DFA endorses Kaniela Ing for U.S. House in Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District

Democracy for America (DFA) today endorsed Hawaii State Rep. Kaniela Ing in his race to become the next member of Congress from Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District.

Ing, a three-time elected member of the Hawaii State House, is DFA’s first Congressional endorsement in Hawaii in 2018. In July 2017, DFA endorsed Sen. Mazie Hirono for her 2018 re-election following a heartfelt speech she delivered on the Senate floor that helped derail Republican efforts to dismantle Obamacare.  In 2014, DFA was a strong, early supporter of Sen. Brian Schatz’ successful re-election campaign.

DFA Chair Jim Dean on the decision to back Kaniela Ing in the race for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District:

“Democracy for America is endorsing Kaniela Ing in his race for Congress in Hawaii not only because he’s running on as an unapologetic progressive on an inclusive populist agenda, but because he knows how to build the kind of grassroots campaign progressive need to win a tough primary election and deliver on the bold reforms our country needs once he’s in office.

“From his steadfast support for Medicare for All and affordable to his visionary call for other courageous ideas like a federal job guarantee and tuition-free college, Kaniela Ing won’t just be another vote in Congress for the right policies, he’ll be the kind of audacious thought leader Democrats need to make big change possible.

“We need bold, next-generation grassroots leaders like Kaniela Ing showing Democrats the path forward in 2018 and beyond, and that’s why we could not be more excited to support him in the race for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District..” -- Jim Dean, Chair, Democracy for America

Kaniela Ing on receiving DFA’s endorsement in his race for Congress:

"Hawaii has the highest cost of living and the lowest wages in America. 70% of my classmates moved away to find affordable jobs and housing. So fighting Trump is important, but it's not enough. As a young father, I work so that my two-year-old son will have a shot to make it in Hawaii. Democracy for America understands that change comes from building movements from the ground up and that we need representatives in Congress who understand our struggles of working people. I'm honored by their endorsement, and look forward to fighting alongside them." -- Kaniela Ing

Kaniela Ing (HI-Rep-11) has been a progressive leader in the Hawaii State House since 2012 when he defeated a Tea Party millionaire in a regularly Republican House District where he was outspent 10-to-1.  Since that grassroots victory, delivered in part by personally knocking more than 15,000 doors after his shift cleaning locker rooms at a nearby resort, Ing has built a record as House Majority Policy Leader of taking on billionaires, corporate polluters, and the for-profit prison industry.

DFA has 8,328 members in the state of Hawaii and more than one million members nationwide.  

Democracy for America is a member-driven, people-powered progressive PAC with more than one million members nationwide committed to taking on income inequality, money in politics, and structural racism. Since its 2004 founding, DFA members have raised and contributed more than $54 million and made more than 21.9 million volunteer calls to help successfully elect 917 progressive candidates nationwide.