CPD Action Endorses Slate of Progressive Candidates

For Immediate Release:

October 24, 2018

Media Contact:

Lia Weintraub, lweintraub@populardemocracy.org, 202-618-2482

CPD Action Endorses Slate of Progressive Candidates

With less than two weeks until the Midterm Elections, CPD Action brings momentum to next generation of progressive leaders

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Center for Popular Democracy Action (CPD Action) announces its final roster of progressive candidates headed into the 2018 midterm elections. The endorsements, ranging from Governor’s races and U.S. Congress all the way to City Council and mayoral contests, are for the next generation of progressive leaders who are committed to making America a place where everyone can thrive.

The slate of endorsements closes out CPD Action’s first year of bringing the voice of the movement to weigh in on electoral contests. For the past two years, CPD Action and our network have been organizing communities and leading a wave of resistance at the local, state, and national level that has stopped legislation to gut healthcare, reversed attacks on immigrants, and advanced the struggles and rights of women to the center of the national stage. The affiliate organizations in the CPD Action network have endorsed hundreds of candidates this election cycle. Of those, the candidates that CPD Action has amplified with its endorsement reflect the races at the forefront of the progressive movement in American politics.

“Together, this slate of candidates have already transformed their local communities. They represent the next generation of progressive leaders who will co-govern with our communities and fight together to make democracy real for everyone in our country,” said Jennifer Epps-Addison, Network President & Co-Executive Director of CPD Action. “We need officials in elected office who represent the interests and needs of people of color, of low income people, of immigrants, and of women. For the past two years, the CPD Action network has been building power in communities across the country. On November 6, we’re prepared to bring that power to the ballot box to support progressive leaders.”

CPD Action endorsees include Rashida Tlaib (MI) and Ilhan Omar (MN) for Congress, who are positioned to be the first two Muslim women in Congress. Stacey Abrams (GA), Ben Jealous (MD), Andrew Gillum (FL) and David Garcia (AZ) are candidates of color who are challenging white male Republicans currently occupying their states’ governor’s mansion. In local races, CPD Action has endorsed Nikki Bas for City Council and Cat Brooks for Mayor in Oakland, CA.

A full list of CPD Action endorsees includes:

Arizona

David Garcia, Governor, Arizona

California

Cat Brooks, Oakland Mayor, California

Nikki Bas, Oakland City Council, District 2, California

Jovanka Beckles, State Assembly, District 15, California

Indiana

Liz Watson, U.S. Congress, IN-09, Indiana

Florida

Andrew Gillum, Governor, Florida

Georgia

Stacey Abrams, Governor, Georgia

Maryland

Ben Jealous, Governor, Maryland

Donna Edwards, County Executive, Prince George’s County, Maryland

Massachusetts

Ayanna Pressley, U.S. Congress, MA-07, Massachusetts

Michigan

Rashida Tlaib, Congress, MI-13, Michigan  

Minnesota

Keith Ellison, Attorney General, Minnesota

Ilhan Omar, Congress, MN-5, Minnesota  

New Mexico

Abbas Akhil, State House of Representatives, District 20, New Mexico

Xochitl Torres-Small, U.S. Congress, NM-02, New Mexico

Susan Herrera, State House of Representatives, District 41, New Mexico

Andrea Romero, State House of Representatives, District 46, New Mexico

Micaela Cadena-Lara, State House of Representatives, District 33, New Mexico

New York

Julia Salazar, State Senate, District 18, New York

Jessica Ramos, State Senate, District 13, New York

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. Congress, NY-14, New York

Pennsylvania

Summer Lee, State House of Representatives, District 34, Pennsylvania

Sara Innamorato, State House of Representatives, District 21, Pennsylvania

Lindsey Williams, State Senate, District 38, Pennsylvania

Jess King, U.S. Congress, PA-11, Pennsylvania  

Texas

Beto O’Rourke, U.S. Senate, Texas

Vermont

Mari Cordes, State House of Representatives, District 4, Vermont

Wisconsin

Earnell Lucas, Sheriff, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Mandela Barnes, Lieutenant Governor, Wisconsin

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www.cpdaction.org

Center for Popular Democracy Action is a national network of more than 50 community organizations dedicated to achieving racial and economic justice through local grassroots organizing. CPDA trains and supports leadership, staff, and members to grow base-building organizations to scale and leverage that strength to win cutting-edge policy victories at the federal, state and local level.