Domestic (In)justice Activism Opportunities

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE: Pennsylvania’s Battleground Races!

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races that you need to know about, shout about and support to make sure we have a blue tsunami on November 6th.

    The primaries are over, the candidates are set and now it’s time to focus on the big picture. Democrats across the country, spanning the left side of the political spectrum, need to win and they need to win big in many cases to overcome gerrymandering. Everything we do between now and election day should be done while keeping the most vulnerable and disenfranchised among us in mind.

    So if you haven’t yet, take a moment today to figure out how you are going to make a difference in these historic and critical midterm elections. We’ve included volunteer links and resources in the notes at the bottom of the page, including the specific Swing Left and the Democratic Party's Red to Blue pages for the districts we’ll be mentioning today.

    Right up until election day, we are going to be highlighting the battleground races for the U.S. Senate, House and governorships, so that you know where your help and donations are needed most. You can also view all of our spotlight segments and every battleground race at THE MIDTERMS MINUTE H.Q..

    PENNSYLVANIA BATTLEGROUNDS

    Today, we’re talking about Pennsylvania, where the district lines were actually redrawn in February after the state’s supreme court ruled that they were illegally partisan. This was a huge win against gerrymandering and the new map gives Democrats a much better chance at picking up critical House seats in November. Pennsylvania is also one of five states with the biggest impact on the House majority and has a number of open seat races where incumbents aren’t seeking re-election. Incumbents are tough to beat, so this is more good news in a swingy state.

    U.S. HOUSE:

    PA-01 - In Pennsylvania’s 1st district, philanthropist Democrat Scott Wallace is facing semi-moderate Republican incumbent Brian Fitzpatrick, who has landed labor union endorsements. This district includes Bucks County, a suburb of Philadelphia where Clinton won by just one point. The race is currently rated by The Cook Political Report as leaning Republican.

    PA-05 - Pennsylvania’s 5th district is one of those Republican open seat districts where Clinton won. Democrat Mary Gay Scanlon faces Republican nominee Pearl Kim in November. As of right now, this new 5th district seat is rated as likely going to the Democrat. These candidates are simultaneously squaring off in a special election for the state’s old 7th district after Pat Meehan resigned over sexual harassment allegations.

    PA-06 - Pennsylvania’s 6th district also has an empty formerly Republican seat. Democrat Chrissy Houlahan is facing Republican Greg McCauley. Clinton won here by more than 9% and the race is currently rated as likely Democratic.

    PA-07 - Pennsylvania’s 7th district is the third open seat battleground race in the state. Democrat Susan Wild is facing Republican Marty Nothstein, who was recently accused of sexual misconduct. Clinton squeaked by with a win here and the race is currently rated as leaning toward the Democrat.

    Pennsylvania is also home to two battleground districts where Trump won, but Democrats have a shot.

    PA-17 - Democrat Connor Lamb won the special election for the Pennsylvania’s old 18th district in March by just 600 votes. But after the court’s redistricting, Lamb is now running to win in Pennsylvania’s newly drawn 17th district. His opponent, Republican Keith Rothfus, is also an incumbent from a redrawn district. Trump only won here by 2.6 percentage points and most ratings consider this race a toss up.

    PA-16 - In Pennsylvania’s 16th district Democrat Ron DiNicola is facing Republican incumbent Mike Kelly. Trump won this district by 20 points, but Romney only won here by 5 points in 2012, which is why the race is rated as just likely Republican. It’ll be tough, but a win is possible.

    U.S. SENATE & GOVERNOR:

    And finally, it’s worth noting that Pennsylvania Democratic incumbent Senator Bob Casey is up for his third term in November and has drawn the ire of Trump. His opponent is Republican Rep. Lou Barletta, who was on Trump’s transition team and whose voting record is a horror show. Pennsylvania’s Democratic incumbent Governor Tom Wolf is also up for re-election this year and his Trumpian opponent is thankfully a long shot. Both Wolf and Casey should be safe, but I think we’ve all learned by now to take nothing for granted.

    IMPORTANT DATES: To vote in the Pennsylvania Midterm Elections, you need to be registered to vote by October 9th. Absentee ballot requests must be made by October 30th and ballots must be received by November 2nd. Early voting is NOT available in Pennsylvania.

    As for your own state, it’s never too early to check registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s important dates and voter ID laws at rock the vote dot org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in the general election.

    So, if making the Blue Wave a reality in November is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting Democrats in battleground races across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Quick Links):

    REGISTER TO VOTE: RocktheVote.org/register-to-vote/

    CONFIRM VOTER REGISTRATION: RocktheVote.org/resources/am-i-registered-to-vote/

    CHECK VOTING DATES & POLICIES: RocktheVote.org/voting-information/

    VOTER ID INFO/HELP: VoteRiders & 866ourvote.org

    Get Involved:

    Swing Left (Help flip districts from anywhere) 

    Red to Blue (DCCC program to flip seats) 

    When We All Vote (Michelle Obama’s initiative) 

    Voter Circle (friend-to-friend outreach tool) 

    Vote Forward (mail letters to unlikely voters)

    Volunteer for Democrats 

    Abroad? Phone bank for Democrats  

    Let America Vote (voting rights focus) 

    Justice Democrats “Justice Dialer”

    Brand New Congress GOTV Dialer 

    National Democratic Redistricting Committee 

    Easily donate to candidates with DownTicket.com on your mobile browser. 

