The Blog is Back! Celebrating CP Supported Candidates
CP Supported Candidates - Where Are They Now?
Common Power Community,
We are excited to announce that we’re bringing back our official Common Power Blog!
Today we are introducing *NEW* updates on where CP-supported candidates are now and looking forward with information on those we plan to support in the future and why. This new program led by the Advocacy Department will be titled as follows: “CP Supported Candidates - Where Are They Now?” and “CP Supported Candidates - Going Into the Field!”.
We recognize and celebrate the incredible work of our CP staff, volunteers, and community members who have traveled, knocked on doors, phone banked, and registered voters with us to help elect strong candidates who in turn introduce and enact pro-democracy and voting justice reform legislation around the country.
Follow along, we’re so excited to have you with us!
In our inaugural blog post, we are proud to highlight three candidates Common Power supported in the 2022 midterm and 2023 special elections. Read below on how voters and leaders like you made an impact.
-Governor Katie Hobbs-
Governor Katie Hobbs of Arizona took office in November of 2022 becoming the fifth female governor of Arizona and the first Democrat elected to the position since 2006. Common Power supported Hobbs’ gubernatorial race through multiple trips to Phoenix last year. With an election denier as her opponent, Hobbs’ race showed that democracy was on the ballot. During her campaign and after her election, Hobbs emphasized her commitment to protecting the right to vote. Since taking office Hobbs has upheld this promise by helping to create a Bipartisan Elections Task Force in Arizona as well as:
Vetoing HB2560, an anti-voting bill that threatened the “anonymity and privacy” of voters
Vetoing 20+ election bills. She now holds the record for the most AZ governor vetoes
Because Republicans hold a slim majority in both chambers of the Arizona State Legislature, but not enough to override the governor, Hobbs is a “key player in blocking anti-democratic efforts”.
Thank you, Governor Hobbs, for championing voting rights!
-Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan-
Earlier this year Common Power supported Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan’s special election to represent Virginia's 4th Congressional District. We are proud to contribute to her historic win as the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress. In February, a team of six CP volunteers knocked on nearly 1,300 doors in 3.5 days of canvassing. Representative McClellan was sworn into office on March 7th.
We’ve had the pleasure of meeting with Representative McClellan on every CP trip to VA. McClellan’s strong record of protecting voting rights in the state legislature made supporting her candidacy a no-brainer. The first bill she passed while still in the General Assembly expanded absentee voting. McClellan also played an integral role in passing the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, making Virginia the first Southern state to pass such an act. To pass this incredible legislation McClellan worked closely with a longtime CP partner, New Virginia Majority.
In her brief time in Congress Representative McClellan has already:
Voiced support for increasing voting access to active service members as a member of the Armed Service Committee
Co-sponsored a House Resolution honoring the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom that calls on Congress to fulfill the demands of the March participants, including the right to vote
Joined her Democratic House colleagues to re-introduce John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
Thank you for your leadership on voting access on the state and national stage, Congresswoman McClellan!
-Senator Catherine Cortez Masto-
Common Power staff and volunteers traveled to Nevada last year to support Congresswoman Cortez Masto’s reelection campaign against her opponent (who is a longtime Trump ally). This race narrowly tipped the balance of power of the Senate to Democrats with Cortez Masto winning the election by 0.8% or 7,928 votes. Only about half of registered voters in the state cast a ballot last year. This is exactly why Common Power coordinates and supports voter registration drives throughout our priority states, including Nevada. Want to join us? Click here.
Nevada is a 30% Latino state, with Cortez Masto being the first Latina ever elected to serve in the upper chamber and the first woman to represent the state in Congress since 2016. In 2023 Congresswoman Cortez Masto co-sponsored the CP-supported “Freedom to Vote Act”, a bill that aims to expand Americans’ access to the ballot box and reduce the influence of money in politics. When Common Power commits, travels, and supports progressive, BIPOC, and women candidates in close races to secure stronger representation, we all win.
Thank you, Senator Cortez Masto!
Would you like to learn more and support Common Power’s field efforts in the future? Join us by visiting: https://commonpower.org/in-person