Diverse coalition of top candidates say we cannot meet the challenges of our day without protecting our freedoms and strengthening democracy
Protecting democracy ranks among the top concerns of voters heading into Election Day
Fifty-two candidates in House races across the country have united in a call to Congress to pass a package of freedom and democracy bills on “Day One” in 2025.
The candidates, all House challengers, include a diverse coalition, running in red, blue, and purple districts in every part of the country, including every Red to Blue race – the most competitive in the nation.
In a letter to Congress, which Defend The Vote helped to organize, the candidates write:
We are running for Congress to solve problems for the American people. Whether it’s lowering costs and growing the economy, protecting access to health care and reproductive freedom, defending Social Security or reducing gun violence, we can only meet the challenges of our day if our democracy is responsive to the people.
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We – a coalition of 52 candidates running to represent districts stretching from coast to coast – are calling in one collective voice that on Day 1 of the 119th Congress, we must pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and send them to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
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A rise in extremism, misinformation, and political violence combined with an onslaught of restrictive voting laws, partisan election interference, and a wave of dark money are pushing the nation to a breaking point. We hear from regular Americans everyday, and they are more concerned about the state of democracy than ever before.
The state of our democracy consistently ranks among the top concerns of voters.
Gallup (Oct): Democracy at the top of issues influencing voters’ presidential choice
- “Democracy in the U.S.” was ranked as extremely or very important by 85% – making it the second-most chosen issue, just points behind the economy.
- 58% of Democratic/Democratic-leaning independent voters listed democracy as extremely important – making it the top issue among this group.
NBC (Oct): Protecting Democracy a top dealbreaker issue for voters
- Protecting democracy or constitutional rights was statistically tied for second among voters as an issue so important that they would vote for or against a candidate solely on that basis.
NPR/PBS News/Marist (Sept/Oct): Two thirds of voters say preserving democracy is a deciding factor in their vote
- 64% of registered voters say preserving democracy is a deciding factor in choosing a candidate for President, the top ranking issue.
Specifically the candidates are calling for passage of the Freedom to Vote Act and John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
The bills work together to protect the right to vote, end gerrymandering, ban dark money and protect against threats to poll workers and voters. Democratic Leaders have made the bills a top priority for the last 3 Congresses. They came within two votes of becoming law in 2022.
“These candidates are committed to serving the people in their districts, and they’re talking with them every day,” said Defend The Vote Executive Director Brian Lemek. “They know that Americans value their freedoms and want to have their voices heard in Congress. That’s why they’re calling for reforms that will assure elected leaders are accountable to the people and focused on the issues that matter to their daily lives.”
Defend The Vote is one of the nation’s leading and most influential pro-democracy organizations. It is dedicated to electing pro-voting rights candidates, up and down the ballot, who will preserve our democracy by fighting to safeguard free and fair elections, protect the right to vote, and increase voter access.
The letter comes as voters face a wave of laws restricting access to the ballot across the country, extreme gerrymandering that disempowers voters, a growing flood of dark money that drowns out the voices of regular people, and a rise in misinformation and threats to election officials and harassment of voters.
The 52 candidates who signed the letter include:
Shomari Figures (AL-02), Amish Shah (AZ-01), Jonathan Nez (AZ-02), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Kirsten Engel (AZ-06), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Gray (CA-13), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Rudy Salas (CA-22), George Whitesides (CA-27), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Will Rollins (CA-41), Derek Tran (CA-45), Dave Min (CA-47), Adam Frisch (CO-03), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), Whitney Fox (FL-13), Christina Bohannan (IA-01), Lanon Baccam (IA-03), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), April McClain-Delaney (MD-06), Curtis Hertel (MI-07), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Carl Marlinga (MI-10), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Monica Tranel (MT-01), Tony Vargas (NE-02), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Sue Altman (NJ-07), John Avlon (NY-01), Laura Gillen (NY-04), George Latimer (NY-16), Mondaire Jones (NY-17), Josh Riley (NY-19), John Mannion (NY-22), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Ashley Ehasz (PA-01), Janele Stelson (PA-10), Michelle Vallejo (TX-15), Sylvester Turner (TX-18), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Missy Cotter Smasal (VA-02), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Emily Randall (WA-06), Peter Barca (WI-01), Rebecca Cooke (WI-03), Kristin Lyerly (WI-08).
*Press release updated to reflect the final number of candidates (52) who signed the letter.
