Ivan Luevanos-Elms (he/el)

This summer, over 500 local elected officials from across the country gathered in Chicago for our national convening.

We interviewed over a dozen local leaders to gain their perspective on a range of issues, from immigration to tariffs. Here's what they had to say 👇

As Alderperson Fuentes asks for rationale, ICE puts its barbarity on display. Arresting a local official for protecting a neighbor from abduction while they were being treated in a hospital.

Government workers are furloughed, but ICE is still paid to terrorize our communities.

Federal Agents Handcuff Chicago Alderperson At Hospital ER In another incident caught on video Friday, federal agents inside a car randomly threw tear gas into a Logan Square street while people — including a 2-year-old — were outside nearby.

LP Member & Chicago Alderperson Jessie Fuentes was arrested this afternoon for protecting an immigrant neighbor as they were recovering in the hospital.

This is the THIRD local official this year ICE has brutally arrested for exercising their duties. blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/03/f...

During a time when our norms and rights are under attack, it's up to local governments to reinforce the rights of our people and fight back with every tool we have.
 
Read my full op-ed with @cd13.lacity.gov @andrefor40th.bsky.social @localprogress.bsky.social: ⬇️

www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...

NEW: LP members @cmlewisgeorgew4.bsky.social, CM Soto-Martínez, & @andrefor40th.bsky.social have a new op-ed laying out the playbook for how progressive local leaders can respond to federal troop deployments.

While congress sits on its hand, local officials must act to defend their communities.

As Progressive Elected Officials, We Choose Both Economic Populism and Abundance The abundance agenda makes progressive populism more effective.

Abundant housing is core to the progressive agenda to build a just, resilient, and equitable future for all. Proud to join progressive elected officials from across the country who are taking action to push for abundant housing, strong labor standards, climate action, and progressive revenue!

Graphic that reads "10 localities have BANNED algorithmic rental price fixing", with a US map that has stars and labels for each of the 10 cities

📣 NEWS: There are now TEN localities that have banned rental price fixing! 🔥🔥🔥

Hoboken is the most recent city to pass a ban to protect renters from corporate greed, preceded by Seattle and Santa Monica who passed ordinances in June.

2025 National Convening: We Organize Together to Govern for All! - Local Progress Joy. Hope. Fired up.  These are just a few words to encapsulate our time together from July 10-12, 2025. To those of you who were in Chicago and those who were there in spirit – thank you for being a ...

Organize Together. Govern for all.

Still fired up from #LP2025 - 500+ local electeds, partners, and staff came together ready to fight for working families and resist authoritarianism. ⚡️

"Fear is contagious but so is courage."

- @delia.bsky.social

localprogress.org/2025/07/16/2...

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A group of people speaking on a panel

A group of people talking at a table

A group of people talking at a table

On our last day together, we confronted some of the hard realities of what it means to govern as a progressive. How we wield power on an unequal playing field to lift up marginalized communities.

Our conversations were difficult, but the learning in community was critical.

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A small group talking

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From strategy sessions and community building, to site visits and state chapter meetups - our first two days were jam packed!

Together, with over 500 attendees from across the country, we learned how to build power, share space, and stand up for our shared values.

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two people at a bar smiling for the camera

two people hugging

A group of people about to start dancing

Our theme this year was "Organize Together. Govern For All."

As the Trump Administration continues to deliberately harm our communities, it is more important than ever to organize together so that we can use our governing power to uplift and protect all our communities.

Many moving people in a hotel lobby in front of a large sign

This past weekend, we held our ⚡️ 2025 LP National Convening ⚡️ in Chicago! We hosted 500+ local leaders and partners for an incredible three days of connection, strategy, and collective learning.

More to come, but for now, we are basking in hope, joy, and gratitude 💖

Brad is a STL native and an amazing human. I’ve had the pleasure of serving with him on the @localprogress.bsky.social board for many years. May we all have the courage of our convictions like @nyccomptroller.bsky.social. #StandWithBrad #AbolishIce

Masked ICE agents just detained New York City Comptroller Brad Lander for peacefully observing immigration court proceedings in Manhattan. Video shows multiple attempts from Brad and onlookers to secure a judicial warrant and for officers to identify themselves. (1/3)

Brad has been a principled local official for over a decade now and one of the founding members of Local Progress. He is one of many reasons our organization exists to today and beyond being a member, many consider him to be a friend and mentor.

We stand in solidarity with you, Brad.

As ICE disappears our neighbors, LP leader Brad Lander has been regularly escorting immigrants to their check-ins. Today, in a continuing and troubling trend of intimidation against local officials, ICE arrested him and is currently in custody.

We demand his immediate release.

Graphic with gradient pink / purple border with a statement from Local Progress titled, "Minnesota Local Leaders Mourn Politically Motivated Assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman."

We are horrified at the targeted political assasination of MN elected officials, former Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark, and the attempt on the lives of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.

