Meet the Candidates
Thank you for your interest in donating through Council for a Livable World's Candidate Fund!
Your donations through our organization count as a contribution from you, the donor, and as a donation from the anti-Iraq War, pro-diplomacy, and pro-nuclear weapons free world movement.
We've already started searching for the best progressive candidates running in races across the country for the 2012 elections. Read below to learn more about our latest endorsements!
Meet our 2012 Candidates
Senate Candidates
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Baldwin was one of the first House opponents of President George W. Bush’s war in Iraq when she joined with 18 colleagues in a press conference months before the conflict began.
Shelley Berkley (D-NV)
Nevada provides one of the few opportunities for Democrats to take a Republican seat. Rep. Shelley Berkley is a quality candidate and a dedicated individual who will be a solid supporter of arms control and a leader for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in the United States Senate.
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Sherrod Brown is an unabashed progressive, one of the most articulate and respected spokespeople for progressive causes: universal health care, labor, reproductive rights, responsible gun ownership, gay marriage.
Richard Carmona (D-AZ)
Dr. Richard Carmona has an incredible life story that is so filled with honors and accomplishments that he is drawing widespread support in his race for Senate from Arizona.
Bob Casey (D-PA)
Senator Casey has shown his commitment to smart foreign policy and national security – during the 111th Congress Senator Casey earned a 100% rating with the Council.
Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Representative Martin Heinrich, a young, bright and charismatic candidate, is running for Senate in New Mexico for retiring incumbent Senator Jeff Bingaman’s seat.
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
While many have written off the North Dakota seat of retiring Senator Kent Conrad (D), others know that this race has the potential to be one of the great sleeper victories of 2012.
Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
U.S. Representative Mazie Hirono is a history-making progressive running for the seat of outgoing Senator Daniel Akaka in Hawaii. If elected, Hirono would become the first Asian-American woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate.
Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Former Governor and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine is running for the seat being vacated by Senator Jim Webb (D) in what is sure to be one of the marquee races of the 2012 election cycle.
Bob Kerrey (D-NE)
Kerrey is running a bold campaign; he may be the only candidate in the country placing television ads opposing war with Iran, arguing that the misbegotten wars in Iraq and Afghanistan “would look like a cakewalk” in comparison.
Angus King (I-ME)
Angus King is a candidate who advocates sensible national security positions. He supports further nuclear reductions negotiated with Russia and would vote to ratify of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
In 2006, Claire McCaskill (D) won a narrow victory over ultra-conservative Senator Jim Talent (R), and became the first woman Missourian elected to the U.S. Senate. Since then, the Tea Party has made removing McCaskill from office one of their top priorities.
Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Rep. Chris Murphy is a young, accomplished Democrat who has represented the fifth Congressional District since 2007 when he defeated 24-year incumbent Republican Nancy Johnson.
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Since Bernie arrived in the Senate, he has had a perfect record on Council for a Livable World’s voting scorecard on key national security issues, marred only by one absence in four years.
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Senator Stabenow has taken a thoughtful and common sense approach to national security issues.
Jon Tester (D-MT)
Senator Tester again faces a tough challenge in the 2012 election. His opponent is Montana’s at large Congressman, U.S. Representative Denny Rehberg (R). Rehberg is the strongest candidate Republicans could get to run against Tester.
Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Elizabeth Warren has proved to be a nimble candidate who is attracting support in Massachusetts and around the country. But her election to the U.S. Senate will not be easy.
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
During his first term as Senator, Whitehouse hasn’t shied away from promoting progressive issues and has scored a perfect 100% on Council for a Livable World’s voting scorecard.
House Candidates
Ron Barber (D-AZ)
Rep. Ron Barber won the special election to fill Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ (D) seat in Arizona this spring, after Giffords was tragically wounded in an attack by a crazed gunman. Barber was also wounded in the attack.
Ami Bera (D-CA)
In 2010, Bera ran against incumbent Rep. Dan Lungren (R). In a tough year for Democrats, Bera was the only Democratic challenger to outraise an incumbent opponent and held Lungren to 51% of the vote.
Tim Bishop (D-NY)
Bishop was elected in 2002 in a close race against a Republican incumbent. In the last ten years, he has established himself as a forceful progressive voice on education and environmental issues.
Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
Democrat Suzanne Bonamici is in a strong position to win this seat, but she faces a significant challenge from Republican Rob Cornilles.
Bruce Braley (D-IA)
Bruce Braley (D) was elected to represent Iowa’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006. Council for a Livable World’s PeacePAC supported Braley in that race because of his strong opposition to the Iraq war and support for seeking multilateral solutions to global problems.
Cheri Bustos (D-IL)
Cheri Bustos has established herself as a strong competitor fighting to unseat Tea Party Republican Bobby Schilling in Illinois’ 17th District.
Lois Capps (D-CA)
Capps has been a dependable vote for sensible foreign and defense policies. Over the last eight years she has earned an impeccable 100% from PeacePAC.
Suzan DelBene (D-WA)
A committed progressive with a lifetime of business experience and community involvement.
