Beyond the Circle of Excellence: GoWest Political Engagement Rankings

Posted by Chris Kemm on August 3, 2026

Recognizing Federal and State PAC Leadership Across the GoWest Region

Mid-year is one of our favorite times on the advocacy calendar.

It gives us an opportunity to recognize the work that’s already been accomplished, celebrate the credit unions leading the way, and remind ourselves that there is still plenty of time to make an even bigger impact before the year is over.

Recently, America’s Credit Unions (ACU) released its mid-year Circle of Excellence standings, recognizing federal ACU PAC fundraising through June 30. At the same time, GoWest is releasing our Political Engagement Rankings, recognizing the broader investment our affiliated credit unions are making through federal PAC, state PAC, and direct candidate contributions.

We’re also publishing our current mid-year direct candidate contribution totals. Because these contributions are self-reported, we know our totals are currently underreported. If you are a credit union advocate who has made direct contributions to state or federal candidates in 2026 that aren’t reflected in our rankings, click here to report your direct contributions so we can ensure your political engagement efforts receive the recognition they deserve.

One Important Reminder…

These are not the final standings.

Think of this as the halftime scoreboard.

If the awards were presented today, these would be the current leaders. But with five months remaining in 2026, every credit union still has the opportunity to climb the rankings, increase participation, and finish the year stronger than where they stand today.

Two Rankings. One Purpose.

The ACU Circle of Excellence recognizes outstanding leadership in federal ACU PAC fundraising. It highlights the credit unions that are helping build and support a pro-credit union Congress through individual contributions to ACU PAC. The GoWest Political Engagement Rankings tell a broader story. Political engagement happens at every level of government, and our rankings recognize the complete investment credit unions are making across our six-state region, including:

Direct Candidate Contributions
Individual contributions made directly to candidates running for public office.
Top 25 Credit Unions – Total Individual PAC Giving
Combined individual contributions to Federal (ACU PAC) and State PACs.
Top 25 Credit Unions – Fair Share Achievement
Percentage of each credit union’s Fair Share Goal achieved through combined individual contributions to Federal (ACU PAC) and State PACs.

A Strong First Half of 2026

The first half of 2026 has been another outstanding year for political engagement across the GoWest region.

Through June 30, GoWest credit unions, advocates, and staff have generated more than $230,000 in political engagement support.

Our current rankings also show:

More than $230,000 raised through federal PAC, state PAC, and direct candidate contributions.
The Top 25 credit unions account for 74% of all PAC contributions across the GoWest region.
Including GoWest staff participation, that grows to 79% of all PAC contributions.
101 of our 214 affiliated credit unions (47%) are participating in one or more Cooperative PAC programs.
The remaining 76 contributing credit unions account for 26% of our PAC contributions, highlighting significant opportunity to continue growing participation across the region.

Those numbers are encouraging, but they also show there’s still room to grow. Every new payroll deduction participant, every first-time PAC donor, and every new advocate strengthens the collective voice of credit unions.

The Next Five Months Matter Most

While June 30 gives us a chance to measure our progress, December 31 determines the final standings. The next five months will shape where every credit union finishes in both the Circle of Excellence and the GoWest Political Engagement Rankings.

Whether your goal is to:

Improve your Circle of Excellence standing
Move into the GoWest Top 25
Reach your Fair Share goal
Launch or expand a payroll deduction program
Build an advocacy committee
Increase state PAC participation
Support more pro-credit union candidates

There is still plenty of time to make meaningful progress before year-end.

Looking Ahead to MAXX and PAC the House

One of our biggest opportunities to build momentum is just around the corner.

At MAXX, advocates from across the region will come together for learning, networking, and our signature political engagement event—PAC the House.

Last year, PAC the House set a record by:

Raising $23,134
Bringing together 173 advocates
Welcoming 111 attendees
Representing 62 credit unions

Our goal this year is simple: build on that momentum. PAC the House continues to be one of the best opportunities each year to celebrate advocacy, recognize our champions, and invest in the future of the credit union movement.

Thank You for Your Leadership

Political engagement succeeds because individuals choose to get involved.

Every contribution to ACU PAC.

Every contribution to your State PAC.

Every advocate who gives direct contribution to a pro-credit union candidate.

Every advocate who gives via payroll deduction participant.

Every PAC trustee.

Every CEO who champions advocacy within their credit union.

Thank you for helping strengthen the credit union movement across Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

If you’re looking to improve your rankings, grow your political engagement program, launch payroll deduction, or increase participation before year-end, the GoWest Advocacy Team is here to help.

The standings released today are simply a snapshot of where we stand at the halfway point of the year. The race isn’t over. There are still five months to improve your standing, engage more advocates, and help make 2026 one of the strongest political engagement years in GoWest history.

Let’s finish strong.