Brady PAC endorses Biden, plans to spend $4 million in 2020

Brady PAC, the sister organization of the nation’s oldest anti-gun violence advocacy group, endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday.

The announcement comes on the heels of the Brady Campaign’s endorsement for Biden earlier this week.

“Joe Biden didn’t come to this movement because it was popular or because he was running for president. To the contrary, Joe Biden has led this movement every step of the way—from Brady background checks to keep guns out of dangerous hands, to protecting women who have been or are at risk of being abused, to keeping weapons of war off our streets,” Brady PAC Executive Director Brian Lemek told The Hill on Friday.

“Joe Biden believes where you live should not determine if you live,” Lemek added. “He knows survivors, victims, and communities impacted by gun violence, and we know and trust Joe to do what is right and end this epidemic.”

The Brady Bill, which Biden helped pass in 1998, implemented the modern background check system.

The PAC also said Friday that its budget is $4 million for the 2020 cycle, which includes spending $500,000 in Texas alone.

In Senate races, the PAC has already endorsed Democrats Cal Cunningham, Jaime Harrison, Mark Kelly, MJ Hegar and Sara Gideon, who are running to unseat GOP Sens. Thom Tillis (N.C.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Martha McSally (Ariz.), John Cornyn (Texas) and Susan Collins (Maine), respectively.

The group has endorsed 26 House candidates so far, including incumbent Reps. Colin Allred (D-Texas), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Brady PAC is named in honor of Jim and Sarah Brady. Jim Brady, President Reagan’s press secretary, was shot during an assassination attempt on the president and left paralyzed.

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), a gun violence survivor, announced her endorsement of Biden on Wednesday, which comes with support from the gun violence prevention organization Giffords, which she co-founded.