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Run for Something endorses Rex Richardson for Long Beach Mayor

Changing The Face of Local Politics in California

“I am so excited for this incredible endorsement from Run For Something,” stated Vice Mayor Rex Richardson. “I ran for city council when I was 30 years old, the youngest councilmember in the history of Long Beach, and it has been an honor to serve my community. I understand the roadblocks young people of color face running for public office, but truly believe that we deserve a seat at the table and the opportunity to serve. Thank you Run for Something for this incredible support and for supporting young candidates across the nation.”
 
“We’re focused on continuing the fight to defend democracy and elect more young progressives,” shared Run for Something co-founder Amanda Litman. “February’s endorsement class is dedicated to making meaningful change in their communities and advancing progressive ideals and equity across the country.”
 
Of our February class of 119 candidates: 
●      39 are alumni running for something again
●      64% identify as people of color
●      28% identify as LGBTQIA
●      55% identify as women
●      Our class of candidates represent 31 states
 
Amanda Litman and Ross Morales Rocketto launched Run for Something on Jan. 20, 2017 with a simple premise: help young diverse progressives to run for down-ballot races in order to build a bench for the future. Run for Something aims to lower the barriers to entry for these candidates by helping them with seeding money, organization building, and access to the trainings needed to be successful. So far, over 100,000 young people from across the country have signed up to run and gained access to Run for Something resources. 
 
Run for Something recruits and supports talented, passionate young people who advocate for progressive values now and for the next 30 years, with the ultimate goal of building a progressive bench. Learn more at www.runforsomething.net.

Vice Mayor Richardson announced his campaign for Long Beach Mayor on January 3, 2022. In addition to Run for Something, Richardson has received endorsements from Long Beach Firefighters Association Local 372, IAM Local Lodge 1930, UFCW Local 324, SEIU UHW, State Senator Lena Gonzalez, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Assemblymember Mike Gipson, Los Angeles County Supervisors Janice Hahn and Holly Mitchell, Long Beach City Councilmember Mary Zendejas, Long Beach City Councilmember Dr. Suely Saro, Long Beach Unified School Board Members Dr. Juan Benitez, PhD, Diana Craighead, and Erik Miller, and Long Beach Community College Trustees Uduak-Joe Ntuk, Herlinda Chico, and Vivian Malauulu.
 
Richardson’s priorities include addressing homelessness, protecting neighborhood health and public safety, investing in opportunities for youth, and confronting the effects of climate change.  

About Long Beach Vice Mayor Rex Richardson  

Rex Richardson is a Long Beach City Councilmember and regional leader with a proven track record of collaboration and problem solving that has helped improve the lives of Long Beach residents.  

Throughout his life, Richardson has overcome tough odds. A son of working-class parents, Richardson’s father served our country in the Air Force, and his mother––a child of the South who integrated her school––worked as a union assembly line welder at General Motors. Richardson’s family fell on hard times when his parents divorced, exasperated by housing insecurity and deep poverty. With the help of public schools and youth opportunity programs, Richardson set on a path toward a better future. His and his mother’s hard work culminated in Richardson’s college acceptance, opening the door to a life different than he had experienced growing up. After serving as the Student Body President of Cal State Dominguez Hills, Richardson became a community organizer with SEIU Local 721, helping blue-collar workers in South Los Angeles County. At age 25, he bought his first home in North Long Beach, the first in his family to own real estate. Soon after, he began serving as Chief of Staff to Councilmember Steve Neal. Seeking to create greater change, Richardson won his City Council race in 2014 with 73% of the vote, making history as Long Beach’s youngest member ever to serve. Richardson quickly established himself as a collaborative leader and change agent, seeking to provide equitable investment and opportunities for the members of his community. He was re-elected to his position in 2018, and his peers chose him to serve as Long Beach’s Vice Mayor twice.   Richardson is the Immediate Past President of the Southern California Association of Governments and currently serves as a South Coast Air Quality Management District Board Member.  

He and his wife, Dr. Nina Richardson, Ed.D., are homeowners in North Long Beach, where they reside with their two young daughters.   For more information, visit www.JoinRexRichardson.com