Stanton Witherspoon|November 5, 2026
At least 10 candidates with Seventh-day Adventist connections won or were reported elected to congressional, state, and local offices across the United States on November 3, 2026, including five graduates of Oakwood University, the church’s historically Black university in Huntsville, Alabama.
The candidates include Democrats and Republicans elected to Congress, state legislatures, city government, and the judiciary. Some are Adventist church members or leaders, while others attended Adventist schools.
Among the winners was U.S. Representative Raul Ruiz, a Seventh-day Adventist and Democrat from California, who won reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives in District 25. Ruiz, a physician who has served in Congress since 2013, secured another two-year term representing communities in Southern California.
In Oklahoma, Herschel L. Brown, an emergency medicine physician and leader at Voice of Hope Seventh-day Adventist Church in Oklahoma City, won the state House District 99 race. Brown, a Democrat, received approximately 86% of the vote.
Two Democrats identified as Seventh-day Adventists also secured seats in Florida. Daphne Campbell, a registered nurse who previously served in both chambers of the Florida Legislature, won the House District 108 election with approximately 81% of the vote.
Felicia Robinson, an educator and former Miami Gardens city official, secured another term representing House District 104 after running unopposed. Robinson, first elected to the Florida House in 2020, is also listed as Seventh-day Adventist in legislative biographies.
In Hawaii, Republican Diamond Garcia, who attended the Adventist-operated Hawaiian Mission Academy and previously served as an Adventist missionary, was reported reelected to the state House in District 42 following a close race.
The candidates include Democrats and Republicans elected to Congress, state legislatures, city government, and the judiciary. Some are Adventist church members or leaders, while others attended Adventist schools.
Among the winners was U.S. Representative Raul Ruiz, a Seventh-day Adventist and Democrat from California, who won reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives in District 25. Ruiz, a physician who has served in Congress since 2013, secured another two-year term representing communities in Southern California.
In Oklahoma, Herschel L. Brown, an emergency medicine physician and leader at Voice of Hope Seventh-day Adventist Church in Oklahoma City, won the state House District 99 race. Brown, a Democrat, received approximately 86% of the vote.
Two Democrats identified as Seventh-day Adventists also secured seats in Florida. Daphne Campbell, a registered nurse who previously served in both chambers of the Florida Legislature, won the House District 108 election with approximately 81% of the vote.
Felicia Robinson, an educator and former Miami Gardens city official, secured another term representing House District 104 after running unopposed. Robinson, first elected to the Florida House in 2020, is also listed as Seventh-day Adventist in legislative biographies.
In Hawaii, Republican Diamond Garcia, who attended the Adventist-operated Hawaiian Mission Academy and previously served as an Adventist missionary, was reported reelected to the state House in District 42 following a close race.
Oakwood University Alumni Win Elections
Oakwood University (OU) also celebrated electoral victories by five of its graduates who won positions in state legislatures, city government, and the judiciary.
In a November 4 letter to the university community, President Gina Spivey-Brown congratulated four alumni whose victories had been reported and noted that a fifth was awaiting final results. The fifth candidate, Jeff Livingston of Colorado, was subsequently reported as the winner by the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Among the graduates was Chris Johnson, a Democrat elected to represent Pennsylvania House District 200. Johnson grew up in North Philadelphia and studied political science at Oakwood University. In an April 2026 interview with the Chestnut Hill Local, he said he was born and raised a Seventh-day Adventist.
His brother, Corey Johnson, also an Oakwood graduate, serves as lead pastor of Germantown Seventh-day Adventist Church in Philadelphia. Before his election, Chris Johnson worked as district office director for Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton. He ran unopposed in the general election.
In Kentucky, Oakwood graduate Keisha Dorsey won election to Louisville Metro Council District 3 with approximately 59% of the vote. Dorsey, who studied biology at Oakwood and later earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Louisville, previously served on the council from 2019 to 2022.
In Connecticut, Democrat Carolann Reid won the state Senate District 21 race, defeating a Republican incumbent in a district that had been represented by Republicans for approximately six decades. Reid, an Oakwood graduate, has worked in social services for about 20 years.
Oakwood University (OU) also celebrated electoral victories by five of its graduates who won positions in state legislatures, city government, and the judiciary.
In a November 4 letter to the university community, President Gina Spivey-Brown congratulated four alumni whose victories had been reported and noted that a fifth was awaiting final results. The fifth candidate, Jeff Livingston of Colorado, was subsequently reported as the winner by the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Among the graduates was Chris Johnson, a Democrat elected to represent Pennsylvania House District 200. Johnson grew up in North Philadelphia and studied political science at Oakwood University. In an April 2026 interview with the Chestnut Hill Local, he said he was born and raised a Seventh-day Adventist.
His brother, Corey Johnson, also an Oakwood graduate, serves as lead pastor of Germantown Seventh-day Adventist Church in Philadelphia. Before his election, Chris Johnson worked as district office director for Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton. He ran unopposed in the general election.
In Kentucky, Oakwood graduate Keisha Dorsey won election to Louisville Metro Council District 3 with approximately 59% of the vote. Dorsey, who studied biology at Oakwood and later earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Louisville, previously served on the council from 2019 to 2022.
In Connecticut, Democrat Carolann Reid won the state Senate District 21 race, defeating a Republican incumbent in a district that had been represented by Republicans for approximately six decades. Reid, an Oakwood graduate, has worked in social services for about 20 years.
In Texas, Carrie Singleton ran unopposed for judge of Dallas County Criminal Court at Law No. 9. An Oakwood graduate and assistant public defender, Singleton is also a member of The Dallas Project, a Seventh-day Adventist congregation affiliated with the Southwest Region Conference.
In Colorado, Democrat Jeff Livingston, an Army veteran and information technology professional, won the state House District 15 race. His victory marked a change in a district that had previously elected only Republicans to the state House.
Livingston previously contested the same seat in 2024 but lost. An Oakwood graduate, he has credited his education with strengthening his relationship with God and shaping his commitment to community service. His current religious affiliation has not been independently confirmed.
In her letter, Oakwood President Spivey-Brown also reflected on the history of voting rights for African Americans and thanked university students, employees, and alumni who participated in the election.
Adventists and Political Participation
The election victories also draw attention to the Adventist Church’s position on political participation. In its 2002 statement on church-state relations, the General Conference said, “Indeed, Adventists may properly aspire to serve in positions of civil leadership.” The statement also urges Adventists in government to protect religious freedom for everyone and not use political power to promote their faith or restrict the beliefs of others.
The church has maintained a separate position on political endorsements. When Adventist physician Ben Carson announced his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2015, the North American Division issued a statement reaffirming the denomination’s “longstanding position of not supporting or opposing any candidate for elected office.”
The division said individual members were free to support candidates of their choice, but the church and its institutions must remain politically neutral.
That distinction applies to the candidates elected in November. Their church membership, family backgrounds, or education at Adventist institutions do not constitute an endorsement by the denomination.
Photo collage: Raul Ruiz, Herschel L. Brown, Daphne Campbell, Felicia Robinson, and Diamond Garcia (top row); Chris Johnson, Carolann Reid, Keisha Dorsey, Carrie Singleton, and Jeff Livingston (bottom row). Graphic by Jared Wright/SPECTRUM.
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