Washington D.C. –
The Forward Party today announced its endorsement of two congressional candidates: Niina Baum, a Republican running in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, and Alissa Ellman, a Democrat running in New York’s 24th Congressional District.
The endorsements reflect the Forward Party’s continued mission of supporting candidates across the political spectrum who demonstrate a commitment to governing in the public interest.
“Forward’s mission is to support leaders who put problem solving and effective representation ahead of partisan incentives,” says Lindsey Drath, CEO of the Forward Party. “Niina Baum and Alissa Ellman come from different political parties and different backgrounds, but both have built records of service in their communities and are focused on representing the people they seek to serve.”
-Lindsey Drath, CEO, Forward Party
Niina Baum — Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District
Baum was born on a Wisconsin dairy farm and raised in the heart of Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, which she is now running to represent. She is the founder of marketing agency Valo Media and currently serves on the Board of the Rhinelander Rotary Club and as a Planning Commissioner for the Town of Crescent. She co-founded Northwoods Young Professionals to help retain young talent in rural Wisconsin and has organized community events that generated more than $500,000 in regional economic impact.
Baum has also served as an adjunct professor and business mentor at a local technical college, helped establish the Hodag Snack Attack program to provide food to elementary school students in the Rhinelander area, and serves on the board of the United States Federation of Sleddog Sports after representing Team USA in World Championship competition.
She has pledged not to accept corporate PAC contributions and is focused on running a campaign rooted in the values she developed growing up in rural Wisconsin: hard work, resourcefulness, and showing up for your community.
Alissa Ellman — New York’s 24th Congressional District
Born and raised in the hills of the Genesee Valley, Alissa Ellman is a proud New Yorker, veteran, mother, and public servant. Alissa grew up barefoot in Houghton, New York, a town with six stop signs. Before she could vote, she had taken an oath to defend the United States and spent years serving overseas, giving back to the country she loves.
Alissa worked at Bagram Airfield, helping oversee flights into, out of, and around Afghanistan. After returning from service, Alissa was a teacher for underprivileged youths, helping her young neighbors turn their lives around while raising her daughters in Lockport.
In 2025, she was working at the Department of Veterans Affairs, helping veterans secure their benefits, when her employment ended during the federal workforce reductions carried out under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Ellman made the decision to run for Congress after becoming involved in her local community by organizing town halls. She wanted to fight for the priorities of people in her community whom she felt were not being heard.
Ellman’s campaign emphasizes affordability, access to healthcare, constituent services, infrastructure, childcare, and election reforms intended to increase civic participation, including ranked-choice voting. Above all, it is Ellman’s intention to be a representative for every person in her district—one who listens to the people she represents and acts with their best interests in mind.
Niina Baum is currently participating in the Republican primary for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, which will take place on August 4, 2026. Alissa Ellman is on the ballot for the November 2026 general election for New York’s 24th Congressional District.
These endorsements reflect the Forward Party’s broader effort to support candidates based on their commitment to public service and responsive governance rather than party affiliation alone. The party has endorsed Republicans, Democrats, independents, and other candidates who demonstrate a willingness to work across political divides and prioritize effective representation.
As the Forward Party continues to expand its endorsements, it remains focused on identifying candidates whose records and priorities align with its mission of strengthening democratic institutions, increasing accountability, and encouraging collaborative leadership at every level of government.
