A Vision for The Next 50 for 2026 and the future.
We're identifying and nurturing next-generation leaders in the battlegrounds that will lead the Democratic Party out of the wilderness in 2026 and beyond.
On Monday, our board of directors named me as the new executive director of The Next 50–where our team is working to identify, support, and elect the next generation of Democratic leaders who can win in the toughest battlegrounds across the country.
As a daughter of Detroit's long tradition of organized labor, I bring a decade of experience in Democratic politics to this role. I served two terms in the Michigan House of Representatives, where I successfully flipped Mitt Romney's hometown blue for the first time in its history. Most recently, I served as the Midwest Battleground Political Director on Vice President Kamala Harris' 2024 campaign for president.
From my own experience as a 24-year-old, first-time candidate who won in a historic Republican stronghold, I know just how critical support from organizations like The Next 50 can be for next generation candidates, and I’m so excited to continue this work.
Since joining TN50 as National Political Director in 2023, I’ve been driven to invest in principled, pragmatic candidates who understand their communities and aren't afraid to do the hard work of winning. Now, as executive director, I'm ready to double down on that mission.
Why The Next 50 Matters Now More Than Ever
The Democratic Party is facing a moment of reckoning. Our brand is underwater, we’re viewed as out of touch, snobby elitists, and too many Americans feel disconnected from their elected officials. But here's what I know: the solution isn't to abandon our values nor is it to kick anyone out of the tent. It's to find and support leaders who can speak authentically to the kitchen-table issues that matter most to the American people.
That means candidates who talk about housing costs that are crushing young families, prescription drug prices that force seniors to choose between medication and groceries, and childcare expenses that make it daunting to start a family and impossible for people who already are parents to get ahead. These aren't Democratic issues or Republican issues—they're American issues that demand practical solutions, and The Next 50’s leaders are the ones delivering real results.
Our Track Record Speaks for Itself
In the 2023-2024 cycle, The Next 50 proved that investing in the right candidates at the right time works:
70% win rate for our endorsed candidates, making us the top Political Action Committee investing in next-generation leaders
2.98% average margin of victory, showing how our support moved the needle in competitive races
20% of our races won by 1,000 votes or fewer—including Iowa state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott's incredible 29-vote victory
$4.1 million raised and bundled for candidates through direct investment, donor connections, and our first independent expenditure campaign
These numbers tell a story: when you invest early in talented candidates who fit their communities, you win.
Looking Ahead: 2025-2026 and Beyond
Our mission for the next cycle is clear: we're building enduring majorities by identifying and nurturing the next generation of leaders who can win in battleground districts and states across the country. We're investing up and down the ballot—from state legislatures to Congress, and from mayors to governors—because we know that real change also happens when Democrats control executive offices where they can actually implement solutions and deliver results for their communities. We're looking for candidates from all walks of life who share four essential qualities: they're principled in their values, pragmatic in their approach, energetic in their engagement, and laser-focused on winning.
These are the leaders who will stop Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and MAGA Republicans from their destructive agenda—whether that's gutting veterans' health care, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, or ignoring the everyday costs crushing working families. Our candidates are the ones who will bring down housing costs, tackle high grocery prices, make childcare affordable, and fix the kitchen-table issues Americans actually care about. Most importantly, they're the ones who will return integrity and sanity to our government.
We're already getting to work for the next cycle. We've endorsed five candidates in Virginia, including Rep. Abigail Spanberger for Governor and Del. Michael Feggans for re-election, because we believe in getting involved early for candidates who embody our values and are ready to do the hard work that it takes to win. We're investing in races where our involvement can push a next-generation Democrat—like Kimberly Pope Adams and Lily Franklin who are running for the Virginia House of Delegates—over the line and deliver the greatest impact—whether through political advice, strategic guidance, or fundraising networks.
We're also supporting Gina Ortíz Jones for San Antonio Mayor, staying true to our mission of making transformative investments in next-generation leaders wherever we can build power—even in places like Texas that others might write off.
And we're gearing up for what we know will be our most successful cycle ever, with candidates across the country—both newly and re-endorsed—raising the bar for what pragmatic, next-generation leadership looks like. That includes supporting state Sen. Mallory McMorrow for U.S. Senate in Michigan—exactly the kind of leader who can connect with voters and deliver results.
A Different Kind of Politics
What sets our candidates apart? They have their ears to the ground. They communicate like people, not like walking white papers. They show up—at town halls, on doorsteps, in their communities—because they understand that politics is about service, not status.
