Americans for Democratic Action
Fighting for progress and resisting reaction since 1947
ADA: Updates (via Facebook)
As we seek to maintain and expand liberal majorities in the House of Representatives, redistricting has tossed us both opportunities and challenges. We will not walk away from those challenges, and, with your help, we know we can meet them. ![]()
![]()
One such challenge is in Michigan which, in many ways, is ground zero in the battle for control of the House, and a prime example of why it's so important we keep fighting. That is why we revisit the re-election battle faced by Elissa Slotkin who currently represents Michigan’s 8th Congressional District.![]()
![]()
What has changed since we wrote you last June is Michigan’s redrawn Congressional district map. It forces Slotkin to move from her family’s farm to a new home in the new 7th Congressional District which contains approximately 2/3 of the population and 2½ counties she currently represents. Mercifully, it will not force her into an incumbent upon incumbent battle – always messy and never fun. What hasn’t changed is that she remains a prime target for GOP strategists looking to gain a House majority. What also hasn’t changed is our determination that they come up short and we retain a first-rate Member of Congress.![]()
![]()
To recap: Slotkin is a former CIA analyst who worked for the National Security Council under President George W. Bush. During the Obama Administration, she worked for the State Department and the Department of Defense where she was acting assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs until 2017 when she returned to Michigan. She says she was motivated to run for Congress when she watched the then-incumbent smirk at a White House ceremony after he and other Republicans voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act.![]()
![]()
Despite the marginality of her then district, Slotkin has still earned an ADA voting record of 85 percent and she has not shied away from controversy. In September 2019, she and 6 other freshman House Democrats authored an opinion piece in the Washington Post calling for an impeachment inquiry into the former President.![]()
![]()
Health care and the environment have been the hallmarks of her service. She is a co-sponsor of the Raise the Wage Act and is a firm believer in a living wage including for tipped workers, saying that no one working full-time should be consigned to living in poverty. She is a staunch defender of workers’ rights advocating for improvements to NAFTA and its successor and supporting UAW workers striking at a GM plant. She and Washington Senator Patty Murray (D) led their colleagues in commemorating the passage of Title IX authored by former ADA president Patsy T. Mink (D-HI). She works passionately to support veterans with a particular focus on their health care needs. These positions would be noteworthy in a safe district. In her now former district, they are courageous and deserve our full support.![]()
![]()
Follow the ADA Spotlight on the 2022 Midterm Elections page to stay updated on ADA's electoral activity. act.myngp.com/Forms/6823798959908061184
Join us in participating in this discussion.
Register Today: Justice Delayed: The Unmet Promise of Equality
schottfoundation.salsalabs.org
A thought-provoking look at the Kerner Commission’s dramatic 1968 report calling out systemic racism — boldly stating it was not a lack of solutions that distances our nation from justice, but the... NO CELEBRATION WITHOUT LEGISLATION. This MLK Day, we won’t accept empty promises in pursuit of Dr. King’s dream for a more equal America. MLK Day is a day of service, and Congress must serve our country through action. Our leaders have a historic opportunity to restore and protect Dr. King’s legacy by passing the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Washington D.C. Admissions Act. mlkdayactions.org
One of the Washington Post’s January headlines read, “Democrats Brace for Post-Pelosi Turnover.” While we agree that planning ahead is a good thing, we are not yet ready to throw in the towel. And we would remind everyone that these same pundits predicted in 2020 that, with the former President at the top of the ticket, there would be a Democratic landslide. Sadly, they were wrong then and we are equally determined to prove them wrong again. ![]()
![]()
While redistricting nationwide often has made our path more difficult, in Illinois it has opened an opportunity in the 13th Congressional District currently represented by GOP Representative Rodney L. Davis. Davis has announced his intention to run in the 15th Congressional District, which leaves an open seat in the 13th and one of our strongest opportunities to gain not only a Democratic but a truly liberal Member of Congress.![]()
![]()
