Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE) is the political action arm of the National Association of Social Workers on both the federal and state level. PACE endorses and financially contributes to candidates from any party who support NASW’s policy agenda. The national PACE Board of Trustees endorses and contributes to federal candidates, while the New York State PACE Board of Trustees endorses and contributes to local and state races.

NASW-NYS PACE mobilizes social workers to vote by informing NASW members of which candidates NYS PACE has endorsed. A field organizer is hired to get-out-the-vote in targeted areas throughout the State and voting records are compiled on Senate and Assembly members.

NASW-NYS PACE contributions are used to support state and local candidates who support NASW’s policy agenda through fundraisers and campaign contributions. As a Political Action Committee (PAC) of NASW, PACE can only accept contributions from NASW members.

Endorsements

NYS PACE endorses those candidates who support NASW policy positions and increase viability for NASW in the process. NASW also gains candidates’ recognition, improves connections with elected officials, advances NASW’s policy agenda, and builds respect for NASW as a powerful and committed activist organization.

The process by which a candidate is endorsed is done by the PACE Board of Trustees. Candidates are interviewed by phone or in person, questionnaires are sent out to candidates and research is done on the candidate’s voting record.

Endorsements of political candidates are done on the basis of several criteria, not by political party affiliation. Agreement with every NASW position is not required. Criteria may include: