Sunrise Political Endorsements

We want candidates who take major leaps forward in one or more of our policy priority areas (see below). This looks different in different parts of America. Examples could include:

A politician in Louisiana who opposes public bailouts of the oil industry.
A politician in Virginia who opposes a pipeline being developed by the state’s most powerful corporation, Dominion.
A politician in Minnesota who supports a rapid transition to 100% renewable energy in their state.
A politician who only has moderately strong stances on climate issues, but who is going up against one of the worst-of-the-worst fossil fuel puppets.

Whether or not a candidate is willing to take money from the oil, gas and coal industry is a fairly clear litmus test of whose interests that politician is likely to represent.

In primary elections, we only endorse candidates who take the “No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge” to “reject contributions from the oil, gas, and coal industry and instead prioritize the health of our families, climate, and democracy over fossil fuel industry profits.”
In general elections, we may support (but not endorse) a candidate who has not signed the pledge or has taken money from the fossil fuel industry because we recognize that an imperfect candidate could, in some cases, still represent a significant leap forward (see above) by defeating a powerful opponent with a long history of putting the interests of oil and gas executives first. No matter what, we will make this a major demand for general elections and push candidates on this issue.

Our only permanent allegiance is to protecting our communities, our shared home, and our future. We have to make it clear to politicians that our power and support are earned, and not a given. Just because we have supported a candidate in the past doesn’t mean that we will continue to support them in the future if there emerges (or the movement puts forth) a viable candidate that is better aligned with and more committed to our values and policy priorities.

Read the full National Endorsement Process Framework here.

Why do we make endorsements?
Elections are just one example of a tool in our toolbelt to advance long term objectives. Sunrise Movement has committed to electoral work because it is a useful tactic that fills a need to build power for the benefit of our movement and our goals. We make endorsements to build power and consolidate movement energy towards the election of strategic and important candidates.

An important electoral intervention is embodied by the investment in a candidate whose campaign is a major break from the status quo and lives up to our values while centering the Green New Deal, environmental, economic, and racial justice.
A strategic electoral intervention represents an opportunity where our involvement increases the chances of victory for a candidate who has solid grounding + a path to victory . In this case, our endorsement and subsequent investment in that race (given the scale of our movement volunteers and staff) will likely contribute to putting them into office as a Green New Deal Champion and voice for our movement.
Finally, we endorse in order to WIN! Win the race, policy narrative, and/or build on-the-ground infrastructure for the long term along with our hub members.

Who makes endorsements?
Any hub can make endorsements if they see endorsements as a useful tactic for building power. Sometimes, electoral engagement through endorsements is an obvious place to devote organizing capacity toward. In that case, hub members are universally encouraged to run an endorsement process.
Sunrise’s National Political Team also makes endorsements at the federal level (Congress and/or Presidential) on behalf of the movement, at-large. Through Sunrise PAC (Political Action Committee), Sunrise National can endorse and support candidates nominated by local Hubs. We have a strong preference for local hub members to lead on and encourage Sunrise National to endorse candidates that they are excited about, but also acknowledge that there are opportunities that may arise where a local hub does not exist within a candidate’s district.

How do we make endorsements?
In order to make successful endorsements, an organized endorsement process is a necessity. Creating a fair and transparent endorsement process will facilitate the right environment to make the best decisions on how and when to support candidates running for office.

Sunrise’s National Political team has created a guide for hubs as a starting point on how to run an endorsement process that can be found HERE.
A detailed description of how Sunrise’s National Political Team makes endorsement decisions, criteria for endorsement and frequently asked questions can be found HERE.

For Sunrise Hubs

Hub Endorsement Report Form

Our Past Endorsements

Rashida Tlaib for Michigan’s 12th

Sunrise re-endorses Rashida Tlaib for Michigan’s 12th. After making history in 2018, Rashida Tlaib has been a tireless champion for […]

Jamaal Bowman for New York’s 16th

Sunrise re-endorses Jamaal Bowman for New York’s 16th. In 2020, we helped Jamaal Bowman defeat 30-year incumbent Eliot Engel in […]

Ilhan Omar for Minnesota’s 5th

Sunrise re-endorses Ilhan Omar for Minnesota’s 5th. Since Rep. Ilhan Omar was first elected in 2018, making history as one […]

Cori Bush for Missouri’s 1st

Sunrise re-endorses Cori Bush for Missouri’s 1st. Cori Bush is a mom, nurse, pastor, and activist fighting to bring her […]

Ayanna Pressley for Massachusetts’ 7th

Sunrise re-endorses Ayanna Pressley for Massachusetts’ 7th. Ayanna Pressley believes that “people closest to the pain should be closest to […]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for New York’s 14th

Sunrise re-endorses Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for New York’s 14th. Days after winning her election in 2018 to become the Representative for […]

Kina Collins for Illinois’ 7th

Sunrise endorses Kina Collins for Illinois’ 7th Kina Collins is a young, progressive organizer, running against a 25 year incumbent, […]

Summer Lee for Pennsylvania’s 12th

Sunrise endorses Summer Lee for Pennsylvania’s 12th Summer Lee is a community organizer and State Representative in Pennsylvania, who is […]

Nida Allam for North Carolina’s 4th

Sunrise endorses Nida Allam for North Carolina’s 4th Nida Allam is a young, progressive activist and the first Muslim woman […]

Erica Smith for North Carolina’s 1st

Sunrise endorses Erica Smith for North Carolina’s 1st Erica Smith is an unbelievable leader defying the establishment narrative that candidates […]

