Over 95 Percent of ANCA Endorsed Candidates Win Seats in Congress

WASHINGTON—Months of intensive voter registration efforts and grassroots campaigning contributed to significant Congressional victories for pro-Armenian American issues candidates during Tuesday’s mid-term elections, with over 95 percent of Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) endorsed candidates being elected to office.  Top winners included Bob Dold (R-Ill.), a former Republican Vice-Chairman of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, who won one of the most closely contested U.S. House races in the country.

“It’s always gratifying for the ANCA to empower Armenian American voters, especially during highly competitive election seasons like this, when our efforts contribute meaningfully to the victory of so many Congressional friends,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.  “While we’re certainly proud that our nation-wide electoral participation this season hit an all-time high-water mark, we’re already planning to top this unprecedented effort during the coming 2016 election cycle.”

Among other wins in competitive races were those by Congressman Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), the current Co-Chairman of the Armenian Caucus, who won by 13 percent in a high profile campaign; and David Valadao (R-Calif.), the co-author of the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution, with a convincing 18 point victory in a race that was rated a toss-up earlier in the election cycle.  Congressman Jim Costa’s (D-Calif.) race for reelection was still too close to call, as were those contested by three other candidates endorsed by the ANCA: Mike Honda (D-Calif.), Peter Aguilar (D-Calif.), and Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.).

Other high-profile victories by ANCA-endorsed candidates included those by David Brat (R-Va.), who will take the Richmond U.S. House seat formerly held by Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).  U.S. Representative Gary Peters (D-Mich.), an ANCA-backed candidate, won a seat in the Senate.

Both Americans of Armenian heritage who serve in the U.S. Congress, Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), won reelection, with a host of Armenian American state and local candidates following suit, including: Assemblymembers Adrin Nazarian and Katcho Achadjian, who won reelection to the California State Assembly; Assemblymember Katherine Kazarian who won reelection in Rhode Island; Scott Avedisian who was re-elected Mayor of Warwick, R.I.; and Richelle Noroyan, who secured a seat on the Santa Cruz, Calif. City Council.

An ANCA Election Day on-line poll found that 73 percent of respondents believe that Armenian American voters are willing to cross U.S. party lines to support pro-Armenian candidates, results that are consistent with feedback from previous election cycles.

Armenian Americans throughout the U.S. shared their participation in the civic process by posting “I Voted” photos on the ANCA’s Facebook page.  Take a look at the collection here:

http://on.fb.me/1x6CP7b

A complete listing of ANCA Endorsed Federal Candidates and their election results are provided below.

================================================

ANCA 2014 Congressional Endorsements and Election Results

================================================

** Ordered by State, then by Senate and House District

** Names are listed as follows: District Name (Party)

 

Arizona 

3 Raul Grijalva (D) — elected

 

California 

1 Doug LaMalfa (R) — elected

6 Doris Matsui (D) — elected

10 Jeff Denham (R) — elected

11 Mark DeSaulnier (D) — elected

12 Nancy Pelosi (D) — elected

13 Barbara Lee (D) — elected

14 Jackie Speier (D) — elected

16 Jim Costa (D) — too close to call

17 Michael Honda (D) — too close to call

18 Anna Eshoo (D) — elected

19 Zoe Lofgren (D) — elected

21 David Valadao (R) — elected

22 Devin Nunes (R) — elected

23 Kevin McCarthy (R) — elected

25 Steve Knight (R) — elected

27 Judy Chu (D) — elected

28 Adam Schiff (D) — elected

29 Tony Cardenas (D) — elected

30 Brad Sherman (D) — elected

31 Pete Aguilar (D) — too close to call

32 Grace Napolitano (D) — elected

33 Ted Lieu (D) — elected

35 Norma Torres (D) — elected

36 Raul Ruiz (D) — too close to call

38 Linda Sanchez (D) — elected

39 Edward Royce (R) — elected

44 Janice Hahn (D) — elected

46 Loretta Sanchez (D) — elected

47 Alan Lowenthal (D) — elected

48 Dana Rohrabacher (R) — elected

 

Colorado 

2 Jared Polis (D) — elected

5 Douglas Lamborn (R) — elected

6 Andrew Romanoff (D) — defeated

7 Edwin Perlmutter (D) — elected

 

Connecticut 

2 Joe Courtney (D) — elected

 

Delaware 

Sen. Chris Coons (D) — elected

 

Florida 

11 Richard Nugent (R) — elected

12 Gus Bilirakis (R) — elected

22 Lois Frankel (D) — elected

 

Illinois 

Sen. Richard Durbin (D) — elected

3 Daniel Lipinski (D) — elected

7 Danny Davis (D) — elected

9 Janice Schakowsky (D) — elected

10 Robert Dold (R) — elected

18 Aaron Schock (R) — elected

 

Iowa 

Rep. Bruce Braley (D) for Senate — defeated

 

Kentucky 

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) — elected

 

Maryland 

3 John Sarbanes (D) — elected

5 Steny Hoyer (D) — elected

8 Christopher Van Hollen (D) — elected

 

Massachusetts 

Sen. Edward Markey (D) — elected

2 James McGovern (D) — elected

3 Niki Tsongas (D) — elected

4 Joe Kennedy (D) — elected

5 Katherine Clark (D) — elected

7 Michael Capuano (D) — elected

8 Stephen Lynch (D) — elected

 

Michigan 

Rep. Gary Peters (D) for Senate — elected

9 Sander Levin (D) — elected

11 David Trott (R) — elected

13 John Conyers (D) — elected

 

Minnesota 

7 Collin Peterson (D) — elected

 

Missouri 

4 Vicky Hartzler (R) — elected

 

Nebraska 

1 Jeff Fortenberry (R) — elected

 

Nevada 

1 Dina Titus (D) — elected

 

New Jersey 

3 Tom MacArthur (R)  — elected

4 Christopher Smith (R) — elected

5 Scott Garrett (R) — elected

6 Frank Pallone (D) — elected

8 Albio Sires (D) — elected

 

New Mexico 

Sen. Tom Udall (D) — elected

 

New York 

1 Tim Bishop (D) — defeated

3 Steve Israel (D) — elected

6 Grace Meng (D) — elected

11 Michael Grimm (R) — elected

12 Carolyn Maloney (D) — elected

14 Joseph Crowley (D) — elected

16 Eliot Engel (D) — elected

17 Nita Lowey (D) — elected

27 Chris Collins (R) — elected

 

Pennsylvania 

2 Chaka Fattah (D) — elected

7 Patrick Meehan (R) — elected

 

Rhode Island 

Sen. Jack Reed (D) — elected

1 David Cicilline (D) — elected

2 James Langevin (D) — elected

 

Texas 

2 Ted Poe (R) — elected

 

Virginia 

7 Dave Brat (R) — elected