we can move mountains
Meet the team: Miti Sathe and Will Levitt share their thoughts on what we've accomplished at Square One.
Friends,
We have a lot of work ahead of us.
When I signed on as Square One’s new executive director last month, I knew I wouldn’t just have an organization dedicated to electing breakthrough leaders — I would have a whole team dedicated to making that happen.
Over the coming weeks, I’m looking forward to introducing (or reintroducing!) you to Square One’s team. The road ahead may be steep. But there’s no doubt in my mind: with the right team, we can move mountains.
Today, I’m excited for you to hear from Square One co-founders Miti Sathe and Will Levitt.
Onwards and upwards,
Tony Vargas
Executive Director, Square One
P.S. I’m committed to growing our team so that we can support more breakthrough candidates — can you chip in with a contribution?
Miti Sathe is a co-founder of Square One, as well as the founding executive director and the current board chair. Will Levitt is a co-founder of Square One and the organization’s chief operating officer.
Close your eyes and think back to early 2017. Do you remember? Our national political landscape wasn’t unlike today. Trump’s first term had just begun — and our country was in crisis. Republicans were in power in the White House and both chambers of Congress.
Over dinner in NYC with co-founder Brian Bordainick, we agreed that Democrats faced a crisis of leadership in the post-Obama era. We just weren’t seeing the type of up-and-coming, diverse, forward-thinking leaders — people we knew could help lead us out of a dark political moment — running for office.
And so Square One was formed to recruit and support exactly the type of leaders the Democratic party so desperately needed. We talked to teachers, nurses, veterans, working parents, local organizers — and encouraged them to run for Congress, focusing on women, people of color and LGBTQ+ candidates.
Like any new project, those early days were exhilarating and challenging. There were many bumps along the road. But for every challenge, there was a new opportunity that kept us going. We were meeting exceptional candidates — people like Lauren Underwood and Antonio Delgado and Liuba Grechen Shirley — and it was clear that the type of support Square One could provide their campaigns would be game-changing.
We each brought what we could to the table. Miti had extensive political and campaign experience, including on Obama’s 2008 campaign and in the Obama White House. Will had ideas and connections from working in the media world to help our candidates tell their stories. Brian had launched successful startups and knew how to get a fledgling project off the ground.
Even in the most challenging moments, we never doubted the impact of this work and the importance of sending new leaders to Washington. Looking back on the first eight years of Square One, we’re proud of what we’ve built alongside an amazing team of staff, advisors, volunteers and supporters:
We’ve flipped or held Congressional seats 22 times: 20 times in the US House and twice in the US Senate.
On average, our candidates have over-performed in every election cycle.
We’ve had the chance to elect or reelect truly stand-out stars of the Democratic party: Lauren Underwood, Sharice Davids, Yadira Caraveo, Antonio Delgado, Lucy McBath, Angela Alsobrooks, Katie Porter and many, many more.
The work continues, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Tony as our new executive director. As a former Square One candidate, a former state senator, and a non-profit leader, we know his vision and leadership will be the beginning of a bright new chapter for the organization we love. We look forward to working alongside Tony — and we know Square One’s mission is as critical today as it was in 2017.
With high hopes,
Miti Sathe & Will Levitt
Co-founders, Square One
We’ve done so much, together. Help us build the next chapter of Square One — your support makes our work possible.
Living in Iowa, red now and also a state that voted twice for Obama, I work with groups that recruit candidates, including in rural areas. Do you share any collections of lessons learned on best practices, including working inside and outside of political parties for recruitment? Writing as a former state legislator. Thank you. We could connect by a more secure platform.