Candidate Endorsement: Democratic Primary, VA 8th Congressional District fromVMPac

MEDIA ADVISORY & RELEASE

*Virginia Muslim Political Action Committee*

* Candidate Endorsement: Democratic Primary, VA 8th Congressional District *

The Virginia Muslim Political Action Committee (VMPAC) is pleased to acknowledge the outstanding engagement with the Muslim American community of all the candidates in the 2014 Democratic primary for the U.S. Congressional seat representing Virginia's 8th District.

The outreach to the Muslim communities by these campaigns shows the growing political influence of Muslims in northern Virginia. Many of these candidates have hired Muslims to work their campaigns, engaged Muslim community leaders for advice on issues, made frequent visits to our mosques and met with the Muslim leadership throughout northern Virginia.

After individual interviews, meetings, calls and questionnaires, with all the candidates (Don Beyer, Laverne Chatman, Adam Ebbin, Bill Euille, Patrick Hope, Derick Hyra and Mark Levine), VMPAC's Board came to the following decision on endorsement:

"On key issues, from civil liberties and civil rights, human rights and foreign policy, healthcare, immigration reform & the Dream Act, the environment, gun control and the deficit, the responses of each candidate to our interviews and questionnaires were generally consistent with the positions taken by VMPAC's Board. Virtually every campaign in this race has engaged the local Muslim American community through staff or key advisors, and all candidates enthusiastically participated in the VAMCC sponsored candidate forum (one of nine total forums in this race) held in Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, the largest mosque in the 8th District."

"After deliberation, and in consultation with the Virginia American Muslim Civic Coalition (VAMCC)*, VMPAC found each candidate highly qualified, and cannot differentiate enough to endorse any one individual. VMPAC was however most impressed by Candidates Don Beyer, Adam Ebbin for Congress and William D. "Bill" Euille, and is certain any of these three can and will effectively represent the best interests of The Commonwealth, and will continue to support the Muslim American community in Virginia and in the 8th District in particular. We therefore encourage our Community to choose any of these three Democratic candidates when they vote on Tuesday, June 10, 2014."

For questions about VMPAC or its endorsement process, please email info@vmpac.us

Hosein Nahidian
President, VMPAC
P.O. Box 236
Centreville VA 20122
www.vmpac.us


* Virginia American Muslim Civic Coalition (VAMCC) is the largest Muslim communities/mosques in the DC Metro Area and in the United States, nonpartisan organization, We represent most of Virginia/DC Muslim branches.