Marie Newman, who is challenging incumbent Democratic Congressman Dan Lipinski in a bid to represent Illinois' 3rd District, has received backing from Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) as well as a number of other progressive organizations.
Lipinski has come under fire from Democrats for his opposition to both LGBT and reproductive rights, among other issues. He has the distinction of having the lowest HRC rating of congressional Democrats.
Newman, who has a transgender child, has come out in favor of LGBT rights but has also questioned Lipinski's effectiveness in securing transportation and other commercial dollars for the district. The veteran congressman receives extensive financial backing from transportation entities; the 3rd District contains Midway Airport and is a railroad- and shipping-hub as well. Newman says other members of Illinois' congressional delegation are more directly responsible for that spending.
"I am honored to receive each of these endorsements and I am proud of how we, at both the local and national level, are coming together to work for a better, more inclusive, fairer system of government that supports the rights and opportunities of all people," said Newman in a Nov. 28 statement. "When we join forces to work towards electing candidates who represent all of our needs, we get the kind of vote in Washington that we deserve, one that represents all of us."
"The people of greater Chicago deserve a leader who will stand up for every resident and serve as a champion for equality. Marie Newman is that leader, and we are proud to endorse her in this race," added JoDee Winterhof, HRC's senior vice president of policy and political affairs.. "It's time for new leadership and someone who will fight for full LGBTQ equality in Congressit's time for Marie Newman."
Other progressive organizations signing on to back Newman include NARAL Pro-Choice America, MoveOn.org, Democracy for America and Progressive Change Campaign Committee.
"Time is up for Congressman Lipinski. For too long, Dan Lipinski has ignored the needs of working families across Illinois, by pushing his fringe ideological agenda at the expense of women and families across the state," said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. "Congressman Lipinski is way out of step with his constituents and with Democratic party principles when it comes to women's rights, LGBT equality, and the basic freedoms that Americans hold dear. In contrast, Marie Newman holds equality and self-determination as non-negotiable and will fight for all of our rights, including our reproductive freedom."
"Dan Lipinski is one of the worst Democrats in Congress. He voted against the Affordable Care Act, has consistently opposed a woman's right to choose, and has sided with Donald Trump in support of his horrific anti-immigrant agenda," added Matt Blizek, elections mobilization director for MoveOn.org Political Action. "For Democrats to win back the House in 2018, they need to do so with candidates who act like Democrats, not Donald Trump Republicans. That's why Marie Newman earned more than 90 percent of the votes cast among the 11,000 MoveOn members in Illinois' 3rd congressional district. We're proud to support Marie Newman, who will be a progressive voice to represent the values of Illinois' 3rd District voters in Congress."