For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, The Next 50, the leading organization identifying and nurturing the next generation of leadership on the center left, announced a commitment to electing mayors around America beginning with its endorsement of Mayor Justin Bibb of Cleveland, OH; Mayor Paige Cognetti of Scranton, PA; Mayor Zeb Smathers of Canton, NC; and Detroit Council President Mary Sheffield for Mayor of Detroit, MI. Bibb, Cognetti, and Smathers, are all NewDEAL Leaders.

“We’re proud to endorse four exceptional mayoral candidates who represent the bold,  results-driven leadership our party needs to find our way out of the wilderness, win elections, and govern,” said Mari Manoogian, Executive Director of The Next 50. “From Cleveland to Scranton, from Canton to Detroit—Justin Bibb, Paige Cognetti, Zeb Smathers, and Mary Sheffield prove that when Democrats focus on delivering real solutions, we don’t just win elections, we transform communities

“These endorsements build on our momentum from early 2025, where Gina Ortiz Jones defeated MAGA Governor Greg Abbott’s hand-picked candidate with 52.3% of the vote to become Mayor of San Antonio,” said Manoogian. “At The Next 50, we’re not just building a bench—we’re building an army of principled, pragmatic, ‘get shit done’ Democrats who know how to govern and win.”

“The Next 50 continues to show what it looks like to invest in leaders who understand that renewing the Democratic Party isn’t just about rhetoric but about good ideas that deliver real results,” said Debbie Cox Bultan, CEO of the NewDEAL. “We’re excited about the decision to elevate great mayors who can shape the path forward, and are thrilled to see NewDEAL Leaders Justin Bibb, Paige Cognetti, and Zeb Smathers recognized for their proven records of results-driven leadership. These are the kinds of public servants who are delivering real progress in their communities and laying the foundation for the future of our party.”

“I’m deeply honored to receive The Next 50’s endorsement,” said Mayor Justin Bibb of Cleveland, OH. “Their mission—to invest in the next generation of principled, pragmatic, and energetic leaders—reflects the same values I bring to Cleveland: a focus on results, collaboration across lines of difference, and a bold commitment to driving inclusive progress. Together, we’ll build leadership that doesn’t just respond to today’s challenges, but creates a stronger, more equitable future for all.”

“I’m grateful for the support of The Next 50 and honored by the confidence they’ve placed in me and the work we’re doing in Scranton,” said Mayor Paige Cognetti of Scranton, PA. “Thanks to The Next 50’s faith in our campaign, we will continue fighting for a city where rights are protected, families are supported, and everyone can thrive.”

“I am honored and humbled to receive the endorsement of The Next 50—an organization committed to investing in the next generation of principled, pragmatic, and energetic leaders,” said Mayor Zeb Smathers of Canton, NC. “This recognition affirms the belief that practical leadership matters—that bringing people together, rising above division, and building real, lasting solutions is how we leave our communities and country better than we found them.”

“As part of a new generation of leadership, I have dedicated my career to breaking down barriers and making sure every Detroiter, especially those too often left behind, has a voice and a seat at the table,” said Detroit Council President Mary Sheffield. “Earning the support of The Next 50, a movement focused on uplifting principled, pragmatic leaders focused on delivering for their communities, is deeply meaningful. Their endorsement reinforces our shared commitment to building a Detroit that prioritizes people, possibility, and progress.”

About Mayor Justin Bibb of Cleveland, OH

Justin Bibb, the 58th mayor of Cleveland and a proud native of the city’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, is leading transformative change to modernize city services and uplift communities throughout the city. Armed with a degree in Urban Studies from American University, social policy studies at the London School of Economics, and both an MBA and JD from Case Western Reserve University, Bibb has launched impactful initiatives including the Southeast Side Promise program, a $100 million housing investment fund for affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization, and the Raising Investment in Safety for Everyone (RISE) initiative that helped achieve a 36 percent drop in homicides alongside record-high police recruitment. His administration is reconnecting Cleveland to its waterfronts by securing over $150 million in funding to transform Lake Erie’s shoreline and engaging more than 5,000 residents in developing a master plan for increased access and economic development, while his ambitious $5 billion Shore-to-Core-to-Shore initiative includes major public-private investments in the city center and Cuyahoga Riverfront. On the national stage, Mayor Bibb serves as President of the Democratic Mayors Association and co-chairs America is All In, advocating for climate action and equity, while also serving as a national co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

Bibb is a NewDEAL leader.

About Mayor Paige Cognetti of Scranton, PA

Paige Cognetti, who was first sworn in as the 36th Mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania, in January 2020, has focused her administration on driving economic growth, upgrading infrastructure, ensuring public safety, and improving residents’ overall quality of life. With a background in government oversight, investment management, and international relations that includes an MBA from Harvard Business School and summa cum laude graduation from the University of Oregon Clark Honors College, Cognetti has achieved significant milestones including leading Scranton out of a 30-year distressed financial status in 2022 and earning recognition from PA Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office with the Secretary’s Award for Municipal Excellence in 2025 for “excellence in local government for economic, community and financial achievements.” Her career began with advocacy for good government and transparency, entering politics in 2017 after securing a seat on the Scranton School Board to help navigate the district’s financial distress and public mistrust, which led to her role as advisor to the Pennsylvania Auditor General on school district oversight statewide. At the federal level, she served as a Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for International Affairs in the U.S. Treasury Department during the Obama Administration and was appointed to the U.S. Advisory Committee for Trade Policy during the Biden Administration. Cognetti is currently serving as the Vice President of the Democratic Mayors Association.

Cognetti is a NewDEAL leader.

About Mayor Zeb Smathers of Canton, NC

Zeb Smathers became Mayor of Canton, North Carolina in 2017. During his tenure, Smathers has faced unprecedented challenges including a global pandemic, the tragic 2021 flood, the painful closure of Canton’s historic paper mill, and the devastating destruction of Hurricane Helene, disasters he could never have foreseen when first taking office. Through each crisis, Smathers has stood firmly beside his team and a community unwilling to quit, demonstrating leadership rooted in compassion, resilience, and unshakable resolve that has helped fuel a renewed sense of hope and purpose in the people of Canton and across North Carolina, proving himself to be more than just a leader but a steady hand guiding his community through multiple storms.

Smathers is a NewDEAL leader.

About Detroit Council President Mary Sheffield

Mary Sheffield, who made history as the youngest council member elected to Detroit City Council in 2013 representing District 5, has served as Council President for the past 11 years while chairing the Neighborhood and Community Services Standing Committee and serving on the Planning, Economic Development, Budget Finance, and Audit Standing Committees. During her tenure, Sheffield has been instrumental in passing 23 significant pieces of legislation including Inclusionary Housing, Property Tax Reform, Home Repair Grant Funding, Neighborhood Improvement Fund, Neighborhood Beautification Program, Homeowner Property Tax Exemption (HOPE), and Right to Counsel. Her leadership has earned her numerous recognitions including being named to Crain’s Detroit Business’s ‘Twenty in their 20s’ honorees in 2014 and ’40 Under 40′ honorees in 2022, Michigan Chronicle’s 2022 ‘Women of Excellence’ and 2024 ‘Power 50 Leaders,’ Detroit Branch NAACP’s Great Expectations Award in 2016, the Black United Fund’s 2024 Black Excellence Award, the 2023 JoAnn Watson Soul Day Soul Sister Award, and the 2021 Maryann Mahaffey/Erma Henderson Elected Official of the Year Award.