WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Alliance for American Leadership (A4AL), a bipartisan coalition of 150,000 veterans, students, and citizens today endorsed Dr. Jess Lewis, PhD, MSPH, a former U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) official and Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 43B.

Lewis brings experience in environmental science, public health, and international development to her campaign. Her federal service includes work with USAID, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Federal Aviation Administration. She has also coordinated clean household energy programs for the World Health Organization, working at the intersection of public health, environmental protection, and international cooperation.

Lewis was among the USAID employees dismissed following the agency's dismantling in 2025. She has since spoken publicly about the consequences of the reductions to international development programs and the importance of maintaining effective public institutions.

A union member affiliated with the American Foreign Service Association, Lewis has spoken about the role of federal employees and public institutions in delivering services and protecting the public interest. She also identifies herself as a co-founder of the Minnesota Aid Alliance, a community organization bringing together individuals with ties to international development.

“When USAID was dismantled, America didn’t just lose programs, it lost people: thousands of skilled public servants who kept our country safe and respected throughout the world. But a calling to serve doesn’t disappear. The federal government's loss is Minnesota’s gain, and District 43B would be fortunate to send Dr. Jess Lewis to St. Paul” said Asher Moss, founder and executive director of the Alliance for American Leadership. 

Press contact: presssecretary@a4al.org