NEW: DMA Endorses Five Mayors Running On Delivering Results For Their Cities
From housing to public safety, these Democratic mayors are leading by example
WASHINGTON—Today, the Democratic Mayors Association (DMA) is proud to endorse five proven leaders for Mayor. Each endorsee is running for reelection on a strong record of delivering for their communities and has established a track record of meeting the moment for their city.
This slate of DMA endorsees are:
Barbara Lee, Mayor of Oakland, California
Phillip Jones, Mayor of Newport News, Virginia
Brett Smiley, Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island
Chris Taylor, Mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan
Harvey Ward, Mayor of Gainesville, Florida
“From affordability to public safety, these mayors are meeting the moment for their constituents with solutions rooted in their communities,” the Democratic Mayors Association said in a statement. “They are making housing more affordable, investing in public safety, and creating opportunities in every neighborhood in their city. At a time when Democrats are searching for a standard bearer, Democratic mayors across the country are leading by example, getting things done and delivering for their communities and the country.”
In Oakland, Mayor Barbara Lee is making historic progress on public safety. Homicides have fallen 49 percent since 2023 thanks to her leadership and prioritization of community-based, proven strategies to keep families safe. Lee has also broken ground on hundreds of new housing units in Oakland and taken steps to address corruption in city government that has driven up costs for working families.
Mayor Phillip Jones is running for reelection after becoming Newport News’ youngest mayor when he took office in 2023. A veteran with private sector experience, Jones has prioritized ensuring every child has access to a quality education and he has aligned infrastructure, industry and talent to make Newport News a hub for innovation, workforce development and economic opportunity. He’s also made investments in services for the homeless and worked with trusted community partners to deliver homeownership opportunities.
Mayor Brett Smiley has taken bold steps to ensure that immigrants in Providence are safe from the Trump administration’s ICE raids. On public safety, he’s also presided over historic drops in violent crime in the city. A leader in education, Mayor Smiley has expanded child care access in Providence and has set the city on track to send every student to a new or like-new school by 2030.
In Michigan, Ann Arbor Mayor Chris Taylor is running for a fourth and final term, looking to build on a strong record of housing affordability and streamlining government services. In his next term, Mayor Taylor will continue to provide residents with more sustainable, cheaper energy options to bring costs down and invest in infrastructure projects that create jobs and make the city more accessible.
Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward has made housing a central focus of his term. Mayor Ward has cut red tape and forged new partnerships to create common-sense housing growth, approving more than 700 new affordable housing units in Gainesville. If reelected, Mayor Ward will also continue to make investments in making Gainesville more affordable for middle class families and keeping Gainesville one of Florida’s most vibrant cities.
