Originally published on the CGS blog on October 18, 2010.
With only two weeks left until Election Day, CGS has been busy weighing in on important races around the country. Global Solutions PAC has endorsed over 200 candidates, both incumbents and challengers, running for Congress this year.
CGS endorses candidates who share our values, are engaged in competitive races, champion our policy goals on the Hill, and who lead important committees in Congress. These candidates share our views on issues such as genocide prevention, nuclear non-proliferation, and engagement and cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC), among others.
In the House of Representatives, our endorsees range from committee chairs we have worked with for many years to new candidates whom we believe would be outstanding internationalists once elected. Here are some examples of the candidates CGS is supporting in 2010.
Gatekeepers
Global Solutions PAC has endorsed a number of “gatekeepers,” incumbent members of Congress who hold important positions as committee or subcommittee chairs or who have strong knowledge and legislative experience in areas of particular importance to us. Examples include Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA-28), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY-18), chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State Department and Foreign Operations funding; and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA-3), a longtime friend and ally of CGS with whom we have worked extensively during his tenure in the House on a broad range of international affairs issues. All three of these incumbents have earned grades of “A” or “A+” on CGS’s 2010 Congressional Report Card. To read the full Report Card, visit http://www.globalsolutions.org/reportcard.
Freshman Members we want to become sophomores
In 2008, a strong crop of internationalist candidates were elected to the House of Representatives for the first time. Winning a first election is a challenge, but getting re-elected to a second term in Congress can also prove difficult, especially in a tough electoral climate and for those who won narrowly in swing districts in the last election cycle. CGS is proud to have endorsed Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA-5), a staunch internationalist and ally, for re-election this year. We have also endorsed Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-OH-1), Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH-15), and Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA-2), based on their strong voting records and commitment to global issues. All these members have already made a positive impact during their first House term, and we hope to welcome them back to Congress for their sophomore year in January 2011.
Promising Newcomers
In addition to supporting outstanding current members of Congress, CGS wants to ensure that we will see freshman Representatives next year who are prepared to become leaders on global issues. We have endorsed several promising challenger candidates, including Democrat Suzan DelBene, who is running for the 8th House district in Washington State, and Democrat Dan Seals, who is running for an open seat in Illinois’ 10th district. Both Suzan and Dan submitted excellent Candidate Questionnaires to CGS (to view their CQs, click on http://www.globalsolutions.org/politics/elections_and_candidates/races/2010?action=cq) and we believe they will be outstanding future leaders on the global issues we care about. We look forward to seeing them in the 112th Congress next year.
For a full list of candidates endorsed by Global Solutions PAC in 2010, visit http://www.globalsolutions.org/politics/elections_and_candidates.
And of course, remember to vote on November 2nd or as soon as you are able to in your state!
