When it comes to the high desert of Southern California, sweeping landscapes of Joshua trees and famous Palm Springs resorts might come to mind. While this area has long been home to the arts, national parks, and tourism, the new reality for many residents involves wildfires, droughts, and economic hardship. If there’s one political candidate who embodies the free spirit of the high desert and has a plan to save it, it’s Democrat Derek Marshall, who is running to represent California’s new 23rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
A Progressive at Heart
Marshall has dedicated himself to making sure the needs of working citizens come first, not corporate donors or special interests. His platform calls for enacting Medicare for All, creating liveable-wage jobs, updating public infrastructure, tackling climate change by enacting a Green New Deal, ending medical and student debt, and expanding human rights.
“We can do better for the citizens here,” Marshall said. “Most residents have to travel outside of the district to find good-paying jobs. There isn’t even a four-year college available for students. That’s got to change.”
While this is his first time running for office, he’s not a newbie to the political world. Marshall was a lead organizer on Bernie Sanders’ 2020 campaign in Nevada and helped architect the Senator’s historic win in the Democratic caucuses. Additionally, he has joined forces with community organizers who rally around mutual aid issues in Southern California and helped flip Senate seats in Georgia. A progressive at heart, he has a proven track record of challenging the status quo and advocating for positive change.
To understand how Marshall’s progressive policies got started, it’s necessary to understand his background. After graduating from American University, he moved to Germany, where he helped found a global initiative program for the United Nations. This project developed a framework that holds governments accountable to the different UN conventions and resolutions they have signed. It was a success, with 35 countries joining. Marshall next served as Director of Internationalization for the newly created travel agency KAYAK.
During this European chapter of his life, he saw firsthand how government social programs can be effective in taking care of citizens, regardless of economic status. He felt compelled to enact similar measures in the U.S.
“My experience in Europe showed me what it’s like for people not to live with the anxiety of student debt or medical debt. I want to relieve these huge sources of anxiety for Americans,” Marshall said. “We’re the richest country on Earth – we have the means to change the lives of working people and ease their economic burdens, but we also need elected officials willing to fight for those policies.”
Taking care of those in need is something Marshall learned from a young age. His family was active in the church and dedicated every Saturday to feeding the homeless.
Those experiences “just instilled this moral clarity in me and made me realize that our government has some shortcomings. I want to change that,” he said.
Not an Ordinary Politician
The demographics of the high desert are changing. Those between the ages of 25 to 34 now make up the majority of the population, and a growing number of LGBTQ+ families call California’s 23rd District their home. Bounded by Death Valley National Park on the north and Joshua Tree National Park on the south, the area has always been an artsy place with lots of culture and nature. The District includes Victorville, Barstow, and Twentynine Palms.
An open and proud gay man, Marshall seems like an apt embodiment of this area. He has not only traveled the world and picked up several foreign languages, but also attended Burning Man five times and served as executive producer of an award-winning film.
“The high desert is a diverse landscape with folks from all walks of life. There’s a wide range of political ideologies, but what connects us all is a deep love of our natural lands and a shared culture of being a little outside the norm,” said Marshall “ I’ve lived a lot of different lives and I’m proud of that. I think that’s something the folks of this district can relate to – it’s why I think I can represent them the best in Congress.”
He also knows how to throw a party. While working in Europe, he opened a co-working space in Berlin. By day, it was filled with busy workers. By night, it turned into an art bar that streamed new episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race and featured drag performances. LGBTQ+ Syrian refugees even held political panels there.
Upon moving to California, Marshall created the largest queer underground dance rave in Los Angeles. Part of the proceeds raised went to women’s shelters and LGBTQ+ organizations.
“We need safe spaces for queer and trans folks to be themselves and exist. Everyone deserves to be accepted,” he said.
It would be fair to say Marshall is not your average politician. If anyone understands the changes happening in this district, it’s him.
Emerging as the Most Viable Challenger
Marshall is currently the strongest Democrat in the race, his grassroots fundraising efforts have catapulted him to the front of the pack. According to data from the Federal Election Commission, he leads his fellow Democrats by more than $300,000. More than 78 percent of this total comes from individual small-dollar donations. Given this track record of success, it’s likely he will be the one facing incumbent Jay Obernolte (R) in November.
“Obernolte has refused to help everyday people in our district. He keeps letting Washington keep our tax dollars. For example, he voted no on the Invest in America Act, which would have helped rebuild our roads and improve our infrastructure,” Marshall said. “Why? Because he’s beholden to the special-interest groups who fund his elections.”
In 2020, Obernolte self-funded $1,288,000 towards his campaign, accepted donations from corporations and received help from political action committees. He’s the 16th richest member of Congress.
“When I say my campaign is for working-class people, I mean it!” Marshall said. “I refuse to take money from corporations or special interest groups. My agenda isn’t swayed by money.”
