MEET OUR 2026 Fellows
Quinn Allred (he/him) is from Wake County, North Carolina, where he has returned in order to complete the Lombard Public Service Fellowship after graduating with a major in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics and a minor in Public Policy from Dartmouth College. As a member of both the Christian and LGBTQIA+ communities, Quinn is committed to compassionate leadership rooted in dialogue, service, and bridge-building. He serves as a John Robert Lewis Faith and Politics Postgraduate Fellow, Richard D. Lombard '53 Public Service Fellow, and as the Inaugural National Convention Chair for College Democrats of America. Quinn is also the Founding Executive Director of Let Us Lead, a youth-led fellowship empowering young people nationwide to become change-makers in their own communities.
Estella Ruhrer-Johnson (she/they) is a 22-year-old graduate student based in Iowa City, Iowa. Her advocacy utilizes intersectional feminism as means for uplifting and protecting the most politically vulnerable. Estella currently serves as the DEI chair for Iowa's first congressional district, the President of College and Young Democrats of Iowa, and is hot off the heels of managing her first campaign for Johnson County supervisor Mandi Remington. In their free time, you can catch Estella spending time with her wife Rena and dog Blue.
Meet Ran Shaffer (they/them)! When they’re not pushing for public policy and positive change, they are preaching the power of hope and optimism. They work primarily in the mental health field, advocating for those receiving services with the goal of being a therapist after finishing graduate school.
Sophie Loeb is an Elder Gen Z/millennial cusp queer based in Asheville, NC. She loves spending time with her partner, pup, and beautiful community. When she is not analyzing climate policies by day, she is organizing with her local DSA chapter, volunteering, spending time in nature, cooking yummy food, and enjoying all the birds in her backyard! Sophie is grateful to work with an awesome group to inspire and bring joy to young LGBTQ+ folks in her community.
Eleanor Mrozkowski (she/her), is the 1st Vice Chair of the NCDP Trans Caucus and has been working to organize young queer people as a volunteer her whole adult life. Eleanor mostly grew up in Hot Springs, Madison County, where she developed a deep love of playing and listening to traditional Appalachian folk music. She graduated from UNCA with a Bachelor's of Arts in History and Summa Cum Laude honors. This fellowship excites her because, as a young trans woman in Western North Carolina, she’s seen the hopelessness and the disillusion with politics start to set in. Eleanor feels a responsibility to encourage people like herself to use their voices and exercise their right to vote.
Lyra Opalikhin (she/her) is a community organizer with years of experience uplifting the LGBTQ+ community. Her activism is informed by her transgender identity, which she embraced while attending Michigan State University and earning a Bachelor's in International Relations. She is deeply committed to the idea that LGBTQ+ youth deserve to feel represented and affirmed by their governments, and that this change must be inspired by the inclusion of LGBTQ+ youth in civic spaces. She serves on the Youth Advisory Board for Stand with Trans, a non-profit dedicated to empowering and uplifting transgender youth. Based in Lansing, Michigan, she is also an outspoken advocate within Michigan's political landscape. Currently, she works as the Campaign Director of Protect MI Families, an organization dedicated to expanding consumer protections in Michigan. When she is not busy fighting for an important cause, she enjoys watching movies, exploring nature, writing poetry, and building affirming communities.
Angelle Pine (she/they) graduated from Michigan State University in 2020 with a dual Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Human Resources & Labor Relations, along with two minors in Leadership of Organizations and Women & Gender Studies. Angelle has lived in Michigan’s 7th congressional district their entire life In the 2018 election, Angelle was involved in a group project for class to register other students to vote. During this and other projects in their undergraduate studies, she learned more about nonprofits, which helped guide their career path. Since graduating, Angelle has worked in public libraries. She really enjoy helping people understand the (free!) resources available to them so they can access accurate information. They hope to continue helping folks get reliable access to information, especially regarding voting and civic engagement, via this fellowship with Outvote!
Hillary Rasch (she/they) identifies as non-binary and is excited to meet and work with so many wonderful people, both in their community and in adjacent communities. She aims to create comfortable and safe places for people to feel welcome and understood.
Neely Rogan (they/them) is a rising senior at UNC Asheville studying Political Science and planning on attending graduate school following graduation. They have worked with their College Democrats and local officials to prepare for the upcoming elections, including working on the coordinated campaign for the North Carolina party. Neely has also worked in the nonprofit sector in an effort to adjust proposed legislation for gun violence prevention. They are passionate about LGBTQIA+ rights and representation in government and plan to work in this field.
Ellie Smith (she/they) grew up in northeast Iowa and lives in Iowa City, Iowa. They attend college at the University of Iowa, where she is majoring in History and Political Science and minoring in Korean. Ellie loves listening to music, specifically Stray Kids, Taylor Swift, Hozier, and other various K-Pop groups and individual artists. She loves studying history and politics and enjoys talking about both topics. They enjoy spending time with their family and their cat, Peggy.
Alden Stafford (he/him) was raised between Lexington, Kentucky and its rural outskirts, but he spent lots of time visiting family in the great state of Michigan, where he is thrilled to be working as an OutVote Fellow for this election cycle. Alden recently graduated from Princeton University, where he majored in history and minored in creative writing. He approaches his organizing with a strong passion for the intersection of LGBTQIA+, disability, and racial justice.
Hana Thorson (she/they) is a rising senior at Michigan State University. She is majoring in Political Theory & Constitutional Democracy, focusing on the intersection of technology and policy. As an avid reader of nonfiction history and political theory, Hana is deeply committed to driving equity for LGBTQ+ youth. Her professional background bridges grassroots organizing and legislative strategies. At Campus Vote Project, Hana learned the inner workings of voter education and nonpartisan mobilization, while her experience as an intern at the Michigan House of Representatives gave her a direct look at how policy impacts real people. At OutVote, she hopes to use these skills to empower LGBTQ+ voters through inclusive civic engagement.
Abigail Watkins (she/her) is a 2026 graduate of the University of Iowa, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Anthropology and a certificate in Human Rights. Her academic work focused on social equity, as well as civil and political rights. During her time at the University of Iowa, Abigail led legal research and advocacy campaigns focused on ensuring clean, safe drinking water for communities throughout Iowa. Abigail believes community involvement is an important tool for creating necessary change to address local challenges. As an Outvote Fellow, she works to encourage voter engagement and help people take an active role in the issues that affect their communities.