DFA Backs O’Rourke for Senate in Texas, Bell (TX-14), Haaland (NM-1), Scholten (IA-4) for Congress

BURLINGTON, Vermont, Sept. 7 -- Democracy for America issued the following news release:

Today, Democracy for America (DFA) announced its endorsements of Beto O'Rourke for United States Senate in Texas and Adrienne Bell (TX-14), Deb Haaland (NM-1), and J.D. Scholten (IA-4) for the United States House of Representatives. All four are running bold, inclusive populist campaigns that place their support for Medicare for All, in particular, at the center of their campaigns.

Democracy for America is a member-driven, people-powered progressive political organization with 1 million members across the country and a total of 78,232 spread across the state of Texas, Iowa's 4th, and New Mexico's 1st Congressional Districts.

Chair Jim Dean on DFA's endorsement in these four key federal general election races:

"In 2018, Democrats have nominated a series of trailblazing warriors for inclusive populist priorities all across the country who will be positively critical to helping us seize the majority of the U.S. House and have a shot at retaking control of the Senate.

"Today, we're particularly excited to announce our endorsements of Beto O'Rourke for U.S. Senate in Texas and Adrienne Bell, Deb Haaland and J.D. Scholten for the U.S. House in Texas' 14th, New Mexico's 1st, and Iowa's 4th Congressional Districts, respectively.

"Beto O'Rourke (U.S. Senate - Texas) has distinguished himself this cycle not only by running one of the most impressive grassroots campaigns Texas has ever seen, but by taking unequivocal, progressive stands on immigrant rights and racial justice. Beto O'Rourke's people-powered campaign and boldness has not only brought tens of thousands of new and frequently ignored voters into the political process, it's forced Ted Cruz, one of the most loathed fringe-right characters in Donald Trump's Washington swamp, into a single-digit race.

"Adrienne Bell (TX-14) is a Houstonian and grassroots organizer who has spent years working to turn Texas blue on Barack Obama's 2012 campaign and at Battleground Texas. When she's elected to Congress this year, not only will she be the first Black woman sent to represent Texas' 14th District, she'll be a trusted leader in the fight to pass Medicare for All, protect abortion rights, deliver on criminal justice reform, and make sure that every student has a chance to thrive in local public schools.

"Deb Haaland (NM-1) has spent years working on the ground to deliver for New Mexico's working families. She went on to lead New Mexico's Democratic Party where she eliminated a seven-year debt and helped flip the state legislature from Red to Blue. In Congress, Deb Haaland will make history as the first Native American woman in the U.S. House or Senate, and she'll also be a passionate champion for gun violence prevention legislation, the Black and Native Lives Matter movements, and a New Mexico that harnesses its national resources while decreasing its reliance on fossil fuels.

"J.D. Scholten (IA-4) is a 5th generation Iowan who was born in the town of Nevada, grew up in Sioux City, and went on to play baseball professionally in seven countries around the world. A first-time candidate who has visited all 39 counties of the 4th District in his Winnebago RV "Sioux City Sue," J.D. Scholten has a lifelong commitment to social justice and will stand tall for Medicare for All, building a sustainable rural economy, and civility in Washington. If there's any progressive equipped to defeat a hate-fueled, right-winger like Steve King this cycle, it's J.D. Scholten.

"Fighting to represent red and blue terrain from the plains and coasts of Texas to the valleys of New Mexico and the fields of Iowa, Beto O'Rourke, Adrienne Bell, Deb Haaland, and J.D. Scholten aren't just running to make majorities in Washington, they're running because they believe that healthcare is human right and we deserve a healthcare system that reflects that reality. Democracy for America is honored to fight alongside them for the country every American deserves this November and beyond." -- Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America

As a part of its work in the 2018 election cycle, DFA intends to raise and spend more than $12 million in support of progressive candidates, make more than 2 million voter contacts, and support more than 250 candidates nationwide -- like O'Rourke, Bell, Haaland, and Scholten-- in running inclusive populist campaigns committed to turning out the New American Majority of people of color and progressive white voters in November.

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.