Giffords Endorses Slate of Majority Makers Running for the US House

April 21, 2022

Washington, DC — Today, Giffords PAC, the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, announced its endorsement of fourteen strong gun safety champions running for reelection to seats in the US House of Representatives. In 2018, these candidates were part of a new generation of leaders that challenged gun lobby-backed politicians as part of Giffords’ #VoteCourage campaign to elect gun safety champions nationwide. These candidates all helped to flip the House that year and in 2019, members of this historic class passed universal background checks through the House and secured the first dedicated gun violence research funding in two decades.

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords:

“The candidates that we are endorsing today are determined to fight for solutions to a problem that’s been ignored for too long: our nation’s epidemic of gun violence. In 2018, these candidates not only secured a new gun safety majority, but also brought renewed energy to the fight against gun violence by passing historic initiatives like universal background checks through the House.

These candidates may come from different backgrounds and walks of life, but they all understand that the issue of gun violence has the potential to touch everyone. I am proud to back these candidates, who are passionate about saving lives, and who have shown the courage to stand up to the gun lobby every day since being elected. Giffords PAC is proud to endorse these leaders, who I trust will be champions on this issue for years to come.”

The slate of endorsed candidates includes:

Colin Allred (TX-32) – Representative Colin Allred knows that the best path forward in a situation is often facing our toughest challenges head-on. Born and raised in North Dallas, Allred grew up attending public schools where he walked through a metal detector every morning, and by the age of 16, he had lost three friends to senseless acts of gun violence. Representative Allred channeled his anger and energy into action and became a civil rights attorney before running for Congress in 2018—beating an entrenched Republican incumbent and joining a historic freshman class that helped flip the House. He believes we can and must do more to address gun violence and was a staunch supporter of both the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and legislation to authorize the first federal funding to study gun violence in decades. Representative Allred knows that we must close loopholes in our current laws which allow those convicted of felonies and those who have committed domestic abuse to avoid background checks when buying guns, and he supports extreme risk protection orders, which give family members and law enforcement officials the ability to temporarily restrict access to firearms to individuals who are deemed a risk to themselves or others.

Angie Craig (MN-02) – Representative Angie Craig knows we can put an end to senseless gun violence while still respecting the constitutional rights of Minnesotans. As a gun owner who enjoys hunting and visiting the shooting range, and as the mother of three sons who have experience using guns, Craig understands the importance of responsible gun ownership. In 2018, Representative Craig was one of four House candidates that Giffords PAC marked as a top priority. Working hand in hand with our founder, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, she ousted an incumbent with an A rating from the NRA and flipped a previously red district blue for the first time in almost 20 years. In Congress, Representative Craig has used her skills as a former newspaper reporter and as the head of global resources at a major Minnesota manufacturer to communicate effectively with her colleagues about the need to pass commonsense gun safety legislation. As a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Representative Craig helped pass legislation through the House to keep guns out of the hands of individuals who have committed domestic abuse and to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

Jason Crow (CO-06) – Representative Jason Crow has a critical understanding of the deadly impacts of America’s gun violence epidemic, as it has plagued his home state more than most. As a hunter and former Army Ranger, Crow knows that commonsense reforms are needed to reduce gun violence, and in 2018, his successful campaign was one of Giffords PAC’s top priorities. In Congress, he serves as the Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and has become one of the most ardent House supporters of safe storage legislation and passing universal background checks into law. Representative Crow has never bent to the whims of the gun lobby and has made it a priority to directly take on its corrupt practices. In both 2019 and 2021, Crow helped introduce the Equal Access to Justice for Victims for Gun Violence Act to remove gun industry protections that prevent victims of gun violence from pursuing legal action.

Sharice Davids (KS-03) – In 2018, Representative Sharice Davids defeated an NRA-backed incumbent to become one of the first Native American women ever elected to Congress. Since then, she has been a fervent supporter of commonsense gun safety measures in Washington DC and has always prioritized the communities and families of Kansas. For Representative Davids, this issue is personal. When her own community was touched by gun violence at a local high school, she met with students, administrators, and first responders to chart a path forward that combined healing with action. In Congress, she has always found the courage to act and has frequently co-sponsored legislation to end America’s epidemic of gun violence, including the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. Davids also supports numerous pieces of legislation that would end dangerous cycles of violence by allocating funding for community violence intervention programs, address the rise in violence motivated by hate, and incentivize states to pass legislation that would give law enforcement and family members the ability to petition a judge to remove firearms from individuals exhibiting signs of wanting to harm themselves of others.

