Jones is part of ECU // LAV’s first slate of congressional challenger endorsements this cycle, signaling the critical importance of this race
End Citizens United (ECU) // Let America Vote (LAV) today endorsed Mondaire Jones for Congress (NY-17) as part of its first House challenger endorsements for the 2024 cycle.
“Throughout his time in Congress, Mondaire Jones emerged as a leader among leaders in the fight to pass democracy reforms aimed at rooting out corruption and protecting the freedom to vote,” said Tiffany Muller, President of ECU // LAV. “Mondaire understands that progress on the issues important to working families is hindered unless we sever the ties between the corporate special interests and our political leaders. While Big Oil shill Mike Lawler has taken over $125,000 in corporate PAC money and would rather raise energy prices to pad the pockets of his mega-donors, Mondaire refuses to take corporate PAC money because he can’t be bought. We need Mondaire back in Congress to give working New Yorkers a voice.”
“Throughout my career, I’ve worked to get Big Money out of elections and to protect voters’ voices from being overshadowed by corporate special interest groups, from authoring key provisions of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act to getting that bill passed through the House. That’s why I’m proud to have this endorsement from End Citizens United // Let America Vote, crucial leaders in the fight to save our democracy,” said Mondaire Jones. “I have always prioritized the issues facing Lower Hudson Valley families so I will continue to reject corporate PAC money as a promise that I only work for my constituents. My record of fighting corruption stands in stark contrast to that of Congressman Mike Lawler, the former oil and gas lobbyist who got elected to Congress and proceeded to vote like an oil and gas lobbyist. When I return to Congress, I will continue to defend our democracy from far-right extremism and corruption, and create a government that works for the people.”
Since first running for office, Jones has rejected all corporate PAC money, proving that he is accountable only to the people of New York, not corporate special interests. Jones has pushed to overturn the disastrous Citizens United ruling and end dark money in our elections by making all political contributions fully transparent and accessible to the public. He fought tirelessly to protect the freedom to vote, introducing the Right to Vote Act, which would create for the first time a statutory right to vote that cannot be restricted. Under the bill, state governments would not be able to unilaterally enact measures making it harder to vote without a justifiable reason, ending their ability to justify restrictive anti-voting bills in the name of “voter fraud” that doesn’t exist. The Right to Vote Act was included into the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.
ECU // LAV 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. Since its founding in 2015, the group has had over 1 million donors and raised $200 million, with an average donation of just $14. The group has more than 4 million members nationwide.
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