Peace Action West

Volunteer for Peace Candidates

And by donating to all of these candidates through our site, you'll raise the profile of the peace community.

Al Franken - Minnesota Senate

In our push to end the war in Iraq this year, our biggest challenge was in the Senate, where procedural rules require 60 votes to pass controversial legislation. Former comedian and radio talk show host Al Franken is working to unseat Senator Norm Coleman, a senator with a ZERO on Peace Action West’s scorecard and one of several senators standing in the way of real foreign policy progress.

Minnesota is known as a “polka-dotted” state, with a Republican governor and a recently-elected Democratic senator. Al Franken wants to begin withdrawing US troops immediately and use regional diplomacy with Iraq’s neighbors to help stabilize Iraq. 2009 offers an opportunity to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to end nuclear weapons testing, which Franken supports. Franken will work to promote direct diplomacy with Iran and opposes preemptive war. Our work pushing for progress in the Senate will be much easier in 2009 if we can oust conservatives like Coleman and get some more progressive allies in office.

Volunteer for Frank's campaign here.

Jerry McNerney - California 11th District (Bay Area and Sacramento Valley)

The Peace Action West Voter Fund worked to elect Rep. McNerney in a highly competitive race in 2006, and he has lived up to his promise of supporting a more strategic and progressive foreign policy. Rep. McNerney has consistently voted in favor of timelines to end the war in Iraq, and against granting blank checks to the Bush administration. He supported efforts to require congressional oversight of any military action against Iran, and voted in favor of diverting funds from wasteful weapons programs.

Rep. McNerney is a top target for the Republican party and faces a tough race against Republican Dean Andal. The Cook Political report has rated the race as a toss-up, the most competitive rating possible. Please contribute today to help keep a strong pro-peace leader in the House.

To volunteer and be part of Jerry’s campaign, click here.

Bill Durston - California’s 3rd District (Sacramento Area and the Sierras)

Vietnam veteran and emergency room physician Bill Durston is engaged in an uphill battle to unseat conservative Republican Dan Lungren. Lungren has been in lockstep with the Bush administration on continuing the disastrous war in Iraq and has refused to stand up against military action against Iran.
Bill Durston offers an inspiring alternative to Lungren, endorsing A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq and pledging to oppose any funding that is not tied to a plan for a complete withdrawal of US troops. He has been active with Bay Area Physicians for Social Responsibility, is a strong Peace Action West ally, and supports eliminating nuclear weapons worldwide. To see a foreign policy based on diplomacy and human rights, we need to put efforts into electing leaders like Bill Durston.

To volunteer and be part of Bill’s campaign click here.

Barack Obama - President

Sen. Obama recognized the folly of the Iraq war and has committed to withdrawal of US troops. He has spoke out on the need to reduce the threat from nuclear weapons. After the dangerous nuclear policies of the Bush administration, we need a president like Obama who embraces the vision of a nuclear weapons free world, and will take concrete steps to get us there, like cleaning up loose nuclear material and working to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Sen. Obama is also more willing to engage in tough-minded, pragmatic negotiations and working cooperatively with our allies than the more bellicose Senator McCain.

To volunteer and be part of Barack’s campaign, click here.

Darcy Burner - Washington’s 8th District (Seattle suburbs “Eastside” area)

Burner is best known to the peace movement as the leader behind A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq. Burner assembled a group of military experts and congressional candidates to do what the current administration and Congress would not do—develop a comprehensive plan to bring the occupation of Iraq to a responsible end and prevent future misguided conflicts.

In addition to leading the way toward real solutions in Iraq, Darcy Burner supports tough, direct diplomacy with Iran and embraces the vision of nuclear disarmament offered by Henry Kissinger, Sam Nunn, William Perry and George Shultz. Burner is in a tight race and needs our help to bring her vision to Congress in 2009.

Darcy Burner came within 7,000 votes of unseating conservative Republican Dave Reichert in 2006. Reichert went on to score a 9% on Peace Action West’s congressional scorecard in 2007. This year is our opportunity to help put Burner over the top.

To volunteer and be part of Darcy’s campaign, click here.

Jeff Merkley - Oregon Senate

Speaker of the Oregon House Jeff Merkley is competing in a tight race to unseat Republican Senator Gordon Smith. Smith is trying to capitalize on the unpopularity of the war in Iraq by saying he stood up to the Bush administration, despite his 36% score on Peace Action West’s 2007 congressional scorecard. Oregon deserves a candidate who is truly committed to a new direction in our foreign policy.

Jeff Merkley was the first Senate candidate to endorse A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq. He supports bold diplomatic moves to make America safer, such as engaging directly with Iran and working with the international community to reduce the threat from nuclear weapons. We need a strong, progressive majority in the Senate to reach our goals in 2009, and helping to elect Jeff Merkley will bring us one step closer to success.

To volunteer and be part of Jeff’s campaign, click here.

Jared Polis - Colorado’s 2nd District (North Central Colorado)

A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq represents a commitment that is sorely needed in Congress—a willingness to take ownership over the disastrous war and implement a comprehensive plan that will bring our troops home. Jared Polis was one of the early endorsers of the plan and has pledged to vote against funding the war unless it is used to withdraw the troops.

Polis is running against pro-war Republican Scott Starin to replace Rep. Mark Udall in Colorado’s second district. Contributing to Jared Polis means supporting a candidate whose foreign policy vision includes nuclear nonproliferation, human rights, fighting global poverty and protecting civil rights.

To Volunteer check out Jared’s website here.