Greg Casar for Texas’s 35th

Sunrise Endorses Greg Casar for Texas’s 35th Congressional District We’re proud to endorse Green New Deal champion Austin City Councilman […]

Sunrise Movement proudly endorses Jessica Cisneros for TX-28

Jessica Cisneros for Texas’s 28th

Sunrise Endorses Jessica Cisneros for Texas’s 28th Congressional District Jessica Cisneros is a young immigration lawyer and a proud daughter […]

Charles Booker for Kentucky Senate

Sunrise endorses Charles Booker for Kentucky Senate Charles is running for U.S. Senate to deliver a big, bold Kentucky New […]

Nina Turner for Ohio’s 11th

Sunrise Endorses Nina Turner for Ohio’s 11th Congressional District Senator Turner is a huge ally to our movement and is […]

Sam Rasoul for Virginia Lieutenant Governor

We have a strong ally in Sam Rasoul, who is running for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia as the candidate with […]

Jennifer Carroll Foy for Governor of Virgina

Jennifer Carroll Foy is a former foster mom and mother of three year old kids who is running for Governor […]

Ayanna Pressley for MA-07

Ayanna is a bold fighter for working families and racial justice representing Massachusetts’ 7th District. She was raised by a […]

Mondaire Jones for NY-17

Mondaire Jones is a lawyer, nonprofit leader, activist, and champion of children and working families running for New York’s 17th […]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for NY-14

Alexandria needs little introduction. Days after winning her election in 2018 to become the Representative for New York’s 14th Congressional […]

Qasim Rashid for VA-01

Qasim is running for Congress in Virginia’s 1st District to transform his years of advocacy work into law. He’s been […]

Mike Levin for CA-49

Mike flipped his Southern California district in 2018 by running a progressive, grassroots campaign and has been a staunch advocate […]

A photo of Marquita Bradshaw with text: Sunrise Movement proudly endorses Marquita Bradshaw for TN Senate.

Marquita Bradshaw for Tennessee Senate

Marquita has been leading the fight for environmental justice in her hometown of Memphis for decades. A single mother and […]

A photo of Jon Hoadley with text: Sunrise Movement proudly endorses Jon Hoadley for MI-06.

John Hoadley for MI-06

John is running to flip Michigan’s 6th Congressional District, a district that voted for Barack Obama and Donald Trump. As […]

Paula Jean Swearengin for West Virginia Senate

Paula Jean is a proud coal miner’s daughter and granddaughter, and she knows that the best resource in the Appalachian […]

Cathy Kunkel for WV-02

Cathy is an organizer, public advocate, and energy policy expert running to build a West Virginia that works for all. […]

Beth Doglio for WA-10

Beth is a community organizer, climate leader, and a mom of two who has served in the Washington State Legislature […]

Julie Oliver for TX-25

Julie has a “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” story–high school dropout and a single mother at 17 who ultimately […]

Jamaal Bowman for NY-16

Jamaal Bowman is running against Eliot Engel, who has been in Congress for thirty years. During that time, Engel has […]

Mike Siegel for TX-10

Mike is a former public school teacher, union organizer, and civil rights attorney who’s been fighting for everyday people for […]

Rashida Tlaib for MI-13

Rashida Tlaib is the seminal congresswoman who has continued to capture the attention of the nation throughout her first term […]

Ilhan Omar for MN-05

Ilhan Omar has spent all of her first term in Congress as one of the most outspoken supporters of the […]

A photo of Ed Markey with text saying: Sunrise Movement proudly endorses Ed Markey for MA Senate

Ed Markey for Massachusetts Senate

Ed has been a national leader in fighting for a livable future and advancing the rights of workers, women, immigrants, […]

Cori Bush for MO-01

Cori Bush is a mom, nurse, pastor, and activist fighting to bring her community the representation it deserves in Congress. […]

Marie Newman for IL-03

Marie is once again primarying Rep. Dan Lipinski in a race she lost by just two points in 2018. Lipinski […]

Audrey Denney for CA-01

Audrey is an educator, farmer, and human rights activist running on a bold, progressive platform in California’s 1st Congressional District, […]

Charles Booker For Kentucky Senate

Charles is the fighter Kentucky needs to take on Mitch McConnell in November. Charles has been out on the streets […]

Andrew Romanoff For Colorado Senate

Andrew Romanoff is the fighter Colorado needs to take on Cory Gardner in November. While Andrew is joining the Movement […]

Jessica Cisneros for TX-28

Jessica Cisneros is a 26-year-old immigration lawyer from Laredo, Texas, and she’s running to unseat Representative Henry Cuellar (TX-28), who’s […]

Alex Morse for MA-01

Alex Morse is running for Congress to take on this corrupt political establishment and put our communities before corporate profits. […]

Bernie Sanders for President

We are proud to announce that Sunrise Movement has voted resoundingly to endorse Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the […]

Morgan Harper for OH-03

Morgan Harper, a 36-year-old consumer protection advocate is a millennial who came of age amidst the rise of the climate […]

Robert Emmons Jr. for IL-01

Robert Emmons Jr., a 27-year-old community organizer, is challenging Democratic incumbent Bobby Rush who firmly opposes the Green New Deal. […]

Arati Kreibich for NJ-05

Dr. Kreibich is a neuroscientist and city councilor looking to unseat conservative incumbent, Josh Gottheimer. As a Council Member, she […]

Heidi Sloan for TX-25

An organizer in the Sunrise Austin Hub, Heidi Sloan is running for TX-25 on a slate of progressive issues like […]

Current Endorsements

Nothing found.