NEW YORK — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, announced that over 5,000 candidates across all 50 states were awarded the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction this election cycle — the highest number of distinctions awarded in an election cycle since the program’s creation in 2018. Candidates receive the distinction based on their responses to a questionnaire on gun safety policies. This is the first year that candidates up and down the ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are eligible to apply for a distinction, including those running for local offices like school boards.
“An unprecedented number of candidates are running hard on gun safety, and we’re making it easier than ever for voters to find them,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Candidates for office know that gun safety is a winning issue, and they also know the gold-standard credential is our Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction.”
“Our grassroots movement has changed the landscape and made gun safety a winning issue up and down the ticket, which is why we’re seeing more campaigns than ever before running proudly with our Gun Sense Candidate Distinction,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “Our safety and freedoms are on the ballot and our Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers won’t stop fighting to elect Gun Sense Candidates until the last vote is cast on Election Day.”
The Gun Sense Candidate distinction is a signal to Everytown and Moms Demand Action’s nearly 10 million supporters, volunteers, and voters across the country that a candidate will govern with gun safety in mind, if elected. The Gun Sense Candidate distinction is not an endorsement from Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, or its volunteer networks Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action. Additionally, multiple candidates in a race can receive the distinction. Receiving the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction is a prerequisite for being considered for endorsement.
The Gun Sense Candidate distinction program began in 2018, when the program recognized over 3,000 candidates running for office. In 2020, the program recognized 3,000 candidates, including candidates in 49 states and Washington, D.C. and for offices from President to State Legislature — resulting in a federal gun sense trifecta between the White House, the U.S. House, and the U.S. Senate.
