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Lauren Ashcraft
Lauren Ashcraft (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent New York's 12th Congressional District. She lost in the Democratic primary on June 23, 2020.
Ashcraft completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Lauren Ashcraft earned a bachelor's degree in international relations and German from West Virginia University in 2010 and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012. Ashcraft’s career experience includes working as a policy analyst, program officer, project manager, and data analyst. She is a board member and volunteer with the Women's March Alliance, a founder of Collection Box Comedy, and a lead with the Middle Collegiate Church Justice Committee.[1]
Elections
2020
See also: New York's 12th Congressional District election, 2020
New York's 12th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 23 Republican primary)
New York's 12th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 23 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House New York District 12
Incumbent Carolyn B. Maloney defeated Carlos Santiago-Cano and Steven Kolln in the general election for U.S. House New York District 12 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Carolyn B. Maloney (D) | 82.1 | 265,172 |
 | Carlos Santiago-Cano (R / Conservative Party)  | 16.4 | 53,061 | |
 | Steven Kolln (L) | 1.2 | 4,015 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 773 | ||
| Total votes: 323,021 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 12
Incumbent Carolyn B. Maloney defeated Suraj Patel, Lauren Ashcraft, and Peter Harrison in the Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 12 on June 23, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Carolyn B. Maloney | 42.7 | 40,362 |
 | Suraj Patel | 39.3 | 37,106 | |
 | Lauren Ashcraft | 13.6 | 12,810 | |
 | Peter Harrison | 4.2 | 4,001 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 198 | ||
| Total votes: 94,477 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Erica Vladimer (D)
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Carlos Santiago-Cano advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House New York District 12.
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Carlos Santiago-Cano advanced from the Conservative Party primary for U.S. House New York District 12.
Libertarian primary election
The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Steven Kolln advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. House New York District 12.
Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Lauren Ashcraft completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ashcraft's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
End Citizens United, Environmental Protection (single use plastics ban, Green New Deal), Fighting Economic Inequality (through criminal justice reform, "Even the Playing Field Act" which requires salary transparency at large employers, removing the income cap on Social Security contributions, expanding and enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act)
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Environmental protection, fighting income inequality, campaign finance reform
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
Fred Rogers, Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks All of these individuals saw our country as capable of being much more. They had a vision of love and equality, and they were not afraid to stand up for it.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
To Kill a Mockingbird
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
They should face the same struggles as the average constituent, and be truly representative of their district. They should not be afraid to stand up for their beliefs, no matter how politically "smart" it is to do so.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I am the average resident of District 12. I have had to move to different parts of the district due to lack of affordability, have worked in the financial sector (as does a significant portion of the district), I struggle with my high co-insurance bills, struggle with subway delays, come from an immigrant family, and have watched my family members struggle with loss, disability, and being forgotten by their representatives. I pledge to fight for every person in the district, and fight for equality, visibility, accessibility and dignity for ALL.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Represent and advocate for your constituents and refuse Corporate PAC, Super PAC, fossil fuel, and big real estate influence and money
What legacy would you like to leave?
People are the only influence in politics
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
The Oklahoma City Bombing, unfortunately, and I was as old as the children who were in the day care in that building and that really stuck with me (6).
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
My first job was a temporary summer job removing price stickers from used books at a bookstore. I have since been a caterer, a research assistant, a policy analyst, a program officer, and project manager.
What happened on your most awkward date?
You will have to come to one of my comedy shows where I often call upon past dating experiences.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Thanksgiving, because it is the start of the winter holidays and a time to be with family. And food.
What is your favorite book? Why?
To Kill a Mockingbird. It illustrates standing up for what is right, against all odds, and against the current.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
My future self, who is representing NY-12.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My two rescue cats, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1 year old) and Jean Louise "Magoo" (15 years old).
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
I often hum Tchaikovsky
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Losing my grandmother, who I view to be one of the strongest people to ever walk this earth. She immigrated from Japan at the age of 22 with my grandfather who served in Japan in the U.S. Air Force. After having my father in Japan, they moved to West Virginia where my grandfather became a coal miner. Unfortunately, my grandfather was a victim of the 1968 Farmington Mine Disaster and my grandmother was left as a single mother in a new country, whose language she was still learning. She raised her children on small social security checks, earned her GED, and put herself through nursing school to save for her retirement. She was the American Dream, and she has inspired me to champion for all Americans, regardless of their origin.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
Independent redistricting commissions
What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?
What would make the U.S. House of Representatives unique is if it were truly a House of Representatives. With the 2018 elections, we saw the average age of Representatives drop, the gender become more female (still not enough!) and more diversity in general. We should continue to move in the direction of true representation, so that it is full of members who face the same struggles as their average constituents.
Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?
There should be no "appropriate" path for becoming a representative in your district. A representative should be a typical member of their community with a drive to lead change and advocate for their constituents.
What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?
Fighting for true equality despite the strong xenophobic messages spread by our current administration and media. Seeing beyond the messages from powerful monetary influences, and fighting for what is best for The People. Fighting to protect our environment from the Climate Emergency which we have caused.
If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
Financial Services Committee. My experience in the Financial Sector has given me insight into regulations that need to be strengthened, updated, reinstated, andalso how the industry can remove its risk from the taxpayers and everyday constituents.
Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?
Yes
What are your thoughts on term limits?
I am 100% for 12 year term limits on every member of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and for all Supreme Court Justices. 12 years is most likely two terms of the same president, then one term of a new president, likely of a different party.
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
I would like to use my experience in the Financial Sector to be on the Financial Services Committee. I would like to represent my constituents rather than the banks in this position, as many members accept Corporate PAC dollars from big bank PACs and their decisions reflect their donors.
Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
Although I have immense respect for #TheSquad, I would like to bring my whole self and life experience to this role so that I can best represent my constituents. My service will be unique to me and my district.
Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
A man with cerebral palsy reached out to me after I appeared in an interview and thanked me for raising awareness for disability rights because "he has never seen a politician do so." I am saddened by this, but it makes me fight harder for those who have been ignored by their representatives.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
I have seen over and over how average working people in my family, district and country are ignored by representatives. I truly believe that this is tied to the large amounts of Corporate and Super PAC money in politics, and the lack of big dollar interests in causes such as disability access, fighting against our climate emergency, free and fair elections, affordable housing, and criminal justice reform. I am running a grassroots, people-powered campaign, as I believe people should be the only influence in politics. Is there anything you would like to add? Social Security, which kept my family alive, is a program for which contributions are capped at $132,900 while the middle class and struggling carry the burden, and I want to remove the cap completely. My grandfather carried the financial burden of being a quadriplegic because the Americans with Disabilities Act is not strong enough or enforced properly, and I will fight for this expansion and equality for all. There is STILL a wage gap, which I plan to fight with the "Even the Playing Field Act" which requires all employers with 250+ employees to disclose a reasonable salary range on every job posting. As someone who is part of a Japanese immigrant family, I am horrified at how we are treating those seeking a better life by entering our country. We should welcome those seeking to become Americans through facilitating LEGAL immigration and abolishing ICE. My work in the financial sector has shown me that repealing and rolling back regulations benefits the wealthy few rather than the average taxpayer; I want to reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act and ensure profit is not the priority over the well-being of constituents. I have created a grassroots organization called Collection Box Comedy that raises awareness and fundraises for nonprofits that help to keep our community strong and safe, and dedicated myself to helping to plan the Women's March since 2017. I am refusing Corporate and Super PAC dollars, because my only influence is people.[2] |
” |
| —Lauren Ashcraft[1] | ||
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
