Establishment Politicians Are on Notice:
Step Up or Step Aside

NEW YORK—In response to recent primary contests in New York, MoveOn Political Action Executive Director Katie Bethell released the following statement:

“Voters are telling you what they think of the establishment of both political parties. And they are refusing to let their voices be silenced by dark money from corporations and lobbyists. They are tired of timid politicians who run from bold ideas and tough conversations. That’s why we are all in on electing fighters who are focused on making the lives of everyday people less expensive, getting corruption and dark money out of Washington, and reforming our broken political system. And if Republicans AND Democrats in Washington, D.C., refuse to listen and adjust, we will vote them out and elect people who will.”

MoveOn has initiated the largest primary campaign intervention in its history, backing a wave of bold, populist candidates like Brad Lander in New York, Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota, and Randy Villegas in California. 

These endorsements are part of MoveOn’s “Stop the War Hawks” campaign to counteract candidates backed by defense, crypto, and AIPAC lobbies and support those running on an affordability platform. Pro-war lobbyists and PACs have lost recent elections in Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, CA-22, and now NY-10, despite flooding money into primary races to stack the deck for their preferred candidates. So far this year, pro-Israel groups have spent at least $30 million on primary races, and of that figure, nearly $8 million via shell PACs and partners.

Last month, Politico reported on the launch of MoveOn’s $27 million election program to win big in the midterms, stop President Trump’s unchecked power, and rebuild trust with more voters.

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MoveOn is a people-powered force for progress. MoveOn mobilizes the left to elect Democrats and enact progressive change. We are the home base for millions of members who refuse to accept the status quo and are moved to take action. For more than a generation, MoveOn has been a bulwark against the radical right, channeling our voices to end wars, protect democracy, and advance justice for all.