Brady Campaign Announces Set of Congressional and Statewide Endorsements for 2018 Elections

Gun violence prevention organization endorses six new elected officials and candidates

Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018 - On the heels of Joseph Kopser, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence’s first endorsed candidate in the 2018 midterm cycle, winning the Democratic runoff in Texas’s 21st congressional district, the storied gun violence prevention organization is announcing a series of endorsements in Congressional and statewide races throughout the country. Each of these candidates has proven themselves to be committed to common-sense gun safety efforts and supporting legislation to keep their constituents safe.

In addition to Kopser, the Brady Campaign officially endorsed:

• Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2)
• Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-7)
• Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-12)
• Will Cunningham (D-NJ-2)

“We’re proud to stand with these outstanding candidates, all of whom have shown themselves to be dedicated champions when it comes to gun violence prevention,” stated Kris Brown, co-president of the Brady Campaign. “With nationwide polls consistently showing that gun safety is a top issue in the minds of voters, we are going to see a clear trend this election cycle. The intensity of pro-gun violence prevention voters has never been stronger. If you stand with the overwhelming majority of voters for common-sense gun reform, you will be rewarded at the ballot box. If you stand with the NRA and the gun lobby, you will be looking for a new job.”

Additionally, the 28 California chapters of the Brady Campaign, alongside the national organization, announced two statewide endorsements:

• Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom for Governor
• Jeff Bleich for Lieutenant Governor

“Gavin Newsom and Jeff Bleich are both remarkable leaders who are firmly committed to protecting California’s children, families and communities from gun violence,” stated Peggy McCrum, president of the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign. “These are strong, principled candidates, and we look forward to our continued partnership to bring about a safer California.”

Throughout 2018, the Brady Campaign is focused on working with and supporting candidates throughout the country who are committed to preventing gun violence. A heavy focus is on whether candidates support Brady’s three-point plan, including expanding background checks, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and passing extreme risk laws.

A resurgent Brady PAC is supporting candidates who commit to making gun violence prevention a top priority and is working to replace candidates who refuse to prioritize the safety of the American public. Brady is doing so through the candidate endorsement process and holding candidates accountable to their questionnaire answers. Brady PAC will target races across the country in support of such candidates, especially in those races versus candidates who put gun industry profits before the safety of their constituents.

Brady is also focusing heavily on voter registration, including of young voters through its youth initiative, Team ENOUGH. The student-led group will be holding voter registration events throughout the summer and will work to educate and mobilize high school and university students from now until November. The group is also inviting students across the country to form their own Team ENOUGH groups and host nonpartisan candidate forums.

Last November’s elections in Virginia and New Jersey, where multiple Brady-backed candidates won on a clear platform of gun safety, demonstrated that voters are engaging on the issue and are rejecting those supported by the NRA. And with recent polling showing that half of Americans want gun safety to be Congress’s top priority, it’s clear that this issue will be a leading one throughout the 2018 campaign.

Further endorsements will be announced in the weeks and months to come.