    “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge) 

    PENNSYLVANIA BATTLEGROUNDS:

    Pennsylvania Democratic Party

    Important Dates: Must be registered to vote by October 9th. Absentee ballot requests made by October 30th and received by November 2nd. Early voting NOT available.

    U.S. HOUSE

    PA-01 - Scott Wallace 

    Swing Left PA-01  |  Red to Blue PA-01

    PA-05 - Mary Gay Scanlon 

    (no Swing Left or Red to Blue page)

    PA-06 - Chrissy Houlahan 

    Swing Left PA-06  |  Red to Blue PA-06

    PA-07 - Susan Wild 

    Swing Left PA-07  |  Red to Blue PA-07

    PA-17 - Connor Lamb 

    Swing Left PA-17

    PA-16 - Ron DiNicola 

    Red to Blue PA-16

    “SAFE” BUT MUST RETAIN:

    U.S. SENATE - Bob Casey (D - incumbent)

    GOVERNOR - Tom Wolf (D - incumbent) 

    FURTHER PA MIDTERMS READING:

    What Pennsylvania’s new congressional map means for 2018 (Vox)

    These 6 Pennsylvania Democratic nominees are key to the battle for House control (Vox)

    5 States That Will Decide the House Majority (Roll Call)

    Pennsylvania voters prefer Democrats for Congress after choosing Trump in 2016: NBC/Marist poll (CNBC)

     

    Posted September 14, 2018; Researched & Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1210: Brett Kavanaugh and the Imperial Presidency (Supreme Court)

     

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE: California’s Battleground Races!

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races that you need to know about, shout about and support to make sure we have a blue tsunami on November 6th.

    This is it folks. The 2018 Midterm Elections are almost here and the outcome will change our country for decades to come. And with that weight on our shoulders, let’s take a minute to remind ourselves of something: The primaries are over. The candidates are set, and we can feel good knowing that many new progressive faces are among them. The disagreements and in-fighting amongst the left will always be there, but right now, we have to focus on the bigger picture.

    Now is the time to volunteer, get out the vote, canvass, call, text and email while keeping the most vulnerable among us in mind, especially those who face Republican imposed barriers to casting their vote on election day. Democrats across the country, spanning the left side of the political spectrum, need to win and they need to win big to overcome gerrymandering. There is just no other way to look at this.

    So take a moment today to figure out how you are going to make a difference in these historic and critical midterm elections. Whether it is helping people get registered, volunteering to drive people to the polls, helping someone get the necessary form of ID, canvassing and calling on behalf of candidates, or all of the above. We all have a role to play and I know none of us want to wake up on November 7th and feel like we should have done more.

    For the next two months, in every show, we are going to highlight the battleground races in the U.S. Senate and House so that you know where your help and donations are needed most. You can also view all of our spotlight segments and every battleground race at THE MIDTERMS MINUTE H.Q..

    We’re starting with CALIFORNIA where there is actually still one race impacting the heart of the Democratic party.

    U.S. SENATE: The way California’s elections work, Senator Diane Feinstein is facing a fellow Democrat this November. Kevin de Leon is a State Senator who is laser-focused on Medicare for All and tried to get it through the state Senate. Feinstein opposed it. In a surprise twist, De Leon is the one who secured the California Democratic Party endorsement.

    U.S. HOUSE: As for U.S. House seats, there are six California districts with Republican incumbents where Clinton won in 2016. Two of those are open seats. They are all considered battleground districts, with four considered toss up races according to the Cook Rating.

    CA-10th - In California’s 10th district, Democrat Josh Harder is facing Republican incumbent Jeff Denham. This is a diverse district and the race is being called a toss up. The Latino voter turnout, which usually plummets in midterm elections, is critical here.

    CA-25th - In California’s 25th district, Democrat Katie Hill is facing Republican incumbent Steve Knight. This race is also considered a toss up and Latino voter turnout here is again key.

    CA-39th - In California’s 39th district, which includes Orange County and part of Los Angeles, a long time Republican incumbent is not running for re-election. The Democrat in this race is Gil Cisneros and he faces Republican Young Kim. This race is considered a toss up, but the demographics have shifted dramatically in this district, meaning conservative Orange County may not carry as much weight this time around.

    CA-45th - In California’s 45th district, Democrat Katie Porter is facing Republican incumbent Mimi Walters. This is a white collar suburban district and this race is currently rated as leaning Republican.

    CA-48th - In California’s 48th district, Democrat Harley Rouda is facing Republican incumbent Dana Rohrabacher. This district is also considered white collar suburban, but this House race is considered a toss up.

    CA-49th - In California’s 49th district, Democrat Mike Levin will be facing Republican Diane Harkey in November. The district is currently leaning Democratic.

    Again, all of these Republican-held districts were won by Clinton in 2016 so they are obviously winnable with the right organizing and get-out-the-vote efforts.

    IMPORTANT DATES: To vote in the California Midterm Elections, you need to be registered to vote online, or have your physical application postmarked by, Monday October 22nd. Absentee ballot requests must be received by October 30th. Early voting dates vary by locality.

