The legacy of Dr. Wm Ferguson Reid Sr lives on in all of us, tell him Happy Birthday on his 98th!

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Saturday March 18, 2023 · 4:54 PM PDT

2023/03/18 · 16:54

WithDr.FergieReidSr..jpg — Dr Reid Sr & Matt Rogers. I chose this image because it represents the past and the future of Virginia politics.

It is epic to live to your 98th birthday

but even better, it’s legendary to do so after a life lived in Service to your family, your Community, your State and your Nation.

What Dr Reid accomplished by the time he was only 30 years old:

Dr. Reid served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy during the Korean War, with the 1st Marine Division, and later at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. Returning to Richmond, he became active in civic and professional affairs. He served on the staff of Richmond Memorial Hospital, Richmond Community Hospital, Retreat for the Sick, Medical College of Virginia and St. Mary's Hospital. His professional associations included the American College of Surgeons, Richmond Academy of Medicine, Richmond Medical Society, Medical Society of Virginia, Old Dominion Medical Society, American Medical Association and the National Medical Association. He became a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery in 1955

source: https://richmond.com/dr-william-ferguson-reid/article_b26338cb-1e2d-5e59-94f9-be5d66da1787.html

Dr Ferguson Reid, Sr is one of those legendary people.

There have been many stories written here at Daily Kos about Dr Reid and his many (MANY) accomplishments over the years.

One of the best is this one:

A Man Ahead of His Time by Kboddye in 2017

If this causes you to ask about what is going on today with Voter ID laws, voter purges, racial gerrymandering, and all of the other tactics we’re seeing from the Republicans, you’re correct in doing so. What’s happening now isn’t new. They’re simply using new methods that were previously used by Southern Democrats.

Enter Dr. William Ferguson “Fergie” Reid.

Fergie helped revolutionized the way folks got organized and mobilized, recording not only where people lived and what voting districts they were part of, but what they’re interests were, what skill sets they had, and what groups they were part of. “Big Data” didn’t exist in he 1940s, and yet Fergie collected as much demographic information from voters as possible. Being able to know voters and would-be voters, their issues and their connections to others was a sure-fire way to appeal to them. Being able to draw upon people’s networks, passions and skills allowed them to not only get folks out to vote, but also to get more folks registered and involved. Expanding the voter rolls was just as important as mobilizing the existing base, and that largely holds true today.

Because of his work, Fergie was able to go from activist to legislator, becoming the first African American elected to the General Assembly after Reconstruction. Many argue — as do I — that he helped pave the way for Doug Wilder’s election as Virginia’s first African American Governor, along with Barack Obama’s historic election as the U.S.’s first African American President.

If you read that carefully, you will clearly see why KBoddye called Dr Reid “A Man Ahead of His Time”.

What is being described there is the same work that Democratic organizations across the nation are working on today, to build useful data for local and first time candidates, and higher Office candidates, too.

But he put that idea to work in Virginia before most of us were ever born!

His work in the decades following WWII is a clear line to the victories of (D) Virginia candidates clear up to the current era!

In all those years, it appears clear to me that Fergie was focused on the one thing which seems to be left out of most Democratic campaign action today — Registering New Voters.

“Expanding the voter rolls was just as important as mobilizing the existing base, and that largely holds true today.” — Dr Wm Reid, Sr

But like most politicians, Dr Reid also had a family at home, his wife Jacqueline, two daughters (Hollis and Kelly) and son Wm Ferguson Reid, Jr. All three children became medical professionals.

I spoke with his son, (Fergie Jr) about the effect of his father’s political life on their family recently.

These are questions I asked:

1) How did your father's decision to enter politics as a candidate affect your family life?
2) Did your dad's work as a doctor influence your own career path?
3) When did you & your dad get involved in speaking with candidates seeking Office for the first time?
4) Have State Dem Chairs spoken with you and your dad about the 90for90 org and how to set up the same kind of action in their state?
5) Did your dad ever meet with President Carter during his active political life?
6) Anything of note you'd like the general Daily Kos community to know about your dad's work and influence on Virginia politics?

These are his answers:

1) - Significantly — He made Virginia history in 1967, against long odds & entrenched powerful forces. Obviously, that is accompanied by many "positives & negatives".
2) Probably. Both of my older sisters & I are physicians.
3) Dad's been doing it since I have any memories - the early 1960s. I started helping in the 2012 cycle, making sure someone ran against Eric Cantor in Va. CD 7, where Mom & Dad lived at the time.
4) Some have done this.
5) Not sure about Carter. He did meet with LBJ.
6) The DK community should know that they are a great untapped source of political power. Dad & I made this clear to the DK Asheville group when we met them in 2015.
The DK community should know that their support of Dem candidates in the past, present, & future is a great strength within Dem party politics. Small donations from all over the country, & grassroots activism locally are a wonderful gift to any campaign. DK has the ability to bring both.

I’d like to take this moment to highlight that final answer.

Daily Kos has the ability to bring Small Donations and Grassroots Activism locally to affect state level campaigns.

It couldn’t be more clear in 2023, that state level offices are what the GOP has been working on seizing for a few decades now — and they have done so in an era where they have also managed to manipulate the membership of the Supreme Court Bench.

That’s a double whammy if you are looking at democracy in the United States in the 21st century.

