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For the first time ever, March For Our Lives is making endorsements up and down the ballot to help put gun safety champions in office. A lot goes into our endorsements, but top of the list? An ironclad commitment to put gun safety at the top of their agenda—all day, every day. Our first endorsement went to Kamala Harris for President, but we’re excited to help boost several other candidates for US Senate and Congress, in key races that are absolutely must wins in order to pass comprehensive gun safety laws next year. We’re excited to support candidates in Arizona, Michigan, Florida, and New York—states and races where the youth vote is expected to have the greatest impact on the margin of victory. Check out if your candidate has earned our endorsement below, and check back in as we continue to roll out more endorsements!
Harris-Walz for president
Our first-ever endorsement goes to tried-and-true gun safety champions, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. As one of the largest youth-led movements in the nation, we are clear-eyed about the challenge ahead and we believe that they are uniquely suited to meet this moment. Throughout her time in DC, first as a Senator and then as Vice President, she has been a forceful champion for gun safety and for young people. At the 2020 Presidential Gun Safety Forum we hosted with our friends at Giffords, Vice President Harris outlined a bold plan to tackle gun violence from every angle—demanding action from Congress and using the power of the presidency to fight for our lives. Since becoming Vice President, she has met regularly with advocates and survivors of gun violence, and we’ve had the pleasure of working with her as she’s led the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Importantly, Vice President Harris has put gun violence survivors at the center of policymaking, demonstrating her commitment to empowering those most impacted by the issue to implement the right solutions.
Tim Walz first came to our attention when he denounced the NRA as a member of congress, returning their campaign donations and taking votes and positions that flipped his NRA rating from an A to a beautiful, bright red F. As governor of Minnesota, he’s championed commonsense gun laws and brought dedicated funding to evidence-based violence prevention programs that stop gun violence loooong before someone picks up a gun. We’re ecstatic that Vice President Harris picked him as a running mate, and we’re hitting the ground running to put both of them in the White House. Join us!
Arizona Endorsements
March For Our Lives is proud to endorse Ruben Gallego for Senate! Currently representing Arizona’s third congressional district, Ruben Gallego is a proud son of immigrants who has been a steadfast advocate for gun violence prevention. From helping us pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and voting for background checks, safe storage legislation, and an assault weapon ban to supporting a code of ethics and term limits for the Supreme Court, Gallego understands what’s at stake and will fight for our lives and freedoms. In contrast, his opponent Kari Lake has been endorsed by the NRA and even made dangerous and suggestive comments when she told her supporters to arm themselves and “strap on a glock” ahead of the election. She is a dangerous fear monger who must be stopped.
This race was identified by CIRCLE as a top race where the youth vote can have a significant impact. This is our opportunity to elect a gun violence prevention champion who will fight for our lives in the Senate!
March For Our Lives is proud to endorse Kirsten Engel for AZ-06! Kirsten is a tireless advocate for our lives, and is taking on Rep. Juan Ciccimoni, an extreme far-right legislator who has been endorsed by the NRA, has fought against common-sense gun reform, and even sat on the board of an organization promoting firearms to children. We’re excited to flip this seat and put our political power behind Kirsten Engel, a former State Senator who has a proud history of fighting for gun safety and will support our priority bills.
March For Our Lives is proud to endorse Raul Grijalva or AZ-07! Representing Arizona’s seventh congressional district, Raul Grijalva has consistently championed legislation aimed at reducing gun violence and enhancing community safety. He has supported measures such as expanding background checks, implementing red flag laws, and promoting gun safety education and has signed onto a majority of our organization’s priority bills. Year after year, Rep. Grijalva is a proud progressive who has stood arm in arm with young people and defended the issues we hold dear in Congress.
March For Our Lives is pleased to endorse Elissa Slotkin for US Senate, to hold a must-win seat that will help clear the path for gun safety legislation in the Senate. Gun violence is a personal issue for Congresswoman Slotkin––she represented a district with two mass shootings, at Michigan State University and Oxford High School. During her time in Congress, she has fought for gun safety reforms and has committed to continuing that fight in the Senate. We know she will be a tireless champion for gun safety.Â
In contrast, Rep. Slotkin’s opponent, Mike Rogers, is endorsed and funded by the NRA. He has consistently opposed gun safety legislation and even after the most recent shooting in Georgia, he has refused to call for any type of reform. While in Congress, Rogers let the assault weapon ban expire and consistently voted with the gun lobby. CIRCLE identified this race as the #3 Senate race where the youth vote can have the most significant impact.
Former State Senator Curtis Hertel is a relentless advocate for gun violence prevention and the issue is deeply personal to him––his son was on campus during the Michigan State University shooting in 2023. Senator Hertel led Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s policy team in passing one of the most comprehensive gun safety packages in recent history and we know will work to implement similar measures in Congress. We’re proud to endorse Curtis Hertel.Â
Meanwhile, his opponent Tom Barrett has highlighted his membership in the NRA and consistently voted in favor of their agenda in the state House and Senate, even earning a 100% rating in 2022. He’s also accepted money from the NRA and co-sponsored legislation to allow permitless carry and exempt Michigan from following federal gun laws.
Representing Michigan’s 12th congressional district, Rashida Tlaib has consistently backed universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, a ban on assault weapons, and has championed community-based violence intervention programs, and emphasized the need to address the root causes of gun violence. She is a proven and tested leader on gun safety, and we’re pleased to endorse her. Meanwhile, her opponent James Hooper has largely stayed silent on addressing gun violence directly. The only public stance he’s taken on the issue is his declaration as a “strong proponent of the un-infringeable nature of the Second Amendment.” Beyond this, Hooper has not offered any concrete policy proposals or measures to address the gun violence epidemic, focusing instead on defending gun ownership rights as a protection against tyranny.
Since our founding, we’ve helped drive youth turnout to record highs again and again, and the 2024 election will be no exception—and we’re certain that by winning our endorsement, these candidates are putting themselves in the best possible position to win the youth vote. Gun violence has consistently been a driving issue for young voters, and this year it ranks among the top three issues for young people across the nation.
Join Us to Get Out The Vote
Youth have the potential to shape the 2024 election, so we need your help to get young people to the ballot box.
