They protested at No Kings. Now they’re running for office.

March 27, 2026

Following the historic No Kings protests in October 2025, which drew nearly 7 million participants nationwide, organizers and attendees are channeling their activism into running for political office. Women like Kendra Sullivan in West Virginia, Katrina Manetta in Michigan, and Leila Staton in Iowa have transitioned from organizing local demonstrations and community groups to filing candidacies for state-level positions. This shift mirrors the surge of women entering politics after the 2017 Women's March but appears more geographically diverse and includes many rural candidates.

Who is affected

Kendra Sullivan (West Virginia educator and mother running for Democratic Party executive committees)
Katrina Manetta (31-year-old Michigan server running for state House)
Leila Staton (22-year-old Iowa activist running for state House)
Nearly 7 million people who attended October 2025 No Kings protests
More than 5 million who attended June protests
80,000 people who signed up with Run For Something to run for office
Members of newly formed Indivisible chapters and community organizing groups
Democratic Party organizations in rural and swing districts
GOP incumbents like Rep. Ron Robinson and Joshua Meggers facing new challengers

What action is being taken

More than 3,000 No Kings protest events are planned for Saturday across all 50 states and Washington D.C., with a main event in Minneapolis
Sullivan is speaking at Democratic women's meetings and Drinking Liberally chapters
Manetta and Staton are holding regular monthly community meetings (with Manetta consistently drawing over 100 attendees)
Staton has been knocking on doors every weekend since deciding to run in May
The Insufferable Wenches of Iowa are running mutual aid programs benefitting local communities
Run For Something is recruiting and supporting young progressive candidates for state and local offices
Great Lakes Leadership Academy is training progressive candidates

Why it matters

This represents a potential transformation of grassroots protest energy into institutional political power, particularly significant because it's driven disproportionately by women and extends into rural areas traditionally dominated by Republicans. The movement addresses a fundamental question about whether street protests can create lasting societal change by demonstrating that activism can serve as a pipeline to candidacy. The frustration these candidates express—both with Trump's policies and with Democratic Party establishment approaches—suggests a generational and ideological shift that could reshape political engagement, especially in states and districts where Democrats have struggled or failed to field competitive candidates.

What's next

Sullivan will appear on West Virginia's May 12 primary ballots
Manetta will likely advance through Michigan's August primary to face GOP incumbent Rep. Ron Robinson in November
Staton will run unopposed in the Democratic primary before facing Republican Joshua Meggers in November
No Kings organizers aim to break their October attendance record at Saturday's planned protests

Read full article from source: The 19th