Val Demings (D-FL)
As the Captain in charge of the busy Orlando International Airport on September 11, 2001, Demings is well aware of the danger that terrorists pose to the United States.
Lois Frankel (D-FL)
A former member of the Florida House of Representatives for sixteen years, Frankel became the first woman to serve as Minority Leader of the State House in Florida's history.
Joe Garcia (D-FL)
While never having served in elected office, Garcia’s record of public service dates back over two decades.
John Garamendi (D-CA)
With several military bases and the Lawrence Livermore nuclear laboratory in his district, Garamendi is a key player on arms control and national security issues.
David Gill (D-IL)
Gill has served as a family practice doctor and emergency room physician for over 20 years.
Pam Gulleson (D-ND)
Gulleson brings a depth and breadth to foreign policy and like her former boss Senator Dorgan, advocates for progressive national security policies.
Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)
Grijalva has been a leader in the effort to bring American troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI)
Hanabusa defeated Djou once before and this is a liberal district, but Republicans would like to make an example of defeating a Democrat in President Obama’s home district. They will spend freely to defeat Hanabusa, and she needs your support.
Denny Heck (D-WA)
Throughout the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Denny Heck has been vocal about our responsibility to bring our troops home and care for our returning veterans.
Jose Hernandez (D-CA)
Hernandez has continued to champion the cause of nuclear nonproliferation. He supports President Obama’s vision of a nuclear weapons free world and ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
Steven Horsford (D-NV)
Steven Horsford’s story is an inspiring example of living the proverbial American dream. Horsford rose from underprivileged roots to become the youngest and first African American Majority Leader in Nevada’s State Senate.
Derek Kilmer (D-WA)
The 6th Congressional District is Democratic-leaning and Kilmer is in a strong position to win in November.
Pat Kreitlow (D-WI)
Pat Kreitlow is a former Wisconsin State Senator running for the House of Representatives against Rep. Sean Duffy (F) in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District.
Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH)
In a horrible year for Democratic candidates, Kuster came within 3,600 votes of defeating former Rep. Charlie Bass. Now, she is running again. Building on her strong grassroots campaign last year, we believe she can win.
Dave Loebsack (D-IA)
Since coming to Congress, Loebsack has been a reliable vote for progressive national security policies. He has earned a 94% on the PeacePAC voting scorecard. He has voted to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Joe Miklosi (D-CO)
Miklosi brings a wealth of diverse experience to his campaign for Congress. Highlights include six years of business development where he helped start an Internet software company and 12 years of public policy work including four years as a Colorado State Representative.
Patrick Murphy (D-FL)
In one of the most high-profile House races in the country, entrepreneur Patrick Murphy is challenging right-wing firebrand Rep. Allen West (R) in Florida's 18th Congressional District.
Sharen Neuhardt (D-OH)
Neuhardt’s opponent is Rep. Mike Turner (R). As Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee Turner is a major voice on arms control issues.
Rick Nolan (D-MN)
Rick Nolan represented Minnesota in Congress for eight years in the 1970s, and was a passionate advocate of reforming U.S. foreign and defense policies.
Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH)
Carol Shea-Porter won an upset victory in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District over incumbent Rep. Jeb Bradley (R) in 2006, and she became the first woman ever elected to national office from New Hampshire.
Raul Ruiz (D-CA)
Ruiz recognizes the economic effects of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He favors bringing our troops home from Afghanistan immediately and reinvesting the $120 billion a year we are spending there at home.
Brad Schneider (D-IL)
This June, the New York Times identified Illinois’ 10th Congressional District as the most Democratic district in the country currently represented by a Republican.
Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ)
Prior to being elected to the State Senate in 2010, Sinema served for six years in the State House of Representatives.
Betty Sutton (D-OH)
In 1992, at age 29, Rep. Betty Sutton became the youngest woman elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. She served for eight years, working as an effective advocate on healthcare and employment issues and sponsoring legislation to protect women from domestic abuse.
Mark Takano (D-CA)
Mark Takano is a forceful progressive champion with a twenty year record as a local elected leader in California’s newly created 41st Congressional District.
John Tierney (D-MA)
Tierney was a vocal critic of the decision to go to war in Iraq. Once the war began, he used his position to try to ensure taxpayer dollars were not subject to waste, fraud and abuse.
Manan Trivedi (D-PA)
From 2001 to 2003, Trivedi served as a battalion surgeon in the Marine Corps. His battalion was among the first U.S. ground forces to enter Iraq.
Rob Zerban (D-WI)
Zerban faces a challenge defeating Paul Ryan, but there are strong positive signs along the campaign trail. Ryan has always won reelection by comfortable margins, but he has never faced a strong, well-funded challenger.
Our 2010 Candidates
2010 Senate Victories
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
2010 House Victories
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), John Carney (D-DE), Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI), Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH), Rep. Pete DeFazio (D-OR)
Authorized by each candidate's campaign and paid for by Council for a
Livable World Candidate Fund. Contributions are not tax deductible.
Individuals may contribute up to $2,500 per election, per candidate, with the primary and general election each considered a separate election.
