FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Washington, D.C., Jan. 28, 2013 — 21st Century Democrats today submitted a petition with more than 10,000 signatures to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, calling on the governor to appoint former congressman Barney Frank to the U.S. Senate.

The Senate will begin its new term debating critical budget issues, including potential cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and we need a progressive champion like Barney Frank there to advocate for us,” said Jennifer Petty, executive director of 21st Century Democrats.

“We represent progressive Democrats, and our supporters are unified in their backing of Barney Frank. We know he is a real progressive champion who has the experience needed to make a difference from day one. Barney Frank will hit the Senate floor running.”

Patrick will appoint an interim senator once U.S. Sen. John Kerry, President Obama’s pick as next secretary of state, resigns his Senate seat. Patrick said he does not want to appoint anyone who intends to run in the special election to replace Kerry. Frank announced he would not run in the special election.

21st Century Democrats, the leading national Democratic organization dedicated to promoting and electing progressive Democrats, submitted the petition with 10,415 signatories to Patrick’s office. It will continue collecting signatures until Patrick announces his decision.

Based in Washington, D.C., 21st Century Democrats is a grassroots-oriented political action committee that endorses and helps elect progressive Democrats. The organization has endorsed more than 325 candidates from 39 states, including 32 current members of Congress. It has trained more than 650 grassroots organizers, contacted over 317,000 voters in 32 states, and won the majority of its endorsed races.For more information, visit 21stCenturyDems.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Washington, D.C., Oct. 4, 2012 — 21st Century Democrats, the leading national Democratic organization dedicated to promoting and electing progressive Democrats, announced today its endorsement of nine more candidates in competitive races across the country.

“All of these candidates are locked in close battles, and most of them are also running against Karl Rove and the Koch brothers,” said Jennifer Petty, executive director of 21st Century Democrats.

“One thing I’ve learned over years of campaign cycles is that we are never going to out-raise our Republican opponents, but we do win with strong candidates who voice core values of the progressive agenda, because voters know what will really help working families when they hear it.”

The endorsements are:

Steve Bullock: Montana Governor
Fresh off leading 26 states in the fight against the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock faces GOP Rep. Rick Hill in the state’s gubernatorial race.

Rep. Bob Filner: Mayor of San Diego
Retiring from the U.S. House to run for the Office of Mayor of San Diego, Bob Filner’s chances for wresting the San Diego city hall from Republican control – and away from the hands of “San Diego’s own version of Scott Walker” – look promising.

Alan Grayson: U.S. House, Florida’s 9th District
Known for his pull-no-punches style when he previously represented Florida’s 9th District, Alan Grayson’s return to the campaign trail shows he hasn’t mellowed with time – and that’s a good thing, because, this time around, he also has to fight against voter suppression.

Rep. Martin Heinrich: U.S. Senate, New Mexico
Amid claims of “skewed” polls, Democratic Rep. Martin Heinrich has a strong lead over challenger Heather Wilson in the race to replace New Mexico’s retiring Sen. Jeff Bingaman.

Dan Maffei: U.S. House, New York’s 24th District
Missourian Todd Akin’s views on “legitimate rape” took center stage in the New York 24th District rematch between Tea Party Republican Ann Marie Buerkle and challenger Dan Maffei.

Rick Nolan: U.S. House, Minnesota’s 8th District
When Rick Nolan represented Minnesota’s 6th District for three terms, former Rep. Jim Oberstar called him “the conscience of the Congress.” Nolan’s election to the 8th will take back a piece of Minnesota for the progressive values that help all working families.

Carol Shea-Porter: U.S. House, New Hampshire’s 1st District
In New Hampshire’s 1st District, Carol Shea-Porter may be picking up momentum in her rematch against Rep. Frank Guinta. Shea-Porter benefits from voter dissatisfaction with the incumbent, who has toed the Tea Party line.

Betty Sutton: U.S. House, Ohio’s 16th District
In a bit of redistricting chaos, two incumbents are battling it out for Ohio’s 16th District, Democrat Betty Sutton and Republican Jim Renacci. Republicans drew the new district to favor the reelection of Renacci, but polls have remained neck and neck throughout the race.

Elizabeth Warren: U.S. Senate, Massachusetts
In 2010, Tea Party momentum won Republican Scott Brown the special election to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. Two years later, while unquestionably a close race, consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren can win the Massachusetts seat back for Democrats.

Previously, 21st Century Democrats endorsed three U.S. Senate candidates running for reelection in 2012: Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Jon Tester of Montana and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. And all three are under attack by the far right because of their principled stands and effective leadership, and reelection of each of them is critical to keeping the Democratic-led Senate.

21st Century Democrats is a Washington, D.C., based grassroots-oriented political action committee that endorses and helps elect progressive Democrats. In the last 10 years alone, the organization has helped more than 165 candidates in 31 states win election; has employed and trained 475 field organizers and 500 canvassers; and has trained 4,400 activists in the fundamentals of grassroots organizing.

For more information, visit 21stCenturyDems.org.

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