Our community is represented in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate by an able group of veteran lawmakers. Generally moderate, with reliable support for social justice, security and domestic and international policy issues of concern to our community, including the welfare, safety and security of the State of Israel, those up for re-election merit our continued support. We are therefore pleased to endorse them in the election that is already underway.
We urge everyone’s participation in this election — whether in person, by mail or by a ballot deposited in a local drop box. Every vote makes a difference, and voting is the way we make known where we stand on the crucial issues of the day.
In Maryland, we endorse the reelection of Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-8th District), David Trone (D-6th District) and Anthony Brown (D-4th District). All three are very well known to our community and remarkably available and responsive on a host of domestic and international issues.
Raskin is running for his third term. Scholarly and feisty, he has become a leader in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, and has helped elevate concern for ethical and moral concerns in addressing important public policy issues. Raskin is a member of the Judiciary Committee, where he has regularly shown the value of his understanding of the law and its origins as our country grapples with significant constitutional law issues.
Trone is and has been deeply involved in support for a multitude of issues that are important to our community. His strong and unwavering support for the State of Israel is reflected in two unique ways — his significant financial support for AIPAC, and the unique approach of his Total Wine company (believed to be the largest retailer of Israeli wines in the United States), which identifies its products from the West Bank with the description, “From Judea, Stop the BDS Movement.”
Brown focuses on armed forces and national security, civil rights and liberties, minority issues, and economics and public finance, among others. He is a friend to our community, and regularly available to discuss issues of concern, and willing to do what he can to be helpful.
In Virginia, we endorse the election of Democrat Sen. Mark Warner to a third term, and the reelection of Reps. Gerald Connolly (D-11th District) and Don Beyer (D-8th District).
Warner is the moderate’s moderate, and we value his rock solid center. He is also a member of the Gang of Six, a bipartisan group of senators who attempted to work a compromise on the nation’s debt and deficits, and serves as vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He is an important leader.
Connolly has played a key role in securing federal dollars for transportation improvements in Northern Virginia. He is considered an expert on local and state government matters and issues affecting federal employees and federal contractors.
His position on the Foreign Affairs Committee and his support for a two-state solution as the best way to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict are important.
Last year, Beyer proposed coupling a House resolution opposing the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel with a second resolution supporting a two-state solution. While he has been available to the Jewish community on many of our issues, we urge him to be more receptive and to work harder to build a relationship as strong as our community has with each of the other exemplary candidates we are pleased to endorse.
