Democracy for America Rolls Out 2022 General Election Slate
Democracy for America Rolls Out 2022 General Election State: 4 Senate, 26 House Candidates, 19 Statewide, and 47 Down-Ballot Candidates in 25 States
Progressive PAC Contacts 1.2 Million Voters in Key Battleground States This Cycle to Turnout New American Majority Voters
(Vermont) – Today, Democracy for America (DFA) announced its slate of general election endorsements: 96 candidates across 25 states, primarily concentrated in North Carolina, Michigan, Georgia, and other battleground states (full list of endorsements below).
The endorsements are part of DFA’s ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive Congress and representative state legislatures that reflect the changing demographics of the US. 71% of DFA’s candidate slate are part of the New American Majority – young people, Black, Indigenous, and people of color, which make up the largest voting bloc in the US.
“Despite Democrats controlling Congress during the first two years of the Biden administration, there was a real limit to what we were able to accomplish that directly correlates to not having enough progressives in office at the federal level,” said Democracy for America CEO, Yvette Simpson. “By electing more diverse and bold progressive candidates in 2022, we can help break through the gridlock in Washington and finally deliver for the American people on widely popular promises like raising the federal minimum wage, codifying abortion access, and protecting voting rights.”
DFA has endorsed US Senate candidates Mandela Barnes (WI), Cheri Beasley (NC), Alex Padilla (CA), and Charles Booker (KY) – as well as frontline House incumbents like Katie Porter (CA-47) and Andy Kim (NJ-03). Sixteen of DFA’s federal candidates are running for open seats or as challengers, including candidates like Greg Casar (TX-35), Summer Lee (PA-18), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Jevin Hodge (AZ-01), and Maxwell Frost (FL-10). Progressive victories in these races are necessary to retain Democratic control of Congress.
“Our candidates are overwhelmingly young, people of color, who are not from the political or moneyed elite – they reflect the communities they’re running to represent,” said Chris Scott, Chief Political Officer for Democracy for America. “We’re thrilled to endorse these progressive powerhouses and are eager to get them elected in November.”
At the state level, DFA has backed 19 statewide and 47 down-ballot candidates as part of its Purple to Blue program, a multi-year, multi-state, multi-million dollar effort to flip Republican Governor seats and state legislatures to Democratic control. DFA will be supporting Stacey Abrams and Beto O’Rourke with on-the-ground efforts this cycle to turn out voters to flip Georgia and Texas Blue.
“In 2022, the main focus for most progressive organizations has been saving the Democratic majority in Congress, but we can’t lose sight of the critical need to rebuild progressive power in the states,” said Scott. “For too long, Republicans in state legislatures have been unchecked in their assault on our rights – from abortion to our ability to vote to the freedom to marry. Running strong candidates in every race and engaging with voters who have been left behind by national parties, is how we fight back.”
As part of our endorsement, DFA is mailing 200,000 postcards to low propensity and newly registered New American Majority voters in North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas to expand the electorate. In the weeks leading up to the election, DFA will also send texts to 1.2 million voters in Michigan, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Georgia, Texas, and Florida in addition to providing direct fundraising and organizing support for candidates.
