Founded in 2005 by Al Franken,
the Midwest Values PAC helps elect progressives
in the midwest and nationwide
Support our Candidates
Dan Seals is the Democratic nominee for Congress in Illinois’ Tenth District. The son of a Chicago Bear and a social worker, Dan’s career spans both the private and public sectors. He worked as a high school teacher before winning the Presidential Management Fellowship.
Congresswoman Betsy Markey was first elected to represent Colorado’s 4th Congressional District in 2008. She won with 56% of the vote, defeating 3-term incumbent Republican Marilyn Musgrave and becoming the first Democrat to represent her District in 36 years.
New Castle County Executive Chris Coons has earned a reputation for delivering real results on behalf of Delawareans. As Senator, Chris will stand with Delaware to bring change and improve the lives of the middle class by getting tough on Wall Street banks, restoring fiscal accountability, encouraging American job growth, and ensuring our kids have access to a quality education and opportunities for higher education.
A 46-year-old former Airborne Ranger and decorated Iraq War veteran, Bryan Lentz was driven to run for office after witnessing the consequences of decisions made by poorly informed policy makers in Iraq. In 2006, just two years after returning from service, Bryan defeated a 28-year Republican incumbent to represent a state house district in a Republican stronghold in the southwest Suburbs of Philadelphia. Since taking office, Bryan, a former prosecutor, has fought to make state government more accountable to Pennsylvania’s residents, supporting laws that opened government records to the people, and put an end to back room deals.
Mary Jo was elected to Congress in 2008, and has represented the people of central Ohio since January 7, 2009. Mary Jo serves as a member of the powerful House Committee on Financial Services and the House Homeland Security Committee. As a member of the Financial Services Committee, Mary Jo has played a critical role in the fight to bring accountability to Wall Street and protect Main Street from another financial crisis.
Julie Lassa is running for Congress in the 7th District seat recently left open by Congressman Dave Obey’s announced retirement to be a fresh new voice for Wisconsin families and to change the way Washington does business. Julie grew up on a dairy farm in northern Portage County, where her parents still farm today. The oldest of three children, Julie learned the importance of hard work, the value of a dollar, and that honesty and integrity are a necessity.
As an innovative businessman and public servant, Michael Bennet is known as a pragmatic leader who implements new solutions to old problems. His desire to represent Colorado in the U.S. Senate is deeply rooted in a moral obligation to leave this country in a better place for his children, and a fear that we will fail in that obligation if we do not take a fresh approach to Washington.
Richard Blumenthal, as Connecticut’s Attorney General, has taken on the biggest special interests to protect the interests of the people of Connecticut. He was one of the leaders in the fight against big tobacco, forcing the industry to pay billions and stop deceptive marketing aimed at children.
In these tough economic times, Senator Barbara Boxer’s top priority is creating jobs and getting our economy back on track. She’s fighting to create clean energy jobs, create private sector jobs by improving our infrastructure, and end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas and instead give companies a financial incentive to create jobs here at home.
Robin Carnahan is Missouri’s Secretary of State, first elected to the office in 2004 and re-elected in 2008 earning more votes than any candidate for any statewide office in Missouri history. As a 5th generation Missourian who continues to manage her family’s 900-acre cattle farm, Robin understands the challenges of small businesses and families in these tough economic times.
Tarryl was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in a special election in 2005, putting a previously Republican seat back into the Democratic column. She was re-elected in 2006 by double-digit margins. Tarryl won through a commitment to grassroots voter contact– and she brings this same commitment and campaign style to her campaign for Minnesota’s 6th Congressional seat.
Jack Conway, Kentucky’s Attorney General, is running as a Democrat for the United States Senate with a plan to create jobs and opportunity, reduce the deficit and restore fiscal responsibility to Wall Street and Washington.
Congressman Keith Ellison has represented Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since taking office on January 4, 2007. He has worked tirelessly to enact a progressive agenda that will strengthen America at home and abroad. He was a leading voice in reforming our nation’s broken health care system, fighting for affordable, secure health care for every American.
Patty Murray was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992 by waging an underdog campaign against a 10-year veteran of the U.S. House of Representatives. With the support of her family and friends she became the first woman to serve Washington State in the U.S. Senate.
Russ Feingold is an independent voice in the United States Senate. He is known as an effective, bipartisan legislator who is well respected in both domestic and foreign policy. Throughout his service, Russ has always done what he thought was right for Wisconsin – even when it meant going against the status quo in Washington.
Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher has spent his life fighting for Ohio families and values. When our nation faced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Lee wasn’t willing to sit on the sidelines while hardworking Ohioans suffered.
A loving family man and dedicated public servant, Joe Garcia has called South Florida his home his entire life. In 1963, Joe was born to Joe Sr. and Carmen Garcia at Mount Sinai Hospital. Like many exiles that came to this country seeking freedom and opportunity, Joe’s parents worked hard to get ahead. With hard work and savings, Joe’s parents were able to start a small business and helped put him and his brothers through school.
After earning his J.D., Paul was offered the opportunity to serve in the state Attorney General’s office by then-Attorney General and future United States Supreme Court Justice David Souter. After his tenure as an Assistant Attorney General, Paul continued serving the Granite State as the Special Prosecutor for the State of New Hampshire.
Elected to the United States Senate at age 34, Patrick Leahy is the first Democrat to represent Vermonters in the U.S. Senate, where he now ranks third in seniority. He serves as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee. He also serves on the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee and on the Appropriations Committee, where he is a member of the Defense, Interior, Homeland Security, VA-HUD, and Commerce-Justice-State sub-committees.
Kendrick Meek is a lifelong fighter for the middle class and knows what it means to work hard. As a high school student, Kendrick saved for college by working for tips as an airport skycap. After college, he committed himself to public service and trained to become a Trooper in the Florida Highway Patrol.
Harry Reid was born and raised in the desert mining town of Searchlight, Nevada. He grew up poor in a small cabin without an indoor toilet and paid for law school by working nights as a Capitol Police Officer. He understands what’s it’s like to struggle. It’s what drives him every day as he works to ensure that all Americans have the same opportunities for success that he has had despite his humble upbringings.
Representative Joe Sestak was elected to Congress in 2006 to represent the 7th Congressional District where he was born and raised. During a distinguished 31-year career in the United States Navy, Joe attained the rank of 3-star Admiral and served in the White House, Pentagon, and in operational commands at sea. He is the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to either branch of Congress.
The son of a public school administrator and community activist, Congressman Tim Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska on April 6, 1964. Raised in a rural community, Walz spent his summers farming with his extended family. In 1982, Tim Walz graduated from Butte High School alongside his 24 classmates. In 1990, Walz began to serve full-time in the Army National Guard.
