FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Ian Pham, Communications and Development Manager – ian@circaction.org, 713 679 0948
CIRC Action Fund Announces 2020 General Election Endorsements
As of today, CIRC Action Fund has called and texted over half a million voters in Colorado, reminding them about the upcoming election and how important it is to use their voice and vote. By Election Day, we will have made over 1 million BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) voter contact attempts talking to folx about their plan to vote, and who we think will best represent them in office. With 36 days left until Nov 3, we are pumped to share our full list of endorsements for the 2020 Election Cycle.
These candidates understand that we cannot go back to business as usual. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that we must stand with and for each other across our differences and against anything and anyone who seeks to divide us. Each endorsed candidate has a platform that will meet the needs of a post-COVID19 reality and have proven to CIRC Action that they will be pro-immigrant champions. Now more than ever, we need progressive champions advocating for immigrant justice across all levels of government.
CIRC Action Fund is committed to ensuring these candidates win their races, but our work doesn’t just stop on November 3rd. It is imperative that we pass a Data Privacy bill, ensuring that ICE is not able to access data from CO government agencies such as the DMV to surveil and detain immigrants. We must also pass a Legal Defense Fund bill, giving immigrants facing deportation the right to an attorney. But time and time again, good progressive bills die in the State Senate. That’s why we have endorsed Paula Dickerson for SD-25 and Chris Kolker for SD-27. They have committed to being pro-immigrant champions and stepping up for their immigrant communities. This is why we are committed to not just winning a Democratic majority in the CO State Senate, but a progressive majority filled with pro-immigrant lawmakers in 2020 and beyond.
In the CO State House, we will work to protect our current pro-immigrant champions up for reelection – Daneya Esgar for HD-46, Bri Buentello for HD-47 and Tony Exum for HD-17. These candidates are running in extremely competitive districts and have strong Republican challengers. By turning out BIPOC in these districts and ensuring that these Representatives win their races, we are showing Colorado how CIRC Action Fund will protect our strongest allies if they valiantly stand up for our immigrant communities at the State Capitol.
On top of endorsing candidates at the CO State House and State Senate, we have endorsed the following candidates for local county commissioner. Beatriz Soto for Garfield County Commissioner District – 2, Marta Loachmin for Boulder County Commissioner – District 2 and Ken Schauer for El Paso County Commissioner District – 3. These County Commissioner seats will be key in ensuring that local sheriffs will not work with ICE to terrorize our immigrant communities. In supporting two of our own CIRC members, Beatriz Soto and Marta Loachmin, we are creating a new generation of lawmakers who will prioritize immigrant issues. They have been on the frontlines of the immigrant rights movement and this is just the beginning of CIRC Action Fund’s journey of ensuring that community has a voice at the table.
By winning key Congressional races – Governor John Hickenlooper for U.S. Senate, Diane Mitch Bush for Congresswoman of CO-3 and protecting Jason Crow for Congressman of CO-6, we will flip the U.S. Senate and finally be able to pass the DREAM Act and enact comprehensive immigration reform.
“Now more than ever, we need true pro-immigrant champions working on our behalf at every level of government. Each of these candidates understand that no matter where we come from or what our color is, immigrants come to our country for a better life for their families. That idea is what ties us together. CIRC Action is proud to endorse these candidates and work with them on building the future we want to see, together. “ Alex Galaena – CIRC Action Fund Managing Director
All eyes are on Colorado. 2020 is the election of our lifetime.
We make the future, and together, we can create a fair immigration process that upholds our values to make this a place of liberty and justice for all.