Democracy for America Endorses Ben Ray Luján for United States Congress

Released: Sep 17, 2008 12:22 PM

Released: August 20, 2008

BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Ben Ray Luján’s campaign to represent New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District.

“Ben Ray Luján is a committed public servant with a deserved reputation as a forward thinking problem solver and Democracy for America is proud to endorse his campaign,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA.  “Ben Ray Luján is running for his constituents, New Mexicans, and all Americans and will be a loud voice for progressive solutions.”

As a New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner and a former chairman of the Commission, Ben Ray Luján has a proven record of standing up for New Mexico to create real change.

As a leading proponent of renewable energy, Commissioner Luján has worked to increase renewable energy production by New Mexico utilities to 20 percent of their total production by 2020.  He also pushed to diversify the renewable portfolio to include solar energy.  With his colleagues in California, Oregon and Washington, Luján signed on to the Joint Action Framework on Climate Change on behalf of the state of New Mexico to create regional solutions for global warming. Luján also took on health insurance companies by working to close loopholes that allowed insurance companies to unfairly deny medical claims.

In Congress, Ben Ray Luján will work for solutions to the energy crisis, an economy that works for the middle class, affordable, accessible health care for all New Mexicans and an end to the war in Iraq.

Democracy for America is a key endorsement in this race, bringing donations from progressives and providing volunteers to participate in door-to-door, grassroots outreach.  DFA has helped elect over 550 progressives to office from Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Jerry McNerney in California’s 11th Congressional District.

"I’m honored to receive the endorsement of Democracy for America. They play an important role in organizing and activating voters around the country,” said Ben Ray Lujan.  “Grassroots organizing has made a huge difference in my campaign, and I look forward to working with Democracy for America to empower voters."

“With an economy in freefall, gas prices rising by the day, and the seemingly endless engagement in Iraq, we need someone with Ben Ray Luján’s experience and judgment in Washington,” said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of DFA.  “Ben Ray Lujan will stand up for the working men and women who’ve been left behind by the failed policies of George Bush and John McCain.  Ben Ray Luján will be a champion for our brave men and women in uniform and for our veterans.” 

###