Congresswoman Katie Porter and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a national PAC that backs progressive candidates, are turning their attention to Texas.
The PCCC announced Monday it would be directing its members to donate to seven progressive House candidates, including three from Texas: Candace Valenzuela (TX-24), Mike Siegel (TX-10), and Julie Oliver (TX-25).
It’s part of PCCC’s new “Red to BOLD” program launching Monday. The program will see fundraising and phone banking events in support of the House candidates running against Republicans in flippable districts.
Founded in 2009, the PCCC boasts 1 million members who have helped raise $31 million for progressive candidates and committees in the last decade. This cycle so far, the PCCC reports it has raised more than $1,375,000 for candidates. The group expects to raise more than $100,000 for each of its “Red to Bold” candidates.
“Katie needs more allies, and these Red to BOLD candidates will stand with her in the fight for Medicare For all, bold climate legislation, corporate accountability, and policies that help working families,” PCCC co-founder Adam Green said in a prepared statement.
Texans may know Porter as the California Congressman who went viral last month after a video of her grilling a pharmaceutical CEO on the House floor was circulated widely.
The PCCC endorsed Valenzuela and Siegel earlier this year. Its members have donated $16,087 and $10,884 to their campaigns respectively.
Valenzuela, an educator and former school board member, is running in the Dallas suburbs against a rightwing GOP opponent, Beth Van Duyne. Siegel, a former attorney for the city of Austin, is running against Rep. Michael McCaul in a district that stretches from West Austin to Houston. Oliver, a former healthcare analyst, is running against Rep. Roger Williams in a district that stretches from Austin to Fort Worth.
Early voting in Texas begins Tuesday.
Photo: Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Fernando covers Texas politics and government at the Texas Signal. Before joining the Signal, Fernando spent two years at the Houston Chronicle and previously interned at Houston’s NPR station News 88.7. He is a graduate of the University of Houston, Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, and enjoys reading, highlighting things, and arguing on social media. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93 or email at fernando@texassignalarchive.com
