Giffords Endorses Katie Porter in First Endorsement Slate of the Year
In her first term, Katie Porter followed through on vow to take action on gun violence prevention, helping to pass the most robust gun safety agenda in decades
Washington, DC — Giffords , the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, announced its endorsement of Katie Porter (CA-45) as part of the first endorsement slate of 2020. Along with seven other candidates endorsed today, all women from suburban districts, Rep. Porter vowed to take action on gun safety if elected to Congress and then followed through, helping the House majority to, among other things, pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 , the first large gun reform bill to get congressional approval in decades. Giffords is supporting her return so she can continue fighting for the initiatives that will help address America’s gun violence crisis.
Statement from former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, co-founder of Giffords:
“Strong women get things done and Katie Porter was essential to the successful effort to get gun safety legislation through Congress. She has made clear that where others might waver, she will push ahead. She did not back down in the face of a gun lobby that tried to use its power and influence to block progress. Congresswoman Porter’s arrival in Washington signaled the NRA’s ironclad grip on the House of Representatives was over.
“Because of Representative Porter, Congress took the historic step of passing H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. Progress in 2020 means reelecting Katie Porter so she can continue being champions for a safer America. We’re proud to endorse Congresswoman Katie Porter as she fights to free our country from its crisis of gun violence.”
Congresswoman Katie Porter was elected in 2018 to serve California’s 45th District. Before she took her oath of office, Congresswoman Porter was a consumer finance and protection expert, teaching at the University of California, Irvine, School of Law and overseeing settlement reforms totaling $9.5 billion as California’s independent bank monitor.
As a congresswoman, she continues to hold special interests accountable as a member of the House Financial Services Committee and a staunch opponent of the NRA. Whether she is casting a vote for universal background checks in the House or rallying for gun safety in her district with Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, Congresswoman Porter is never afraid to stand up for what is right.
She was part of the 116th Congress that took monumental steps to advance lifesaving gun violence prevention legislation. H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 , was one of the first pieces of legislation introduced in 2019, passing through the full House weeks after it was introduced. Congress similarly appropriated $25 million in gun violence research funding, and the House held more than a dozen hearings with gun violence as the main focus.
Recently released polling demonstrates that the issue of gun safety is becoming a major factor for voters, and one that is critical to winning elections in 2020. Fifty-nine percent of suburban women in the swing states of Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas support stronger gun laws and say this issue is “very important” to their vote. An even larger group (64%) says that they would never vote for a candidate who didn’t support “requiring background checks on all gun sales,” outranking 13 other social and economic policy positions as the top voting determinant. Responses like these underscore that suburban women increasingly want a leader committed to gun safety.