Justice Democrats announce new executive director

Justice Democrats announce new executive director - POLITICO

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Exclusive

Justice Democrats announce new executive director

Rev. Hodari Williams will succeed co-founder Alexandra Rojas in leading the progressive PAC.

!The U.S. Capitol building is seen on Sept. 17, 2026.

*The U.S. Capitol building is seen on Sept. 17, 2026. | Francis Chung/POLITICO*

By Cheyanne M. Daniels

10/08/2026 5:50 AM EDT

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The progressive political action committee Justice Democrats has appointed Rev. Hodari Williams as its new executive director. The change sets the organization up to hone a civil rights message ahead of the 2028 election cycle, Williams told POLITICO.

His appointment, shared first with POLITICO, comes at a time when self-proclaimed progressives (and socialists) are flooding the scene. The PAC has had its most successful election cycle ever, helping seven candidates — including Donavan McKinney in Michigan, Melat Kiros in Colorado and Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York — defeat incumbents in the primaries. While those candidates are heavily favored to win on Election Day, the fates of three other Justice Democrats candidates, including Tennessee’s state Rep. Justin Pearson, remain less certain going into November.

At one point, the group tried to get Williams to run for office. Though he declined, Williams said now is the right time to force change.

“America and its present-day politicians, from my experience, have a high blood pressure of promises and anemia of political courage,” Williams said in an interview, using a common Kenyan political expression. “Right now, JD is producing candidates who have the political courage to deal with the crises that are existing in marginalized and disenfranchised communities, and I want to be a part of that.”

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