Harvard Dems Endorse Imani Oakley for Congress

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The Harvard College Democrats, the largest independent political organization on the Harvard College campus, have endorsed Imani Oakley, a progressive challenger for New Jersey’s 10th congressional district.

“This endorsement came out of the blue but was such a pleasant surprise! I was intrigued when I looked over the Harvard Dems’ endorsements, which include fellow progressives like Greg Casar (TX-35), Jessica Cisneros (TX-28), Summer Lee (PA-18), and Odessa Kelly (TN-05), but also include some incumbents, like Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and even some better-known more mainstream candidates, like Beto O’Rourke and Stacey Abrams for governor of Texas and Georgia, respectively,” said Oakley.

“I realized, looking at this slate of candidates, that the Harvard Dems did not choose lightly. These students took into account both the platform and profile of the candidates themselves, and they applied it to local conditions. This tells me that young Democrats are savvy, they’re not afraid of research, and they understand that regional political context makes all the difference. I’m incredibly proud that our race has met their high standards!”

Oakley is a political organizer and attorney, though not a Harvard alum – she’s a proud graduate of Howard University School of Law, the oldest HBCU law school in the United States. She is running for Congress in New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District on a platform that includes environmental justice, reproductive freedom, investment in public schools, Medicare for All, comprehensive immigration reform, and international human rights.

The endorsement of the Harvard Dems adds to the diverse coalition growing around Oakley’s campaign, which includes endorsements from West Orange Young Democrats, Brand New Congress, Catch Fire, Elect Black Women PAC, the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, Building Bridges For America, Roadmap for Progress, FutureGen PAC, four local Sunrise Movement hubs, Black Lives Matter activist Zellie Imani, Mt. Rainier Vice Mayor Scott Cecil, Maplewood Mayor Dean Dafis, Muslim community leader and civil rights advocate Selaedin Maksut, Palestinian-American community leader and advocate Wassim Kanaan, and former progressive presidential candidate Marianne Williamson.