Supporter, we have some exciting news.
This week, at the National Press Club, we announced our endorsement of three AMAZING young candidates for governor -- Andrew Gillum in Florida, Stacey Abrams in Georgia, and David Garcia in Arizona.
These history-making candidates are visionary champions of progressive values and constitutional rights. Additionally, they are all people of color and they are all running in winnable states that all currently have right-wing Republican governors (who unsurprisingly happen to be male and white).
We're dedicated to supporting diverse candidates who are innovating at the state level, mobilizing multiracial and multi-ethnic coalitions, channeling the Resistance, and proposing new and innovative solutions to our biggest problems. Andrew, Stacey, and David are brilliant examples of state progressive leaders who are doing all of these things -- progressive movement candidates whose keen understanding of how to bring about progressive change will benefit the whole country.
PFAW IS PROUD TO ENDORSE:
Andrew Gillum was the first in his family to graduate college and went on to become the youngest person in history elected to the Tallahassee City Commission. While in that role, he founded our nonpartisan affiliate PFAW Foundation’s Young Elected Officials Network. In 2014 he was elected mayor of Tallahassee. Under his leadership, Tallahassee advanced workforce training programs for underrepresented workers and lowered violent crime by more than 8 percent through increased investments in law enforcement, community policing, re-entry programs, and an expansion of social service funding. Andrew has been a steadfast champion for the people of his city and for our shared progressive values, standing up for vulnerable communities at every turn.
Stacey Abrams and her five siblings grew up in Gulfport, Mississippi before her family moved to Georgia. She want on to receive degrees from Spelman College, the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, and Yale Law School. Dedicated to civic engagement, she founded the New Georgia Project, which registered more than 200,000 voters of color between 2014 and 2016. In 2010, Stacey became the first woman to lead either party in the Georgia General Assembly and the first African American to lead either party in the House of Representatives. During her tenure, she has stopped legislation to raise taxes on the poor and middle class and to roll back reproductive healthcare, and has led the way on bills to improve transportation, infrastructure, and education.
When asked by a reporter at our Press Club event about reaching out to Trump voters without sacrificing their progressive ideals, Abrams responded that “it’s about authenticity. There is no reason to abandon progressive values to win any voter. Voters want to know that whoever they elect to lead has the capacity to lead, the integrity to lead, and a plan for leadership that includes everyone.”
Hear hear!
David Garcia grew up in Mesa, Arizona and began his life of public service when he enlisted in the Army at age 17. During his military service, he was decorated with the Army Achievement Medal and the Humanitarian Award for fighting wildfires in Yellowstone National Park. Thanks to the GI Bill, David became the first in his family to finish college. After graduating from the Honors College at Arizona State University, he received masters and doctorate degrees from the University of Chicago. Since then, David has continued to serve the people of Arizona and has established himself as a true “Champion for Education,” even earning that label from the Arizona Republic. He’s served as Associate Superintendent at the Arizona Department of Education and came within half a percent of winning statewide office as Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2014. (It’s safe to say 2018 is going to be a very different political climate!) David has made it clear that he is dedicated to running an inclusive campaign and fighting for the rights and futures of all Arizona communities.
THANK YOU for standing with PFAW to make 2018 a banner year for progressives!
-- Lizet Ocampo, Political Director
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