Federal candidates:
U.S. Senate
Alex Padilla (CA)
Charles Booker (KY)
Cheri Beasley (NC)
Mandela Barnes (WI)
U.S. House
Jevin Hodge (AZ–01)
Sydney Kamlager (CA–37)
Robert Garcia (CA –42)
Katie Porter (CA –47)
Mike Levin (CA–49)
Joe Neguse (CO–2)
Brittany Pettersen (CO–07)
Maxwell Frost (FL–10)
Annette Taddeo (FL–27)
Nikema Williams (GA–05)
Delia Ramirez (IL–03)
Lauren Underwood (IL–14)
Ayanna Pressley (MA–07)
Ilhan Omar (MI–05)
Rashida Tlaib (MI–12)
Cori Bush (MO–01)
Andy Kim (NJ–03)
Alexandria Ocasio –Cortez (NY–14)
Jamaal Bowman (NY–16)
Josh Riley (NY–19)
Emilia Sykes (OH–13)
Jamie McLeod –Skinner (OR–05)
Summer Lee (PA–18)
Michelle Vallejo (TX–15)
Jasmine Crockett (TX–30)
Greg Casar (TX–35)
Purple to Blue – State Executive Office
Stacey Abrams – Georgia, Governor
William Boddie – Georgia Labor Commissioner
Deidre DeJear – Iowa, Governor
Garlin Gilchrist – Michigan, Lt. Governor
Jena Griswold – Colorado, Secretary of State
Danielle Helzer – Nebraska, State Board of Education, District 6
Nakita Hemingway – Georgia, Commissioner of Agriculture
Chris Jones – Arkansas, Governor
Beto O’Rourke – Texas, Governor
Purple to Blue – State Legislative Candidates
Gabriel Acevero – Maryland State House, District 39
John Adams – Wisconsin State House, District 74
Joycle Barlow – Georgia State House, District 151
Rosemary Bayer – Michigan State Senate, District 13
Terry Brown – North Carolina State House, District 92
Christy Clark – North Carolina State House, District 98
Maria Cervani – North Carolina State House, District 41
Jennifer Conlin – Michigan State House, District 31
Amy DeLoach – North Carolina State House, District 20
Oscar De Los Santos – Arizona State House, District 11
Courtney Driver – Georgia State House, District 146
Malcolm Hall – North Carolina State House, District 51
Nabilah Islam – Georgia State Senate, District 7
Frances Jackson – North Carolina State House, District 45
Larry Jackson – Michigan State House, District 86
Matielyn Jones – Georgia State Senate, District 45
Graig Meyer – North Carolina State Senate, District 23
Natalie Murdock – North Carolina State Senate, District 20
Kim Nagy – Michigan State House, District 31
Jim Obergefell – Ohio State House, District 89
Eunic Ortiz – Florida State Senate, District 18
Garland Pierce – North Carolina State House, District 48
Lindsey Prather – North Carolina State House, District 115
Renee Price – North Carolina State House, District 50
Becca Rausch – Massachusetts State Senate – Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex
Michele Rayner Goolsby – Florida State House, District 62
Kristine Reeves – Washington State House, HD –30 Position 2
JD Scholten – Iowa State House, District 1
Izzy Smith –Wade –El – Pennsylvania State House, District 49
Diamond Stanton –Williams – North Carolina State House, District 73
Penelope Tsernoglou – Michigan State House, District 75
Julie Von Haefen – North Carolina State House, District 36
Kelly Westlund – Wisconsin State Senate, District 25
Robert Zeigler – Pennsylvania State House, District 171
Establish Justice Candidates
Aramis Ayala – Florida Attorney General
Diana Becton – California, Contra Costa District Attorney
Rob Bonta – California Attorney General
Andrea Campbell – Massachusetts Attorney General
Keith Ellison – Minnesota Attorney General
Julie Gunnigle – Arizona, Maricopa County Attorney
Stacy Hackenburg – Texas, William County Justice of the Peace
Letitia James – New York Attorney General
Terri Jamison – Ohio, Supreme Court Judge
DeSean Jones – Texas, Harris County Judge
Mary Moriarty – Minnesota, Hennepin County Attorney
Dana Nessel – Michigan Attorney General
Pamela Price – California, Alameda County District Attorney
Mercedes Watts – Michigan, 20th Circuit Judge
Timothy Wright III – Illinois, Cook County Circuit Judge
50 State Strategy – Local Candidates
Pat Cotham – North Carolina, Mecklenburg County Commissioner, At-Large
Megan Green – Missouri, St. Louis President of the Board of Aldermen
Vi Lyles – North Carolina, Charlotte Mayor
Stephanie Manning – Alabama, Limestone County Commissioner, District 3
Treva Reid – California, Oakland Mayor
Lawana Slack Mayfield – North Carolina, Charlotte At-Large City Council
Cameron Sasai – California, Pinole City Council
Daniela Silva – Texas, Austin City Council, District 3