Our candidates also know how to reach voters where they are. Look at leaders like Senator Rubén Gallego, who significantly outperformed other Democrats with Latino voters in Arizona by speaking authentically about their concerns, or Senator Elissa Slotkin, who built a winning coalition in purple Michigan by focusing relentlessly on the issues that matter to working families regardless of party affiliation. We see the same authentic communication style in candidates like Del. Michael Feggans in Virginia, whose military service background, which is similar to the background of many of his constituents, gives him credibility when he speaks about the challenges facing working families, and state Senator Mallory McMorrow in Michigan, whose straightforward, no-nonsense approach resonates with voters who are tired of political theater and want leaders focused on getting things done. These are the kinds of leaders we identify and support—candidates who don't just talk at voters, but listen to them and meet them where they are.
Most importantly, they refuse to let Republicans define them. They tell their own stories, fight for their own values, and build trust with voters by showing up consistently and authentically.
Through our strategic partnership with The NewDEAL, we're not just electing these leaders—we're giving them the policy support and interstate connections they need to succeed and grow into the party leadership of tomorrow.
What Our Leaders Are Saying
I'm humbled by the support for our organization from leaders across the Democratic Party as I take on this new role:
Senator Elissa Slotkin said: "I am excited for Mari Manoogian, a proud Michigander, to take the helm of the Next 50! Mari has been a force, first in the Michigan State House and then as an advocate for Democratic candidates across the country. I'm excited to continue working with her to elect a new generation of leaders."
Senator Rubén Gallego shared: "Mari Manoogian represents the kind of bold, forward-thinking leadership our party needs. As the new Executive Director of The Next 50, she brings a proven track record of turning big ideas into real progress, from flipping a Republican district to mentoring the next generation of Democrats."
Senator Mallory McMorrow, who I've worked with since our first campaigns in 2018, said: "Mari knows what it takes to build an enduring majority, and her support helped us to do so in the Michigan Senate, allowing us to stand up for vulnerable Michiganders and solve kitchen-table problems from Detroit to the UP."
Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar reminded us why this work matters: "I will always remember The Next 50 as the first national organization to endorse my campaign for secretary of state. The financial support, political guidance, and strategic planning they provided us were key to our victory — a victory that has enabled me to fight for safe and secure elections in Nevada and across the country."
The Work Ahead
Right now, it’s pretty clear: the house is on fire. Americans are facing real crises every day, and Donald Trump and his allies in Washington aren't interested in solutions—in fact, they’re the problem. Our goal is simple but ambitious: flip battleground districts and states, retake legislative chambers, and win back power at every level of government so we can focus on delivering real results for the American people.
We're not the DNC, and we're not trying to be. We're focused on one thing: identifying and supporting top-tier next-generation Democratic talent that can win tough races and lead our party out of the wilderness.
Our battleground map is expansive because we refuse to be myopic. Power isn't won overnight—it takes years of investment and attention. We proved that in Alaska, where we endorsed state legislative candidates two cycles in a row and helped elect Robyn Burke to the state house, a win that put the Speaker's gavel into the hands of a Democratic-led coalition majority.
Join Us—And Help Us Win
The next generation of Democratic leaders isn't waiting for permission to lead. They're already running, already serving, already making a difference in their communities. Our job is to make sure they have the resources, support, and networks they need to win.
If you believe, like I do, that the future of the Democratic Party lies with pragmatic leaders who can connect with voters and deliver results, then I hope you'll join us in this work.
We need your help to scale this mission. Every dollar you contribute goes directly toward identifying, training, and supporting the candidates who will flip districts, win tough races, and build the bench of Democratic talent for years to come. Whether it's funding strategic guidance for a first-time candidate, providing crucial fundraising support in the final weeks of a campaign, or investing in the leadership development that turns good candidates into great elected officials—your contribution makes the difference.
Make a contribution to The Next 50 today and help us build the Democratic majority we need to deliver real results for working families.
The wilderness doesn't have to be permanent—but finding our way out will take all of us working together.
Mari Manoogian is the Executive Director of The Next 50. Since 2019, The Next 50 has endorsed and supported nearly 100 candidates for office across the country with massively successful results. We believe building a stronger bench and brighter future requires deliberate investment in identifying and nurturing next-generation leadership. Join our movement to support our work at thenext50.us.