForest Area School District Board of Education. Ultimately, Stephanie Sarr was re-elected to the seat. 

 

Wisconsin No. of Candidates: 1, Wins: 1,  Losses: 0 

School Board Elections: Madison Metropolitan School District, WI - April 1st General

 

Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education, Seat 4: Ali Muldrow, incumbent, ran for re-election to the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education, Seat 4. Ultimately, Ali Muldrow was re-elected to the seat.

 

Wisconsin No. of Candidates: 1, Wins: 1,  Losses: 0 

School Board Elections: Madison Milwaukee, WI - April 1st General

 

Milwaukee Public Schools Board of School Directors, District 7: Molly Kuether-Steele ran for the open Milwaukee Public Schools Board of School Directors, District 7 seat against Katherine Vannoy. Unfortunately, Molly Kuether-Steele did not win the seat. 

 

Number of Black women tracked with completed Primaries (so far): 34, up from the 22 candidates identified from the March count.

 

Number of Black women advancing to the general election (so far): 22, up from 20 candidates identified from the March count.

 

Help us identify Black women running in your area. Click and share the Bitly code below to let us know about additional Black women running for office.

 

Sisters Lead, Sisters Vote 2025 Black Women Candidate Form

So many of us have made the soul-saving choice to limit our news media consumption. This means the content we decide to engage in should be important, relevant and add value to our lives. In this spirit, SLSV will suggest a few articles to help you stay in the loop but not be overwhelmed.

 

• 'Courage Is Contagious': Kamala Harris Delivers Powerful Message of Sisterhood and Strength at Leading Women Defined Summit. At Leading Women Defined, the former Vice President reminded us that while fear may spread fast, so does the kind of courage Black women have always carried — loud, proud, and unshaken.

https://www.bet.com/article/l5o061/courage-is-contagious-kamala-harris-delivers-powerful-message-of-sisterhood-and-strength-at-leading-women-defined-summit 

•  Racial Bias in AI: How Algorithms Are Failing Black People: From facial recognition software leading to wrongful arrests to discriminatory hiring systems, racial bias in AI is hurting Black Americans. https://wordinblack.com/2025/04/racial-bias-in-ai-how-algorithms-are-failing-black-people/ 

• Did you know that there is a movement to celebrate National Black Women’s History during April. April is already International Women’s Month. See more of the efforts to support this movement. https://blackwomenshistorymonth.com/ 

Finally, check out Cory Booker’s historic speech last week on the US Senate Floor. These numbers give a sense of its overall impact. https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/cory-bookers-long-speech-by-the-numbers

Tune in for Holli and crew to clapback and give you the facts! The current episode, "Social Media as Town Crier for the Play Play King.", aired Wednesday, April 2nd and is available on all streaming platforms.

 

In case you missed, be sure to listen to our previous episode titled, “We Stand Up and Strike Back: How Black Women are Protecting Their Communities from Attack.” 

Clapback: Get Facts was created to combat the heap of mis and disinformation concerning Black women/ the Black women community and providing listeners with the truth! Whether it is providing the facts on how the Trump administration is attacking the Black community to highlighting the progressive actions Black women are taking to advance the community, Clapback is here give the facts! Take a minute to subscribe to our YouTube channel and never miss an episode.

Check out these upcoming elections below and make sure you are ready make your voice heard and vote!

 

Massachusetts

• Special primary election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 6th Essex District, Primary election date:  April 15th, 2025

 

Minnesota

• Special primary for Minnesota State Senate District 6, Primary election date:  April 15th, 2025
• Special general election for Minnesota State Senate District 6, General election date: April 29th, 2025.

 

Mississippi 

• Special election for Mississippi State Senate District 18 , General election date: April 15th, 2025
• Jackson, Mississippi, primary runoff election, Primary runoff election date: April 22nd, 2025

 

New Jersey

• Newark Public Schools general election, General election date:  April 15th, 2025

New York

• Special general election for New York City Council District 51, General election date: April 29th, 2025

Ohio

• Statewide ballot measure election, Election date: May 6th, 2025.

Thank you for supporting Sisters Lead Sisters Vote. We are dedicated to sharing updated information about Black women political leadership, including elected officials across the Nation. If this newsletter brought you information, that you would like to see more of, help us keep the momentum going. Click on this link to become a monthly subscriber today!

 

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