Gabby Giffords, Mark Kelly, Americans For Responsible Solutions PAC Announce Endorsements of U.S. House Candidates
September 22, 2016. – Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC (ARS PAC) – the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and retired NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly – today announced its endorsement of 19 candidates for the United States House of Representatives. Citing their support for a broad set of responsible gun violence prevention policies that help keep guns out of the wrong hands and protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, ARS PAC declared these 19 candidates as its Champions for the Vocal Majority.
The endorsements are part of ARS PAC’s “Vocal Majority” campaign this fall to mobilize millions of Americans to make the 2016 election a referendum on gun violence prevention and to support leaders up and down the ballot who are committed to taking responsible steps that reduce gun violence. ARS PAC previously announced endorsements this year in races for the United States Senate, and plans to make additional endorsements in federal races this fall.
Today, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan joined Mark Kelly in a press call to announce these endorsements.
The newly-endorsed candidates include:
Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-31)
LuAnn Bennett (VA-10)
Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26)
Bryan Caforio (CA-25)
Morgan Carroll (CO-06)
Colleen Deacon (NY-24)
Val Demings (FL-10)
Matt Heinz (AZ-02)
Ruben Kihuen (NV-04)
Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02)
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18)
Donald McEachin (VA-04)
Stephanie Murphy (FL-07)
Carol Shea Porter (NH-01)
Jacky Rosen (NV-03)
Steve Santarsiero (PA-08)
Tom Suozzi (NY-03)
Anna Throne-Holst (NY-01)
Tom Nelson (WI-08)
“If Congress won’t change our gun laws, then we need to work to change Congress. We need more leaders in Congress who will stand up to the Washington gun lobby and stand with the Vocal Majority of Americans who support commonsense change to help keep guns out of the wrong hands and save lives,” said ARS PAC Co-Founders Congresswoman Giffords and Captain Kelly. “We know that each of these leaders will be a strong voice in the House of Representatives for responsible steps that help keep guns of the wrong hands and save lives. We are proud to endorse these candidates as our Champions for the Vocal Majority and look forward to them being a steady voice for responsibility in Congress.”
“These Democrats are being recognized for their leadership on gun violence prevention and their intention to come to Washington to enact the change that the vast majority of Americans believe in and want. By failing to act on commonsense steps, like closing the loophole that allows suspects on the FBI terror watchlist to buy guns, House Republicans are putting their party over what is best for our country. In stark contrast, these incumbents and challengers are committed to acting on gun violence prevention in order to make our children and families safer,” said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan.
Along with its endorsements of its Champions for the Vocal Majority, this year ARS PAC is making significant investments in races and ballot initiatives across the country to support pro-gun violence prevention candidates and responsible ballot initiatives. We are also working to hold candidates in the gun lobby’s grip accountable. And this fall, Congresswoman Giffords will lead a six-week nationwide bus tour – the Vocal Majority Tour – to encourage the vast number of Americans who support commonsense change to our gun laws to step up, speak out, and be catalysts for change this November. The Vocal Majority Tour will travel to communities in battleground states and districts for grassroots events with local leaders, elected officials, and candidates to help ignite the Vocal Majority and elevate gun violence prevention in elections this fall.