FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RELEASE: April 30, 2024 

MEDIA CONTACT: Danielle Carrasquero, danielle.carrasquero@berlinrosen.com; Shayna Farmelant, shayna.farmelant@berlinrosen.com 

Public Wise Announces Slate of Endorsements Ahead of 2024 Election

 Announcement comes on the heels of the recently released Election Threat Index in Arizona and Pennsylvania tracking the impact of election deniers currently in office

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Public Wise, a voting rights organization which works to secure a government that reflects the will and protects the rights of the people, announced their 2024 endorsements for 20 candidates running for office in key battleground states including Pennsylvania, Arizona, and North Carolina.

The endorsements include:

  • Anand Patel, Pennsylvania House of Representatives

  • Hadley Haas, Pennsylvania House of Representatives

  • Sara Agerton, Pennsylvania House of Representatives

  • Anna Thomas, Pennsylvania House of Representatives 

  • Elizabeth Moro, Pennsylvania House of Representatives 

  • Ruben Gallego, United States Senate (AZ)

  • Raquel Terán, United States Congress (AZ-03)

  • Kirsten Engel, United States Congress (AZ-06)

  • Judy Schwiebert, Arizona State Senate

  • Stephanie Simacek, Arizona House of Representatives

  • Stacey Seaman, Arizona State Senate

  • Keith Seaman, Arizona House of Representatives

  • John McLean, Arizona State Senate

  • Kevin Volk, Arizona House of Representatives

  • Brian Fernandez, Arizona State Senate

  • Matias Rosales, Arizona House of Representatives

  • Mariana Sandoval, Arizona House of Representatives

  • Josh Stein, North Carolina Governor 

  • Mo Green, North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction 

  • Allison Riggs, North Carolina State Supreme Court

“The future of our democracy is on the line this November, and not just in the presidential election. Many of the candidates we are endorsing are running for local offices and facing challengers who are election deniers, are running on extremist platforms, and will stop at nothing to undermine our elections in order to gain power," said Christina Baal-Owens, Executive Director of Public Wise. “We are fighting for the fundamental right of every individual to participate in free and fair elections, and our hope is that our endorsements uplift the candidates who we believe are best suited to safeguard democracy."

Public Wise began its endorsement process by looking for races where a clear champion of democracy is facing off against an individual who has credibly participated in election denial activities, such as enacting laws that undermine fair voting processes and illegally interfering in elections. In at least one case, our endorsed candidate’s opponent was at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. By supporting these key races across the nation, Public Wise is working to ensure that those who actively work to undermine our democracy do not hold public office.

Public Wise has been active in calling for accountability since the insurrection, having launched the Insurrection Index in 2022. The Insurrection Index holds over 1,800 records of individuals and organizations in public trust who played a role in the insurrection to hold these actors accountable. Most recently, Public Wise started to release an Election Threat Index to track election deniers who currently hold office in key states, starting by finding 105 elected officials in Pennsylvania and 46 elected officials in Arizona. In the coming months, Public Wise plans to expand the Election Threat Index to include North Carolina, Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Nevada.

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About Public Wise

Persistent and unyielding in our commitment to a just multiracial democracy, Public Wise fights to secure a government that reflects the will and protects the rights of the people. We accomplish this through education, research, organizing, funding, and partnerships that support more voting and more equitable representation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HADLEY HAAS OUTRAISES STATE REP VALERIE GAYDOS IN Q4 OF 2023

Haas also recorded more donors, and a higher cash on hand as Gaydos used campaign funds to support extreme groups making us less safe 

PITTSBURGH, PA February 7, 2024 - Democratic candidate, Hadley Haas reported outraising her opponent State Rep. Valerie Gaydos in Q4 and heads into the election year with a significant cash on hand advantage.  Haas reported raising $81,850.00 with $77,494.28 on hand in Q4 of 2023, compared to Valerie Gaydos’ $72,674.00 raised and $39,570.11 on hand.

Additionally, Representative Gaydos has reported using her campaign donations to fund extreme groups that are pushing far right legislation that puts our community in danger.  Gaydos made a contribution to Firearm Owners Against Crime, an extreme organization that has pushed and celebrated Permitless Carry Laws, advocated against Red Flag Laws, and even protested local families who themselves were the victims of gun violence.  Gaydos’s donation will help them push their radical agenda here in Pennsylvania and make every family she represents less safe.

Hadley Haas launched her campaign at an event on December 7th in Sewickley, PA surrounded by friends and supporters, including Congressman Chris Deluzio. The campaign released a video from the event which can be found on the website: https://www.hadleyforpa.com/.

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About Hadley: If you ask Hadley Haas where she is from, she couldn’t be more proud to tell you: Pittsburgh.  This community has given her strength in some of her family’s toughest times and rallied with her to support others with open arms when they needed the same support.  Her life has become, sometimes intentionally and sometimes through the genuine desire to serve, about helping others and paving the way for the next generation to be stronger than ours.  Hadley’s story is one of resilience and seeing ways to help others in even her toughest moments.

In Harrisburg, the same compassion and sense of selflessness that has driven all of her service throughout her life will motivate her work.  As a mother, she will look out for our kids and their safety.  Most importantly, she will never forget what this community has done for her, and always tell us the truth, do as she says, and vote for what is right.

You can find more information about Hadley and her campaign at https://www.hadleyforpa.com/.