One Voice PAC is an organization I created to help bring progressive change to Washington, and on the heels of our first slate of endorsed candidates, we're currently in the process of identifying a new progressive Congressional challenger to support.
Last week, I asked for candidate nominations to put up to a vote of the progressive community, and the response was tremendous. We've narrowed the list down to 10 nominees, and are holding a vote to see which of these fine candidates to support next:
Click here to cast your vote today!
Here are short summaries of each of our nominees, ordered by Congressional District:
Jeff Morris -- CA-02: Jeff is a Trinity County Supervisor and he's challenging Republican Wally Herger in California's 2nd Congressional District, which stretches from just north of Sacramento up to the Oregon border. Jeff believes that our country must redefine its role in the affairs of the world, which should start with disengaging from our fully integrated presence in Iraq. Click here to learn more at Jeff's website.
Bill Durston -- CA-03: Bill is a Vietnam War veteran and is challenging Republican Dan Lungren in California's 3rd District, and a recent poll shows the race to be a statistical dead heat. Bill has pledged that he will not vote for any further funding for military operations in Iraq that is not tied to a prompt, orderly, and complete withdrawal of U.S. forces. Click here to learn more at Bill's website.
Charlie Brown -- CA-04: 26--year Air Force veteran Charlie Brown is running for the open seat in California's 4th District. This is a reprise of 2006, when Charlie ran a strong campaign and finished within 3 points of the incumbent Republican. This year, the polls show him in a statistical tie with right--wing Republican Tom McClintock. Click here to learn more at Charlie's website.
Debbie Cook -- CA-46: Huntington Beach Mayor Debbie Cook is challenging Republican incumbent Dana Rohrabacher. As a former PTA president and school volunteer, Debbie believes that the best education solutions are created locally by teachers and parents. Click hear to learn more at Debbie's website.
Alan Grayson -- FL-08: Alan is running against Republican incumbent Ric Keller in Florida's 8th Congressional District. Alan has spent the last four years of his life combating some of the worst abuses of the Iraq war, filing dozens of citizen lawsuits against crooked contractors who have cheated American troops and taxpayers. Click here to learn more at Alan's website.
Annette Taddeo -- FL-18: Annette is challenging Republican incumbent Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in Florida's 18th district. Annette is running for Congress to put her experience as a business owner to work and to bring real change to Florida's 18th Congressional District -- which won't be hard considering Ros-Lehtinen's record of strong support for President Bush. Click here to learn more at Annette's website.
Colleen Callahan -- IL-18: Colleen is running for an open seat in Illinois' 18th Congressional District. Colleen wants to bring our troops home from Iraq and use some of the billions of dollars spent each month on the war on domestic programs such as schools, healthcare and infrastructure. Click here to learn more at Colleen's website.
Gary Peters -- MI-9: Gary is challenging Republican incumbent Joe Knollenberg in Michigan's 9th District. Gary is a former Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserve, and an accomplished businessman who served as Vice President for two major investment firms. Click here to learn more at Gary's website.
Dennis Shulman - NJ-05: Author, educator, and clinical psychologist, Dr. Dennis Shulman is challenging right-wing Republican Scott Garrett in New Jersey's 5th District. Blind since childhood, he has overcome significant obstacles to earn an Ivy League diploma and rise to the top of his profession -- and become an ordained rabbi. Click here to learn more at Dennis' website.
Sharen Neuhardt -- OH-07: Sharen is challenging Republican incumbent David Hobson in Ohio's 7th Congressional District. Sharen has promised to end the war in Iraq and to bring our troops home safely and responsibly, and is also committed to expanding health care coverage for the tens of millions of Americans who are uninsured. Click here to learn more at Sharen's website.
Click here to cast your vote for one of our ten community-nominated challengers!
While the Presidential contest is deservedly taking up much of our attention, as you all are well aware we can't be satisfied with just changing the occupant of the White House; we also need to expand our progressive majorities in Congress to ensure that a truly progressive agenda can be passed into law. That's why I hope you'll help us identify One Voice's next endorsed candidate by clicking here to cast your vote today!
Voting will be held open until tomorrow the 17th at 5pm Pacific Time, with the final results set to be announced next week.