Ravel is refusing money from Big Tobacco, Big Oil, Big Banks, and Big Pharma
End Citizens United (ECU) today endorsed former Federal Election Commission (FEC) chair Ann Ravel for California’s 15th Senate District, the organization’s first endorsement for state-level office in the 2019-2020 cycle. A champion of ethical and transparent government, Ravel is refusing contributions from Big Tobacco, Big Oil, Big Banks and Big Pharma.
“Ann Ravel has led the fight to get big money out of politics in California and across the country, and End Citizens United applauds her for leading the way once more by refusing money from Big Tobacco, Big Oil, Big Banks, and Big Pharma companies,” said ECU President Tiffany Muller. “Ann fought vigorously as chair of the Federal Election Commission and California’s Fair Political Practices Commission to make government accountable to the people. End Citizens United is proud to endorse Ann Ravel, and we look forward to helping her win.”
“For too long, big corporate interests have poured endless amounts of money into our elections for their own benefit. We need leaders who will put the interests of the people ahead of the interests of these corporate PACs that undermine our democracy and stay in the shadows without accountability,” said Ravel. “End Citizens United has built a true grassroots movement of supporters seeking to stop the dominant influence of dark money in politics. I am proud to have their support in my campaign for State Senate because they know that I will be a champion for the people of this district.”
For more than 20 years, Ann Ravel has been committed to public service. As Santa Clara County Counsel, she led efforts to protecting seniors from fraud and financial abuse, defended marriage equality in a challenge to Prop 8 and worked to protect children from the harmful impacts of lead paint. During her service at the U.S. Department of Justice, she took on oil companies in the aftermath of the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico and held pharmaceutical companies accountable for harmful practices. Based on her groundbreaking work in combating dark money in California politics, President Obama asked her to join the Federal Election Commission and protect Americans’ right to free and fair elections.
ECU was established in March 2015 to counter the harmful effects of Citizens United and reform our campaign finance system. Its affiliated project, Fight for Reform (FFR), focuses on bringing transparency and accountability to state and local elections around the country. FFR will connect its grassroots activists and donors with Ravel’s campaign.
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