NCPSSM President Max Richtman and Congressional candidate Brendan Kelly in Waterloo, IL
With Americans’ earned benefits under almost constant threat from the Trump administration and its allies in Congress, the importance of November’s elections – exactly six weeks from today – could not be clearer. The very future of Social Security and Medicare is at stake. That’s why the National Committee vigorously supports more than 80 House and Senate candidates across America who champion Social Security and Medicare.
This month, National Committee representatives took the fight for Social Security and Medicare to two decidedly red areas of the country. NCPSSM President and CEO Max Richtman campaigned for House candidate Brendan Kelly in Southern Illinois, while legislative director Dan Adcock traveled to Montana in support of congressional candidate Kathleen Williams.
Both candidates are staunch defenders of earned benefits; both face Republican opponents whose positions on Social Security and Medicare are troubling. At separate endorsement events, Richtman and Adcock presented Kelly and Williams with the National Committee’s trademark red boxing gloves to signify that the candidates are fighters for America’s seniors.
Congressional candidate Kathleen Williams and NCPSSM legislative director Dan Adcock at Social Security forum in Montana
Williams is challenging Republican incumbent Greg Gianforte for Montana’s lone House seat. “I will make sure that our seniors can retire with dignity by protecting Medicare and Social Security no matter what,” promised Williams, a three-term member of Montana’s state legislature and one of the more than 180 women running for Congress this year. Williams received a ringing endorsement from Dan Adcock at public forums in Livingston and Bozeman, Montana.
“Kathleen Williams appreciates that Montanans are just getting by and that they don’t have money left over from their paychecks to save for retirement. She gets that Social Security and Medicare need to be protected, particularly for the growing share of workers who will depend on their earned benefits for most of their financial and health security in retirement.” – Dan Adcock, NCPSSM Director of Government Relations and Policy
In Illinois 12th District (carried by Donald Trump in 2016 by a 15% margin), Navy veteran and former prosecutor Brendan Kelly seeks to unseat Republican Mike Bost. Bost has voted with President Trump 98% of the time, including a ‘yes’ on the Trump/GOP tax cuts. Challenger Kelly charges that Congressman Bost “handed big banks and Big Pharma a corrupt tax giveaway — threatening Medicare and Social Security.”
“We need leaders who will keep Big Pharma in check. We need leaders who will allow Medicare to negotiate prices, a move which will save seniors’ money and lives.” – Congressional candidate Brendan Kelly, Illinois 12th District
Max Richtman heartily endorsed Kelly at a packed town hall in Waterloo, Iowa:
“I wanted to come out here to make this endorsement because, as Brendan said, this is an important race… and important to the programs I care about and I believe you care about.” – Max Richtman, NCPSSM President and CEO
With the stakes so high, NCPSSM has been encouraging all eligible voters to make their voices heard at the ballot box six weeks from now. Americans must choose between candidates who simply pay lip service to Social Security and Medicare – and those who are committed to protecting – and expanding – both programs. They must scrutinize the records of incumbents who may have supported proposals to cut and privatize Social Security and Medicare. By endorsing and supporting candidates across the nation, the National Committee hopes to help voters make these crucial choices.