Rep. Adam Kinzinger’s (R-IL) political action committee, Country First, announced Tuesday that it supports multiple Democrats in key November elections.
Kinzinger’s PAC endorsements also included Republicans and an independent.
“Now more than ever, it’s critical we elect leaders up and down the ballot who are loyal to the Constitution and willing to be a bulwark for democracy – regardless of their political party affiliation,” Kinzinger said in a statement.
“We must set partisan politics and ideology aside in order to preserve our nation’s democracy and demand accountability in our leaders. I’m proud to endorse this slate of candidates that are ready to put our country and the American people first,” he added.
The Democrats included Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro, Arizona gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs, and Arizona secretary of state candidate Adrian Fontes. The PAC’s Democratic endorsements also included secretary of state candidates Cisco Aguilar in Nevada, Jocelyn Benson in Michigan, and Steve Simon in Minnesota.
Two key Republicans included in the PAC’s endorsements are Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who voted to convict former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger. One independent, Utah Senate candidate Evan McMullin, was also among the picks on the list of Kinzinger’s PAC endorsements.
A brief description of the PAC’s support for each candidate was also included in the announcement. The basis for Raffensperger’s selection, for example, said, “As the top election official in Georgia, he overcame tremendous pressure from Donald Trump and his supporters to ‘find’ enough votes to declare Trump the winner. Few politicians are willing to risk their careers to do the right thing, which is why it’s so important to support those, like Brad Raffensperger, who do.”
In August, Kinzinger said he would back Democrats against Republican candidates he believed were against democracy.
“If you have Republicans that are running against even left-wing Democrats that believe in democracy and believe in voting, that person should be elected over somebody who would basically overthrow the will of the people and, ultimately, destroy this country,” Kinzinger said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Kinzinger launched his PAC in January 2021 to promote Republican candidates to combat Trump’s influence over the party. He has also served on the House committee to investigate the events of January 6, 2021, participating along with just one other Republican in the group, Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney.
After the Illinois state legislature approved a new congressional map that changed Kinzinger’s district, he announced his retirement from Congress following the current term. He served as one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after January 6.