Gillibrand PAC Endorses Lipinski Primary Challenger in Illinois

By Simone Pathé

Posted November 17, 2017 at 1:00pm

New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s political action committee has endorsed a primary challenger to an incumbent Democratic congressman.

Off the Sidelines PAC backed marketing consultant Marie Newman, who’s running against Rep. Daniel Lipinski in Illinois’ 3rd District.

One of the most conservative members of the House Democratic Caucus and a co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition, Lipinski opposes abortion rights. He is one of only three Democrats remaining in the House who voted against the 2010 health care law, but he has not supported GOP efforts to repeal the law.

“We need Marie Newman in Congress so that we have another vote for health care, for women, and for our LGBTQ friends and family,” Gillibrand said in a statement.

Newman is backed by Daily Kos, the liberal website. She ended the third quarter with $98,000. She’s loaned her campaign $50,000. Lipinksi had $1.5 million in the bank.

Lipinski was first elected in 2004, succeeding his father, William O. Lipinski. He has voted with his party 87 percent of the time he’s been in Congress, compared to 92 percent for the average House Democrat, according to CQ’s Vote Watch. The seven-term Democrat backed Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan for leader this year over Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the 3rd District race Solid Democratic.

Gillibrand’s leadership PAC has doled out $172,000 to federal candidates so far in the 2018 cycle, according to Open Secrets. Those include Arizona Rep. Kyrsten Sinema who is running for Senate and 11 female Democratic House challengers, including: