Skip to Main Content

Giffords Endorses Betsy Rader for Congress in Ohio

 The endorsement comes as part of Giffords’ #VoteCourage Campaign to elect gun reform candidates nationwide 

July 25, 2018 — Giffords, the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly, announced its endorsement of Betsy Rader  in Ohio’s 14th congressional district. 

“Politicians bought and paid for by the gun lobby to defend the firearms industry can no longer get away with saying thoughts and prayers and then staying silent. They can no longer say acts of violence are acts of nature, beyond our control. They are not, and the American people know it. They’re tired of politicians who claim to represent them failing to take action to keep them safe. This year, voters are demanding leaders with the courage to fight for a nation where gun violence is not a daily problem,” said former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, co-founder of Giffords. “Voters are ready to elect leaders, like Betsy Rader, who will always put protecting the safety of our communities first, not themselves, and certainly not the gun lobby. Her career as a civil rights lawyer proves Betsy has what it takes to take on the biggest challenges and fight for solutions that will keep our communities safe. Giffords is proud to endorse Betsy Rader for Congress, because she’s a leader with the courage stand up to the corporate gun lobby and someone who will never stop working to make Ohio’s communities safer.”

Betsy Rader has been taking on tough challenges her entire life. Born in Appalachia and raised by a single mother, she worked her way through college and has spent her career as a civil rights lawyer fighting for those without a voice.

Betsy’s opponent, Dave Joyce, the current representative for Ohio’s 14th district, has failed to take action on gun violence prevention. A consistent recipient of NRA money and A ratings, Joyce refused to meet with—or even send a representative to speak to— high school students marching outside his office on the anniversary of Columbine.

Giffords’  #VoteCourage campaign is 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 targets 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.

###