Sayu Bhojwani with Sophia Jordán Wallace: The New Wave of Candidates at Democracy’s Door

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America’s political leadership remains overwhelmingly white, male, moneyed, and Christian; even at the local and state levels, elected office is inaccessible to the people it aims to represent. But this trend is changing, says political scientist Sayu Bhojwani. She makes her way to Town Hall’s stage to share accounts of the diverse and persevering range of new politicians from across the country who are challenging the status quo, winning against all odds, and leaving a path for others to follow in their wake. She introduces us to these political newcomers with stories from her book People Like Us: The New Wave of Candidates Knocking at Democracy’s Door.

Bhojwani meets with Sophia Jordán Wallace, professor of Political Science at the University of Washington. Together they shine a light on the political, systemic, and cultural roadblocks that have prevented government from effectively representing a rapidly changing America—and offer forward-thinking solutions on how to get rid of them. Join Bhojwani and Wallace for an inspiring story of the foreign-born, lower-income, and of-color Americans who are successfully taking on leadership roles to embody an inclusive and multiracial democracy that has been a long time in the making.