Endorsements for Super Tuesday
(March 3, 2020) — Common Defense is proud to have released our first slate of endorsed candidates for the 2020 election.
These candidates earned our endorsement by concretely standing with our veteran movement. Some bravely stood with us to defend our democracy by supporting impeachment. Others signed our End the Forever War pledge and will work to keep the men and women of this country out of more endless wars. Check out the full list here.
Abigail Spanberger CONGRESS / VA-07
Elected in a swing district in 2018, Abigail Spanberger has stood up to the abuses of power by the Trump administration, helping achieve the impeachment of Donald Trump in the House of Representatives. A former CIA officer, she plays an important role in foreign policy issues, and has been receptive to the priorities of Common Defense veterans.
Adriano Espaillat CONGRESS / NY-13
Rep. Espaillat is a progressive leader on the Foreign Affairs committee who has signed our pledge the End the Forever War. He represents an urban NYC district covering Harlem and upper Manhattan.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez CONGRESS / NY-14
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is an inspirational progressive champion who has led the Green New Deal in Congress. A member of the progressive “Squad,” she’s embodied the values of a rising new generation. Common Defense endorsed her in her primary victory in 2018, and she was one of the first to sign our pledge to End the Forever War.
Andy Kim CONGRESS / NJ-03
Rep Andy Kim is a Rhodes Scholar and former State Department and Department of Defense official, representing one of the most competitive swing districts in the country, where he was elected in 2018.
Ayanna Pressley CONGRESS / MA-07
Ayanna Pressley is an advocate, a policy-maker, an activist, and survivor. A member of the progressive “Squad,” she was endorsed by Common Defense during her primary victory in 2018, and represents the communities surrounding Boston, Massachusetts.
Barbara Lee CONGRESS / CA-13
Rep Barbara Lee cast the lone “no” vote against the disastrous war in Afghanistan and the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force that has spawned the global Forever War. She is the daughter of a veteran and a beloved progressive leader in Congress, representing Oakland and Berkleley, California.
Deb Haaland CONGRESS / NM-01
Deb Haaland is one of first two Native American women ever elected to Congress, and with the help of Common Defense and New Mexico veterans she is fighting for racial justice, ending poverty, and investing in our communities. She’s been a progressive voice on the Armed Services Committee, overseeing the military.
Doug Jones SENATE / AL
Senator Doug Jones is a fellow veteran and has shown deep integrity in his time in the U.S Senate, taking tough, principled votes that put country over his political self-interest. Common Defense is proud to support his reelection in Alabama.
Ed Markey SENATE / MA
Senator Ed Markey is a progressive champion on climate change, and introduced the Green New Deal in the Senate. He has also signed out pledge to End the Forever War. Common Defense has his back against a primary challenge by a more conservative Democrat who is backed by corporate money.
Elissa Slotkin CONGRESS / MI-08
Rep Elissa Slotkin is a former intelligence analyst and national security official who flipped a suburban swing district in 2018 that encompasses Lansing. She has been a leader in Congress on preventing war with Iran, leading the War Powers Resolution in the House. She played a key role in successfully impeaching Donald Trump in the House after meeting with Common Defense veterans.
Ilhan Omar CONGRESS / MN-05
Ilhan Omar has been a progressive community organizer her whole life, advocating for working families, educational access, environmental protection, and racial equity. She’s been a particular leader in Congress on foreign policy, and was the first member of Congress to sign our pledge to End the Forever War.
Jason Crow CONGRESS / CO-06
Jason Crow is a former Army Ranger, longtime advocate for the homeless, and spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, making the case for President Obama’s repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” He served as one of the Impeachment managers during the trial of Donald Trump.
Jim McGovern CONGRESS / MA-02
A strong voice in Congress against our endless wars, Rep McGovern is a leading progressive and plays a critical role in advancing our legislative priorities from his role on the Rules committee. McGovern is a champion on reforming war powers to end the Forever War.
Mark Pocan CONGRESS / WI-02
One of the co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep Pocan has signed our pledge to end the Forever War.
Mark Takano CONGRESS / CA-41
Rep Mark Takano is the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, and has fought hard for veterans against the attempts by right wing billionaires to privatize and demolish the VA. He’s prioritized the need for better care for woman veterans and LGBTQ veterans.
Mikie Sherrill CONGRESS / NJ-11
Elected in a swing district in 2018, Mikie Sherrill has stood up to the abuses of power by the Trump administration, helping achieve the impeachment of Donald Trump in the House of Representatives. A fellow veteran, she has been receptive to the priorities of Common Defense veterans in her suburban New Jersey district.
