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FORWARD PARTY WOMEN’S COMMITTEE ENDORSES SLATE OF WOMEN CANDIDATES IN KENTUCKY
Lexington, KY — May 7, 2026 — The Forward Party Women’s Committee today announced its endorsement of a slate of women candidates running for office across Kentucky, highlighting a growing movement of independent-minded leaders committed to practical solutions, accountability, and a more representative political system.
The endorsed candidates include:
- Erin Petrey, candidate for Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District (KY-06), is a business leader and native Kentuckian with deep roots in Lexington, eastern, and northern Kentucky. She built her career creating jobs and leading major infrastructure projects across the energy, technology, and healthcare sectors. Petrey is an active community volunteer and national board member of Bourbon Women, and is running to bring accountability, economic opportunity, and a people-first approach to Congress, with a focus on affordability, healthcare access, job creation, and strengthening communities across the district.
- Vanessa Grossl, incumbent for Kentucky State House District 88, is a fiscal conservative dedicated to economic growth and government accountability. Raised with the values of hard work by a public school teacher and a diesel mechanic, Grossl brings real-world experience as both a former classroom teacher and a current small business owner. Her professional background in the software industry and local government policy is centered on market-driven solutions and the efficient use of taxpayer dollars. In the General Assembly, she remains focused on expanding workforce development, cutting red tape for small businesses, and ensuring Kentucky remains a premier destination for economic investment and family stability.
- Julie Cantwell, candidate for Kentucky State House District 10, is a community leader, patient advocate, and co-founder of Kentucky Moms for Medical Cannabis. A moderate Republican, she has worked across party lines through her service on the Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Workgroup and Advisory Board, focusing on public health, addiction recovery, and expanding access to care. Cantwell is a longtime volunteer with organizations supporting seniors, veterans, and families in need, and is running on a platform centered on practical solutions, community engagement, and putting people over politics.
- Hannah Beth Rivera, candidate for Kentucky State House District 93, is an attorney, publisher, and former government affairs executive with experience building bipartisan coalitions and delivering results in public policy. With a background as a chief of staff, nonprofit policy advisor, and higher education advocate, she has helped secure significant investments in workforce and education initiatives across the state. Rivera is running on a platform focused on affordability, transparency, strong schools, and restoring civility in public life, bringing a solutions-oriented approach grounded in accountability and real outcomes.
These candidates represent a diverse group of leaders from across the Commonwealth, each bringing a commitment to serve their communities and move beyond partisan gridlock to deliver real results for Kentucky families.
“The women we are endorsing today are exactly the kind of leaders people have been asking for: thoughtful, solutions-oriented, and grounded in their communities,” said Sheila Joneleit, Chair of the Forward Party Women’s Committee and a Kentucky resident. “At a time when too many people feel like politics isn’t working for them, these candidates are stepping up to change that. They’re focused on solving problems, not scoring political points, and they reflect the kind of leadership Kentucky deserves.”
The Forward Party Women’s Committee is dedicated to supporting women leaders who are committed to collaboration, integrity, and putting people over partisanship. This slate reflects the committee’s mission to expand opportunity, elevate new voices, and help build a political system that better represents the communities it serves.
Across the country, voters are increasingly frustrated with a system that limits choice and rewards division. Independent and solutions-focused candidates are stepping forward to meet that moment, offering a different path that prioritizes accountability and results.
“These candidates are not running to fit into the system as it exists today,” Joneleit added. “They are running to help fix it by bringing people together, listening to their communities, and focusing on what actually works.”
The Forward Party and its Women’s Committee will continue to support candidates at the local, state, and federal levels who are committed to building a more inclusive, competitive, and representative political system.
The Forward Party is bringing moderates, conservatives, and progressives together to heal our political divisions, find our shared ground, and create a brighter future for America. Forward Party candidates are accountable to the voters, and they will focus on solutions, not partisan fighting, in order to serve their constituents better.
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