Sisterhood News Vol 2 Issue 7

Volume 2, Issue 7

May 22nd, 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:

• Take Action: Contact your representatives to tell them to vote NO on cuts to Medicaid and to restore DC's FY25 budget. 
• Black Women Running: Identifying black women who are running / have ran for office in May.
• 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.
• Donate: Our work would not be possible without your support.

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

Dear Sisters and Allies,

Resistance in the face of chaos and tyranny does not come without its challenges, but it does make way for progress to come forth. The fight becomes more than just persevering your current rights, freedoms, and liberty. It can transform into an unstoppable force of progress, one that makes way for a new, promising future. 

It is no secret that President Trump’s plan to cut Medicaid with his “Big, Beautiful Bill" will cause significant harm to the 71 million Americans who depend on the program. Families of four making under $40,000, unemployed Americans, senior Americans, reproductive health services will all be impacted if President Trump’s bill gets passed. The disregard for the American people from the White House and Congress has never been this extreme.

There is a silver lining however: the people’s resistance against President Trump and extreme right-wing rhetoric and policies grows everyday. From the voter turnout for town halls to what we are seeing in elections during an off-year, we the people are pushing back more and more. Again, resistance in the face of chaos and tyranny does not come without its challenges. But as we continue to stand together, the progressive future that we all have long for becomes more possible.  

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.

Oppose ALL efforts to cuts to Medicaid. Period.

The Republican-controlled Congress has passed the “Big Beautiful Bill”  thus voting to leave millions of Americans without health insurance or access to necessary medical services.  The cuts will bring devastating harm to families of four making less than $40,000, unemployed Americans, senior Americans, and reproductive health services. It is too late to stop Congress, so we must focus our attention on the Senate and President to ask them to protect is from these devastating cuts. Call your Senators (link to call https://5calls.org/issue/medicaid-cuts-budget-reconciliation/)  and tell them to vote NO against ANY cuts to Medicaid.

'The Big Beautiful (Mess) Bill: How (And Why) We Protect Medicaid and Restore the DC Budget': Congress has been busy with their reckless assault on Medicaid and the senseless strangling of DC’s budget. https://substack.com/home/post/p-163976456

Primary Elections - Black Women Candidate 2025 Tracking (As of 5/22)

Number of Total Black Women Candidates tracked (so far): 69

Number of Black women advancing to the general election (so far): 36 

Help us identify Black women running in your area. 

Sisters Lead, Sisters Vote 2025 Black Women Candidate Form

Black Women Candidate Results - May. 

Sisters Lead Sisters Vote has identified Black women running in either local municipal elections or local school board elections from the following state(s): Pennsylvania 

Pennsylvania No. of Candidates:14, Wins:8, Losses:6

Municipal elections: Harrisburg, PA - May 20th Primary

Mayor of Harrisburg, At-Large:

Wanda Williams, Democratic incumbent,  is running for re-election for Mayor of Harrisburg. 

Harrisburg City Council (4 seats), At-Large: 

Ausha Green and Jocelyn Rawis, Democratic incumbents, are running for re-election for the Harrisburg City Council (4 seats). Democratic challengers Lisa Glenn, Sharon Horne, Elyse Irvis, and Lori Saulisbury are also running for election to the Harrisburg City Council (4 seats).

Municipal elections: Philadelphia, PA - May 20th Primary

Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, (9 seats): 

Kia Ghee, Tanishea Henry, and Deborah Watson-Stokes are running for the open Democratic primary for Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, (9 seats). 

School board elections: Pittsburgh, PA - May 20th Primary

Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors, District 1:

Tawana Cook Purnell, Democratic incumbent, is running for re-election for the Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors, District 1 seat. 

Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors, District 3:

Tonya Fores and Erikka Grayson are running for the open Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors, District 3 seat. 

Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors, District 5:

Tracey Reed, Democratic incumbent, is running for re-election for the Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors, District 5 seat.

Tracey Reed, Democratic incumbent, is running for re-election for the Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors, District 5 seat. 

Clapback. Get the Facts. Podcast

Tune in for Holli and crew to clapback and give you the facts! The current episode, “Get involved with local politics: How to get involved and why (Ahead of Virginia and New Jersey primaries)", aired Thursday, May 15th and is available on all streaming platforms.

In case you missed, be sure to listen to our previous episode titled, “The US Attorney General: For the People (but not ALL people) ".

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 to 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!

Alabama 

• Special primary runoff for Alabama House of Representatives District 11, Election Date: June 10, 2025.

California

• Special election for San Marino Unified School District, Election Date: June 3, 2025.

• Special election for Huntington Beach, Election Date: June 10, 2025.

• Special election for Newport-Mesa Unified Board of Education Trustee Area 5, Election Date: June 10, 2025.

• Local election for Martinez Unified School District board, Election Date: June 17, 2025.

Florida

• Special general election for Miami City Commissioner District 4, Election Date: June 3rd, 2025.

• Florida local elections,  Election Date: June 10, 2025.

• Special election for Florida House of Representatives District 3, Election Date: June 10, 2025.

• Special general election for Florida House District 32, Election Date: June 10, 2025.

• Special election for Florida State Senate District 19,  Election Date: June 10, 2025.

Georgia

• Special primary election for Georgia Public Service Commission Districts 2 and 3,  Election Date: June 17, 2025.

Maine

• Maine School Administrative District 46 recall election, Election Date: June 10, 2025.

Massachusetts

• Special general for Massachusetts House of Representatives 3rd Bristol District,  Election Date: June 10, 2025.

Mississippi

• General election for Jackson, Election Date: June 3, 2025.

Montana

• Recall election for Valley County, Election Date: June 3, 2025.

New Jersey

• New Jersey statewide primary election, Election Date: June 10, 2025.

• Special primary election for New Jersey State Senate District 35, Election Date: June 10, 2025.

Oklahoma

• Oklahoma local elections, Election Date: June 10, 2025. 

• Special general election for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 71, Election Date: June 10, 2025.

• Special general election for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 74, Election Date: June 10, 2025.

• Special primary for Oklahoma House of Representatives District 97, Election Date: June 10, 2025.

South Carolina

• Municipal general election, Election Date: June 3, 2025.

• Special election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 50, Election Date: June 3, 2025.

• Municipal special general, Election Date: June 17, 2025.

South Dakota

• Pierre primary election,  Election Date: June 3, 2025.

Texas

• General runoff for Dallas City Council elections, Election Date: June 7, 2025.

• General runoff election for Fort Worth City Council District 6, Election Date: June 7, 2025.

• General runoff for Garland mayoral election, Election Date: June 7, 2025.

• General runoff for Irving mayoral election, Election Date: June 7, 2025.

• General runoff for Richardson ISD school board District 2, Election Date: June 7, 2025.

• General runoff election for San Antonio (Full and Limited), Election Date: June 7, 2025.

 Virginia 

• Virginia statewide primary election, Election Date: June 17, 2025.

Wisconsin

• Special general election for Dane County Board of Supervisors District 1, Election Date: June 17, 2025.

We need your help! We have experienced some major funding cutbacks from some of our institutional donors, which have left us with a $75,000 shortfall. While this is not a lot of money for some, for our organization it is critical. Consider a single or monthly donation of $10 today to help us fill our gap.

This work is Black Women lead and primarily supported by individual donations.  Support the Sisterhood today.