Nomiki Konst

Nomiki (/No-me-KEY/^[2]) Daphne Konst (born January 27, 1984) is an American political activist, founder of the non-profit group Alliance Hollywood, host of The Filter with Nomiki Konst on SiriusXM Progress and an investigative reporter for The Young Turks. She is also a former Democratic candidate for United States Congress in the 2012 congressional election^[3] as well as a former Democratic National Committee member until 2016.

Early life and family

Konst was born in Tucson, Arizona to parents Harry and Kathy, her father a lawyer and her mother an educator and small business owner. Her grandparents had moved to Tucson in 1962, where they still live, from Albania. After moving to the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, her mother Kathy Konst ran for and won two terms in the Erie County Legislature, before later being chosen as the county's Commissioner of Environment, Planning, and Economic Development. Konst went to college at the University of Arizona, before later splitting her time between Tucson, Los Angeles, and Buffalo.

Political activism

Introduced to activism at a young age, Konst participated in many social and political groups, including public service work, volunteering with campaigns such as her mother's, and eventually involvement in national political groups including the Democratic National Committee and Generation 44, the youth-outreach arm of Organizing for America. She served a 6-month term in 2011 as a national co-chair of Generation 44, as well as being on the Los Angeles Advisory Council of Running Start, an organization dedicated to encouraging young women to get into politics.

In 2009 Konst founded Alliance Hollywood, a non-profit group dedicated to using "clean lobbying" to focus on improving public discourse and bringing attention to a variety of public issues ranging from civility in politics to humanitarianism.

2012 Congressional Election

Following the resignation of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords from Congress, Konst stepped down as executive director of Alliance Hollywood in order to dedicate herself full-time to running for office. Konst cited the work Giffords had done as her representative, and the need for more women getting involved in politics, as reasons for her decision^[4]. After announcing a candidacy for Arizona's 8th Congressional District, she did not end up filing for the office^[5].

2016 Presidential Election

Konst later became involved with the Democratic National Committee. Once a supporter of Hillary Clinton, Konst switched to supporting Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic Party Primary after visiting many of the senator's rallies across Iowa prior to the caucuses. She became a Sanders surrogate later in the campaign. Konst was later a member of Sanders delegation to the drafting of the 2016 Democratic platform after the senator's primary defeat by Clinton.

During this time Konst also became a contributor for CBSN.

The Young Turks

It was announced by The Young Turks after fundraising money to support the position that Konst had accepted an investigative reporter position with the company.^[6] This makes Konst the second such reporter after the hiring of Jordan Chariton.

References