Although she has always had strong opinions concerning politics, Jeanine Calkin never thought to run for office herself until she felt a “call to action” after leading the Bernie Sanders Presidential Campaign in Rhode Island. Now, Calkin, 46, is running for the Senate as a progressive Democrat in District 30 against incumbent Senator William Walaska (D). Republicans Joseph Bannister and William Clegg have also declared for the seat.

Calkin grew up in Johnston, moving to Warwick with her husband Daniel Calkin in 2012. She graduated from Johnston High School in 1987 and then went to the University of Rhode Island to study electrical engineering before transferring to Johnson & Wales where she earned a bachelor’s in computer science. She would go on to receive her master’s in Information Services from Bryant. Throughout her schooling she would work at both Rhode Island and Roger Williams Hospitals in electronic billing as well as in the IT department of Johnson & Wales. She would eventually work as a programmer for GTech before moving to Analog Devices where she served as a project manager for 12 years.

In 2007, Calkin and her husband began their own game development company, Fun Q Games, but in April of last year Calkin shifted her career to become a full time volunteer for the Sanders campaign, starting the Rhode Island for Bernie Sanders, organizing volunteers locally out of her home.

Through her experiences running the Sanders campaign, Calkin listened to the stories of Rhode Islanders and realized how many people felt their voices weren’t being heard and that their own values were represented in the current legislature. She began looking to the voting record her own representative, to find he had an A+ rating from the NRA, was in favor of tax breaks to the wealthy and had voting against women’s rights legislation.

“It made me want to step up and get involved,” Calkin said. “I think many constituents don’t feel their needs are being considered and want to see that change. We need to move the General Assembly towards a more fair and balanced platform.”

Calkin has begun canvassing neighborhoods, developing a strong social media presence and making phone calls. She said many of the people she has met already are surprised at how different the views of their representatives are from their own and they are “ready to have their voices heard and to see change.” Many of the individuals she has reached out to have even offered to volunteer on her campaign.

She said, “We have been canvassing because I want to let people know who I am, why I am running and what I stand for. More importantly I want to find out what’s important to them.”

Because Calkin worked on the Sanders Campaign, winning in Warwick by 19 points, she believes her own campaign has been able to “hit the ground running”. Already she has a “solid” network of contributors and volunteers.

“We have a good ground game going. I know I still have a lot to learn, but my experience leading projects will bridge the gap into this new role,” Calkin said.

If elected Calkin would like to work on ensuring paid family leave for new parents and those with ill lived ones. She would like to increase the minimum wage over time to $15 as well as move Rhode Island more towards green, renewable, energy sources such as solar, wind and geothermal energy and away from reliance on fossil fuels.” Calkin would like to ensure and possibly expand social security while also securing, supportive programs and resources for the state’s most “challenged and disadvantaged population, to have access to services and healthcare.

Over the past year, Calkin believes the general public has become more politically conscious than ever and has heard a call to action like herself, whether that’s to run, or go out and vote where they may not have before.

“People want change and are taking a proactive step themselves to see that change,” Calkin said, “ I think its great to have more people involved to have choice and option to vote for the best candidate. People want to see someone new in the race, new blood.”

Calkin believes her values are more aligned with constituents than current leadership and she would be a “fighter” for the people, but she promises to put the desires of her district above her own. Calkin said she does not want to make the senate her career, but wants to do what is right for Warwick and all of Rhode Island”.

Calkin held her first fundraiser July 1st, at Iggy’s Boardwalk in Oakland Beach. She intends to continue walking the district and reaching out to different community organizations and small businesses.

For more information on Jeanine Calkin and her candidacy for District 30 as a progressive democrat, visit her Facebook Page “Jeanine Calkin Rhode Island” or her Twitter @JeanineforRI.