Pramila Jayapal CONGRESS / WA-07
One of the co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep Jayapal has led the Medicare for All legislation in the House of Representatives, and signed our pledge to end the Forever War.
Rashida Tlaib CONGRESS / MI-13
Rashida Tlaib is one of the first two Muslim Congresswoman, and has stood with veterans to fight back against the Trump agenda that puts corporate profits and serving the rich over the needs of the rest of us.
Ro Khanna CONGRESS / CA-17
Rep Ro Khanna is one of the foremost leaders in progressive foreign policy in Congress, having passed the War Powers Resolution to end US involvement in the war in Yemen, and worked to end our Forever War abroad.
Ruben Gallego CONGRESS / AZ-07
Rep Ruben Gallego is one of the most progressive veterans in Congress, and has been a strong ally to our growing movement. He served as an enlisted infantryman in the Marine Corps, and has signed our pledge to end the Forever War.
Tom Malinowski CONGRESS / NJ-07
As the chief advocate for Human Rights Watch, Tom Malinowski led a effort to end the Bush Administration’s use of torture, and later served as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor under President Obama. Now he holds a swing district that helps determine the majority in Congress.
Candace Valenzuela CONGRESS / TX-24
The daughter of U.S. Army veterans, Candace was born and raised in El Paso. After her mother left the military, her family struggled financially and, for a time, they were homeless. Despite these challenges, Candace became the first Latina and first African-American woman to serve on the Carrollton-Farmers Branch school board. Now she’s running to flip an open GOP-held district, and faces a primary against a candidate who forced out of the military for war profiteering and corruption in Iraq
Doyle Canning CONGRESS / OR-04
Doyle is a mother, a community organizer, and a progressive leader. For 20 years, she has been in the trenches building movements for strong climate solutions, racial justice, worker’s rights, immigrant rights, homes for all, environmental restoration, and more. She is challenging incumbent Democrat Peter DeFazio, who has taken significant campaign funding from big defense industry corporations.
Elisa Cardnell CONGRESS / TX-02
Elisa Cardnell is a Navy veteran, single mom, and teacher running for Congress in TX-02 against Republican incumbent Congressman Dan Crenshaw.
Gina Ortiz Jones CONGRESS / TX-23
Gina Ortiz Jones is a fearless progressive, a child of immigrants, and a former Air Force Intelligence Officer who served as a lesbian during “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” She’s running to flip a GOP-held open seat
Jamaal Bowman CONGRESS / NY-16
Jamaal Bowman is challenging incumbent Democrat Elliot Engel in this suburban district near NYC. Engel is the chairman of the Foreign Affairs committee, but has not signed our pledge to End the Forever War. Bowman is an educator and community leader who is a true representative of the needs of working people.
Jessica Cisneros is challenging incumbent Democrat Henry Cuellar, who has frequently voted with Donald Trump and is backed by the right-wing Koch network, Cisneros is an educator and community leader who is a true representative of the needs of working people. Cisneros is an immigration and human rights attorney and the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants.
Marie Newman CONGRESS / IL-03
Marie Newman is challenging incumbent Democrat Dan Lipinski in Illinois’ 3rd congressional district, a safe Democratic district in the suburbs of Chicago. Lipinski has failed to support LGBTQ equality or our pro-choice values in Congress, and has not signed our pledge to End the Forever War.
Michael Owens CONGRESS / GA-13
Michael Owens is challenging incumbent Democrat David Scott, who voted against President Obama’s Iran deal and was one of five Democrats to vote to continue selling weapons to Saudi Arabia despite their use in war crimes. Owens is a progressive Marine Corps veteran and longtime Democratic party grassroots organizer, and would be a huge improvement in this safe blue seat in Atlanta.
Morgan Harper CONGRESS / OH-03
Morgan Harper is challenging incumbent Democrat Joyce Beatty in Ohio’s 3rd congressional district, a safe Democratic district covering the city of Columbus. Beatty voted to give $1.3 billion to Trump’s border wall, and has not signed our pledge to End the Forever War. Veterans stand with Morgan Harper to end the Forever War, and win justice for our community against the rigged economic system.
Nikki Foster CONGRESS / OH-01
Nikki Foster is the daughter of immigrant parents, and served as a pilot in the United States Air Force. She’s signed our pledge to end the Forever War, and is running to flip a GOP-held district.
Roger Misso CONGRESS / NY-24
Roger Misso is a progressive veteran, running to flip a GOP-held rural district represented by Rep John Katko. Misso spent a decade in the Navy as a Naval Flight Officer, and returned home to fight for better healthcare, protect social security, and bring an end to the Forever War.