    As for your own state, it’s never too early to check registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s important dates and voter ID laws at rockthevote.org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in the general election.

    So, if making the Blue Wave a reality in November is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting Democrats in battleground races across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Quick Links)

    REGISTER TO VOTE: RocktheVote.org/register-to-vote/

    CONFIRM VOTER REGISTRATION: RocktheVote.org/resources/am-i-registered-to-vote/

    CHECK VOTING DATES & POLICIES: RocktheVote.org/voting-information/

    VOTER ID INFO/HELP: VoteRiders & 866ourvote.org

    GET INVOLVED:

    Swing Left (Help flip districts from anywhere) 

    Red to Blue (DCCC program to flip seats) 

    When We All Vote (Michelle Obama’s initiative) 

    Voter Circle (friend-to-friend outreach tool) 

    Vote Forward (mail letters to unlikely voters)

    Volunteer for Democrats 

    Abroad? Phone bank for Democrats  

    Let America Vote (voting rights focus) 

    Justice Democrats “Justice Dialer”

    Brand New Congress GOTV Dialer 

    National Democratic Redistricting Committee 

    Easily donate to candidates with DownTicket.com on your mobile browser. 

    “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge) 

    CALIFORNIA BATTLEGROUNDS (Note: List may vary by org or outlet):

    Important Dates: Must be registered/post marked by October 22nd (more info)

    Local Action: California Democratic Party https://www.cadem.org/take-action

    Push Left! U.S. Senate - Kevin de Leon (D Safe Seat)

    Flip CA-10th: Josh Harder 

    Swing Left: https://swingleft.org/district/CA-10

    Flip CA-25th: Katie Hill 

    Swing Left: https://swingleft.org/district/CA-25

    Flip CA-39th: Gil Cisneros 

    Swing Left: https://swingleft.org/district/CA-39

    Flip CA-45th: Katie Porter 

    Swing Left: https://swingleft.org/district/CA-45

    Flip CA-48th: Harley Rouda 

    Swing Left: https://swingleft.org/district/CA-48

    Flip CA-49th: Mike Levin 

    Swing Left: https://swingleft.org/district/CA-49

    Sources: Ballotpedia; NBC News; Swing Left

     

     

    Posted August 31, 2018; Researched & Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1209: Being part of the solution (How to argue your values)

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Primaries): Support Progressives in New Hampshire on 9/11 and Rhode Island on 9/12

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races that you need to know about, shout about and support to make sure we have a blue tsunami on November 6th.

    With the exception of Louisiana, the Senate and House candidates for the Midterms are nearly set. We want to remind you that the Massachusetts primary is coming up on September 4th and Delaware primary is on September 6th. If you missed our spotlights on those states, head to best of the left dot com slash activism.

    You can still make a difference by getting involved, no matter what state you live in. Both Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress offer Get Out the Vote online calling and texting tools, with scripts on individual candidates, allowing you to talk to voters from the comfort of home. This is a great way to make a real impact. 

    Today, we’re going to talk about New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

    SEPTEMBER 11TH

    NEW HAMPSHIRE (Reg. Deadlines: Primary & General: Same day registration & voting (*see details); NO online registration)

    1st District: Brand New Congress candidate and New Hampshire state representative, Mindi Messemer, is running for congress in a Democratic primary field of 11 candidates. She’s one of only two candidates not taking special interest or PAC money. A former environmental scientist, her whistleblowing on cancer-causing water contamination from a landfill in her community and the difficult fight to address it lead her to run for State Rep. New Hampshire’s 1st district is known as a district that constantly swings and Trump only won the district by less than 2 percentage points. On the Republican side, two candidates are spending way more than they are taking in while duking it out over which one of them is the “Trumpiest.”

    Governor: New Hampshire’s Republican Chris Sununu is up for re-election this year. The Democrats vying to run against him in November are State Rep Molly Kelly and Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand. Both are focusing on Sununu’s hindering of the sate’s renewable energy industry. Neither Kelly nor Marchand are championing Medicare for All, but Kelly says health care is a right while healthcare is not an issue listed on Marchand’s website. Both are opposed to a major hydro project and natural gas pipeline project proposed in the state.

    Important Dates: New Hampshire voting is sadly restrictive. Unregistered voters can theoretically register in person and vote on primary day, but details vary by locality and required documents and voter ID laws apply. If you want to be registered before primary day, your physical registration form must be received 10 days head of the election since online voter registration is not available. We’ve included a link to a list of contact information for all New Hampshire Local Election Offices in the show notes for your convenience. If you plan to vote in the general, don’t wait to start this process.

    SEPTEMBER 12TH

    RHODE ISLAND (Reg. Deadlines: Primary: August 13th / General: Oct 9th)

    Governor: In the race for governor of Rhode Island, Justice Democrat and former Rhode Island Secretary of State Matt Brown is running to take the nomination away from the Democratic incumbent Gina Raimondo. Brown has entered the race to roll back Raimondo’s restrictions on abortion, end her corporate giveaways at the expense of locals, fight for Medicare for All, and build a sustainable local renewable energy economy. Brown is also co-founder of the Nobel Peace Prize nominated organization Global Zero, which works to reduce and eliminate nuclear weapons.

