The Party kicked off its “Southern Made” campaign with the endorsements of Angie Nixon for U.S. Senate in Florida and a slate of progressive candidates in South Carolina.

Amidst growing attacks on Black and working-class political power in the South following the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, and at a time when working families across the country are struggling to make ends meet, the Working Families Party (WFP) last night unveiled its plan to fight back. On a virtual call led by organizational and political leaders, the Party launched Southern Made: Lead Where You Live, a campaign to recruit and train 1,000 pro-democracy, working-class leaders to run for office across the South by 2030. 

“We understand the urgency of this moment,” said Maurice Mitchell, National Director of the Working Families Party. “We do not have the luxury of sitting on our hands and allowing things to advance as they will under authoritarianism and late capitalism. The time for bold leaders who stand up to billionaires, prioritize working people, and fight to better the material conditions of our communities is now—and it’s clear that voters agree. We know that the change we are seeing across this country, led by fierce WFP champions at every level of government, is possible in the South.” 

The Southern Made campaign centers on the truth that those often best equipped to run for office and shape policy are the working people most impacted by those policies. The campaign will tap into grassroots networks to seek out, train, and help elect working-class Southerners who are already showing up to care for their communities as parents, teachers, service industry and frontline workers, care givers, faith leaders, and more. The Party will offer critical skills and support to WFP-aligned candidates interested in running up and down the ballot — whether that be for city council or U.S. Congress. 

To mark the launch of the program and underscore the Working Families Party’s investment in Southern leaders, the Party announced its endorsement of Angie Nixon for U.S. Senate in Florida. Angie Nixon is a mother of five, union organizer, and current Florida State House Representative, best known for facing arrest following a five-hour sit-in outside Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office in protest of unfair redistricting and the state’s growing affordability crisis. Her commitment to fighting for working people is evident in her platform, which focuses on creating economic opportunities and dignified material conditions for all. 

“WFP is proud to launch our Southern candidate recruitment program alongside an endorsement of Rep. Angie Nixon for U.S. Senate,” said Britney Whaley, Southeast Regional Director of the Working Families Party. “Rep. Nixon is a shining example of the kind of leadership we’re seeking to cultivate in the South: bold, unapologetic, and courageous community leaders committed to protecting our democracy and doing right by working people. Rep. Nixon joins a strong cohort of WFP candidates across the South who understand the political, electoral, and real-life impacts of contesting for power in the region. The South is not going down without a fight.”

“I am grateful to have the Working Families Party’s endorsement and support in this critical race that will shape the future of Florida, the South, and the country,” said Angie Nixon, Florida State Representative and candidate for U.S. Senate. “Right now, we have politicians in Washington who are looking out for big corporations and greedy billionaires instead of the hardworking people who, despite showing up every day to make this country run, still struggle to put food on the table and afford healthcare. I’m running for U.S. Senate on the Working Families Guarantee because change can’t wait.”

The Party has also announced a slate of endorsements in South Carolina, including Courtney McClain for South Carolina’s 4th Congressional District and Jumelle Brooks, Keishan Scott, Julie Zimmerman, and Sonja Ogletree Satani for State House seats. 

The Working Families Party has been active in the South since 2017, growing a hub in Georgia and hosting trainings to build Black and women leadership across the region. Coming off of 16 primary wins in Georgia this cycle, the Party is ready to deepen and expand its work to build lasting governing power across the South—with recent endorsements for Justin J. Pearson in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District and Charles Booker for U.S. Senate in Kentucky, both ready to fight for Southern workers in Washington.

Across the country, the Working Families Party has won a string of high-profile House and Senate primaries against better-funded opposition this cycle, most notably Randy Villegas (CA-22), Mai Vang (CA-7), Chris Rabb (PA-3), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), and Brad Lander (NY-10).