LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Showcasing the continued grassroots momentum behind his bid for Congress, today technology entrepreneur and Democratic businessman Harley Rouda was endorsed by Indivisible Orange County 48.
Indivisible OC 48 is a grassroots group focusing on voter education and engagement. Rouda’s endorsement comes in the wake of four issue-based debates hosted by the grassroots group. Rouda won the straw poll in all these debates and has ranked first in the Voter Support Score (VSS), a tool developed by the group to gauge support from the district.
In a statement released following the announced endorsement, Indivisible OC 48’s Sara Lowell remarked:
“Indivisible OC 48 worked over the past four months to educate our voters through our issue debate series and to ensure that they could make an educated decision about which candidate best reflects our values and has grassroots support. That candidate is Harley Rouda.”
Reflecting on Indivisible OC 48’s endorsement, Rouda declared:
“I am honored to receive the endorsement from the largest grassroots organization standing up to the backwards Trump/Rohrabacher agenda. Throughout our campaign, we have always believed we are stronger together. I look forward to campaigning with Indivisible OC 48 to fight for Medicare for All, an end to offshore oil drilling, and advancing social justice in our community.”
The group’s endorsement took place online. Voting opened immediately after the final debate at 10:00 pm on April 23, and ended at noon on April 25. Voter turnout was 40.7% of registered voters. Rouda received 68% of the vote, followed by Omar Siddiqui, who got 17%.
Recently, Michael Kotick, a former candidate in California’s 48th Congressional District seat, announced his endorsement of Rouda in the nationally watched contest against incumbent Congressmember Dana Rohrabacher. Just weeks ago, Rouda earned an endorsement from another former CA-48 candidate, progressive champion Laura Oatman.
Underscoring his soaring momentum, beyond endorsements from former candidates in the race for California’s 48th Congressional District, Rouda has secured wide-ranging support from Democratic members of Congress, organizations representing working families, grassroots activists, gun safety groups, local elected leaders and scores of others. Some of his recent endorsements include the following:
- California Labor Federation
- House Democratic Vice Chair and Congressmember Linda Sanchez
- Congressmember Pete Aguilar
- Congressmember Lou Correa
- Congressmember Alan Lowenthal
- Congressmember Loretta Sanchez (Ret.)
- Pride Fund to End Gun Violence
- California Nurses Association (CNA)
- National Nurses United
- United Steelworkers Los Angeles/ Orange Counties Legislative Education Committee
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 441
- International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 36
- International Union of Operating Engineers Local 12
- United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry (UA) Local 582