FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2026
Contact: cbeyer@cfequality.org
Center for Freethought Equality PAC Endorses Nine Humanist, Atheist & Nonreligious Candidates
“Whether it’s protecting church-state separation in state capitals or bringing accountability to county offices, these leaders prove that our movement is everywhere”
WASHINGTON – The Center for Freethought Equality (CFE), the advocacy and political arm of the American Humanist Association, is proud to announce its PAC’s endorsement of nine candidates running for state and local office across Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wyoming.
This slate of candidates represents a diverse group of humanist, atheist, agnostic and nonreligious leaders dedicated to protecting church-state separation and advancing evidence-based policy in their communities:
Jacob Martinez (Arizona State House, District 9): Raised Catholic, Martinez ran unopposed in his primary.
David "Muka" Traenkle (El Paso County Assessor, Colorado): Traenkle, an open atheist, is seeking to bring secular leadership and accountability to El Paso County.
Rep. Frank Burns (Delaware State House, District 21): Rep. Burns is a humanist and Unitarian Universalist running for re-election in Dover.
Rep. Eric Morrison (Delaware State House, District 27): Rep. Morrison is an open atheist and has worked closely with CFE’s policy team in the past.
Rep. Billie Butler (New Hampshire State House, Stafford 12): Butler, who is non-religious, is running for re-election.
Nick Paul (New Hampshire State House, Stafford 19): Paul is an open humanist running to bring reason-based leadership to the New Hampshire House.
Rep. Heather Raymond (New Hampshire State House, Hillsborough 5): Raymond, who identifies as non-religious, atheist, and humanist, is seeking re-election.
Mark Wongrowski (Wood County Auditor, Ohio): Wongrowski is an open agnostic running to bring transparent public service to Wood County.
Dr. Stacy Becker (Wyoming State House, District 41): Dr. Becker practices an earth-centered religion—self-describing as “green and witchy.” She is running unopposed in her primary to flip a closely contested state house district.
“When nonreligious Americans run for office, they change the conversation – and when they win, they deliver policies grounded in science, equity and reason that improve the lives of their constituents,” said Fish Stark, Executive Director of the Center for Freethought Equality. “Whether it’s protecting church-state separation in state capitals or bringing accountability to county offices, these leaders prove that our movement is needed. We’re thrilled to put the full weight of the CFE PAC behind them and ensure secular voters have champions representing them at every level of government.”
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The Center for Freethought Equality advocates for issues the humanist and atheist community cares about like the separation of church and state, protecting civil liberties, and advancing progressive policies. The CFE also has an affiliated political action committee that works to increase the number of open humanists and atheists in public office at all levels of government. A list of federal, state, local and former elected officials who identify with the humanist and atheist community can be found here.
