Pennsylvania Speaker Joanna McClinton Named Winner in Nationwide Policy Ideas Contest
McClinton’s approach to safeguarding democracy is recognized as one of six winning policies
Rep. Joanna E. McClinton November 17, 2025 | 11:54 AM
HARRISBURG, Nov. 17 – NewDEAL Forum announced six winners in the 2025 National Ideas Challenge, a nationwide competition among the forward-thinking state and local policymakers from NewDEAL, with submissions focused on policies to build strong, healthy communities.
The winners of the 2025 Ideas Challenge are featured in GOVERNING.
Winners were chosen by nationally recognized policy experts (listed below) who reviewed more than 50 policy proposals submitted by elected officials from cities, counties and states across the country.
The announcement comes amid a year of federal cuts and policy uncertainty that has only increased the importance of states and localities maximizing their resources in the effort to build safe, healthy, prosperous communities. Submissions for the Ideas Challenges were categorized by six key policy areas: Housing, Health, Education, Youth Investment, Public Safety and Democracy. The judges narrowed the field to 20 finalists, and selected one winner from each category.
As a champion for democracy, Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, is recognized for her Voting Rights Protection Act, which would improve voter turnout and boost confidence in the electoral system, with results being reported more quickly. Key provisions include allowing pre-canvassing of returned mail-in ballots for faster reporting; establishing uniform statewide standards for secure ballot drop boxes; permitting ballot curing to prevent disenfranchisement from minor errors; implementing standardized and accessible in-person early voting; and increasing poll worker pay to improve recruitment and retention.
“The winners of the 2025 Ideas Challenge exemplify what effective leadership looks like in practice – developing innovative policies that empower hardworking Americans,” said Jonathon Dworkin, executive director of the NewDEAL Forum. “These elected officials are addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing Americans today, from housing affordability and access to health care to public safety and education. Their work reflects a deep commitment to pragmatic problem-solving that focuses on issues that matter most to families and communities.”
The other winners are:
Education: Preparing Students for the Future
- Christopher Cabaldon, California senator, for his Expanding College Access Through Direct Admission legislation, which would break down barriers to college entry by establishing direct admission to the California State University system for qualified high school seniors. By reframing college as the natural “13th grade,” this policy removes psychological and procedural barriers that prevent students from pursuing a degree.
Health: Delivering Care in Communities
- Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, Wash., for her city’s Emergency Mobile Opioid Team, which delivers essential medical services – such as medication-assisted treatment, counseling and peer support – directly to residents who cannot or choose not to engage with traditional office-based care. By meeting residents on their terms, EMOTE bridges the gap between addiction and access to care, addressing the drug crisis as both a public health and human issue.
Housing: Expanding Development and Affordability
- Jon Mitchell, Mayor of New Bedford, Mass., for his Vacant Property Initiative, which will expand the housing supply by making better use of existing housing stock and underutilized space. The initiative combines dedicated staff support, interdepartmental collaboration, and a data-driven property registry to reactivate unused properties through addressing technical and legal hurdles and supporting families navigating complex ownership or inheritance issues. The program represents a faster, more cost-effective way to restore housing, reduce blight and strengthen neighborhoods.
Public Safety & Justice: Protecting Communities and Strengthening Trust
- Zach Klein, city attorney for Columbus, Ohio, for his Law Enforcement Community Immersion Program, a first-of-its-kind program that combines classroom and field experiences for probationary officers (those who just graduated the academy) to be immersed in the communities they will be patrolling. During the 192-hour Immersion Program, officers meet area leaders, work with service providers, and learn the history and unique challenges facing neighborhoods so that when they encounter an issue in the field, they have a better understanding of how to respond. The program has already led to a documented decrease in both officer complaints and use-of-force incidents.
Youth Investment: Growing in the Next Generation
- Kate Farrar, Connecticut representative, for her Early Childhood Education Endowment initiative, a transformational childcare and pre-K program that addresses immediate needs and invests in the future of kids, families, educators and businesses. As it is implemented in stages over the next few years, the initiative will provide free childcare for families earning under $100,000; fund 16,000 additional state-funded spaces to reach universal pre-K by 2032; start to pay early childhood educators on par with K-12; and develop a centralized digital portal to streamline family access and enrollment.
The Ideas Challenge was organized by the NewDEAL Forum, a non-profit organization that identifies and elevates innovative, future-oriented state and local policies that can improve the lives of all Americans. By facilitating the identification and spread of policy ideas, the NewDEAL Forum seeks to foster economic growth, reduce barriers to opportunity, and promote good government in communities, cities, and states throughout the country.
All Ideas Challenge entries can be found on The NewDEAL website.
NewDEAL Forum enlisted the help of the following panel of judges to review the Ideas Challenge submissions:
- U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10) – chair, New Democrat Coalition
- Steve Benjamin – former Mayor of Columbia, S.C.
- Kristina Costa – former deputy assistant to President Biden
- Martha Coven – founder, Coven Consulting; former Office of Management and Budget associate director
- Jonathan Smith – senior chief deputy director, Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity