Kim and Malinowski, who face competitive re-elections, refuse corporate PAC money
End Citizens United (ECU) today endorsed Representatives Andy Kim and Tom Malinowski for re-election as part of its first round of endorsements for the 2020 election cycle. Reps. Kim and Malinowski both ran on platforms of reform in 2018, and showed leadership in the passage of the For the People Act (H.R.1).
Kim and Malinowski, who face competitive re-elections, have pledged to voters that they will not take corporate PAC money. ECU is committed to ensuring Kim, Malinowski and this first group of candidates have the resources to win. ECU is endorsing 26 House freshmen who were leaders on reform, and will raise and spend a combined $10 million in small-dollar, grassroots donations to re-elect these members.
“Reps. Kim and Malinowski are already changing the way Washington works. They’re committed to unrigging the political system and making government responsive to New Jerseyans — not corporate donors with big checks,” said ECU President Tiffany Muller. “Even though they’ve only been in office for a few months, they’re already delivering on promises by passing the most comprehensive anti-corruption and reform legislation in a generation. Kim and Malinowski’s commitment to reform and families in their districts will make them a top target of mega-donors and special interests hell-bent on protecting the status quo in Washington, but we have their backs. ECU is proud to endorse Reps. Kim and Malinowski and we’re committed to ensuring they’re re-elected.”
“I’m honored to have End Citizen United’s endorsement and partnership in making our Congress work by making it work for us. I ran for Congress because I was tired of watching dark money grow, gerrymandering polarize our politics and the American people’s voices drowned out by special interests. Because I don’t take corporate PAC money, my campaign is powered by people who are sick and tired of these same failures in our system. I will continue to fight for them, and with End Citizen United, to clean up our democracy and make it truly one of, by and for the people,” said Kim.
“I’m honored to once again receive the support of End Citizens United. With the passage of H.R.1 in the House we are well on our way to keeping our promise to the American people to get special interests and dark money out of our politics. I look forward to continuing this fight alongside ECU over the next two years,” said Malinowski.
The early endorsement will allow ECU to connect Kim and Malinowski’s campaigns with their local members in New Jersey and activate its 530,000 grassroots donors to help ensure they have the resources to win. ECU raised and spent $44 million in the 2018 election cycle. Its $14.2 million independent expenditure made it the fifth largest issue group spending on the Democratic side, and the only one to be entirely grassroots-funded of the top five spenders. ECU’s members raised $9 million directly for endorsed candidates and state ballot measures. The group also donated nearly $2 million directly to its endorsed campaigns.
ECU is dedicated to getting Big Money out of politics and fixing the rigged system in Washington so it works for all Americans. The group played a pivotal role in helping to pass the For the People Act, a once-in-a-generation anti-corruption and reform bill. ECU also led the movement among candidates to forgo corporate PAC money in their campaigns. Fifty-three members of the 116th Congress are refusing to take corporate PAC money, including 36 new members. The reform group has four million members nationwide, and is entirely grassroots-funded with an average donation of just $14.
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