Liberal groups back ‘Warren wing’ of candidates

Two progressive PACs announced on Monday that they are endorsing a trio of Congressional candidates who they say echo Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee said they were backing Jamie Raskin, Joseline Pena-MeInyk and Susannah Randolph during their respective House races next year.

{mosads}Raskin is seeking Maryland’s 8^th Congressional District seat following incumbent Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D) decision to run for the Senate.

Pena-MeInyk, meanwhile, is campaigning for Maryland’s 4^th Congressional District instead, given that incumbent Rep. Donna Edwards (D) is also running to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski in 2016.

Randolph is seeking the Florida 9^th Congressional District seat held by Rep. Alan Grayson (D). Grayson is vacating that seat for a shot at the Senator’s chair held by Sen. Marco Rubio, a 2016 GOP presidential candidate.

Raskin, Pena-MeInyk and Randolph are additionally all competing in crowded Democratic primaries next election cycle.

Randolph has two challengers, while Pena-MeInyk and Raskin each have five competitors.

None of the three seats are seen as competitive in the general election.

The groups are backing the trio given their track record of progressive policy stances. The three are described by the groups are representing the “Elizabeth Warren wing” of the Democratic party.

“They are proven progressive champs in their home states who are campaigning on big ideas like expanding Social Security, debt-free college, a $15 minimum wage, automatic voter registration at age 18, campaign finance reform, police reform, Wall Street reform and criminal accountability when corporate executives break the law,” PCCC co-founders Stephanie Taylor and Adam Green said in an email to members obtained by The Hill.

“It’s time we started sending more Elizabeth Warren Democrats like them to the House,” DFA Executive Director Charles Chamberlain said in an email to his own group’s members.

Chamberlain also argued that the resignation of Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) last week provides a new opportunity for Democrats.

“With John Boehner gone, the House Republicans are about to get even crazier, and that’s a scary thought,” Chamberlain said.

“I won’t lie to you,” he added.  “Rebuilding Democratic power in the House isn’t going to be easy or quick.  But it starts with sending progressive leaders to represent us in Congress.”