End Citizens United // Let America Vote (ECU // LAV) today announced its first ever “Democracy Defender” program for preeminent Attorney General and Secretary of State candidates in the 2022 cycle. These constitutional officers are critical in the fight combating dark money-fueled restrictive voting laws being passed across the country and protecting the right to vote. ECU // LAV will spend $7 million in key races across the country, including in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Texas, and Wisconsin.
As part of the new program, ECU // LAV is announcing today its first round of endorsements of six incumbents in key battleground states. The endorsements include Secretary of State Jena Griswold (CO), Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (MI), Attorney General Dana Nessel (MI), Secretary of State Steve Simon (MN), Attorney General Aaron Ford (NV), and Attorney General Josh Kaul (WI).
With Republicans in states across the country advancing dangerous, anti-voting rights laws predicated on the Big Lie, it is more important than ever to elect candidates who will fight to protect all Americans’ access to the ballot box.
“Given the dangerous, anti-democratic path that Republican politicians and their dark money allies have taken, we must more vociferously fight to protect every American’s voice and vote. We are proud to be engaging in key statewide elections that will determine who oversees the electoral process in these states for the next four years,” said End Citizens United and Let America Vote President Tiffany Muller. “The great Attorneys General and Secretaries of State who we are endorsing today have consistently stood up to corruption, protected voting rights, and are holding the line to ensure our elections are safe, fair, and accessible. As Republicans double down on corruption and anti-democracy efforts, we are proud to be in the fight to re-elect these voting rights champions and reformers.”
“I am honored that End Citizens United and Let America Vote stand with us to ensure that every vote will be counted and every voice will be heard,” Secretary Benson said. “Together, we will continue fighting so every American knows the truth: The 2020 election was the safest and most secure in our state and nation’s history.”
“I’m truly grateful for the vote of confidence from ECU // LAV,” said Secretary Simon. “Their leadership on clean and accessible elections has inspired people all over America to lean into democracy. We agree strongly on the need to remove unnecessary barriers to the freedom to vote – and to resist attempts to take our country backwards on voting rights.”
“I ran for the Secretary of State because of my passion for voting rights and fighting corruption, and that commitment informs everything I do in office. As Secretary of State, I protected our right to vote, expanded voter access, and ensured that all eligible voters, regardless of party, could have their voices heard in secure and accessible elections. I am running for re-election to continue this important work and am excited to have the support of End Citizens United and Let America Vote,” said Secretary Griswold.
“Nothing is more sacred than the right to vote. But that right is under attack. I am proud to have the support of End Citizens United and Let America Vote to continue my work to protect Nevadans’ right to vote, especially the integrity of an all-mail election, as it is now the law of Nevada. For over a century, our military has successfully used the mail to vote, and it is among my priorities to ensure mail-in voting remains accessible, safe, and secure,” said Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, and co-chair of the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA).
“In 2020, people realized just how important it is to have the right people elected to the offices of attorney general and secretary of state, and the role that we have played in defending our democracy,” said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. “I will continue to defend our right to vote, and efforts to expand access to the ballot box. Partnerships with groups like End Citizens United and Let America Vote only bolster this important work.”
“It’s critical that our elected officials stand up against voter suppression and efforts to subvert election results, and I’m proud to have done that as Attorney General,” said AG Kaul. “It’s an honor to have the support of an organization like ECU // LAV that’s fighting to defend our democracy.”
ECU // LAV raised and spent $65.5 million in the 2020 election cycle. Its $12.5 million independent expenditure made it the 5th largest issue group spending on the Democratic side. This will be the first time ECU // LAV is making a multi-million dollar investment in AG and SOS races. The “Democracy Defender” program is part of ECU // LAV’s Fight for Reform (FFR) project that supports candidates at the state and local level.
End Citizens United and Let America Vote merged in 2020. The group is dedicated to combating the two biggest challenges facing our democracy: the corrosive impact of Big Money and attempts to block access to the ballot box. ECU // LAV has more than four million members nationwide.
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