Arts veterans enter Congress and city halls as Democrats take both chambers

The 2027 federal budget request asks for $1.5 trillion in defense spending while seeking to eliminate funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This proposal arrives as Democrats flip control of both the House and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections. The new majority includes candidates whose careers began in creative industries rather than law firms or corporate offices. The timing places these artists directly in the path of a budget that aims to cut federal support for culture.

Last year, Congress blocked some arts cuts, but the administration still ended hundreds of National Endowment for the Arts grants totaling more than $27 million. The incoming Democratic leadership now faces the task of negotiating the next fiscal year. Several of these officials campaigned on messages that linked artistic practice to economic survival and public health.

Rob Sand, the 44-year-old governor-elect of Iowa, spent two decades working in fashion before entering politics. He modeled for Prada and walked runways for designers including Giuliano Fujiwara. Sand graduated from Brown University and the University of Iowa College of Law. He served two terms as state auditor. His campaign focused on public education, affordable living, and anti-corruption measures. He is now preparing to take office after Iowans elected him to break a 20-year Republican hold on the governorship.

Nathan Johnson, the newly elected Texas attorney general, spent the 2000s composing musical scores for 67 episodes and five movies of Dragon Ball Z. He also ran a music production company and composed classical stage music. Johnson defeated the Republican incumbent to end a 28-year Republican streak in the office. He described the election results as a rejection of divisiveness and corruption during a time of economic anxiety.

Bobby Pulido, a Latin Grammy-winning Tejano artist, won 62% of the vote in Texas' 15th Congressional District. He will leave a three-decade stage career to serve in Washington. His platform emphasized affordability, healthcare access, and immigration reform. He defeated incumbent Monica De La Cruz, who questioned his background during the race. Pulido responded by performing at quinceañeras throughout his district.

Claire Valdez, a visual artist and union organizer, won 83% of the vote in New York's 7th Congressional District. She previously served in the New York State Assembly and worked as a program assistant at Columbia University. She argued that art is a necessity rather than a luxury. Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed her candidacy. Her district contains a high concentration of artists who struggle with studio costs and healthcare.

Nithya Raman, the Los Angeles mayor-elect, studied classical dance and toured with a dance company in the early 2000s. She defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Her husband is a television writer and producer. Raman campaigned on housing affordability and public transit expansion. She plans to lead the city with a background in choreography and design, having reconnected with her husband during the 2007-08 Writers Guild Strike.