I suggest that what should happen is that Daily Kos registered users and readers take note of what Dr Reid was able to accomplish in Virginia during an era where men of color were generally not seen as Voters, much less politicians. Take note of what he focused on as the means to change how his state worked for people of color — new voter registration.

Because for over a century in these United States, about 1 out of 3 people JUST NEVER BOTHER TO VOTE. That blue line is Presidential years, the orange is Midterms. Since around 1920, presidential elections see between 50% & 64% of voters turning out. Midterms are much worse, from just over 30% to 50%.

FOR A CENTURY.

Take to heart the message of Dr William Ferguson Reid, Sr and what he did with that idea, to improve the lives of so very many people in Virginia and beyond. The message that the organization started in honor of his 90th Birthday, 90For90.org, is founded on. More voters is a great idea!

If we want Democratic candidates to win more elections, we need to register New Voters, every single year.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Such a simple idea, and yet it is the heart of what has made Dr Reid legendary, in his own lifetime.

Angela Marx

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday August 20, 2017 · 10:30 AM PDT

2017/08/20 · 10:30

Before and After Freewayblogging. — 10s of thousands, maybe 100s of thousands can see a sign like this IN A SINGLE DAY in a major Metro area. Freeway Blogging is the use of Free Speech on the modern Public Square on our daily commute on highways and byways...

Free Speech is the original American Invention

This Labor Day weekend (September 1st through 4th) citizens around the country will be celebrating their Constitutional right to free speech by posting political messages on public property. In keeping with the First Amendment, signs will be posted on fencing around parks, libraries, government offices, freeways and interstate highways.

BY PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU!

Signs will be made out of cardboard and attached by wire and bungee cords to be easily removable in accordance with local ordinances - no graffiti, locks or adhesives will be used. Signs on overpasses and roadside fences will be legible and posted safely on the inside of fencing to eliminate any risk of falling into traffic.

Video showing how to make a Freeway Blogging sign in 5 short minutes:

YouTube Video

Speech protected by the First Amendment must be non-commercial, non-threatening and cannot advocate violence, political or otherwise. Signs will only be placed on roadways already containing commercial speech.

We are asking at least 1,000 people to take up Freeway Blogging for this Day of Nationwide Action

Will you join the Freeway Blogger and make a sign and put it up on a public space over the Labor Day weekend? Then take a picture and send it to him here:

Participants are asked to photograph their work and share on social media.
Please send pictures to:
freewayblogger - at - yahoo - dot - com
or post on our Facebook Group

Examples of previous actions can be seen here.

The steps to creating a Freeway Blogging sign:

1) Get some cardboard (bike and large appliance boxes are best) boxes and cut them open and lay out flat

How to make Freeway Blogging signs, step 1

2) Use white latex paint and paint the INSIDE of the box. Latex creates a shield that keeps rain from melting the cardboard!

How to make Freeway Blogger signs, step 2

3) Use duct tape to tape the flaps together and flat.

How to make Freeway Blogging signs, step 3

4) Hang the blank sign on a garage wall or a fence

How to make Freeway Blogging signs, step 4.

5) Decide on a message, use a computer and print the message out on a transparent paper

How to make Freeway Blogging signs, step 5.

6) Use an overhead projector and shine the message on the blank cardboard

How to make Freeway Blogging signs, step 6.

7) Trace the letters onto the blank cardboard

How to make Freeway Blogging signs, step 7.

8) Take the cardboard down and put on flat surface to paint in the traced-on letters.

How to make Freeway Blogging signs, step 8.

and repeat as needed …

How to make Freeway Blogging signs, step 9.

Why Freeway Blogging?

It’s INEXPENSIVE

It’s quick and easy

It’s available to anyone with the ability to use tools like Duct tape, cardboard and paint

It puts YOUR MESSAGE in front of thousands (maybe 10s of thousands) or more people IN A SINGLE DAY.

Your message stays there until someone takes it down.

It couldn’t be any easier.

So if you couldn’t be at a rally this weekend or next weekend?

If big crowds make you too nervous and you can’t attend these events?

Maybe Freeway Blogging is the way for you to join the growing number of Americans who just can’t sit silently anymore while pernicious forces work to cause violence and danger here in our nation.

So don’t just sit silently anymore.

Use some cardboard, paint and duct tape and SPEAK OUT LOUDLY to the commuters driving to and from their jobs. Be HEARD.

Because every voice in America matters.

ATTN: Candidates & Democratic Party Chairs, DemocratsWorkForAmerica.org a SuperPAC for you!

Angela Marx

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday July 30, 2017 · 6:05 AM PDT

2017/07/30 · 06:05

Facebook page cover image, https://www.facebook.com/DemsWork4USA — A SuperPAC working from and for the LEFT to support ground-level actions to elect more Democrats. Now, what does that remind me of... oh, yeah, the Daily Kos Mission Statement circa 2005, "More & Better Democrats"

As many Daily Kos users know, I am a big fan of Twitter

But likely not for the reasons that any of you think.

I ❤️ Twitter because there is no other way in the world I’d trade jubilant cheers with Cher over the Windsor decision on marriage equality or send out a review of a an actor’s portrayal of a character and see that he liked my review (Titus Welliver from Amazon’s Bosch tv series) within minutes.

