22Jun
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Common Defense, a grassroots organization of veterans and military families, announced its endorsement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in New York’s 14th Congressional District. Common Defense represents more than 500,000 veterans, military family members, and civilian allies committed to defending democracy and ensuring that our government works for all Americans.
Jose Vasquez, U.S. Army veteran and Executive Director of Common Defense, released the following statement:
“When this administration sent DOGE to gut the VA and strip healthcare from those who earned it, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez was among the first in Congress to call it out and fight back. She has been an unwavering defender of the PACT Act, a vocal opponent of VA privatization, and a consistent ally for working families in and out of uniform. Common Defense is proud to endorse a leader who treats veterans’ care as a non-negotiable obligation, not a line item to be cut.”
Naveed Shah, U.S. Army veteran and Political Director at Common Defense, added:
“Our members in New York know Rep. Ocasio-Cortez shows up – not just at election time, but when the votes that matter are being cast. She has stood firm for veterans’ benefits, economic justice, and the integrity of our democratic institutions at every turn. Common Defense is ready to mobilize our grassroots network in New York to send her back to Congress.”
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Common Defense Civic Engagement (501c4) (CDCE) is a grassroots, veteran-led organization that was founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched powers that have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values.