Mayor of Scranton who cleaned up City Hall and restored the city’s finances after near-bankruptcy, Cognetti is a corruption-fighter aligned with public school innovation and pragmatic, outcomes-focused governance. She’s running to flip a seat in Northeastern Pennsylvania that Democrats last held under Matt Cartwright.
A California state senator running for the San Francisco congressional seat vacated by Nancy Pelosi, Wiener has been a consistent supporter of public charter schools and earned the California Charter Schools Association’s “Elected Official of the Year” award in 2018. His track record of pragmatic, pro-housing and pro-education reform legislation makes him one of the most policy-substantive candidates in the 2026 field.
A retired Marine Corps drill instructor and native Arizonan raised in a farmworker family, Mendoza served 20 years in the military before becoming a veteran advocate and congressional staffer. Running to flip one of the top toss-up seats in the country, she’s aligned with DFER’s priorities and has made education a central issue in the race.
A former charter school principal and White House Fellow who founded a high-performing school in Harlem where 100% of graduates earned college admission despite 86% living below the poverty line, Dandiya is the only former school principal running for Congress in 2026. Endorsed by Arne Duncan, she’s running to flip Brian Mast’s seat in a competitive South Florida district.
A practicing emergency physician and former Arizona state representative who passed more bills than any Arizona Democrat in the past decade, Shah brings deep policy knowledge and a nuanced, evidence-based approach to expanding access to high-quality charter schools alongside strong accountability. He ran a near-miss against David Schweikert in 2024 and is back for a rematch in a rated toss-up district.
A first-term congressman and rising Democratic voice, Amo has signed the CSP funding letter for three consecutive years and has demonstrated a growing interest in expanding high-quality public school options in Rhode Island.
Co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and a consistent CSP letter signer, Gottheimer represents a competitive North Jersey district and is one of the most pragmatic, deal-oriented Democrats in the House. His cross-aisle relationships make him an effective advocate for evidence-based education reform.
A senior House Democrat and longtime CSP letter signer, Bishop serves as the Democratic lead on the Charter School Facility bill—making him one of the most substantively active pro-reform members in the House. His continued leadership on school facilities legislation is a key asset for the pro-innovation coalition.
A co-sponsor of the Educator Bill and a frontline Democrat in the Central Valley, Harder has demonstrated genuine commitment to policies that expand educator-led innovation and charter school quality. His competitive district makes him a priority for DFER’s protective investment.
A four-time signer of the CSP funding letter, Boyle has also done direct constituency work supporting MaST Community Charter School in his Philadelphia-area district.
Former mayor of San Jose and a CSP letter signer, Liccardo brings an executive’s focus on outcomes and innovation to the House. His district in the South Bay includes high-performing charter schools and he’s a natural ally for policies expanding educational access and accountability.
A consistent CSP letter signer representing a Northeast Ohio district, Brown has been a reliable vote for pro-innovation education policies. DFER sees her as a foundational member of the pro-reform House coalition.
A senior California Democrat and the lead organizer of the annual CSP Dear Colleague letter, Lofgren has anchored DFER’s legislative strategy in the House for years. Her ability to recruit signatories and her long tenure on key committees make her indispensable to the pro-reform coalition.
A veteran House Democrat and CSP letter signer, Carson represents Indianapolis’s core district and has supported charter school funding through the appropriations process. His continued engagement on the Education and Labor Committee makes him a valued pro-reform ally.
A consistent CSP letter signer representing a competitive Atlanta suburban district, McBath has built a reputation as a thoughtful, constituents-first legislator. DFER views her as a key member of the pro-reform caucus in a district where education quality is a top voter priority.
One of the most active pro-reform members in the House, Carter has signed the CSP letter for three consecutive years, co-sponsored the Empowering Charter School Educators Act, and serves as a co-lead of the FLEX Act. His legislative record makes him a standout champion in the pro-innovation coalition.
A senior House Democrat and CSP sign-on, Meeks represents a Queens district with significant charter school enrollment and a strong track record of engagement on education funding. His seniority and relationships make him a valuable presence in the pro-reform coalition.
A co-sponsor of the Educator Bill and an active reviewer of other charter school legislation, Case’s position on the House Appropriations Committee prevents him from signing the annual CSP letter—but his behind-the-scenes engagement on education funding makes him a valuable ally nonetheless.
A physician-turned-congressman, Ruiz has co-sponsored the Educator Bill and signed the CSP Dear Colleague letter, demonstrating consistent engagement with DFER’s legislative priorities. His Inland Empire district includes communities where charter schools have been transformative for low-income students.
A CSP letter co-lead and senior House Democrat, Cleaver faces potential district changes following redistricting in Missouri. DFER is investing in protecting one of the most active pro-reform voices in the House as he navigates new political terrain.
One of the most pro-reform members in the House, Tokuda has signed the CSP letter, led the Educator Bill, and co-sponsored two additional charter school bills in the current Congress. Her legislative breadth on education issues makes her a standout champion and key DFER ally.
A senior Democratic member and CSP letter signer representing Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, Espaillat has been a helpful partner in building bridges to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus around charter school policy. DFER is working with him on a CHC briefing to expand pro-reform engagement among Latino members.
A competitive incumbent representing a heavily Hispanic South Texas district, Gonzalez has signed the CSP funding letter and is a key pro-reform vote in a district where access to high-quality public school options is a pressing concern. DFER is investing to hold this seat.
A first-term congresswoman who inherited one of the most competitive seats in the country after NJ-09 voted for Trump in 2024, Pou has recently visited a KIPP school in her district and is actively exploring co-sponsoring charter school legislation. DFER sees her as a frontline investment with meaningful potential to become a stronger reform champion.
A former National Teacher of the Year and one of the most credible education voices among House Democrats, Hayes has signed the CSP letter three consecutive years and is a key partner in building DFER’s presence on the Education Committee. DFER is committed to growing her engagement and securing her re-election in a competitive Connecticut district.
A rising star in the Democratic Party and a competitive incumbent in the Hudson Valley, Ryan has demonstrated an openness to reform-oriented education policy in a district that has been a bellwether for national Democratic competitiveness. DFER is invested in his re-election as a Red-to-Blue protected seat.
A consistent supporter of CSP funding and a frontline Democrat in a competitive Las Vegas-area district, Horsford has been a reliable pro-reform vote. DFER is investing to ensure his continued engagement as a champion in a district that will be closely watched in 2026.
A Bronx native and one of the most vocal pro-charter voices in the House Democratic caucus, Torres is navigating a competitive primary in 2026. DFER is standing by a member who has been a consistent and outspoken champion for expanding high-quality public school options in underserved communities.
A first-term congresswoman in a competitive Michigan district, McDonald Rivet has quickly established herself as a consistent champion for education reform. DFER sees her as one of the most promising pro-reform members of her class and a key vote to protect in the House.
A Teach For America alum, former public school teacher, and Texas state representative who won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Texas, Talarico has supported charter schools at the state level and approaches education as someone who has worked in low-income classrooms firsthand. Though anti-voucher, he is open-minded on reform and represents a historic opportunity to elect a strong education voice to the Senate from Texas.
A four-term Marine Corps veteran and congressman challenging incumbent Sen. Ed Markey in the Massachusetts Democratic primary, Moulton has been a major supporter of DFER’s priorities including CSP, and brings a track record of taking on entrenched incumbents—he unseated a nine-term congressman in his own 2014 primary. A win would add a strong new Senate voice for evidence-based reform and help offset the loss of departing champion Michael Bennet.
