Campaign Trail 09/04/18

Human Rights Campaign endorses U.S. Sen. Tom Carper for re-election  
The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer civil rights organization, endorses Sen. Tom Carper, who is running for re-election to U.S. Senate.

Carper is a co-sponsor of the Equality Act, a comprehensive LGBTQ nondiscrimination bill, and in August, Carper and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-CA, introduced the Census Equality Act, a bill that would ensure that the LGBTQ community is represented fairly in the U.S. Census.

"All Americans - regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity - deserve equal protection under the law," said Carper. "We made incredible strides toward LGBT equality during the Obama-Biden administration, but that progress is under attack by the Trump-Pence administration. I am honored to receive the endorsement from Human Rights Campaign, and I will continue to fight for equal rights and federal protections for LGBT Americans in the Senate."

National Wildlife Federation Action Fund endorses U.S. Sen. Tom Carper for re-election
The National Wildlife Federation Action Fund has endorsed Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware for re-election, citing Sen. Carper’s effectiveness at protecting Delaware’s wildlife, clean water, and public health.

“Senator Carper is an environmental warrior who works tirelessly every day to protect Delaware’s unrivalled natural resources, from the waterways of the Christina and Nanticoke to the red knots and horseshoe crabs of the Delaware Bayshore. At a time of unprecedented threats to Delaware’s environment – drilling off of our beaches, rolling back of public health protections, and escalating climate impacts – Senator Carper consistently stands up for our public health and speaks out for wildlife.

“He’s fought against egregious proposals to allow more pollution from power plants, vehicles, and energy extraction – including leading the charge that forced Scott Pruitt to resign – and he’s made bipartisan progress where possible, such as water infrastructure and chemical safety reform. As someone who works closely with Senator Carper every day in both Delaware and Washington, I can attest that we need his strong leadership now more than ever. The National Wildlife Federation Action Fund enthusiastically endorses his re-election,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation Action Fund.

Carper’s conservation work has included: Championing clean water through the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act and defense of the Clean Water Act; bringing millions of Americans cleaner air by reducing cross-state air pollution and accelerating the adoption of clean energy and electric vehicles; leading efforts to act on climate throughout his service on the Environment and Public Works Committee; making communities more resilient to extreme weather through investments in natural defenses; and spearheading efforts to save America’s at-risk wildlife and defend the Endangered Species Act. 

Carper has been endorsed by Delaware AFL-CIO, Delaware Democratic Party, Delaware Laborers, Delaware State Education Association, Delaware Stonewall PAC, Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence (the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly), Human Rights Campaign, League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and VoteVets.

Progressive Democrats endorse candidates
The Progressive Democrats for Delaware announced Sept. 1 its primary endorsements for 2018. The grassroots Delaware progressive action group endorsed 13 candidates on the Thursday, Sept. 6, Democratic primary ballot. In the statewide Democratic primary races, PDD endorsed Kerri Evelyn Harris for the U.S. Senate, Chris Johnson for attorney general, and Kathleen Davies for state auditor. 

PDD endorsement committee member Gary Steelman noted that PDD’s endorsement in the Democratic primary for state auditor was made on the basis of superior qualifications. “While PDD is normally looking for the most progressive candidate, we feel that for the job of state auditor, Kathleen Davies is the best choice based on her competence, experience, and unbiased attitude.”