A newly formed progressive Political Action Committee (PAC), Cavalry PAC, aims to support Muslim candidates and naturalized citizens interested in running for federal office.
The PAC, officially registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) last Monday, is spearheaded by former Democratic Congressional candidate Kara Eastman and progressive media figure Cenk Uygur. Eastman disclosed to The Hill that the PAC is scheduled to launch on Tuesday.
Cenk Uygur, host of “The Young Turks,” concluded his Democratic presidential campaign in early March, acknowledging his ineligibility to run for president due to being born in Turkey, thus not meeting the “Natural Born Citizen” Clause of the Constitution.
Kara Eastman (Credits: Politico)
Throughout his five-month bid, Uygur initiated legal action to secure ballot access, filing a lawsuit in South Carolina federal court after being excluded from the state’s primary ballot. The Democratic Party cited constitutional grounds for his exclusion.
The newly formed PAC intends to continue Uygur’s advocacy for full equality for naturalized citizens, a cause he championed during his campaign.
Kara Eastman emphasized their commitment to advancing this cause through ongoing litigation, addressing legal expenses accrued during the campaign, and pursuing legal action in other states. As stated on the PAC’s website, a particular portion of the PAC’s donations will be allocated to ongoing litigation efforts.
Democratic Congressional candidate Kara Eastman (Credits: Friends of the Earth Action)
The remainder will be dedicated to supporting outsider candidates in grassroots elections, particularly focusing on assisting Muslim candidates and naturalized citizens aspiring to run for office in the future, albeit not necessarily for the presidency.
Eastman, who previously contested against Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) in Nebraska’s 2nd District without success, served as Uygur’s campaign manager in his presidential bid. She outlined the PAC’s mission to empower outsider candidates and underscored the importance of supporting individuals from underrepresented communities in the political arena.
