Country’s Largest Gun Violence Prevention Group Has Endorsed Candidates Who Will Stand Up to the Gun Lobby; Is Working to Defeat NRA-Backed Candidates
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund today announced it will spend $500,000 in support of incumbent gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf re-election. Wolf is running on a platform that includes strengthening gun safety laws in the Keystone State, while Wolf’s opponent has received an A rating from the NRA, was endorsed by the NRA just last week and has opposed criminal background checks on all gun sales. Everytown’s electoral activities in Pennsylvania will include independent expenditures for mail and digital advertisements. Everytown is also announcing endorsements of Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Susan Wild (PA-07), Matt Cartwright (PA-08) and Conor Lamb (PA-17).
“The people of Pennsylvania deserve leaders with the courage to buck the NRA and champion common-sense gun laws,” said John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Everytown is proud to support these candidates, who are committed to putting public safety ahead of gun lobby priorities.”
Governor Tom Wolf has also received the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction and has proven himself to be a strong supporter of common-sense gun safety measures, supporting a bipartisan, lifesaving domestic violence bill that recently passed the legislature and is supported by 82 percent of likely voters in Pennsylvania (including 88 percent of gun-owning households). This legislation will prohibit anyone convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence or subject to a domestic violence protection order from purchasing a gun.
Everytown previously announced its endorsement for Moms Demand Action volunteers, Shanna Danielson, running in Pennsylvania House District 92 and Helen Tai, running in Pennsylvania House District 178.
Since 2014, Everytown for Gun Safety has taken the fight for common-sense gun legislation state-by-state, in partnership with its grassroots arm Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. There has been significant progress in the states, defeating dangerous gun lobby legislation and passing common-sense gun laws that will help save lives. Since the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, 18 states ― red, blue and purple ― have passed meaningful gun safety legislation. The selection of these candidates for endorsement emphasizes Everytown’s ongoing commitment to gun safety in states across the country.