Progressive Icon Rob Reiner Endorses Evelyn Farkas for Congress

Evelyn Farkas, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense under President Obama, announced that progressive activist and Emmy award-winning actor and director Rob Reiner has endorsed her campaign to succeed retiring Rep. Nita Lowey in New York’s 17th Congressional District. Reiner is the second Emmy-Award winner to endorse Farkas, after actor Jane Lynch.

“I first met Evelyn after Secretary Madeleine Albright recommended her to me as one of our nation’s foremost experts on the Russian threat,” Reiner said. “Her expertise and fearless calls to set the record straight were tremendous assets. Evelyn is the type of person to fight tooth and nail for what is right—she’s a true patriot, whose lifetime of service to keep Americans safe and protect human rights deserves the gratitude of all Americans. At this critical moment, with our democracy under attack from international adversaries and undermined by domestic partisans, I could not imagine a better person to send to Congress. Simply put, Evelyn is the leader we need for these troubled times.”

Reiner and Farkas worked together on Reiner’s Committee to Investigate Russia, a non-profit organization Reiner helped found to explain the complex conclusions of the Mueller report to the American people.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for Rob, so his endorsement is an honor,” Farkas said. “From his award winning career in entertainment to his advocacy for marriage equality, early childhood education, and protecting our democracy, Rob is known for his values and dedication to progressive causes. Rob’s work has made America a better place, and I am incredibly grateful for his support.”

Farkas, the only candidate in the race with federal legislative experience and a national media profile, has previously been endorsed by former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowksi, and former U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Bob Graham.

The daughter of Hungarian refugees, Farkas was raised in Westchester and attended public schools there. For nearly three decades, she has represented the United States defending democracy and advancing human rights in the Defense Department and on the Senate Armed Services Committee staff. In addition to serving as executive director of the WMD Commission, she was a human rights officer in Bosnia and a professor atthe U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College. She has advised former cabinet secretaries, representatives and senators, including Nita Lowey and Hillary Clinton.

New York's 17th Congressional District for the U.S. House of Representatives is located in
the Lower Hudson Valley. It includes all of Rockland County and portions of

central and northwestern Westchester County, including Chappaqua, Mt.
Kisco, Ossining, Peekskill, Pleasantville, Tarrytown, White Plains,
Cortlandt and Yorktown Heights. District residents interested in Farkas'
election campaign can visit evelynforny.com, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to learn more, volunteer or contribute.