It’s the connection to people far away from me in distance geographical and metaphysical, both, which intrigue me.

This week, that network of connections brought me an introduction to Suhda (Su) Mohan and Rachel Murphy Azzara from my Montana friend and Veteran, Joshua Manning (one of the founding members of Common Defense PAC).

The common thread for all of us? Politics and grassroots action at the local level.

Why is this News and why should I care?

There is a reason why the Republican Party holds the majority in 2/3rd of all statehouses and Congress and even more Governor’s seats.

It’s because the Right has been funded by wealthy individuals via Think Tanks and 503(c)3 and 503(c)4 and 527 SuperPACS since the 1970s — and since then, they’ve been paying for actions like precinct-level canvassing year after year to continue to maintain an accurate picture of their Base voters — and to ensure those voters all turn out, every election, via more canvassing and GOTV (get out the vote) actions.

The Left has never had funding for this level of work, and some of us have bemoaned the lack of such funding for many long years. But we simply haven’t ever had an organization or even a group of organizations which focused on empowering grassroots activism to elect more Democrats by creating a SuperPAC to fund other organizations which are already at work at the local level, like Indivisible and SwingLeft.

Today, that is about to change.

Who are DemocratsWorkForAmerica.org and what do they do?

Social Media URLs

website http://democratsworkforamerica.org
twitter @DemsWork4USA
Facebook http://Facebook.com/DemsWork4USA

Their staff and Board of Directors are comprised of experienced, core-Democratic political activists who bring a collaborative, energetic and creative mindset to supporting the issues, candidates and outreach efforts needed to make America a country of opportunity and equality for all.

Administration (& Board members)

Rachel Murphy Azzara, Founder & Director
Sudha Mohan, Co-Founder & CFO

Board of Directors

Sally Albright
Matthew Chapman
Rich Wilkins
Patricia Fuller
Diane Straub
Beverlee Hughes
Tre Temeprilli

Their Mission Statement:

Democrats Work For America is a political action committee (PAC) formed explicitly to empower political grassroots activists by providing the needed resources to put their ideas into action. The scope of our mission includes:

Get Out The Vote efforts

Community Education and Targeted Outreach

Improved Messaging on Democratic Platform Awareness

Coalition Building

Candidate Vetting

Campaign Support

These are the activities necessary to fully canvass our Base and the self-identified Independents who may lean-Democratic, on an ongoing basis, to ensure good data for our volunteers to use while canvassing for candidates for city, county and state level offices; to inform and educate our Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters; to register voters and work GOTV (get out the vote) actions.

This is like seeing the launching of The Heritage Foundation, only for our side!

The projects which might receive funding and other assistance from Democrats Work For America are things like this:

Targeted funding for county level PCO (precinct committee officer/precinct captain) recruitment and training in CDs (congressional districts) identified as “swing left” in the next election cycle.

Meaning the project would help pay for Field Organizers who would specifically seek out and identify prospective PCOs and get them connected to their County PCO organizer and signed up for training and put into the field within weeks, so that the county LDs are ready with expanding information which can help them win next year’s election in a District already identified as READY to go blue with the right amount of effort.

This is a good explanation (in a linked thread, just click that Tweet to go read the entire thread) of Who and What they are from their Twitter timeline:

1. So what exactly is a SupePac for grassroots activism? LetÃ¢ÂÂs discuss what Democrats Work For America is and why itÃ¢ÂÂs so important.
— DemsWork4USA (@DemsWork4USA) July 28, 2017

Why are you telling Daily Kos readers about this organization?

The group is currently in the process of seeking initial large dollar donations to fully fund their endeavors and they only filed as an IRS 527 entity LAST WEEK. They are fresh out of the gate and eager to spread the word about their prospective work as soon as possible throughout the Democratic social network online and offline.

As they acquire funding, they want to prepare to begin the moment they are able, which is why they reached out to me to help introduce them to our Community — because within the next year, there is a very good chance that some of your own local candidates will receive some assistance from the Democrats Work For America SuperPAC.

To that effort, I’d like to ask the readers to offer up local level projects which could help elect local candidates where you live. Things like:

a Scholarship fund for local college Poli-Sci students to work part-time to help PCOs Walk-and-Knock and canvass their precincts
$500 to $2,500 for County PCO organizers to hire summer help for canvassing events/Party Building events

So if you like the idea of this, leave a comment and a project summary for me to foward on to Su and Rachel.

How can you help?

If a SuperPAC to fund local grassroots activism sounds like a great idea to you? Please share this story on social media.

I want the name DemocratsWorkForAmerica.org to become as well known on the Left as The Heritage Foundation is for conservatives and I want it to be associated with Daily Kos.

As you should know, Daily Kos has raised millions via Act Blue since 2004 (Over $10 Million in total, according to the Daily Kos Act Blue hub page), funding mainly federal election candidates. Imagine how much progress could be made with support for state level candidates at or above that level of support?

Consider a donation to help them start posting fundraising numbers, as everyone knows seed money (even tiny seeds!) is important in the calculations of wealthy donors on whether or not to fund a particular organization.

Because I know at Daily Kos it’s helpful to have a Goal for fundraising, I asked Su Mohan to create one just for this story introducing the organization to our Community.

Click that Act Blue banner or this link Donate Seed Money Here

I’ve been waiting decades for just such an organization to rise up on the Left.

Imagine... a group of people who want to turn decades of experience and skills into a resource bank of both money and actions designed to give the issues and candidates on the Left a helping hand up to start getting their message out to the people who need to hear it.

So that we can put more Democratic candidates into elected Offices and start to #WinBlue!

Democrats, let's take the fight to Virginia Beach!

pdxbuckeye

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday March 27, 2017 · 5:45 AM PDT

2017/03/27 · 05:45

Note: My name is Donald Braden, I posted this to my blog The Full Slate Project last night.

PEOPLE ARE STEPPING UP!

Democratic candidates are challenging in more than 80 Virginia House of Delegates Districts this fall. That is a remarkable number already, since the last cycle they fielded candidates in just 56 races. There is still time to add candidates to the slate as well, let's make it a full slate of Democrats running for the House of Delegates in 2017. More importantly, let's turn Virginia Blue!

While it is exciting that all of these great people are stepping up, picking up our banner, broad swaths of Virginia have historically been very red. The term blood red district has come up in a few conversations I have had trying to learn more about the lay of the land. It is my goal to dig into the data in these red areas and find an opportunity to exploit. It is not always easy. As noted above Democrats far too often do not even compete in many of these races, so it is tough to draw conclusions from what data there is.

VIRGINIA BEACH: THE LAY OF THE LAND

I am a firm believer in using data to find opportunity, and this afternoon I turned my focus squarely onto the Virginia Beach races to see what areas Democrats can exploit to their advantage.

Virginia Beach Fast Facts
Population = 437,994
Active Voters = 255,961
% Active Voters = 58%
Current office holders in key Virginia Beach area offices up for election this fall
Sheriff = Republican Ken Stolle
Commonwealth's Attorney = Republican Colin Stolle
Commissioner of Revenue - Democrat Philip Kellam
Treasurer = Republican John Atkinson
Governor = Democrat Terry McAuliffe (Virginia Beach was won by the Republican, however.)
House of Delegates District 21 = Republican Ron Villanueva
House of Delegates District 81 = Republican Barry Knight
House of Delegates District 82 = Republican Jason Miyares
House of Delegates District 83 = Republican Patrick Stolle
House of Delegates District 84 = Republican Glenn Davis
House of Delegates District 85 = Republican Rocky Holcomb
House of Delegates District 90 = Democrat Joe Lindsey

Just looking at the partisan make-up of these seats tells you a bit of what you need to know about how red this area has been. If you have a keen eye, you have likely noticed that there is a name that pops up repeatedly, Stolle. The Stolle family appears to run the Republican party in the area. There is a well-protected dynasty in the region. I hear they are not afraid to wield their position to the advantage of the family and party. That has made challenging for these seats in this district somewhat daunting.

The good news is people are stepping up! But before we talk about them, let's plumb some data and see what opportunities are in Virginia Beach for Democrats.

VIRGINIA BEACH DATA DIVE

To begin to understand the dynamics in Virginia Beach, I began by lumping together the precincts by House of Delegates District. First up, share of Active Voters by District:

pdxbuckeye

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday February 09, 2017 · 6:09 PM PST

2017/02/09 · 18:09

UPDATE: I JUST POSTED A STORY ABOUT 4 SEATS UP FOR SPECIAL ELECTION. If we lose them Republicans will only be 20 state legislative seats away from amending the constitution. All of the elections are this month: Defend our Constitution - 4 of 24 seats we need to protect Constitution up for Special Election NOW

I am working on making a case for pushing for a full slate of candidates in every state for all state legislative races. In that effort, I have compiled some summary data from every state legislative body. That information is presented below, with a few notes of my quick take observations on each of the states.

This is all stemming from my ongoing focus on the frightening fact that Republicans are only 24 state legislative seats away from controlling all legislative bodies in 38 states, the threshold needed to ratify any changes to the Constitution. For details on that issue, and how it would all work please read this post:

Protecting Our Rights by Defending the Constitution - State Legislative Races are Critical

Please let me know if you agree or disagree with any of my assessments, whether or not you share my concerns, and, if you do share them, what do you think a compelling path forward would be.

I am personally leaning toward the idea of running full slates in every state. What are your thoughts? This is meant to spur debate and dialogue, I would love all points of view here.

Also, chime in with your observations about the state you live in! Would love the perspective!

THE DATA BELOW

All 50 states are summarized. Here are brief descriptions of each column header for each table. Let me know if anything is unclear or if you have questions in the comments.

Total Seats — Total number of seats in each chamber.
Needed for Majority — The total seats either party need to hold to maintain a majority in that chamber.
Uncontested - The number of races Democrats do not enter a candidate to compete for the seat.
Contested Losses to Lose Majority - How many seats Republicans need to win from races Democrats are competing in to win a majority.
Democrats - Number of seats held by Democrats.
Republicans - Number of seats held by Republicans.
Other - Number of open seats or seats held by Third-Party.
Next Election - Next year the chamber is up for election.
# Democrats Ran Last Cycle - Number of candidates fielded to compete for seats.
# of Seats Up Next Cycle - Number of seats up for election next cycle. All House chambers members stand for election in same cycle, some Senate chambers vote for half the body each active cycle.
Needed to Flip - Number of seats Democrats must win to swing the chamber to our side.
Democrats Up - Number of Democrats up for election in the upcoming cycle.
Republicans Up - Number of Republicans up for election in the upcoming cycle.
Other Up - Number of open seats or Third-Party held seats up for election in the upcoming cycle.