It is unclear who the Republican candidates will be but the clear front-runner on the Democratic side is Nikki Budzinski who is facing a primary challenge from former professional basketball player and financial advisor David Palmer. Budzinski, who is running with strong support from organized Labor and Illinois Representative Jan Schakowski, among others, is clearly one of us. Prior to her candidacy, Budzinski worked for the United Food and Commercial Workers and as senior advisor to Governor Pritzker she helped bring his populist message to downstate Illinois. As chief of staff at OMB in the Biden Administration, she helped start the Made in America Office and as executive director of Climate Jobs for Illinois, a coalition of unions working for clean energy infrastructure programs, she worked to transition Illinois’ economy to clean energy.![]()
![]()
The depth and breadth of her experience speaks volumes about her qualifications. Equally so, does her campaign platform. Budzinski is pro-choice and believes that health care should be both more accessible and more affordable; she promises to work to allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices. She wants real immigration reform including a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers and others. She will work to restore and modernize the Voting Rights Act and strive to improve poll access and enact automatic voter registration. She has said that she doesn’t believe we need to make a choice between safety and justice and is strongly in favor of criminal justice reform including banning choke holds and mandating body cameras for officers and, of course, wants illegal guns off the streets and out of the hands of criminals. She comes from a union family and is a strong supporter of the rights of those who wish to organize to do so free of intimidation. In other words, she would be a real asset in Congress.![]()
![]()
Follow the ADA Spotlight on the 2022 Midterm Elections page to stay updated on ADA's electoral activity. act.myngp.com/Forms/6751741365870133248
Today is our birthday! ADA turns 75 years old today, January 4th. Join us tonight @ 8 p.m. eastern for a book discussion on Frances Perkins and the New Deal. Register Here: act.myngp.com/Forms/4013552792428871680
This first Spotlight of 2022 brings with it our very best wishes to each and every one of you for the Happiest of New Years. It also brings our New Year’s resolution that we in Americans for Democratic Action will celebrate our 75th year by carrying on our tradition of determined, liberal political activism aimed at expanding liberal majorities in the House and Senate. With your help, we know we can achieve our resolution.![]()
![]()
Republican Senator Richard Burr’s retirement announcement made North Carolina a state on which we need to focus our attention. Although the state definitely leans Republican, it remains a swing state, prime for a Democratic pick-up. In 2020, despite a desperately flawed Democratic nominee, Republican Senator Thom Tillis still won with only 48.7 percent of the vote. Similarly narrow Trump victories underscore that this is a major opportunity to flip a Senate seat.![]()
![]()
The GOP is facing a messy primary featuring Trump-endorsed Representative Ted Budd, who holds an ADA lifetime voting record of 5%, former Rep. Mark Walker who holds an ADA lifetime voting record of 2.5%, and former Governor Pat McCrory. McCrory, who has the advantage of having run statewide, is perhaps best known for the 2016 “bathroom bill” which targeted LGBTQ citizens and sparked a ferocious nationwide backlash.![]()
![]()
By contrast, the Democratic side of the race is becoming much more defined with the strongest potential candidates backing out of the race in favor of Cheri Beasley. Beasley began her career as a public defender. In 2008, she was elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals with a 15 point margin of victory. In 2014, she was elected Associate Justice of the State Supreme Court and, in 2019, she was appointed the first African-American woman to serve as Chief Justice of that court. She lost her re-election campaign for that post by a mere 401 votes while garnering 11,000 more votes than Biden. She is in favor of expanding access to affordable health care. She promises to invest in early childhood education while ensuring that all of North Carolina’s children have access to quality education “cradle to career.” She wants to expand economic opportunity for all and increase the minimum wage to $15/hour. She is a strong supporter of organized Labor, is pro-choice and has promised to tackle the climate crisis and help protect our precious environment. In brief, she is a first-class candidate who would be a more than welcome addition to the U.S. Senate.![]()
![]()
Follow the ADA Spotlight on the 2022 Midterm Elections page to stay updated on ADA's electoral activity. Thank you, once again, for your on-going support. Time and again, it has been the margin of victory. act.myngp.com/Forms/5959107831452925952
Celebrate the New Year, ADA's 75th! by joining us for a discussion of New Deal politics with author Kirstin Downey. Register here: act.myngp.com/Forms/4013552792428871680
Join ADA for a 75th Anniversary Book Event on Frances Perkins with Author Kirstin Downey.