Veronica Escobar (TX-16) – In 2018, Representative Veronica Escobar made history as one of the first two Latinas elected to represent her state in Congress, and became the first woman to represent her West Texas district. As a former El Paso County Commissioner and County Judge, Escobar developed key leadership skills that continue to make her an effective champion in the fight to end gun violence. Just eight months into her first term in Congress, a radical right-wing gunman opened fire inside a Walmart in Representative Escobar’s community, killing 23 people and wounding 23 more. In the wake of this hate-driven attack, she vowed to take action to address the root causes of the gun violence epidemic and to champion policies that would prevent future loss of life, particularly by highlighting the dangers of hateful, racist rhetoric when coupled with America’s weak gun laws. In the three years since the El Paso shooting, Representative Escobar has made good on her word by co-sponsoring and voting to pass legislation designed to limit high-capacity magazines, require the safe storage of firearms, and to end dangerous permitless carry practices.

Josh Harder (CA-09) – In 2018, Representative Josh Harder did what many believed to be impossible and won a Republican-held seat occupied by a career politician with an A rating from the NRA. Since then, Harder has worked with both Democrats and Republicans to pass bills through the House that would strengthen public safety and decrease gun violence. Like many, he understands that California has one of the lowest rates of gun deaths in the country because it has some of America’s strongest gun safety policies. In Congress, Representative Harder has sought to bring some of California’s success to the national level by pushing for funding for gun violence research and strong safe storage requirements. As a proud advocate for safer communities, Harder has helped pass legislation that would expand background checks to all gun sales and help prevent individuals convicted of crimes and those who have committed domestic abuse from getting their hands on dangerous weapons.

Tom Malinowski (NJ-07) – First elected to the House in 2018, Representative Tom Malinowski has established himself as a staunch gun safety champion in Congress. Prior to representing New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, he served as Washington Director for Human Rights Watch and as Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. In both roles, he fought against policies that posed harm to humans around the world, equipping him well to take on the gun violence epidemic at home. In Congress, Representative Malinowski has been an effective voice for gun violence prevention. He has consistently leaned on his former diplomatic experience to champion issues like tightening the oversight of firearms exports. Malinowski has also been a strong advocate for closing the boyfriend and stalker loopholes, which allow individuals who have committed domestic abuse to purchase guns if they aren’t married to or living with their partner, and he has been a leading voice in the push to study gun violence as a public health issue.

Joe Neguse (CO-02) – For Representative Joe Neguse, ending gun violence is deeply personal. His history with this issue stretches back to his teenage years, when his school was shut down as a result of a tragedy unfolding a mere 10 miles away—the terrible massacre at Columbine High School. Neguse has been committed to enacting meaningful gun violence prevention legislation to save lives and prevent future tragedies. In 2018, he made history as the first African American elected to serve Colorado in Congress. In the House, Representative Neguse serves as Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over legislation designed to address gun violence. Neguse has worked hand in hand with Giffords to introduce legislation that would curb America’s gun violence epidemic, including the End Gun Violence Act of 2021, which would prohibit the sale of a firearm or ammunition to any person who has been convicted of a violent misdemeanor. In Washington, he has also been an ardent supporter of legislation to allocate additional funding to community violence intervention programs designed to disrupt deadly cycles of violence.

Chris Pappas (NH-01) – Representative Chris Pappas has always put the people of New Hampshire first. Born and raised in Manchester, Pappas is a community-driven leader who has a record of addressing some of the Granite State’s most pressing challenges. As a former member of the New Hampshire Executive Council, he earned a reputation as a results-driven leader and has dedicated his time in public service to putting people before politics in order to deliver opportunities for families in every community across his state. In Congress, Representative Pappas has brought this same style of leadership to the fight to end gun violence. Like so many in our movement, he knows that while gun violence claims lives everyday in our country, we are not powerless in our ability to keep our communities safe, while also maintaining the culture of hunting and responsible gun ownership in New Hampshire. Pappas supports lifesaving measures, including implementing universal background checks on all gun sales and closing the Charleston Loophole, and he voted to pass the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and the Enhanced Background Checks Act in 2019 and 2021. In Congress, he has also supported legislation to keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who have committed domestic abuse by helping to pass the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2021, and he has consistently supported initiatives to incentivize the safe storage of firearms.

Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) – Representative Mikie Sherrill has always put service to her country and community first. She came to Congress with extensive experience handling firearms and a deep, nuanced understanding of the need to end America’s gun violence epidemic. In the US Navy, she qualified as an expert shot in the M-16, Colt .45, and 9mm Beretta—learning firsthand the skill and care with which firearms must be handled. As an assistant US attorney in New Jersey, Sherrill witnessed the devastating impact illegal weapons were having on her state’s communities—as weak gun laws in neighboring states hampered the impact of New Jersey’s strong gun safety standards—and recognized the need for federal action. Never one to sit on the sidelines, Representative Sherrill took action by running for Congress and flipping a red district blue in 2018. In office, she has pushed for commonsense gun safety measures while also protecting the Second Amendment rights of responsible gun owners. She has consistently advocated for legislation that would keep deadly weapons out of the hands of individuals who have committed domestic abuse and voted to ban bump stocks, which are marketed to shooters seeking to convert their weapon to simulate the rapid, continuous fire of an automatic firearm.

Elissa Slotkin (MI-07) – Representative Elissa Slotkin believes in and supports the Second Amendment and the rights of individuals who operate guns with care and safety. A third-generation Michigander, Slotkin grew up in a gun-owning family. She has spent her entire career working in intelligence and defense, and because of her experience both operating firearms and working in national security, Slotkin also knows that gun violence is a serious national security and public health issue. Following the tragic shooting at Oxford High School in her district last fall, Representative Slotkin introduced the Safe Guns, Safe Kids Act, which would require gun owners to safely secure their firearm when a child could reasonably access and use it to injure themselves or others, or use it to commit a crime. Before being elected to the House and flipping a red district blue in 2018, Slotkin previously served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs at the Department of Defense, where she negotiated some of the Pentagon’s most sensitive national security matters.

Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) – In 2018, Representative Abigail Spanberger flipped a red district blue in one of the most hard-fought House races of the cycle, and she has continued to work diligently for her community and lead with commonsense values ever since. Spanberger believes that preventing gun violence and protecting the lives of American families, children, and law enforcement officers isn’t a partisan issue—it’s a public safety issue. In Congress, she has been a cosponsor and staunch supporter of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, and believes in the application of the same background check standard for all firearm purchases. Like many in this fight, Representative Spanberger knows states that require background checks for all firearm purchases have fewer suicides by gun, fewer law enforcement officers shot and killed, and fewer women killed by a domestic partner. During her tenure in Congress, Representative Spanberger has supported commonsense gun violence prevention policies like closing the Charleston Loophole and implementing extreme risk protective orders. Representative Spanberger also believes that states should also have the ability to provide current information to the NICS database to ensure informed background checks.

Lori Trahan (MA-03) – As a mother, Representative Lori Trahan knows all too well that our children will not be safe from gun violence until Congress answers national calls for change. Since her election in 2018 as part of a historic wave of freshmen women, Trahan has been a bold, passionate leader who has never backed down from her mission to keep Massachusetts families safe. As part of that pledge, she has consistently supported meaningful solutions to bring an end to America’s epidemic of gun violence. In Congress, Representative Trahan has been a strong supporter of passing background checks for all gun sales, banning high-capacity magazines, funding desperately needed gun violence research, and combating the rise in hate-based violence. She has also supported legislation to close dangerous loopholes in our law that allow individuals who have committed domestic abuse to own lethal weapons, and has expressed support for the creation of a Congressional Select Committee on Gun Violence dedicated to researching this issue in a meaningful way.

Jennifer Wexton (VA-10) – Representative Jennifer Wexton has consistently fought for commonsense legislation to keep our communities safe while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners. In the Virginia State Senate, Wexton supported numerous bills to establish universal background checks, close her state’s gun show loophole, ban bump stocks, mandate the reporting of lost and stolen firearms, and keep guns out of the hands of individuals who have committed domestic abuse and stalking. She also fought against legislation that would loosen restrictions on who can obtain concealed carry permits. In 2018, Representative Wexton’s race was one of Giffords PAC’s top priorities. After flipping her red district blue, Wexton brought this same passion for progress to Congress, where she has continued to support legislation to expand mandatory background checks on gun purchases, close loopholes that allow individuals convicted of crimes to purchase firearms, and establish a ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines. In response to the tragic 2019 mass shooting in Virginia Beach, she introduced the Empowering Law Enforcement for Safer Firearm Transfers Act, which would enable law enforcement to block the sale or transfer of any weapon regulated under the National Firearms Act, including silencers—an accessory used in the Virginia Beach shooting. Representative Wexton also introduced the Gun Violence Prevention Through Financial Intelligence Act in order to identify and report suspicious or illegal financial activity related to firearms.

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