NATIONWIDE SUMMARY OF ALL STATE LEGISLATIVE SEATS

	Total Seats	Needed for Majority	Uncontested	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	Democrats	Republicans	Other
Total State Legislative Seats	7,383	3,772	1,479	2,293	3,137	4,198	48

# Democrats Ran Last Cycle	Seats Up Next Cycle	Needed to Flip	Democrats Up	Republicans Up	Other Up
5,331	6,810	635	2,913	3,794	45

NOTES: We do not contest more than twice the number of seats we need to flip to control all 50 state legislative bodies. Worst yet is we concede 1,293 of the 3.772 seats Republicans need to control the majority of all of the legislative bodies. They are basically 1/3rd of the way there before a vote is even cast.

ALABAMA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	105	53	47	6	31	72	2
SENATE	35	18	11	7	8	26	1

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	# OF SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	58	105	22	31	72	2
SENATE	2018	24	35	10	8	26	1

NOTES: Republicans only need win 10% of House and 29% of Senate races that Democrats compete in to secure a majority. Democrats do not contest more than twice the number of seats they would need to flip to secure a majority in the House and they do not contest in one additional race more than they would need to flip the Senate.

ALASKA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	40	21	8	13	17	21	2
SENATE	20	11	4	7	6	14	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	32	40	4	17	21	2
SENATE	2018	6	10	5	3	7	0

NOTES: While Republicans have a majority of the seats in the House, 3 Republicans have voted for the Democratic speaker giving Democrats control of the chamber in this session. They could easily flip back next session.

ARIZONA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	60	31	17	14	25	35	0
SENATE	30	16	6	10	13	17	0

NEXT ELECTION

# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE

SEATS UP

NEXT CYCLE

NEEDED TO FLIP

DEMOCRATS UP

REPUBLICANS UP

OTHER UP

HOUSE

2018

SENATE

2018

NOTES: Democrats are competing fairly well in Arizona despite its reputation. That said, they are still not competing in too many races. They need to flip 6 seats in the House to gain a majority and yet do not run in 17 races.

ARKANSAS

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	100	51	52	-1	27	73	0
SENATE	35	18	10	8	9	26	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	48	100	24	27	73	0
SENATE	2018	8	18	9	13	5	0

NOTES: Well, it is clear what the main point will be here. Democrats did not contest 52 House races last cycle. You need to win 51 to win a majority. Even if they win every seat, they can’t win a majority. Conceding the majority without challenge is madness and malpractice.

CALIFORNIA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
ASSEMBLY	80	41	5	36	55	25	0
SENATE	40	21	0	21	27	13	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
ASSEMBLY	2018	75	80	-14	55	25	0
SENATE	2018	20	20	-6	11	9	0

NOTES: Contesting races matter. That said, it is worth being vigilant, losing 6 Senate seats or 14 Assembly seats seems pretty safe, but you can’t relax.

COLORADO

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	65	33	7	26	37	28	0
SENATE	35	18	1	17	17	18	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	58	65	-5	37	28	0
SENATE	2018	16	17	1	7	10	0

NOTES: Colorado is a critically important state in the fight to keep Republicans from gaining the 38 states they need to amend the constitution. Republicans can add Colorado to their column by flipping just 5 House seats. On the flip side, Democrats need to flip one Senate seat while defending the house to gain complete control of the legislature in the state.

CONNECTICUT

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	151	76	26	50	78	72	1
SENATE	36	19	1	18	17	17	2

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	125	151	-3	78	72	1
SENATE	2018	35	36	2	17	17	2

NOTES: I was surprised at how close Connecticut was, this is a vulnerable state for Republicans to gain complete control. Republicans need only flip 4 seats to control the House and 2 to flip the Senate. Dems compete well here, but 26 is still way too many uncontested seats.

DELAWARE

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	41	21	8	13	25	16	0
SENATE	21	11	2	9	10	10	1

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	33	41	-5	25	16	0
SENATE	2018	8	10	1	4	5	1

NOTES: This is a critical state. There is a special election on February 25, 2017 that will decide the Senate. If we lose that seat, Republicans are only 23 seats away from controlling 38 states. Support Stephanie Hansen’s campaign for this seat today.

FLORIDA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	120	61	34	27	41	79	0
SENATE	40	21	15	6	15	25	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	86	120	20	41	79	0
SENATE	2018	5	20	6	8	12	0

NOTES: The important factor here is that last cycle there were 20 Senate seats up for election. Democrats only ran for 5 of those seats. If they repeat that next cycle, they have no shot to win back a majority in that chamber.

GEORGIA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	180	91	98	-7	62	118	0
SENATE	56	29	29	0	18	38	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	82	180	29	62	118	0
SENATE	2018	27	56	11	18	38	0

NOTES: Democrats do not compete in enough races to gain a majority in either chamber even if they win every race they compete in. We must do better.