    Lieutenant Governor: As for Lieutenant Governor, Justice Democrat Aaron Regunberg is hoping to knock out incumbent Democrat Daniel McKee. Regunberg has endorsements from Rhode Island chapters of Our Revolution. Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood, Clean Water Action, and many more.

    Important Dates: The voter registration deadline to participate in the Rhode Island primary was August 13th. The deadline to vote in the general election is October 9th.

    We want to emphasize registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates are different for each state, sometimes even each county. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s information, and voter ID laws, at rockthevote.org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in both the primary and general elections.

    So, if building the bluest of blue waves is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting progressive candidates across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE:

    *Reminder! Massachusetts on 9/4 & Delaware on 9/6*

    Check on candidates endorsed by Justice Democrats | Brand New Congress | DSA | Latino Victory | Our Revolution

    PHONE BANK with Justice Democrats “Justice Dialer”  & Brand New Congress GOTV Dialer & Voter Circle

    Check your state registration deadlines and voter ID laws with rockthevote.org

    For an easy way to donate to candidates, check out DownTicket.com on your mobile browser.

    “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge)

    SEPT. 11TH - NEW HAMPSHIRE

    NH Voter Info from Rock the Vote

    List of NH Election Offices

    1st district: Mindi Messemer 

    Governor: Molly Kelly vs. Steve Marchand  (Further Reading: NHPR | Concord Monitor)

    SEPT. 12TH - RHODE ISLAND

    RI Voter Info from Rock the Vote

    Governor: Matt Brown 

    Lt. Governor: Aaron Regunberg 

     

    Posted August 31, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1206: The war on journalism, truth and democracy itself

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Primaries): Support Progressives in Massachusetts on 9/4 and Delaware on 9/6

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races that you need to know about, shout about and support to make sure we have a blue tsunami on November 6th.

    We want to remind you that primaries in Arizona and Florida are right around the corner on August 28th. If you missed our spotlights on those states, head to our Activism portal or click the link in the previous sentence.

    You can make a difference in all remaining primaries by getting involved, no matter what state you live in. Both Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress offer Get Out the Vote online calling and texting tools, with scripts on individual candidates, allowing you to talk to voters from the comfort of home. This is a great way to make a real impact. 

    Today, we’re going to talk about Massachusetts, which holds its primary on September 4th, and Delaware, which will hold its primary two days later on September 6th.

    SEPTEMBER 4TH

    MASSACHUSETTS (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries - August 15th/ General - October 17th)

    3rd District: There is an extremely crowded field of Democrats in Massachusetts’ 3rd District, where Justice Democrat and Latino Victory candidate Juana Matias is running for congress. With the incumbent retiring, this is the first contested Democratic primary for the seat since 1994. Matias is currently a state representative and is running a grass roots campaign against establishment candidates with big money behind them.

    7th District: In Massachusetts’ 7th District, Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley is a Justice Democrat making waves. She is primarying incumbent Michael Capuano who, to be fair, is a life-long champion of progressive policies before they were mainstream and has held this House seat since 1998. Though they both believe in progressive ideals, the two have very different approaches to solutions and identifying root causes. A video of Pressley, who is black, in which she shares her thoughts on identity politics and representation during a recent debate, has gone viral. According to the Boston Globe, the 7th district is one of the most diverse and economically unequal in the state.

    Governor: When it comes to Governor, Massachusetts is one of those deep blue states that more often than not votes in a moderate Republican. Mitt Romney wasn’t the only one. Current Governor Charlie Baker is another moderate Republican up for reelection this year and he’s popular because he doesn’t often rock the boat with Democrats. But although he says he accepts climate science, he’s a big proponent of new fossil-fuel infrastructure. The people of Massachusetts have better options this year. One of them is Democrat Bob Massie, a lifelong national healthcare system advocate and climate activist who founded both the New Economy Coalition and the Sustainable Solutions Lab at UMass Boston. He recently received the endorsement of Our Revolution and Massachusetts Peace Action.

    Important Dates: To participate in the Massachusetts primary on September 6th, you must have been registered to vote by August 15th. Absentee ballot requests must be received by August 31st and ballots must be received by September 4th. If you aren’t registered yet, make sure you are registered by October 17th to participate in the general.

    September 6TH

    DELAWARE (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries - August 11th / General - October 13th)

    U.S. Senate: The Senate race in Delaware is a stark example of establishment vs. bold new progressive blood. Friend of big banks and incumbent Senator Tom Carper has held political office of some kind in Delaware since 1976, and he’s got an endorsement from Joe Biden. His primary opponent is Kerri Evelyn Harris, a Justice Democrat and and veteran with backing from Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. Harris is running a low budget campaign funded by the people and is working hard to expose the myth that making corporations happy is good for the people. If she wins in November, she would be the first woman, first African-American, and first openly LGBT candidate to be a U.S. Senator for Delaware.

    Important Dates: To participate in the Delaware primary on September 4th, you must have been registered to vote by  August 11th. Absentee ballots must be requested by September 5th at noon and ballots must be received by September 6th at 8pm. If you aren’t registered, make sure you register by October 13th to vote in the general.

    We want to emphasize registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates are different for each state, sometimes even each county. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s information, and voter ID laws, at rockthevote.org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in both the primary and general elections.

    So, if building the bluest of blue waves is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting progressive candidates across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Quick links!)

    Check on candidates endorsed by Justice Democrats | Brand New Congress | DSA | Latino Victory | Our Revolution

    Phone bank with Justice Democrats “Justice Dialer”  & Brand New Congress GOTV Dialer

    Check your state registration deadlines and voter ID laws with rockthevote.org

    For an easy way to donate to candidates, check out DownTicket.com on your mobile browser.

    “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge)

    SEPT. 4TH

    MASSACHUSETTS (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries - August 15th/ General - October 17th)

    3rd District: Juana Matias

    7th District: Ayanna Pressley (Further reading)

    Governor: Bob Massie (Voter Circle) (Further reading)

    SEPT. 6TH

    DELAWARE (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries - August 11th / General - October 13th)

    Senate: Kerri Evelyn Harris (Further reading)

     

    Posted August 25, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1204: The past, present and future of international trade

     

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Primaries): Support Progressives in Arizona and Florida on 8/28

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races that you need to know about, shout about and support to make sure we have a blue tsunami on November 6th. (Quick links at bottom of the page.)

    As the primaries keep coming, progressive candidates are proving their message resonates across the country, and religious, racial, and gender barriers are being broken down along the way. You can help keep this progressive tide rolling by getting involved, no matter what state you live in. Both Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress offer Get Out the Vote online calling and texting tools, with scripts on individual candidates, allowing you to talk to voters from the comfort of home. This is a great way to make a real impact. We’ve included the links to both tools in the show notes.

    Today, we’re going to talk about Arizona and Florida which both have primaries coming up on August 28th.

    ARIZONA  (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries - July 30th / General - Oct 9)

    Senate: In Arizona, Deedra Abboud is a Justice Democrat and immigration and estate planning attorney running for Jeff Flake’s soon to be empty Senate seat. Her campaign is focused primarily on getting special interests and lobbying money out of politics and she has been endorsed by the National Organization for Women, Vote Pro Choice, and more. She also happens to be a former Christian who converted to Islam and has faced threats on her life and online abuse during this campaign from far right groups.

    2nd District: In Arizona’s 2nd district, Mary Matiella is running for congress. Matiella is the former CFO of the US Forest Service, former Assistant CFO of Housing and Urban Development, and was nominated by President Obama to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Army. She is also a Justice Democrat who has endorsements from Demand Universal Healthcare, Democracy for America and Common Defense.

    3rd District: Raul Grijalva is a Justice Democrat and Latino Victory incumbent running to retain his congressional seat in Arizona’s third district. He faces a write-in candidate in the primary, but it very likely to win. (Not featured on air for time.)

    Governor: Veteran and former teacher, David Garcia, is leading in the Democratic primary for Governor of Arizona. Garcia supports Medicare for All, tuition free public college, wants Arizona to become a solar superpower, and is not accepting lobbyist campaign contributions. He’s been endorsed by Latino Victory, The Working Families Party, People’s Action, NARAL Pro-Choice Arizona, and more. If he wins, he will face current Arizona Governor and Republican Doug Ducey in November. Garcia is already facing some of the 7 million dollars in opposition efforts from the Republican Governors Association which attack his position to replace ICE with a system that quote “reflects our values.”

    Important Dates: The voter registration deadline to participate in the Arizona primary was July 30th. If you were registered by then, early voting is going on right now. A heads up that the voter registration deadline for the general election is October 9th.

    We now turn to Florida.

    FLORIDA  (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries - July 30th / General - Oct 9) 

    7th District: Veteran and civil rights activist Chardo Richardson is a Justice Democrat and Brand New Congress congressional candidate for for Florida’s 7th district.

    8th District: In Florida’s 8th district, Sanjay Patel is a first-generation immigration and former small business owner running for congress. His campaign focuses on ensuring fair wages and a reasonable cost of living for all working people and, of course, he supports Medicare for All.

    18th District: In Florida’s 18th district, Pam Keith is a Justice Democrat running to unseat Republican Brian Mast. Her campaign is focused on reform of the broken criminal justice system and closing the income gap.

    26th District: In Florida’s 26th district, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is running for congress. She has been endorsed by End Citizens United, Latino Victory, NARAL, Common Defense, Planned Parenthood and Moms Demand Action.

    27th District: Michael Hepburn is a Justice Democrat and Brand New Congress candidate running in Florida’s 27th district. Hepburn is a former Fortune 500 Company Executive and Academic Adviser at the University of Miami Business School. He is advocating for universal pre-K to tuition free public colleges, universities and trade schools, a $15 minimum wage, Medicare for All, end of mass incarceration and rebuilding the economy with renewable energy and infrastructure repairs.

    Senate: Florida’s Democratic Senator, Bill Nelson, is up for reelection and facing Florida Governor Rick Scott in November.

