Giffords Endorses Brad Ashford for Congress in Nebraska

May 8, 2018

May 8, 2018 – Giffords, the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly, announced its endorsement of Brad Ashford, candidate for Nebraska’s 2nd congressional district . Ashford is one of 11 candidates Giffords endorsed today as part of its #VoteCourage campaign to elect gun safety champions, and joins a growing list of endorsed candidates supported by Giffords in 2018.

When in Congress and the state legislature in Nebraska, Brad Ashford fought every day for the safety of his community. His commitment to keeping children, schools, and neighborhoods safe from gun violence is why Giffords is proud to endorse Brad Ashford .

“Congressman Ashford has been a champion for gun violence prevention for decades,” said former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, co-founder of Giffords. “Brad has never wavered in the face of the gun lobby, and refused to back down when the politics were hard. Congress has refused to act, even as the number of Americans killed with guns reach new highs. We must do something about gun violence, and we have to start by electing champions with the courage to act. That means electing Brad Ashford.” ”I am honored and humbled to receive the endorsement of Gabby Giffords and her husband, Captain Mark Kelly,” Brad Ashford. “Gabby and I share a commitment to saving lives from gun violence. Gun violence isn’t a Democrat or Republican problem – it’s an American problem and it’s going to require an American bipartisan solution. Like so many others, I’ve been inspired by the students and young people who have been leading on this issue. Gabby and Mark know that it takes ballots to stop the bullets. We must elect leaders that are committed to common sense gun reform. The 2018 midterm elections will give the citizens of Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, and others around the country, the opportunity to choose to stand on the right side of history and make the long overdue changes to ending senseless gun violence.”

In February, Giffords launched the #VoteCourage campaign aimed at electing gun safety advocates to Congress and defeating politicians who have historically worked against gun reform, or done nothing at all to prevent gun violence. The political program is targeting incumbents in mostly suburban districts and uses a mixture of TV and digital advertising, on-the-ground organizing, and a voter registration push to create momentum for meaningful progress on gun safety.

The mass shooting at Parkland, Florida crystallized the country’s frustration with the lack of action to pass gun safety laws. Currently, the country is averaging nearly 34,000 deaths from guns every year, and recent polling shows that support for stronger gun laws is at an all-time high.

###