HAWAII

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	51	26	0	26	45	6	0
SENATE	25	13	0	13	25	0	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	51	51	-19	45	6	0
SENATE	2018	11	11	-12	11	0	0

NOTES : The first state where Democrats compete for every seat and we comfortably control each chamber. Running matters.

IDAHO

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	70	36	24	12	11	59	0
SENATE	35	18	13	5	6	29	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	46	70	25	11	59	0
SENATE	2018	22	35	12	6	29	0

NOTES: Another state where we just do not compete. Republicans need win only of a small fraction of the races Democrats compete in to win their majorities. We must field more candidates. We should make them compete to win 18 Senate seats in contested races, not just 5.

ILLINOIS

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	118	60	27	33	67	51	0
SENATE	59	30	8	22	37	22	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	91	118	-7	37	22	0
SENATE	2018	11	19	-7	9	10	0

NOTES: Really need to contest more seats here, but Chicago makes it a tough lift for Republicans even so. That said, there is a Republican governor, competing in state legislative races might bring more blue voters to the polls in rural Illinois to give us a better chance to win back governorship.

INDIANA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	100	51	17	34	30	70	0
SENATE	50	26	5	21	9	41	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	83	100	21	30	70	0
SENATE	2018	20	25	17	3	22	0

NOTES: Democrats repeat fairly well in terms of the number of races challenged compared to many other Republican trifectas. This may reflect an opportunity where our candidates need to adopt a listen and respond model, more than a sell them on us model? Any Indianan’s with insight here?

IOWA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	100	51	17	34	40	59	1
SENATE	50	26	5	21	20	29	1

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	83	100	11	40	59	1
SENATE	2018	20	25	6	14	10	1

NOTES: While it is hard to imagine flipping Iowa soon, we must work to gain ground not lose it. Next cycle 14 of 20 Democratically held Senate seats are up. A full slate will help secure those seats hopefully.

KANSAS

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	125	63	32	31	40	85	0
SENATE	40	21	1	20	9	31	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	93	125	23	40	85	0
SENATE	2020	39	40	12	9	31	0

NOTES: Next Senate elections are 3 years away, so there is some time to hone strategy here. Good to see the races are contested, though. I would caution candidates no to think of this as a messaging problem alone. Relationships will be key to turning this around. Creates face time.

KENTUCKY

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	100	51	25	26	36	64	0
SENATE	38	20	7	13	11	27	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	75	100	15	36	64	0
SENATE	2018	12	19	9	3	16	0

NOTES: The Senate presents an interesting opportunity. Democrats only need to defend 3 of their 11 seats next cycle while most of the Republican seats are up for election. Democrats can really put pressure on them here if they compete rigorously in all 19 Senate races in 2018.

LOUISIANA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	105	53	46	7	41	58	6
SENATE	39	20	21	-1	14	25	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2019	59	105	12	41	58	6
SENATE	2019	18	39	6	14	25	0

NOTES: Just too many seats go uncontested. Republicans need only win 7 of 59 House races contested by Democrats to secure a majority in the House. Even worse, the Republicans just sign up their slate in the Senate and are guaranteed a majority since Democrats yield the chamber to them.

MAINE

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	151	76	6	70	77	72	2
SENATE	35	18	2	16	17	18	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	145	151	-1	77	72	2
SENATE	2018	33	35	1	17	18	0

NOTES: Maine is an intensely competitve state.

MARYLAND

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	141	71	1	70	90	50	1
SENATE	47	24	3	21	33	14	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	140	141	-19	90	50	1
SENATE	2018	44	47	-9	33	14	0

NOTES: Finally, a mainland state that seems to be securely blue. Can’t relax of course, but things look in pretty good shape from this overview level anyway.

MASSACHUSETTS

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	160	81	18	63	125	35	0
SENATE	40	21	3	18	34	6	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	142	160		125	35	0
SENATE	2018	37	40		34	6	0

NOTES: Be neighborly. Help Connecticut!

MICHIGAN

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	110	56	0	56	47	63	0
SENATE	38	20	0	20	11	27	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	110	110	9	47	63	0
SENATE	2018	38	38	9	11	27	0

NOTES: Having been born in the Detroit area, I am interested in this state. I know gerrymandering has played a big roll in this situation. The decline of support for the party from union households is evident as well. While Michigan Democrats engage and contest in all races, there appears to be a need to really reconnect with voters here. Listen and connect your beliefs to the issues you are hearing from constituents.

MINNESOTA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	134	68	2	66	57	77	0
SENATE	67	34	0	34	33	34	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	132	134	11	57	77	0
SENATE	2020	67	67	1	33	34	0

NOTES: The Senate is a good target for Democrats. Let’s flip that chamber. Unfortunately, they aren’t up for election until 2020. We compete well there. Again, I think we need to stop trying to sell voters our ideas, and rather, focus on their issues. I do not mean we do not stand on our principles, just focus our campaigns here on the things Minnesotan’s raise on their own. When dealing with skeptical audiences, building a connection by talking about them and their concerns will be far more effective than pushing a set agenda on them. Make it about them.

MISSISSIPPI

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	122	62	43	19	48	74	0
SENATE	52	27	20	7	20	32	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2019	79	122	14	48	74	0
SENATE	2019	32	52	7	20	32	0

NOTES: Back to needing to compete for more seats. Republicans need only win 19 contested races to secure a majority 62 seats to control the House and 7 of 27 in the Senate. These races are not up until 2019, so there is time, we must stop them in the 2018 cycle.

