WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Serve America, a political organization that helps elect Democratic national service veterans to Congress and played a lead role in taking back the House in 2018, endorsed five candidates running for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Serve America supports national service veterans because we believe the ethic of service that comes from tours in the military, State Department, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or other national service organizations is sorely needed in Washington today.
All five of today’s candidates are military veterans:
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Adam Hollier (MI-13)
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Jackie Gordon (NY-01)
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Max Rose (NY-11)
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Jessica Mason (TX-30)
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Deb McGrath (WI-03)
Congressman Seth Moulton, the founder of Serve America, said: “Adam, Jackie, Max, Jessica and Deb have all answered the call to serve our country in uniform and are ready to lead in the halls of Congress. With our democracy at risk in ways it has never been before, America needs leaders who understand service and are committed to the Constitution and their constituents. I am proud to support these five candidates as they seek to serve America once again.”
These new candidates comprise the organization’s second slate of challengers seeking to unseat incumbents and fill open seats. These candidates are running in some of the most important races in the country. They will be key in determining if Democrats protect and grow their majority in the House of Representatives. The five new endorsees join a group of three endorsed candidates and 19 incumbent Members of Congress—veterans, emergency room doctors, foreign service officers—whom Serve America has endorsed this cycle.
To learn more about Serve America’s work and view our full candidate slate, visit: www.serveamericapac.com.
Adam Hollier (MI-13)
The product of generations of North End Detroiters, the spirit of service is deeply instilled in Adam. While earning his undergraduate degree at Cornell University, Adam served as a volunteer firefighter. He later enlisted in the United States Army, earning a commission as a distinguished military graduate from officer candidate school. He continues to serve in the United States Army Reserve as a team chief and paratrooper. He also previously served as a relief coordinator in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, and as an AmeriCorps member working to improve the infrastructure of Detroit. He was elected to the Michigan Senate in 2018, and—in his first week in office—collaborated with fellow leaders in the successful push to keep an automotive plant open. Now, Factory ZERO is a state of the art plant creating the cars of tomorrow and the jobs of today.
Jackie Gordon (NY-01)
Born in Jamaica, raised in Queens, and a Long Island resident for 28 years, Jackie knows firsthand the struggles that many families face and has dedicated her life to giving back to the country that offered opportunity to her and her family.
While in college and teaching at local schools, Jackie enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. Over her 29-year career in the Armed Forces, Jackie served overseas as a platoon leader in Germany, as an operations officer at Guantanamo Bay, as a battle captain in Baghdad, and as Commander of the 310th Military Police Battalion in Afghanistan. She retired from the Army Reserve with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2014. She also served on the Babylon Town Council, where she worked to direct resources to veterans and military families and helped to raise nearly $1 million for the Wounded Warriors Project.
Max Rose (NY-11)
After running for Congress in 2018 and winning when few thought it was possible, Max Rose was rated one of the most bipartisan representatives in the country. He secured an impressive list of wins, including permanently funding healthcare for our 9/11 heroes, securing millions of dollars for the opioid epidemic, and pioneering an effort to reunite families torn apart by President Trump’s Muslim ban.
Prior to his election to Congress, Max served as a decorated Army Infantry Officer. He continues his military service today as an Infantry Officer in the New York National Guard. His decorations include the Ranger tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, a Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart. After leaving Congress, Max served in the Biden Administration as the Senior Advisor on COVID to the Secretary of Defense.
Jessica Mason (TX-30)
Born and raised in South Dallas, Jessica grew up in poverty and struggled to afford a college education. She found a way forward, though, by enlisting in the Navy. She served as a medic, counseling service members ailing with the mental tolls of war, sexual harassment and sexual violence, and substance abuse. She briefly worked in the Virginia General Assembly—but as she saw the corrosive effects of money in politics, she turned her focus to organizing and providing direct support to communities in need. Jessica returned to Dallas at the height of the COVID pandemic to begin working as an affordable housing administrator, and is now running for Congress because she believes we shouldn’t be dependent on the kindness of strangers just to survive.
Deb McGrath (WI-03)
Born and raised in western Wisconsin, Deb McGrath is a former Army Captain, CIA officer, and working mother of three children. She and her husband, Colonel Kevin McGrath (U.S. Army, Retired), raised their three children with an emphasis on public and community service. Deb served for 25 years in national security positions, with assignments including West Africa, the former Soviet Union, and the demilitarized zone in Korea. Now, Deb is ready to fight in Congress for the issues that keep America strong. She knows that America’s strength and security starts with a strong economy, great education, and equal opportunity at home. We face challenges at home and abroad, and Deb is a practical problem solver who will tackle these issues with reason and collaboration.
