Aiming to Reclaim the Midwest and Appalachia for Democrats, People's House Project Announces First Four Endorsements for 2018

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The People's House Project (PHP), a political startup focused on recruiting and supporting working-class Democratic candidates in the Midwest and Appalachia, announced Wednesday its first Congressional candidate endorsements for the 2018 cycle.

This endorsement of four candidates in West Virginia, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania, marks a major ramping-up of the organization's efforts to expand the Democratic footprint to traditionally Republican-held rural districts.

PHP's first four candidates are:

• Randy Bryce (WI-01) ? Ironworker, veteran, and President of the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce running against Speaker Paul Ryan.
• Mike Crossey (PA-18) ? Special education teacher and President of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA).
• Richard Ojeda (WV-03) ? 24-year Army veteran and state senator who won his last campaign on a $4,800 budget.
• Mariah Phillips (TN-04) ? Teacher and mother of five who works part-time Starbucks barista to make ends meet.

'People's House,' founded by former MSNBC host Krystal Ball, backs locally-connected, middle- and working-class Americans key to taking back for the Democratic Party vast parts of the country that were once its stronghold.

"Our candidates run campaigns that are acts of passion and commitment, not calculation," said Ball, a former candidate for Congress. "They haven't just read a New York Times article about how hard it is for working people, they've lived it. They understand that the central challenge of our time is creating an economy that works for the multi-racial working class." 

Since its launch in June, the organization has received broad support both inside and outside the beltway. One of the most vocal has been Congressman Tim Ryan of Youngstown, Ohio.

"If the 2016 election taught us anything, it's that the Democratic Party needs to do a better job of hearing the voices of multi-racial working class Americans, particularly in economically hard-hit areas," said Congressman Ryan. "People's House Project understands we need to go further than just listening to working people, we need to get them a seat at the decision-making table." 

In addition to direct financial help, PHP assists in message development, media training, and connecting candidates to national donor networks. They hope to endorse 20 to 25 candidates this cycle.

Visit the website at http://peopleshouseproject.com/

Contact:  John Moffett, (202) 607-8813

SOURCE The People's House Project