WASHINGTON DC, JULY 24, 2014 – Today the Allen West Guardian Fund PAC announced an additional five endorsements for the 2014 election cycle, bringing the total endorsed candidates to nine so far: Joni Ernst (IA-Senate), Will Hurd (TX-23), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), Lee Zeldin (NY-1) and Ryan Zinke (MT at Large). These candidates join Special Agent Dan Bongino (MD-6), Congressman Tom Cotton (AR-Senate), Larry Kaifesh (IL-8) and Mia Love (UT-4) already endorsed by the PAC.
The Allen West Guardian Fund was established in January 2013 as a PAC to support conservative military veteran and minority Republicans running for state and federal office. The leadership PAC Colonel West established during the 2012 election cycle with the same mission helped 7 military veteran candidates win their seats in the House of Representatives.
Forty years ago, 72 percent of House lawmakers and 78 percent of those in the Senate had served in the armed forces. Today it’s less than 20 percent.
“When you see the results of poor strategic military decisions from our elected leaders, it’s quite obvious we need more people in Washington who have served in uniform,” said Col. West.
Colonel West was one of only four black Republicans to serve in the United States House of Representatives in nearly a century. In the Senate, there have been only two. As the demographics of the U.S. population shift, it becomes ever more critical to increase representation by not only black, but Hispanic and Asian American leaders as well.
“Here at home, those who can benefit most from conservative policies – namely minorities – are under-represented in leadership. As the demographics of this nation change, we must ensure conservative minority voices are not sidelined or silenced,” West continued, “We’ve got to elect principled leaders who will protect and preserve our liberties and our nation.”