At a young age, Gina Ortiz Jones learned about the value of hard work and the difficulties that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Raised in San Antonio by a single mother who immigrated from the Philippines, Gina was determined to step up to challenges the way her mother did. She first joined the US Air Force as an intelligence officer, staying in active duty for 12 years and deploying to Iraq during her service, and then continued strengthening our national defense efforts as a security and intelligence advisor for various government agencies.

After coming home to San Antonio, Gina decided to run for Congress in 2018 to continue serving the country, running a Giffords PAC-endorsed campaign focused on gun safety. She lost a tightly contested race by fewer than 100 votes. That promising result, as well as the Republican incumbent’s decision not to seek re-election this cycle, points to an increased demand for a representative who prioritizes gun safety. Gina’s military expertise gives her the unique perspective of someone who understands the impact guns have on a battlefield, and her life in Texas allows her to appreciate the deep culture of responsible gun ownership in the state. This year, she is running on a gun safety-focused platform once again. Her voice will be an essential one in the halls of Congress.

We are proud to endorse Gina Ortiz Jones for the US House of Representatives in 2020.