DFA adds three District Attorneys, Sheriff to its slate of Criminal Justice Reform Champions
Today, Democracy for America (DFA) added four candidates-- three running for District Attorney and one for Sheriff -- to its slate of criminal justice reform champions who are on the ballot in 2019 and 2020.
The four champions for criminal justice reform DFA is endorsing today include:
- Chesa Boudin, District Attorney San Francisco (CA)
- Dave Clegg, District Attorney, Ulster County (NY)
- Charmaine McGuffey, Sheriff, Hamilton County (OH)
- Lisa Middleman, District Attorney, Allegheny County (PA)
Earlier this year, DFA backed Josh King in his successful race for Prince Williams County (VA) Sheriff and Tiffany Cabán who lost her campaign for District Attorney of Queens, NY by 55 votes. It is also supporting Jennifer Riley-Collins ahead of her November 2019 race for Attorney General of Mississippi.
DFA CEO Yvette Simpson on the launch of the organization’s Criminal Justice Reform Champions slate and the 2019 and 2020 elections:
“In cities and counties across the country, District Attorneys and County Sheriffs define what our justice system looks like, who it serves, and how it impacts local communities.
“For all the work we have to do on a national level, we believe the fight to end police brutality, mass incarceration, and systemic racism in our criminal justice system starts at local ballot boxes, and that’s why we’re adding four more local champions for criminal justice reform to our list of 2019 and 2020 endorsed candidates.
“When elected, the communities served by Chesa Boudin in San Francisco, Dave Clegg in Ulster County (NY), and Lisa Middleman in Allegheny County (PA) will have District Attorneys who understand that justice is measured by the safety you bring to families, not the number of individuals you lock up.
“While in my own home of Hamilton County (OH), Charmaine McGuffey gives us the opportunity to have County Sheriff committed to the transparency, accountability, and collaboration needed to keep every community member safe.
“We’re honored to be standing alongside Chesa Boudin, Dave Clegg, Charmaine McGuffey, and Lisa Middleman, but we’re even more excited to continue working with them as they begin delivering on their commitment to criminal justice reform after election day.” -- Yvette Simpson, CEO, Democracy for America
Over the progressive organization’s 15-year history, DFA has supported a number of candidates dedicated to challenging structural racism in our criminal justice system, like Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx in Illinois (2016) and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner (2017).
In 2018, it backed a nationwide slate of Criminal Justice Reform champions including progressive Joe Gonzales who won his race for Bexar County (TX) District Attorney, Rachel Rollins in Suffolk County (MA), and Wesley Bell St. Louis County (MO).