Press Release

Jewish Democrats Endorse 23 House and 3 Senate Candidates in Key 2020 Races, Battleground States

June 17, 2020

JDCA’s support for candidates who reflect Jewish and Democratic values includes grassroots organizing, digital ads, and more.

WASHINGTON — The nation’s leading Jewish and Democratic organization, Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), is continuing its focus on key races for Congress in 2020 with a new round of endorsements of 23 House candidates and three Senate candidates, including in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Nevada. These bring JDCA’s total 2020 endorsements to nearly 70, including Senate and House incumbents and challengers, and Joe Biden.

The candidates endorsed by JDCA share its commitment to defending our democracy and combatting racism. “At this critical inflection point in our nation’s history, we are helping to elect Democrats who share our values, such as fighting for social and racial justice. The most effective way to bring about change in our country is by electing people who share your vision for the future, and that’s exactly what JDCA is doing in 2020,” said Jewish Democratic Council of America Executive Director Halie Soifer.

Included in the group of 2020 Congressional and Senate candidates that Jewish Dems is endorsing are Adam Schiff (CA-28), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Cory Booker (NJ). Additionally, JDCA is endorsing several first-term House members up for re-election – Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Conor Lamb (PA-17), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Xochitl Torres Small (NM-02).

JDCA has endorsed candidates in nearly 70 House and Senate races, listed here. In addition to these endorsements, JDCA is continuing its efforts to mobilize Jewish voters through state and local chapters in swing states. These chapters, combined with campus fellows, are leading JDCA’s grassroots organizing efforts, which consists of phone banking and text banking. In addition, JDCA PAC is leading a digital advertising campaign.

Ron Klein, JDCA’s Board Chair, remarked, “Our on-the-ground power in swing states will energize Jewish voters in support of Joe Biden, as well as Democratic candidates running for the House and Senate. As we get closer to the election, we know what’s at stake. That is why we are doing everything we can do to re-elect strong Democratic incumbents and defeat Republican incumbents who do not share our vision for the future, starting with Donald Trump.”

The JDCA endorsement of Joe Biden on April 24 can be found here. JDCA also has two digital ads that are currently running in swing states, in support of Joe Biden and in opposition to President Trump. Both ads focus on Trump’s emboldening of hatred and extremism that has made the American Jewish community, and other minority groups, less secure.

The candidates endorsed today by JDCA for the House of Representatives are:

  • Abby Finkenauer (IA-01)
  • Abigail Spanberger (VA-07)
  • Adam Schiff (CA-28)
  • Ben McAdams (UT-04)
  • Bill Pascrell (NJ-09)
  • Chris Pappas (NH-01)
  • Conor Lamb (PA-17)
  • David Trone (MD-06)
  • Gil Cisneros (CA-39)
  • Greg Stanton (AZ-09)
  • Jamie Raskin (MD-08)
  • Joseph Morelle (NY-25)
  • Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05)
  • Josh Harder (CA-10)
  • Kendra Horn (OK-05)
  • Lauren Underwood (IL-14)
  • Matt Cartwright (PA-08)
  • Sharice Davids (KS-03)
  • Susie Lee (NV-03)
  • TJ Cox (CA-21)
  • Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01)
  • Xochitl Torres Small (NM-02)
  • Gina Ortiz Jones (TX-23)

The candidates endorsed today by JDCA for the Senate are:

  • Ben Ray Lujan (NM)
  • Cory Booker (NJ)
  • Steve Bullock (MT)

For more information about the work of Jewish Democratic Council of America or to speak with Halie Soifer, Ron Klein, or JDCA’s Political Committee Chair, Izzy Klein, please contact [email protected].