Gillibrand 2020
August 26, 2019
https://medium.com/team-gillibrand/i-support-kirsten-gillibrand-because-we-need-a-president-whos-brave-4f1be715f421

I Support Kirsten Gillibrand Because We Need a President Who’s Brave

By Anne Ketterer
Co-Chair, NH Democratic Women’s Caucus

For so many of us, the 2016 election felt like the floor coming out from under us, leaving us to tumble back down into a more sexist, racist, and hateful reality we thought we’d left behind.

But while the initial shock of Trump’s election morphed to sadness, that sadness ultimately turned into a hardened motivation that propelled millions into action, working to bring about the change we were denied in 2016.

That was certainly my motivation when in 2017, I co-founded the New Hampshire Democratic Women’s Caucus with the vision of creating a network to encourage women to be more engaged, provide clarity and knowledge from local expertise on today’s pertinent issues, and make politics more approachable to all women, not just liberal activists. In doing so, I unwittingly yet proudly joined a groundswell of action that has gone on to change our political landscape for the better, thanks to the strong women who marched, ran, and won in historic numbers.

The 2020 election is our chance to continue the progress we’ve made by electing someone with the bravery, resolve, and integrity to undo the harm Trump has inflicted on our country, but more importantly, to move our country forward.

That person, without question, is Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, which is why I’m proud to endorse her in this primary.

Kirsten is tough. She’s a fighter through and through and she gets results. She’s shown this from her first Congressional race in 2006, where she took on an established GOP incumbent in a 2:1 Republican district and won — running on Medicare for All and ending the Iraq War no less.

That bravery and determination to fight for what was right extended throughout her time in public service. She’s taken on the fights that no one else would, using her persistence and work ethic to help millions of American families, proving that if you want to get something done, just tell Kirsten it’s impossible.

She stood up to her own party to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell because as she so often says: “Since when are civil rights ever convenient? You do it because it’s the right thing to do.”

She passed the 9/11 Zadroga Act unanimously through the Senate, even though it was considered dead on arrival. And then she got it renewed. And just this summer she made the fund permanent.

She has fought for reproductive rights throughout her career and has led the field on this issue during this primary, rolling out comprehensive policies and going to the frontlines of this fight with visits to Georgia and St. Louis to defend our access to reproductive care, including access to abortion. Kirsten understands these issues as vitally important and ones that have a serious impact on millions of families, not the niche, marginal issues that generations of politicians have pretended they are.

Her commitment to women is absolute in a way that’s truly refreshing and inspiring. And it’s clear that Kirsten is leading on the fights we can’t afford to lose.

But beyond her skills and vision as a legislator, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Kirsten on several occasions and in that time I’ve come to see her for the truly incredible and brave person she is.

Our president has to make thousands of tough decisions every single day and Kirsten’s moral clarity will lend itself well in the Oval Office. She has the strength of character to do the right thing, even if it’s hard and even if it means standing alone because that’s who she is and that’s what she’s always done.

Donald Trump has seriously damaged our country, and he has pushed us to be more divided and fearful of one another. I know that Kirsten could be someone who unites us. She would remind us all that we are at our best when we are brave and when we stand together.

That’s the kind of country I want to live in and that’s why on Primary Day, I’ll be proud to cast my ballot for Kirsten Gillibrand.


Gillibrand 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2019

Following Standout Debate Performance, Gillibrand Earns NH Endorsements

Former Shaheen Legal Counsel, the Hon. Judy Reardon and Portsmouth Dems Chair Laurie McCray Both Announce Support of Kirsten Gillibrand

Following a strong debate performance in which Senator Kirsten Gillibrand shared her vision for the country and why she’s uniquely qualified to take on and beat Donald Trump, two prominent New Hampshire figures endorsed her candidacy.
 
Judy Reardon is the former Legal Counsel to Senator Jeanne Shaheen serving in both the Governor’s office and in the US Senate, a longtime New Hampshire Democratic State Committee member, and former New Hampshire House democratic whip and has served as senior advisor to several NH presidential primary and state campaigns.
 
“What’s been apparent since I first saw Senator Gillibrand on her first New Hampshire trip, is that she has the grit, tenacity, and skills to take on Trump and that she will make an excellent President. In all the years I've worked in Democratic primary politics, I’ve never met a candidate who’s more exuberant. She just doesn’t give up. Americans deserve a president who’s a fighter, someone with a record of getting things done for her constituents and delivering on promises made - without question that person is Kirsten Gillibrand. I’m proud to back her in this race.”
 
Laurie McCray is the Chair of the Portsmouth Democratic Committee and a longtime Democratic activist. 
 
“Over the past several months it’s been an honor to meet with, and hear from, so many intelligent and qualified Democratic candidates for president, particularly the four women senators. Today, I’m endorsing Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for president because I believe in both her vision and her ability to change our country for the better. Her comprehensive world-view approach to solving domestic and international problems showcases her skills as a leader. When it comes to policy, she is always inclusive of all Americans, and issues of concern to women and families are never an afterthought. Throughout her career, Senator Gillibrand has demonstrated fearlessness, and a willingness, to stand up for what’s right and work with others to get things done. Importantly, she also has a solid track record of winning elections even when she’s been underestimated. Kirsten Gillibrand is exactly the kind of President we need at this time in our country’s history."
 
Reardon and McCray’s endorsements come after they both attended the Detroit debates as the invited guests of the senator and following her impressive week-long marathon trip to the state of New Hampshire last month.
Gillibrand 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 30, 2019

Senator Gillibrand Announces First NH Endorsement from NH State Rep Ford

Today, Senator Gillibrand is proud to announce her first New Hampshire endorsement: State Representative Sue Ford. Citing her focus on families, Representative Ford knows that Senator Gillibrand is the best person to take on the greed and corruption that has taken over Washington and stand up for working families. This endorsement comes after Senator Gillibrand introduced her plan to establish a Family Bill of Rights. 

State Representative Sue Ford is a four-term State Representative from Grafton and the current Chair of the House Finance Division II Committee. She served as the Grafton County Democratic Committee Chair up until earlier this month, when she decided not to seek re-election, and was also previously the Grassroots Chair for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, where she coordinated with activists across the state to promote Democratic causes and organize actions.

Representative Ford said, “I’m endorsing Senator Gillibrand because she cares for New Hampshire families as if they were her own. I won’t soon forget her first visit to Littleton where she entered the room and immediately chose to talk to a young boy of about 8, and heard from him about what he’s worried about. It says something that she not only acknowledges different voices, but actively seeks them out.”

“Senator Gillibrand will always fight for the silenced, marginalized, or ignored and I know that as President she will amplify those voices as she builds on her record of standing up for what’s right and advocates for the issues that affect our children like education, climate change, and public safety. I’m proud to endorse Senator Gillibrand.”

Representative Ford also released a Medium Post elaborating on her support of Senator Gillibrand.

“I’m honored to have earned the endorsement of State Representative Sue Ford,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “She is an incredible legislator who has used her position to take on the big fights in New Hampshire, like fighting for high quality education and health care, and has delivered results to families across the state. Her bravery and refusal to accept the status quo inspires me to continue to stand up for what’s right and fight back against the corruption and greed that has come at the expense of millions of Americans.

“I’m proud to have her support as we continue to build our grassroots campaign in New Hampshire, and look forward to working with her in the coming months to win the First in the Nation Primary and then head to the White House.”

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