Chris Ingersoll

Watch his video announcement now!

The Constitution is clear about many things. There are three branches of government. Presidents can be elected to only two terms. And Congress, not the executive branch, has the power of the purse, meaning the power to control federal spending. It is right there, as clear as day in Article I, Section 9, Clause 7: “No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law.”

This is a bedrock principle of our government, which President Trump and his unchecked billionaire buddy are attempting to subvert. They are trying to do so through a variety of avenues, including using social media platforms to berate elected officials into submitting to their demands, impounding funds — which is nothing less than stealing congressionally appropriated dollars promised to Americans — and empowering the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.

P.S. — And if you want to make calls to Italian American swing voters in battleground states or contribute to get this message out, CLICK HERE! https://lnkd.in/enHMVS-Z

Today, we celebrate the proud heritage of Italian Americans in our Nation, whose contributions and character have shaped our country’s soul.

     I believe we are the only Nation in the world with a heart and soul that draws from old and new.  For some Italian-American families, the stories they share about their ancestors’ lives in this country stretch back generations.  They are stories about immigrants who left everything behind to sail across an ocean and chase the American Dream for the hope of a brighter future.  They are stories about ancestors who helped build this country and found America’s middle class — and their traditions and recipes still bring joy to their families today.  They are stories of Italian-American artists, laborers, lawmakers, and leaders who never gave up on the idea of America.  And for many Italian Americans, the story of Christopher Columbus’ voyage crossing the Atlantic from the Spanish port of Palos de la Frontera on behalf of Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II remains a source of pride.  But no matter if their families arrived here centuries ago or only recently, Italian Americans’ courage, strength, and character are woven into the rich tapestry of our country.

   For many Italian Americans, the lives of their ancestors in this country were not always easy.  In addition to the challenges of starting life in a new land, they also faced discrimination.  Columbus Day was founded by President Benjamin Harrison in 1892 in response to the horrific, xenophobic attack that took the lives of 11 Italian Americans the year before.  In the face of hate, Italian Americans persisted — advancing our Nation and challenging us to live up to our highest values. 

     My Administration also recognizes that Italian Americans are a source of strength in our country’s unshakeable alliance, strategic partnership, and deep friendship with Italy.  The ties between our countries are founded on our shared values and principles:  democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights.  Both of our nations take pride in standing with the brave people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia’s illegal aggression.

Washington DC – Today, the Italian American Democratic Leadership Council (IADLC) announced the formation of the National Leadership Council of Italian Americans for Harris-Walz, a nationwide effort to engage this influential voter base ahead of the 2024 election. With 18 million Italian Americans in the United States—and some experts estimating as many as 26 million—the IADLC aims to mobilize voters across the country, particularly in key battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Nevada, where their impact could be decisive. 

Led by Honorary Co-chairs Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, and former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, the IADLC is launching a robust voter contact operation, utilizing phone banks, door knocking and social media to reach Italian Americans in the U.S. and the 75,000 registered voters living in Italy. Italian Americans represent a critical voting bloc in key swing states such as Pennsylvania (nearly 12% of voters), Nevada (over 5%), Georgia (more than 2%), Michigan, and Wisconsin, where they can have a decisive impact on the election’s outcome. With nearly a third of Italian Americans identifying as Independents, a substantial portion of this electorate is still up for grabs, as revealed by a recent poll by SocialSphere Together, Democratic and Independent voters form a majority, challenging the notion that Italian Americans lean solidly Republican. With an effort by Italian American leaders, this community could contribute as many as 11 million votes to the Harris-Walz ticket,

Every presidential election brings with it a technological innovation or two: the Bill Clinton and Bob Dole campaigns’ first-ever campaign websites, Barack Obama’s email list, Donald Trump’s candidacy-by-tweet.

For the weeks-old Kamala Harris campaign, it has been a Zoom window.

On Sunday night, former Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York was holding forth from one such window, swirling a glass of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo in a restaurant in Baltimore’s Little Italy, trying to draw an Italian family dinner memory out of Robert De Niro at “Paisans for Kamala,” a livestreamed online fund-raiser billed as an Italian Sunday Dinner that was hosted by the Italian American Democrats.

The Italian American community is organizing a concerted effort to support the Harris-Walz ticket in the 2024 election through an initiative called “Paisans for Kamala.” Spearheaded by the Italian American Democrats, the campaign seeks to harness the political influence and cultural significance of Italian Americans, particularly in key swing states, to bolster the Democratic ticket.

Nancy Pelosi, a prominent figure in the Italian American community, will be a central figure in the effort. She will be joined by other influential Italian Americans, including actors Lorraine Bracco, Alyssa Milano, and Steve Buscemi, as well as political figures like Anthony Scaramucci. The campaign will kick off with a virtual event on September 8th, designed to rally support and raise funds.

Italian Americans represent a significant voting bloc, especially in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. In Pennsylvania, for example, they constitute over 15% of the population, many of whom live in crucial suburban and urban areas that could be pivotal in determining the election outcome. The community’s high voter turnout is seen as a potential advantage for the Harris-Walz campaign.

Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell, whose career in rough-and-tumble New Jersey politics spanned four decades and who in his later years became known for his sharp barbs against Donald Trump, died on Wednesday, according to a statement on his official X account.

He was 87.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce that Bill Pascrell Jr., our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away this morning, the statement said. “As our United States Representative, Bill fought to his last breath to return to the job he cherished and to the people he loved. Bill lived his entire life in Paterson and had an unwavering love for the city he grew up in and served. He is now at peace after a lifetime devoted to our great nation America.”

Much has been said these past few days about the unparallelled record of accomplishment and dedication of our President, Joe Biden. The IADLC has wholeheartedly joined in those accolades, touting what our President has done in decades of service to his country.

One reason for the Biden Administration’s outstanding successes has been the work and leadership of key players, both domestically and on the global stage. We are so proud of the remarkable work of someone in particular, with real working class roots, from Joe’s home state of Rhode Island, our friend, Gina Raimondo. She grew up in a tight-knit Italian America family. Her mother was a homemaker and her father was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy, who lost his manufacturing job after 26 years, when the factory moved overseas.

From those humble beginnings, Gina became the first woman governor of Rhode Island, where she kickstarted the state’s economy and made record investments in infrastructure, education and job training. As governor, Gina launched an innovative workforce development program that nurtured business-led partnerships to address unique workforce challenges.

Following the lead of our beloved President, we heartily endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for President, as President Joe Biden said last night, in his Oval Office address to the nation, “She’s experienced, she’s tough, she’s capable.” We encourage all Italian American Delegates to the Democratic Convention to vote for her nomination. The IADLC proudly endorses Kamala Harris as our next president. Kamala Harris will fight for our freedom!