Since its inception in 2008, J Street has fought for Jewish and democratic values, diplomacy-first foreign policy and a peaceful and just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Beyond simply an advocacy organization, it has become a political home for American Jews to promote policies that reflect their values. Now, faced with an extreme presidential administration that defends white supremacists, empowers Israel’s settlement movement and damages America’s worldwide credibility, our top priority is to do everything we can in the 2020 election to elect Democratic nominee Joe Biden to the White House and pro-Israel, pro-peace majorities in Congress.

In this session, participants will hear from a wide range of voices about J Street’s role in the election battle: political leaders who have been longtime allies of our movement, former staff still in the thick of the fight, J Street's political team who have been doing the work day in and day out and J Street members who have found and used their political voice through our work.

Speakers

Jeremy Ben-Ami | President, J Street
Amy Spitalnick | Executive Director, Integrity First for America (for identification purposes only), and former J Street staff member
Laura Birnbaum | Political Associate, J Street
Ilya Braverman | National Political Director, J Street
Rep. Karen Bass | US Representative, CA-37 and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
Sen. Tim Kaine | US Senator, VA

In the fight to take back the Senate and White House and bolster the pro-diplomacy ranks of congress, J Street has endorsed a record 178 candidates thus far in the 2020 cycle. Join your geographic breakout group to hear from key candidates in your region discuss how we can all make a difference in the lead up to the election. Hear directly from the candidates about the challenges they face in their races and from J Street leaders deeply committed to helping them win in November.

East Coast Session
Jon Ossoff | Senate candidate, Georgia
Rep. Andy Kim | US Representative, NJ-3

West Coast Session
Rep. Ben Ray Lujan | Senate candidate, New Mexico
Wendy Davis | House candidate, TX-21

Midwest Session
Jill Schupp | House candidate, MO-02
Theresa Greenfield | Senate candidate, Iowa

Attend this closing session to equip yourself with the tools and insights you’ll need for the crucial work ahead of us. We will first hear from Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Cheri Bustos and Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Senator Catherine Cortez Masto about what it will take for Democrats to hold on to their majority in the House and take back the Senate. Then, top policy expert Phil Gordon will discuss how a diplomacy-first president and congress can repair the damage done by the Trump administration and create a bold new vision for American leadership to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and stabilize the wider Middle East. To close, J Street will walk participants through the many opportunities we have for you to get involved in key races and maximize your impact.

Speakers

Rep. Cheri Bustos | Chair, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto | Chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Diana Shaw Clark | Member of J Street’s National Board
Phil Gordon | Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and former White House coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf Region
Dan Kohl | Former J Street staffer and endorsee, current J Street leader