NRCC Announces New ‘Contender’ Candidates

Washington- The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) today announced its first round of ‘Contender’ candidates. By reaching the third step of the four-step ‘Young Guns’ program, these Republican candidates have reached the fundamental benchmarks to place them on the road to victory. Now, these 11 candidates are ready to take on the Democrat establishment and return fiscal sanity to Washington.

“These candidates have worked hard to meet the benchmarks that have been laid out before them and are determined to hold Washington Democrats accountable this November,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX). “Middle-class taxpayers are tired of watching the Democrat majority spend this country deeper into recession while they have been forced to tighten their belts. With Americans desperate for change, these 11 candidates are determined to rein in reckless spending, cut taxes and return the economy back to a state of vitality.”

Originally founded in the 2007-2008 election cycle by Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Paul Ryan (R-WI) as a member-driven organization, the Young Guns program has become an official NRCC effort dedicated to electing open-seat and challenger candidates nationwide. Reps. Cantor, McCarthy and Ryan remain actively involved in the Young Guns program, working together to recruit and prime conservative leaders for victory.

After reaching the third step of the four-step program, these ‘Contender’ candidates now face a new set of rigorous benchmarks that will continue to help them build competitive, effective and winning campaigns.

The NRCC’s ‘Contender’ Candidates Are:

• Tom Cotton (AR-04)
• Ricky Gill (CA-09)
• David Valadao (CA-21)
• Abel Maldonado (CA-24)
• Gary DeLong (CA-47)
• Jackie Walorski (IN-02)
• Andy Barr (KY-06)
• Richard Tisei (MA-06)
• Randy Altschuler (NY-01)
• Keith Rothfus (PA-12)
• Brendan Doherty (RI-01)

For more information, click here.

* The additional candidate for Arkansas’ Fourth Congressional District that has advanced to ‘On the Radar’ status in the Young Guns program is Beth Anne Rankin.

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