Democracy for America stands with Lauren Underwood for reelection in IL-14
Today, Democracy for America (DFA) announced its endorsement of Rep. Lauren Underwood in her run for reelection in Illinois’ 14th Congressional District.
Democracy for America supported Underwood in August 2018 and celebrated her majority-winning, history-making general election victory last November. In 2020, Rep. Underwood is currently facing six Republican challengers and DFA is more committed than ever to helping her protect her seat.
Underwood joins just seven other incumbents DFA has endorsed ahead of the 2020 political cycle including Reps. Mike Levin (CA-49) and Katie Porter (CA-45) whom the grassroots progressive organization is also announcing its support for today. In April, the grassroots progressive organization endorsed Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-5), Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) in their bids for reelection in 2020.
Statement from DFA CEO Yvette Simpson on the grassroots progressive group’s endorsement of Underwood:
“Rep. Lauren Underwood made history last fall when she became the youngest Black woman to ever win a seat in Congress, and each day since she’s been the kind of visionary, inclusive populist fighter Democrats need to hold and build the Democratic majority in the House in 2020.
“In just a few short months in office, Rep. Lauren Underwood has already passed two bills to ban junk insurance plans and prevent veteran suicide. Underwood has also helped establish the Black Maternal Health caucus to work on addressing the staggeringly high maternal death rate of Black women. Rep. Underwood’s early legislative success and the action she’s taken on a critical, underaddressed issue like Black maternal health, underscores the important perspective that, as both a trained nurse and a young Black woman, she’s brought with her to Congress.
“We were honored to back Rep. Lauren Underwood in 2018 because we knew what kind of change would be possible with her voice in Congress, and we’re excited to stand with her in 2020 to help make sure that her work continues in the years ahead.” -- Yvette Simpson, CEO, Democracy for America
Statement from Rep. Lauren Underwood on receiving DFA’s 2020 endorsement:
"Now more than ever, we need principled, inclusive leaders who are committed to moving our country forward. I am so thankful for the support of Democracy for America as I continue to serve northern Illinois families in Congress." -- Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14)
DFA has 3,206 members in Illinois 14th Congressional District, 64,161 in the state of Illinois, and more than one million members nationwide.