Extraordinary gun violence prevention leadership prompts rare endorsement in competitive primary
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 30, 2025 — Today, Brady PAC, the political arm of the Brady Campaign, proudly endorsed Congresswoman Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate in Illinois. While Brady PAC typically remains neutral in competitive primaries, Congresswoman Kelly’s long-standing leadership and dedication to ending gun violence in America compelled Brady PAC to take a clear stand in this key Senate race.
“We do not take this step lightly,” said Kris Brown, Brady PAC board chair and president of Brady. “Congresswoman Kelly’s exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to gun violence prevention is unmatched. She is one of the only elected officials in the country who has stood up to the gun lobby and won. Her courage, clarity, and relentless conviction have transformed the Congressional response to gun violence and inspired a national movement to make our country safer from gun violence. In a time when dozens of lives are lost daily to gun violence, we need leaders like Robin Kelly in the U.S. Senate, and Brady PAC is proud to endorse her.”
As a senior member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Congresswoman Kelly has been instrumental in championing key legislative efforts such as universal background checks and bans on assault weapons and ghost guns. She has led the charge for increased funding for community violence intervention programs and has consistently fought to hold the gun industry accountable for its role in the nation’s gun violence epidemic. Kelly has also been a zealous and prolific advocate for increasing secure storage of firearms to prevent incidents of family fire.
Congresswoman Kelly has introduced legislation to address gun trafficking and appropriately expand the definition of prohibited purchasers of firearms, both critical steps in closing loopholes that allow firearms to fall into dangerous hands. Kelly also joined a nearly 26-hour sit-in on the House floor demanding action after the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting and refusing to let silence be the answer to enormous bloodshed.
She also notably authored the “Kelly Report,” the first Congressional document to accurately frame gun violence as a public health crisis — a groundbreaking moment that helped shift the national conversation toward evidence-based, data-driven, comprehensive solutions.
Delphine Cherry, a Brady Illinois advocate and gun violence survivor who lost both of her children – Tyesa and Tyler – to gun violence, praised Congresswoman Kelly’s leadership and today’s endorsement: “Robin Kelly has walked with survivors of gun violence in our pain and in our darkest hours. She has prayed with us, fought for us, and stood beside us long after the headlines faded. She doesn’t just talk about ending gun violence, she lives that mission every day. I can think of no one more deserving of our trust, our vote, and our support than Robin Kelly.”
Gun violence remains the number one killer of children and teens in America. One Illinoisian dies from gun violence every six hours. These are not just statistics; they are loved ones, neighbors, and futures stolen.
In Illinois and across the nation, communities are demanding bold, systemic change – not only after mass shootings, but also in response to the daily toll of gun violence. Brady PAC’s endorsement underscores the urgent need for a U.S. Senate that reflects a commitment to action.
“Robin Kelly is the gun lobby’s worst nightmare and the gun violence prevention movement’s best hope. She knows that fighting to protect lives is about the future we owe our children and the generations to come. We urge Illinois to send Robin Kelly to the U.S. Senate,” said Ashley Lantz, executive director, Brady PAC.
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