    Governor: Since Rick Scott has reached his term limits and is now running for Senate, Floridians will be voting for a new Governor. Mayor of Tallahassee, Andrew Gillum, has recently been endorsed by Bernie Sanders and Women’s March Florida and is picking up steam in the polls against his primary opponent, Gwen Graham. He is fighting for a $15 minimum wage, Medicare for All, abolishing ICE, a ban on assault weapons, an end to the Stand Your Ground law, marijuana legalization, restoration of voting rights for felons, and more. As we’ve mentioned, the national importance of this race is that whoever holds the office will be involved in the state’s redistricting process following the 2020 Census.

    Important Dates: You must have been registered to vote by July 30th to participate in the Florida primary. Early voting is going on now. If you didn’t make the cut off, be sure to be ready for the general by registering by October 9th.

    We want to emphasize registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates are different for each state, sometimes even each county. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s information, and voter ID laws, at rockthevote.org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in both the primary and general elections.

    So, if building the bluest of blue waves is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting progressive candidates across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE:

    Check on candidates endorsed by Justice Democrats | Brand New Congress | DSA | Latino Victory | Our Revolution

    Phone bank with Justice Democrats “Justice Dialer”  & Brand New Congress GOTV Dialer

    Check your state registration deadlines and voter ID laws with rockthevote.org

    For an easy way to donate to candidates, check out DownTicket.com on your mobile browser.

    “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge)

    AUGUST 28TH

    Arizona (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries - July 30th / General - Oct 9)

    EARLY VOTING: Aug 1st-28th

    U.S. Senate: Deedra Abboud 

    U.S. House 2nd District: Mary Matiella 

    U.S. House 3rd District: Raul Grijalva (incumbent; will likely win primary) 

    Governor: David Garcia

    Florida (Reg. Deadlines: Primaries - July 30th / General - Oct 9) 

    EARLY VOTING: Aug 18th-25th

    U.S. House 7th District: Chardo Richardson

    U.S. House 8th District: Sanjay Patel 

    U.S. House 18th District: Pam Keith

    U.S. House 26th District: Debbie Mucarsel-Powell 

    U.S. House 27th District: Michael Hepburn

    Heads up for Nov. 6th! U.S. Senate: Bill Nelson (incumbent; uncontested in primary; running against Rick Scott in Nov)

    Governor: Andrew Gillum

     

    Posted August 21, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1203: The causes and dangers of the international rise of the right

     

     

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Primaries): Support Progressives in Alaska and Wyoming on 8/21

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngThe Midterms Minute is a look at the candidates and races that you need to know about, shout about and support to make sure we have a blue tsunami on November 6th.

    As we produced this episode, primaries wrapped up in four states where, altogether, thirteen Justice Democrats were vying for congressional and gubernatorial nominations. If you’re kicking yourself because you wish you’d taken more action to support progressive and liberal candidates in those primaries, time to double down.

    Hawaii’s primary is August 11th and primaries in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Vermont are on August 14th. Check out the links to our previous spotlights on the races in these states and then, whatever state you live in, take action. Both Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress offer Get Out the Vote online calling and texting tools, with scripts on individual candidates, allowing you to talk to primary voters from wherever you are. This is a great way to make a real impact. 

    Today, we’re going to talk about Alaska and Wyoming which both have primaries coming up on August 21st. Although these are states where Democrats, let alone progressives, don’t often thrive, there are a few candidates trying to change that this year.

    AUGUST 21st PRIMARIES:

    ALASKA

    Governor: Alaska’s current governor, former Republican and current Independent, Bill Walker, and his Democrat Lieutenant Governor are up for reelection this year. But former Senator Mark Begich, a solid Democrat, threw his hat in the ring, causing Walker to run as a petition candidate. This has created a three way race that could divide left-leaning voters and so things may get very ugly as Begich and Walker each try to knock each other out. In July, the expected Republican candidate had a 5 point lead on Walker. Begich has the voting record of a relative moderate, but Walker was a former oil and gas lawyer with a long GOP history. Begich’s running mate is Debra Call, an Alaska Native and former executive of multiple Alaska Native organizations. Unfortunately, all candidates - on both sides - support the sale of drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. As with every race for governor, the national importance is that whoever holds the office will be involved in the state’s redistricting process following the 2020 Census.

    U.S. House At Large: Alaska’s sole congressional seat is currently held by anti-woman, anti-environment, anti-LGBT Republican Don Young, the longest serving member of Congress. The two viable candidates running for the Democratic nomination are both political newcomers. Progressive Democrat Dimitri Shein supports Improved Medicare for All, investments in renewable energy and his campaign does not accept corporate PAC contributions. Independent Alyse Galvin is a public schools advocate who supports investments in renewable energy and believes responsible natural resource development is possible, though she opposes the Pebble Mine Project.

    Important Dates: Alaska Democrats have an open primary, but your registration must have been received by July 22nd to participate. Early voting is going on right now and we’ve included the link to the early voting locations in the show notes. Mailed ballot requests must be received by August 11th. Absentee ballots must be requested by August 20th and completed ballots must be received by August 31st.

    WYOMING

    We turn now to Republican controlled Wyoming, where, believe it or not, the state Democratic Party is feeling optimistic. A few state legislative seats appear likely to swing to the Democrats and others are at least plausible pick ups.