Our full statement: localprog.org/MourningMeli...

We are devastated by the politically motivated assassination of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the attempted assassination of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. These were public servants attacked at home.

We must be united in saying: violence has no place in our democracy.

Full statement:

“This city doesn’t grow, heal, teach or grown or move without immigrant.

Fear doesn’t mean cowardliness, fear means we move smarter.

Stay engaged with local organizations and share Know Your Rights information, and continue protecting our neighborhoods”

- Council Member Eunisses Hernandez

The arrest of the SEIU CA President & protesters is a disgrace to our country — and part of a terrifying trend local electeds have also been facing.

We stand for First Amendment rights. We stand for democracy. We stand with David Huerta & call for his immediate release.

Graphic image of Local Progress recent statement with a gradient pink / purple border titled, "Local Electeds Stand with Immigrant Neighbors as Islamophobic and Xenophobic Travel Ban Set to Take Effect."

The Trump Admin’s new travel ban is an unlawful, racist, Islamophobic, and xenophobic policy that will rip families apart and put our communities in grave danger.

We are devastated, afraid, and furious. But we are not backing down.

Full statement: localprog.org/NoRacistTrav...

Earlier this month, OpenAI & Microsoft lobbyists called for a shutdown on AI regulation. Our new report details the harmful impacts of unrestricted AI on our communities and what local government can do. localprog.org/43FPlS6

Local Progress Launches the Community Responder Cohort - Local Progress When people call 911, they want to know they’ll be met with an empathetic response – one that meets the needs of their emergency, rather than escalating the situation. This past weekend, 12 local elec...

This past weekend, local elected officials and organizers from across the country came together to launch our first ever Community Responder Cohort! 🔥

Together, we can make sure that our public safety system actually meets people’s needs.

localprog.org/3ZtWhPL

ICYMI: Providence has become the SIXTH city to BAN algorithmic rental price fixing! 🔥

Providence City Council is protecting renters in the city and fighting back against the corporate greed driving up rents across the country.

A white text box with a colorful outline. The statement is about a mayor in Newark that was arrested by ICE.

A white text box with a colorful outline. The statement is about a mayor in Newark that was arrested by ICE.

Our member, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, was arrested by ICE today. We are glad to hear that he has been released and is safe but he never should have been arrested in the first place.

From our network and LP Board member Commissioner Murray-Thomas, read our statement of solidarity 👇

Graphic displaying a Local Progress statement titled, "Amid Federal Threats, Local Leaders Stand Strong for True Civil Rights."

@marymoriarty.bsky.social is a brilliant & fair prosecutor committed to reforming our deeply flawed legal system.

The Trump Admin’s recently-launched investigation into Moriarty’s office is a calculated attack on local democracy.

Full statement: localprog.org/StandWithLoc...

Photo of a group of Texas electeds holding up posters with illustrations of Greg Abbott that read "Disaster Abbott, Destroying Our Rights"

Photo of NYC elected Shahana Hanif speaking at a podium, in front of a crowd of people holding posters that read "Protect NYC Families" and "Immigrants are New York"

Photo of Gabriela Santiago-Romero speaking at a podium with a poster that reads "Protect our neighbors: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS" with other Detroit leaders, including Rashida Tlaib, behind her

Photo of the Colorado state house in the background, with a crowd of people holding up signs that read "Protect Public Education" and "No more cuts!" in the foreground

Today marks 100 days of local elected officials fighting for their communities under the threats of the Trump administration.

From immigration justice to LGTBQ+ rights, local electeds are not giving in 🧵

This week, we passed two major ordinances—one to crack down on corporate rent price-fixing, and another to bring transparency to grocery pricing.

These wins are proof that when community comes together, we can take on powerful interests—and win.

A graphic with a colorful border and black text. The graphic is a statement from the LP school board cohort on the recent EO about the Department of Education.

A graphic with a colorful border and black text. The graphic is a statement from the LP school board cohort on the recent EO about the Department of Education.

Our school board cohort is made up of local leaders and educators nationwide. From big cities to small towns, they advocate every day for the millions of students and thousands of communities who rely on the public school system.

Today, they speak with one voice - hands off our public schools.

Statement that reads: Demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil and protect the right to protest. This past weekend, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents entered a student residential building at Columbia University in New York and detained Palestinian student activist Mahmoud Khalil. The Trump Administration’s illegal detention of Khalil, who is a U.S. green-card holder and lawful permanent resident, is an extreme attack on the right to speech and dissent protected by the First Amendment and is an abuse of immigration law. The Trump Administration’s actions and statements are intended to chill and suppress opposing viewpoints. We have crossed a line into authoritarianism, and we all need to speak up now.

📣 ACTION ALERT

Demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil and protect our First Amendment right to free speech. We need to stick together and fight back against these attacks on our rights.

Sign the petition: act.demandprogress.org/sign/release...