MISSOURI

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	163	82	66	16	45	117	1
SENATE	34	18	4	14	9	24	1

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	97	163	37	45	117	1
SENATE	2018	12	16	9	3	12	1

NOTES: Once again, we need to compete for more seats. Republicans only need win 16 contested races to secure an 82 seat majority. That is just too easy for them. Too easy.

MONTANA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	100	51	6	45	41	59	0
SENATE	50	26	3	23	17	32	1

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	94	100	10	41	59	0
SENATE	2018	22	25	9	8	17	0

NOTES: We compete in a lot of races, although a full slate would be better. This indicates a listening posture might prove more useful here. Any Montanan’s with any insight?

NEBRASKA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
SENATE	49	25	2	23	15	32	2

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
SENATE	2018	22	24	10	8	16	1

NOTES: The only state with a single legislative chamber. Considered nonpartisan, but, we know.

NEVADA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
ASSEMBLY	42	22	7	15	27	15	0
SENATE	21	11	1	10	11	9	1

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	35	42	-6	27	15	0
SENATE	2018	9	10	0	3	6	1

NOTES: While good we have both of these chambers, and we must focus on flipping red state chambers, adding a full slate next cycle could help defend this state. Defense is as important as offense, even though we have a tougher offensive challenge to pull off.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	400	201	32	169	174	226	0
SENATE	24	13	0	13	10	14	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	368	400	27	174	226	0
SENATE	2018	24	24	3	10	14	0

NOTES: Run and just knock on your neighbor's door and talk to them. You, as the candidate, can probably hit every door yourself if you went out every weekend between now and the election in your House district anyway.

NEW JERSEY

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	80	41	5	36	52	28	0
SENATE	40	21	0	21	24	16	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2017	75	80	-11	52	28	0
SENATE	2017	40	40	-3	24	16	0

NOTES: This is one of two chambers up this fall. While reasonably safely Democratic, we must not rest on our laurels on this state. The dynamics seem to favor us. The red hot furor over Trump, a lot of soul searching about not voting and the unpopularity of the Republican Governor make this seem like a slam dunk. Slam dunks are only an illusion in politics. Play sound defense.

NEW MEXICO

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	70	36	16	20	38	32	0
SENATE	42	22	9	13	26	16	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	54	70	-3	38	32	0
SENATE	2020	33	42	-5	26	16	0

NOTES: Nice majorities here, but too many seats are going uncontested.

NEW YORK

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
ASSEMBLY	150	76	17	59	107	43	0
SENATE	63	32	9	23	32	31	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
ASSEMBLY	2018	133	150	-31	107	43	0
SENATE	2018	54	63	0	32	31	0

NOTES: Republicans actually control the Senate through a coalition. The best remedy is to compete in all of the Senate races.

NORTH CAROLINA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	120	61	27	34	45	74	1
SENATE	50	26	12	14	15	35	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	93	120	16	45	74	1
SENATE	2018	38	50	11	15	35	0

NOTES: For a southern state we compete well, relatively speaking, although contesting more races could yield results.

NORTH DAKOTA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	94	48	2	46	13	81	0
SENATE	47	24	4	20	9	38	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	45	47	35	9	38	0
SENATE	2018	19	23	15	5	18	0

NOTES: Well, this state bucks the trend. Democrats compete and lose spectacularly. Definitely need to pursue a listen first strategy, but I do not know the dynamic enough to comment more.

OHIO

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	99	50	17	33	33	66	0
SENATE	33	17	3	14	9	24	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	82	99	17	33	66	0
SENATE	2018	14	17	8	7	10	0

NOTES: This state is clearly the result of gerrymandering. The hard reality is that the party is not terribly organized in Ohio. It also did not help that we lost nearly ½ million votes in the presidential from 2012 to 2016 in Ohio. I grew up in Ohio, and did some organizing in my neighborhood and I know the party is a bit of a disaster. I mean this result makes it pretty clear that that has not change. Being such a bellwether state means we ought to focus some serious energy here even though the numbers look very daunting.

OKLAHOMA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	101	52	21	31	31	70	0
SENATE	48	25	7	18	6	42	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	80	101	21	31	70	0
SENATE	2018	16	23	19	5	18	0

NOTES: Well, this one is a longer term project. Even if Democrats run a full slate and win in every race in the Senate they can not win a majority next cycle. That said, you got to compete to swing things our way. We cede 1/5th of the House seats without trying, though.

OREGON

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	60	31	9	22	35	25	0
SENATE	30	16	2	14	17	13	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	51	60	-5	35	25	0
SENATE	2018	12	14	-2	10	4	0

NOTES: Living in Oregon, I know feels safe, Portland and the I-5 corridor feel like one of those “blue firewalls”. But I will never forget the sting of Oregonians putting a marriage between one man and one woman amendment into our state constitution in 2004. They had to get a good chunk of vote from our so-called blue wall. If Republicans figure out how to reach Portlanders Oregon can flip pretty quick, particularly since we just elected a republican Secretary of State statewide. Leaving him as the back up if the legislature does not pass district boundaries in the next legislature it is considered in.

