Contact: Neil Sroka
nsroka@democracyforamerica.com
847-219-8491
Democracy for America: Backs Evers, Whitmer, and Gilchrist in final 2018 Gov., Lt. Gov. endorsements
BURLINGTON, Vt. — Today, Democracy for America (DFA) announced its endorsements of Tony Evers for Governor of Wisconsin and Gretchen Whitmer for Governor of Michigan.
The grassroots progressive group also formally backed Garlin Gilchrist for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, who Whitmer brought on to her ticket and DFA members have proudly supported in his previous race for Detroit City Clerk.
Chair Jim Dean on DFA’s endorsements of Evers, Whitmer, and Gilchrist:
“All across the country this year, Democrats are blessed with candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor committed to leading the fight for racial and economic justice. That’s why Democracy for America is heading into November with its largest-ever election year slate of endorsed candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and it’s also why we’re excited to announce our endorsement of Tony Evers for Governor of Wisconsin, Gretchen Whitmer for Governor of Michigan, and Garlin Gilchrist for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan.
“Tony Evers not only gives Wisconsinites the chance to permanently retire Scott Walker, he has a long history of fighting for Wisconsin students and standing up for working families. A life-long Educator and the current State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Evers understands that creating a more just and equitable Badger State requires a real investment in its schools and communities.
“Gretchen Whitmer will be a tremendous force for progress in Lansing who won’t ever back down from an opportunity to stand up, speak out, and fight for Michiganders against the right-wing interests who have dominated the state for the last decade. While DFA members proudly supported Abdul El-Sayed in this summer’s primary, we’re excited to support Gretchen Whitmer this November because we know she’ll unabashedly stand up for the rights of women, fiercely protect the Great Lakes, and move the ball forward on critical inclusive populist priorities that will help all Michigan families thrive.
“Garlin Gilchrist gives progressives yet another reason to be excited about casting their ballot for the top of the ticket in Michigan. Democracy for America members put their early support behind Garlin Gilchrist in his 2017 race for Detroit City Clerk, not only because we worked closely with him during his years at MoveOn.org, but also because we knew the passion, energy, and commitment to racial and economic justice he’d bring to the job. As Gretchen Whitmer’s Lieutenant Governor, Garlin Gilchrist will bring a strong voice for bold, inclusive populist political change with deep ties to grassroots progressives to the decisions facing Lansing.” — Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America
DFA is a national progressive political organization with 51,843 members in Michigan, 33,491 members in Wisconsin, and more than 1 million members across the country that have supported progressive candidates up-and-down the ballot since its founding in 2004.
Today’s endorsements for Governor and Lt. Governor join David Garcia (AZ – Gov.), Andrew Gillum (FL – Gov. ), Stacey Abrams (GA – Gov.), Josh Green (HI – Lt. Gov.), Paulette Jordan (ID – Gov.), Ben Jealous (MD – Gov.), and Mandela Barnes (WI – Lt. Gov.) on DFA’s slate of 2018 state-wide executive endorsements. This is the largest slate of progressive candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor DFA has ever put forward over its 14-year history.
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 Evers, Whitmer, and Gilchrist — 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.