Tired of Manchin's antics? Send him a Lump of Coal by making a contribution to ADA's 2022 election work aimed at gaining a functioning majority in the Senate.
If nothing else, 2021 has provided us with a full range of emotions. A Democratic takeover of the U.S. Senate, the January 6th Insurrection, the seating of President Biden and Vice President Harris, election "fraudits," COVID surges, extreme climate disasters, rescue packages and much, much more!![]()
![]()
We all know the path to real change in this country is through the ballot box. Which is why, over the past year, we have highlighted races that are key to expanding our razor thin margin in the Senate and diminished majority in the House. Please take a moment to review ADA's Spotlight on the Midterm Elections using the link below.![]()
![]()
As 2021 draws to a close and we prepare for a tumultuous election season in 2022, we will continue to highlight key races in maintaining control of the U.S. House and Senate in 2022. In the meantime, we will need your support today – both personal and financial. You can follow the ADA Spotlight on the 2022 Midterm Elections page to sign up to help win these races or to donate to ADA's electoral program. We wish you and your family have a healthy, safe and happy holiday season! We will see you again on January 3rd with renewed determination for a liberal New Year! act.myngp.com/Forms/-3338573599253463040
ADAers, join us in celebrating our beloved friend Logun Buckley.
This content isn't available right now
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.ADA: What You Should Know
ADA Book Discussion: ADA Founder JK Galbraith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ADKfzn0lJQ
View ADA Awards Gala
ADA held a virtual 2021 Awards Gala on September 22nd. View via the links below. We honored: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), progressive ally and champion Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union Eleanor Clift, journalist and...
March for Medicare for All #M4M4ALL
Join ADA Saturday, July 24th in a March for Medicare for All action near you or chip in donation to this effort taking places in 53 cities in 31 states and DC. Click HERE to learn more or help out. #M4M4ALL
A New Kind of Filibuster
Check out what ADA is supporting as an alternative to the filibuster. READ HERE.
ADA Vote 2022
Visit ADA's 2022 Election Resources Page.
ADA Mourns the Passing of Joe Duffey, former ADA National Chairperson
Joe was a champion of liberal causes and a loyal ADA member throughout. Take a look at the articles in the NY Times and Washington Post on his passing. RIP Joe.
Expel Rep. Boebert (R-CO)
In light of reports that Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) on January 6 directed domestic terrorists to the location of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and on January 12 forced her way past security and onto the floor of the House of Representatives while carrying a gun, Americans for Democratic Action calls upon the House Ethics Committee to immediately convene an inquiry into her actions with the possibility of expelling her from the House of Representatives.
ADA Convention sets agenda
January 15-17, 2021 ADA activists from around the country gathered via Zoom to share ideas, hear from experts, and set ADA's agenda for progress.
Congrats to President-elect Biden and VP-elect Harris!
PDF HERE November 7. 2020 President-elect Joseph Biden Vice President-elect Kamala Harris Biden Transition Congratulations, President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris. Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) was proud to endorse your campaign and...
The American Commentator
Through feature articles, essays, interviews, personal remembrances, and reviews, we seek to promote a stimulating dialogue about liberal ideas and ideals among ADA members and friends.
ADA Awards Gala Video
Enjoy the video and please make a donation to ADA's work to #DitchMitch and #DumpTrump. You can also Text ADA2020 to 202-796-2201.
ADA Voting Record
ADA's Latest Voting Record is online now.