EZ Read July 7, 2023

July 7, 2023

On Our Minds...

Over the last few years, once-ruby red Texas has become increasingly purple as support for the Democratic Party has resurged throughout Texas’s vast metropolitan areas. In 2020, Donald Trump won the Lone Star state by 4.5 percent, and in 2018, far-right Senator Ted Cruz was nearly ousted from office by former Congressman Beto O’Rourke, holding onto his seat by just 2 percentage points.

Next year, Senator Cruz is up for re-election again, and this time, it looks like he is in real danger of losing his seat.

In May, Congressman Colin Allred (D-TX) announced that he is running to turn this high-profile Senate seat blue in 2024. A Dallas native and former football player at Baylor University, Allred knows Texas inside and out.

After retiring from his football career, Allred obtained a law degree at UC Berkeley and worked in several positions in the Obama administration before being elected to the House in 2018.

As a JAC-supported candidate, Allred has been a vocal supporter of maintaining a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, instituting a federal assault weapons ban, and protecting a woman’s right to choose throughout his time in the House. Allred is also passionate about lowering prescription drug prices and improving veteran care.

The Cook Political Report has rated this race as ‘Likely Republican,’ but Senator Cruz’s popularity continues to decline. By sending Rep. Allred to the Senate, we would be one seat closer to taking a decisive majority and getting legislation passed to make our nation a safer, more just place for generations to come.

Click here to support Colin Allred for Senate.

As we look ahead to the 2024 election, we know how important it is to keep the Senate blue. With several key Senators retiring and others in swing states up for reelection, we need to double down to protect and expand the currently narrow majority in the Senate. Only then can we get legislation passed to reduce gun violence, codify reproductive rights, push back against the encroachment of religion into our government, and more.

JAC has enjoyed a close relationship with Senator Bob Casey, Jr. of Pennsylvania for many years. Last month, Casey met with JAC members while on a visit to Chicago, reinforcing his support of our issues.

In his 16 years in office, Senator Casey has fought tirelessly for many of the values we share here at JAC. Following the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016, Casey introduced the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which would prohibit firearm sales to anyone who has been convicted of a hate crime.

Senator Casey serves as the Chair of the Senate Aging Committee and also sits on the Finance Committee as well as the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

In 2020, President Biden won Pennsylvania with 50.01 percent of the vote. Republicans are already working ruthlessly to try and send Senator Casey home. We need Senator Casey in Washington to protect our issues, and we need your help to do so.

Click here to donate to Senator Bob Casey today.

SUPPORT JACPAC

IN THE NEWS

ISRAEL

A year of fighting between Israel and the Palestinians escalated this week. Is this an uprising?
Israel & UAE sign agreement to expand industrial cooperation
Israelis hope the U.S. will finally lift visa requirements

ANTISEMITISM AND BDS

Sen. Ossoff (D-GA) speaks out against recent antisemitism in Georgia
North Carolina Lt. Governor says quoting Hitler should not be taboo
When a Jewish group and the right-wing Moms for Liberty shared a hotel

ANTISEMITISM WATCH

Outrage over BBC anchor's false on air accusation of Israeli forces
Holocaust memorial desecrated during French riots
The British birth-place of blood libel theory could get a Jewish heritage center

CHOICE

This Zombie Law could threaten abortion access nationwide
Ohio abortion amendment has the necessary signatures to appear on the ballot
How the Dobbs decision has affected adoption in the U.S.

RELIGION AND STATE

Far-right Moms for Liberty group's "media training session" instructed conservatives to "never apologize" for using Hitler quotes
The GOP's anti-trans crusade has come up against a legal wall – for now
Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) uses fake quote to push for Christian nationalism

BEYOND THE CORE

In Highland Park, a shooting survivor and her community are still healing
The Supreme Court had a few surprises this year, but that doesn't make it moderate
How Minnesota became the surprising success story of gun reform

POLITICAL BYTE

Jewish quotas were at the heart of Supreme Court affirmative action ruling
Turnout spiked among young voters in the last three elections. We need that to continue in 2024.
Senate Republicans fear abortion could derail hopes for majority

FYI

Ed Asner plays a Holocaust survivor in film being released 2 years after his death
Hot dogs are the greatest American Jewish food. Here's why.
Israel qualifies for Olympic soccer for the first time in 48 years

THE LAST WORD

"I will not allow extreme and out-of-touch politicians to get in the way of the fundamental right Arizonans have to make decisions about their own bodies and futures."

- Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, signing a bill preventing state Attorneys General from prosecuting abortion-related crimes

SUPPORT JACPAC

Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JACPAC) is a pro-Israel PAC with a domestic agenda. We support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and advocate for reproductive health and the separation of religion and state and incorporate other issues of importance to the Jewish community, including gun violence prevention and climate change. In addition to providing financial support for U.S. Senate and House campaigns, JACPAC educates our membership with outreach events designed to inform and activate their participation in the political process.

Paid for by Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs. Contributions or gifts are not tax deductible. Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer of individuals who donate in an election cycle. Corporate contributions and contributions from non-US citizens who are not lawfully admitted for permanent residence are prohibited. All contributions by individuals must be made from personal funds and may not be reimbursed or paid by another person.