Veterans for Responsible Leadership — 2020 Endorsements
This post is updated as new endorsements are made. Read our Statement on 2020 Endorsements here.
October 11 Update — This first slate comprises incumbent veterans of the US military, DOD and intelligence services. These Senators and Congresspeople represent the best of leadership and service to our nation. VFRL is proud to endorse each of them for reelection.
Senator Gary Peters — Michigan, US Senate
Congressman Anthony Brown — MD-4, US House
Congressman Chip Coldiron — IN-3, US House
Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan — PA-6, US House
Congressman Ted Lieu — CA-33, US House
Congresswoman Elaine Luria — VA-2, US House
Congressman Seth Moulton — MA-6, US House
Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill — NJ-11, US House
Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin — MI-8, US House
Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger — VA-7, US House
October 12 Update — Non-incumbent military Veterans comprise VFRL’s second slate of endorsements. Each of these candidates served with distinction and possesses the qualities of leaders needed for this moment: moving past Trumpism and rebuilding our national leadership and democratic institutions. In many cases, these candidates are challenging a chief Trump enabler (Gaetz, McConnell, McSally) whose defeat is essential to excising Trumpism and restoring principled leadership to the Congress. VFRL is proud to support these candidates and wishes them success in the upcoming election, our country needs them.
MJ Hegar — Texas, US Senate
Mark Kelly — Arizona, US Senate
Amy McGrath — Kentucky, US Senate
Phil Ehr — FL-1, US House
Pam Keith — FL-18, US House
October 15 Update — These candidates endorsed by VFRL are not Veterans themselves, and some are even facing off against Veteran incumbents and challengers. At VFRL, we recognize that the experience of wearing a uniform is not the most important qualification for elected office, and, unfortunately, it is often not sufficient to ensure faithful representation and service to the American people. Yet, each of these men and women have demonstrated the fitness and qualities we need in our leaders to help guide us in these tumultuous times, and we encourage our members and their constituents to give them their full support.
Congressman Antonio Delgado — NY-19, US House
Theresa Greenfield — Iowa, US Senate
Dr. Al Gross — Alaska, US Senate
Jamie Harrison — South Carolina, US Senate
Sima Ladjevardian — TX-2, US House
Senator Ed Markey — Massachusetts, US Senate
It is worth noting that almost all of these candidates’ opponents — Senator Joni Ernst, Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Dan Sullivan, Congressman Dan Crenshaw, and Kyle Van De Water— are disappointingly, all Veterans and yet are among the worst Trump enablers (or, in Van De Water’s case, enabler-hopeful) who have either genuinely embraced Trumpism or chosen short-term political calculations over their constituents and the American people. As Veterans for Responsible Leadership, our greatest disdain is reserved for these men and women who disregard their oaths, and we encourage you to support their challengers and vote them out.
October 20 Update — These candidates are Veterans, non-veterans, incumbent, and non-incumbent candidates for the US House. All have in common a commitment to the American people, our democratic values and institutions, and principled national leadership.
Sanford Bishop Jr — GA-2, US House
Julia Brownley — CA-26, US House
G.K. Butterfield — NC-1, US House
Joyce Elliott — AR-2, US House
Peter Defazio — OR-4, US House
Margaret Good — FL-16, US House
Conor Lamb — PA-17, US House
Ray Lenzi — IL-12, US House
Rashad Lewis — TX-36, US House
William Marx — PA-14, US House
Bill Pascrell — NJ-9, US House
Collin Peterson — MN-7, US House
Mike Thompson — CA-5, US House
October 22 Update — These Veterans are incumbent and non-incumbent candidates for national offices. Each one of these candidates has demonstrated a dedication to service and the qualities we need in our leaders as we work to restore our national leadership and democratic institutions.
Jason Crow — CO-6, US House
Moe Davis — NC-11, US House
Jim Kennedy — FL-08, US House
Adrian Perkins — LA, US Senate
Jimmy Panetta — CA-20, US House
Max Rose — NY-11, US House
Jack Reed — RI, US Senate
These Veteran and non-Veteran non-incumbent candidates for state offices represent the best of the next generation of elected state officials.
Michelle Hinchey — NY-46, State Senate
Andrew Learned — FL-59, State House
Joanna Mendoza — AZ-11, State Senate
Josh Remillard — NC-117, State House (October 27 update)
Nick Milroy — WI-73, Wisconsin State Assembly (October 31 update)
