WASHINGTON (A.W.)–Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) executive director Aram Hamparian shares his views on the elections in the following video on YouTube (in Armenian).
Over 90 percent of the Congressional candidates backed by the ANCA prevailed in the hard-fought mid-term elections held on Nov. 2.
“We join with Armenian Americans from across the country in congratulating the winners of these elections from both parties, and look forward to working constructively with the new members and leaders of Congress,” said Hamparian. “We are especially proud of our community’s pivotal role in the outcome of several key races, including Mark Kirk’s victory in Illinois, Barbara Boxer’s win in California, Harry Reid’s triumph in Nevada, and, of course, Mike Grimm’s defeat of Representative Michael McMahon.”
Five out of the six Senators endorsed by the ANCA emerged victorious, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.). The only ANCA-backed Senate candidate to lose was Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.), a perennial co-sponsor of Armenian Genocide legislation.
On the House side, the ANCA endorsed 158 candidates in 31 states. Of this total, 152 were incumbents, of which, as of 2 a.m. on Nov. 3, only 7 were reported to have lost their re-election bids. Each of the six non-incumbents endorsed and backed by the ANCA won their elections, including, most notably, Michael Grimm, who, with the energetic support of ANCA activists in New York, unseated Armenian Genocide Resolution opponent Rep. Michael McMahon (D-N.Y.).
Among the key winners were Congressman Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who will likely be the House Majority Leader, and Thaddeus McCotter, who is also set to remain in the Republican leadership. House Armenian Caucus co-chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), who received an A+ rating and was endorsed by the ANCA, survived a strong challenge by Republican Anna Little.
Members of Congress who have worked against Armenian American priorities and were defeated, include Reps. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), Solomon Ortiz (D-Texas), and John Spratt (D-S.C.). Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who voted and spoke against the Armenian Genocide Resolution in committee this past March, remains in a tight race that may be headed for a recount. [As of Fri., Nov. 5, Connolly has claimed victory, with 968 votes over his opponent.]
As a result of these elections, the Democratic majority in the Senate will narrow, and the U.S. House will shift from Democratic to Republican control, moving leadership of key committees, including Foreign Affairs and Appropriations, into the hands of GOP chairmen.
For a complete list of ANCA endorsed Senate and House candidates, visit: http://anca.org/press_releases/press_releases.php?prid=1954 .
Unprecedented community and campaign outreach
In dozens of states and hundreds of Congressional districts across the United States in which ANCA endorsed candidates ran, the ANCA sent tens of thousands of customized email messages to Armenian American voters. These messages featured the ANCA grade for each candidate, news about whether the ANCA has endorsed their campaign, and a listing of ANCA records and ratings for their state’s full Congressional delegation.
The ANCA’s email campaign was complemented by tens of thousands of phone calls by both volunteers and automated phone systems to Armenian American voters, each with individualized messages about the importance of voting for ANCA-endorsed candidates.
The ANCA’s final push built upon months of voter registration campaigns and community education and empowerment programs. ANCA regional and local activists volunteered on campaigns and encouraged candidates to fill out the ANCA Candidate questionnaire.
A key element of this effort, as in years past, has been ANCA Congressional Report Cards, a detailed review and rating of the records of each Congressional incumbent on more than a dozen individual legislative initiatives of special concern to Armenian American voters.
ANCA activists in New Hampshire and from across New England played a central role in helping Republican Frank Guinta successfully unseat Congresswoman Carol Shea Porter (D-N.H.). Porter, who has actively opposed a number of Armenian American legislative initiatives, including the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, was defeated by Guinta, 46 percent to 39 percent, with the active support of Armenian American voters and a coalition of others committed to human rights and humanitarian issues. In addition to Congressional Report Cards (Shea-Porter received an ANCA rating of “C” in 2010 and “F” in 2008) and the Congressional Candidate Questionnaires, which Guinta completed, the ANCA endorsed Guinta and rallied local voters with a 72-hour get-out-the vote-campaign that featured phone banking and targeted emails.
Great! As usual, all across the USA, the grass roots of those who still seek justice against Genocides, have gained further in their efforts to end the cycle of Genocides.
Genocides perpetrated as murders, rapes, tortures and worse of humanity… In civilized societies such persons are brought to face justice. Only in the realm of Genocide perpetrators murderers remain free – to destroy the humanity of the world, to bully and seek what next they can accomplish, acquire, steal… Since there is not any combined world effort to end the cycle of Genocides – inhumanity at its worst will continue – exists.
Manooshag