    Governor: Wyoming’s current Governor, Republican Matt Mead, has reached his term limit and six climate science-denying GOPers are in a tight primary race for the nomination. But there is a clear frontrunner in the Democratic primary: former state representative, Mary Throne. She is the only candidate proposing the absolutely necessary tax increases to resolve Wyoming’s deficit after years of cuts by Mead. But unfortunately, she’s still pandering to Wyoming’s energy sector. Her opponents, Rex Wilde and Ken Casner, both lean more toward renewables. Wilde is advocating legalization of marijuana to increase tax revenue and tourism. Again, the national importance of governorships is that whoever holds the office will be involved in the state’s redistricting process in 2020.

    U.S. House At Large: Like Alaska, Wyoming has just one congressional seat for the whole state and its held by Liz Cheney, daughter of Dick Cheney. Cheney is up for reelection this year but facing two GOP primary opponents. The Democrats eyeing Cheney’s seat are Travis Helm and Greg Hunter. Hunter wants to expand Medicaid in the state in the short term and supports “Medicare for All” as the long term solution. But this guy is from Wyoming, so when it comes to guns, he only supports more stringent requirements for AR-15s, not any ban of any kind. Hunter used to be a Republican, but switched parties in 2003 after the invasion of Iraq. His opponent, Travis Helm, has a similar political transition story, supports a public, universal healthcare system and keeping public lands under federal control.

    Heads up! U.S. Senate: Wyoming’s Senate seat is also up for grabs this year, but Gary Trauner is the only Democratic candidate so he will move on to November. Six Republicans are running for the GOP nomination even though incumbent Republican John Barasso is running for reelection. So far, ninety-five percent of Barasso’s fundraising has come from outside the state.

    Important Dates: If you’re a Wyoming resident, your registration must have been received by August 6th to vote in the primary. However, Wyoming does offer election day registration and voting, so you have another chance. Absentee ballot requests must be requested by August 20th and completed ballots must be received by 7pm on August 21st.

    We want to emphasize registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates are different for each state, sometimes even each county. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s information, and voter ID laws, at rockthevote.org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in both the primary and general elections.

    To check out our previous Midterms Minutes segments, go to BestoftheLeft.com/activism.

    So, if building the bluest of blue waves is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting progressive candidates across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (QUICK LINKS):

    Check on candidates endorsed by Justice Democrats | Brand New Congress | DSA | Latino Victory | Our Revolution

    Phone bank with Justice Democrats “Justice Dialer”  & Brand New Congress GOTV Dialer

    Check your state registration deadlines and voter ID laws with rockthevote.org

    For an easy way to donate to candidates, check out DownTicket.com on your mobile browser.

    “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge)

    August 21st Primaries:

    ALASKA (Reg. Deadlines: Primary: July 22nd / General: Oct. 7th)

    Early voting happening now! Find locations 

    Governor - Mark Begich and Dana Call

    U.S. House At Large - Dimitri Shein (Dem) vs. Alyse Galvin (Ind)

    WYOMING (Reg. Deadlines: Primary: Aug. 6th or day-of in-person / General: Oct. 22nd)

    Governor: Mary Throne  vs. Ken Casper vs. Rex Wilde

    U.S. House At Large - Greg Hunter vs. Travis Helm

    Heads up for Nov. 6th! U.S. Senate - Gary Trauner (uncontested in primary)

     

    Posted August 7, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1200: The Democratic autopsy and the progressive path forward

     

  • THE MIDTERMS MINUTE (Primaries): Support Progressives in Connecticut and Vermont (and MN and WI) on 8/14

    MIDTERMS_MINUTE_IMAGE_FINAL.pngWelcome to The Midterms Minute: a look at the candidates and races that you need to know about, shout about and support to make sure we have a blue tsunami on November 6th. (Quick links at bottom of the page.)

    In our last two segments, we spotlighted the Minnesota and Wisconsin primaries which are both happening on August 14th. If you missed those segments, check out our previous episodes or visit bestoftheleft.com/activism. Today, we’ll round out the August 14th primaries with spotlights on Connecticut and Vermont.

    AUGUST 14th: 

    CONNECTICUT (Reg. Deadlines - Primary: Online, mail, or in person by Thurs. Aug 9th / General: Oct. 30th)

    Governor: There is a competitive Democratic primary for governor in Connecticut. Businessman Ned Lamont is the state Working Families Party choice and is running on criminal justice reform and a $15 minimum wage. His opponent is currently mayor of Bridgeport, but previously went to jail for seven years after being convicted of extortion and bribery while in office. Lamont is polling neck-and-neck with the expected Republican nominee. Politico has called this a race to watch, because, as you may recall, governors elected this year will be involved in their states’ redistricting process following the 2020 Census.

    5th District: Connecticut’s 5th district is another race where Republicans have a chance in November. And so, the Democratic primary has been heated. But Jahana Hayes, the 2016 National Teacher of the Year, has grabbed national attention with her energy and inspiring life story. Unlike her opponent, she supports single-payer and has received endorsements that include the Working Families Party and AFL-CIO Connecticut. If she wins, she could become the first African American to represent the state. Connecticut’s Democratic Party establishment has expressed concern about her lack of political experience, but she was drafted to run and has a strong ally in Senator Chris Murphy.

    Important Dates: If you’re a Connecticut resident, your voter registration, whether online, mailed, or in-person, must be received by August 9th.

    VERMONT (Reg. Deadlines - Primary: Early voting has begun. Must be registered by Aug. 14th / General: Nov. 6th)

    Representative At Large: Turning now to Vermont, Democratic incumbent Representative Peter Welch is facing a primary challenge for his congressional seat, which is the only House seat Vermont has. A few months ago, it came to light that Welch received campaign contributions and bought and sold stock from the very companies lobbying for the prescription drug bill he championed. Thank goodness Vermonters have a choice. Doctor and veteran Daniel Freilich is running a campaign primarily focused on campaign finance reform and anti-corruption that also includes medicare for all, a green revolution, and other progressive policies.

    Governor: Also in Vermont, Republican Phill Scot, a first term and well-liked governor, is up for reelection. As we’ve already mentioned, governorships are critical this year. In the Democratic primary there are two front runners. Christine Hellquist is the former CEO of the successful Vermont Electricity Cooperative. She’s running on a progressive platform, touting her leadership experience in utilities, and her campaign is the first ever in Vermont to organize a union contract with campaign staff. If she won in November, she would also be the first openly transgender governor in the country. Environmentalist, James Ehlers, is the other primary front runner. He’s also running on progressive policies, although the self-proclaimed “provocateur” has some strange tweets about unions and abortion in his past. He says his views have evolved since then and the AFL-CIO has endorsed him. It’s also worth noting that a 13 year old - Ethan Sonneborn - is another legitimate candidate in this primary race. Though he likely won’t win, he’s taking his campaign very seriously with a message that is all about inspiring young people to get politically engaged. 

    U.S. Senate: And finally, Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders, the most well-liked politician in the country, is facing two primary opponents. One is a self proclaimed “Clintonian” and “Obamacrat” who moved to Vermont after the 2016 presidential election with the specific goal of unseating Sanders. The other is a farmer running as an Independent with a focus on fighting climate change. He says he likes Bernie but is concerned that his focus is too national and that he’ll leave the office to run for president again in 2020.

    Important Dates: If you’re a Vermont resident, early voting has already begun and you must be registered by primary day, August 14th, to vote in the primaries.

    We want to emphasize registration cut off dates and absentee ballot request and submission dates are different for each state, sometimes even each county. We highly suggest reviewing your state’s information, and voter ID laws, at rockthevote.org as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to vote in both the primary and general elections.

    So, if building the bluest of blue waves is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about supporting progressive candidates across the country via social media so that others in your network can spread the word too.

     

     

    THE MIDTERMS MINUTE:

    Check on candidates endorsed by Justice Democrats | Brand New Congress | DSA | Latino Victory | Our Revolution

    Check your state registration deadlines and voter ID laws with rockthevote.org

    For an easy way to donate to candidates, check out DownTicket.com on your mobile browser.

    “15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge)

    August 14th Primaries:

    Connecticut (Reg. Deadlines - Primary: Online, mail, or in person by Thurs. Aug 9th / General: Oct. 30th)

    Governor (Dem. Primary) - Ned Lamont

    5th District (Dem. Primary) - Jahana Hayes (Heads up! Republicans are vying for this seat in November.)

    Heads up! General Nov. 6th - U.S House - 2nd District - One large county in District 2 pivoted for Trump in 2016. Incumbent Dem. Joe Courtney will run against Republican Dan Postemski in the general.

    Vermont (Reg. Deadlines - Primary: Early voting has begun. Must be registered by Aug. 14th / General: Nov. 6th)

    U.S. House (statewide Rep.) (Dem. Primary) - Daniel Freilich (Read about incumbent Pat Welch corruption)

    Governor - Christine Hallquist vs. James Ehlers vs. Ethan Sonneborn 

    U.S. Senate - Bernie Sanders 

    *Minnesota (Reg. Deadlines - Primaries: Online: July 24th, In person: Until August 14th / General: Oct. 9th) 

    *Read our MN spotlight*

    U.S. House - 5th District: Ilhan Omar 

    U.S. House - 8th District: Michelle Lee 

    U.S. Senate (Dem. Primary for Nov. Special Election) - Tina Smith 

    Governor (Dem. Primary) - Erin Murphy 

    *Wisconsin (Reg. Deadlines - Primary: Post-marked by July 25th, or in-person by Aug 10th / General: post-marked by Oct. 17th, in-person by Nov. 2nd)

    *Read our spotlight*

    U.S. House - 1st District: Randy Bryce vs. Cathy Myers

    Star Tribune Article on Bryce’s arrests & Bryce’s response 

    U.S. House - 4th District: Incumbent Gwen Moore will very likely win her primary.

    U.S. House - 7th District: Margaret Engebretson

    Governor: Tony Evers | Mike McCabe

    Heads Up! General Nov. 6th: U.S. Senate - Incumbent Tammy Baldwin is running for reelection in Nov. and facing $8.5 million in conservative money against her. 

     

    Posted July 24, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman

    Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1198: All we have to fear is fear itself (Our Culture of Fear)

     

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