PENNSYLVANIA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	203	102	51	51	81	121	1
SENATE	50	26	7	19	16	34	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	152	203	21	81	121	1
SENATE	2018	18	25	10	7	18	0

NOTES: We have got to do better. In the House, Republicans need to win only half the seats they need for a majority in contested races. They are half way there without trying beyond filing the paperwork. The only good sign is that 18 Republican Senate seats are up, leaving us just 10 of those seats to win to regain a majority. At minimum next cycle is a good opportunity to regain ground.

RHODE ISLAND

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	75	38	3	35	64	10	1
SENATE	38	20	2	18	33	5	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	72	75	-26	64	10	1
SENATE	2018	36	38	-13	33	5	0

NOTES: Help Connecticut.

SOUTH CAROLINA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	124	63	58	5	44	80	0
SENATE	46	24	27	-3	18	27	1

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	66	124	19	44	80	0
SENATE	2020	19	46	6	18	27	1

NOTES: We need to run. We have no chance to win a majority in the Senate if we only run 19 candidates when you need 24 seats to control a majority. Then Republicans only need win 5 contested races to win a majority in a 124 seat House. Run Run Run for office.

SOUTH DAKOTA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	70	36	16	20	10	59	1
SENATE	35	18	9	9	6	29	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	54	70	26	10	59	1
SENATE	2018	26	35	12	6	29	0

NOTES: We need to compete. Just scanning the vote totals when Democrats compete they draw around 3,500 votes in the races they lose. While that is not enough to beat the typical 4,500 votes the republican draws, it would add 56,000 to the state vote totals. That is more than half the votes that Trump won by. I just bring this up because it illustrates the impact just competing at the state legislative level can have up ballot.

TENNESSEE

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	99	50	31	19	25	74	0
SENATE	33	17	10	7	5	28	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	68	99	25	25	74	0
SENATE	2018	7	17	12	4	13	0

NOTES: We do not compete in 1/3rd of the races in this state. We really need to run a full slate next cycle in the Senate. If we only run 7 again can’t win a majority even if we win all of our races.

TEXAS

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	150	76	60	16	55	95	0
SENATE	31	16	6	10	11	20	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	90	150	21	55	95	0
SENATE	2018	9	15	5	3	12	0

NOTES: This one is sort of crazy to me. We only need 5 Senate seats to flip that chamber blue, but the last cycle we only ran in 9 of 16 races. If we run in all 15 next cycle we only need to add 5 to our existing 3 Democratic seats up next cycle.

UTAH

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER	NEXT ELECTION
HOUSE	75	38	22	16	13	62	0	2018
SENATE	29	15	5	10	5	24	0	2018

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	53	75	25	13	62	0
SENATE	2018	9	14	10	4	10	0

NOTES: We get crushed here.

VERMONT

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	150	76	24	52	83	54	13
SENATE	30	16	3	13	21	7	2

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	126	150	-7	83	54	13
SENATE	2018	27	30	-5	21	7	2

NOTES: Not much to say here. Pretty secure, although contesting those 24 seats can add some security.

VIRGINIA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	100	51	44	7	33	66	1
SENATE	40	21	10	11	19	21	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2017	56	100	18	33	66	1
SENATE	2019	30	40	2	19	21	0

NOTES: THIS IS A PRIORITY RACE SINCE IT IS UP THIS FALL. If you live in Virginia run for the House of Delegates. Republicans only need to win 7 contested races to secure a majority. Your filing deadline is March 30, 2017. If you can’t run, recruit someone. This is critical. As near as I can tell we have around 55 declared candidates so far, but it is difficult to figure out. If anyone has any info that would be helpful.

WASHINGTON

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	98	50	21	29	50	48	0
SENATE	49	25	8	17	25	23	1

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	77	98	0	50	48	0
SENATE	2018	15	23	0	12	11	0

NOTES: Washington is a tight state. Given that status, it really is hard to fathom how we end up with 21 uncontested races. Basically passing up an opportunity to gain a cheap seat if someone faces some trouble during their race. We need to contest more of these reaces.

WEST VIRGINIA

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	100	51	17	34	37	63	0
SENATE	34	18	0	18	12	22	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	83	100	14	37	63	0
SENATE	2018	16	16	6	6	10	0

NOTES: Ah, infamous “coal-country”. These folks are not as ideological as we think, they have always been economically distressed, even when things were going relatively well. This is definitely a state we need to take a listen and respong approach to.

WISCONSIN

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
ASSEMBLY	99	50	21	29	35	64	0
SENATE	33	17	3	14	13	20	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
ASSEMBLY	2018	78	99	15	35	64	0
SENATE	2018	14	17	4	6	11	0

NOTES: This is the quintessential case of wear running a full slate of state legislative candidates could have paid dividends up-ballot. Even if each candidate only drew 1,000 votes that would have been 24,000 more Democratic votes which would have given Clinton Wisconsin. Talking to voters matters.

WYOMING

	TOTAL SEATS	NEEDED FOR MAJORITY	UNCONTESTED	CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY	DEMOCRATS	REPUBLICANS	OTHER
HOUSE	60	31	9	22	8	52	0
SENATE	30	16	4	12	3	27	0

	NEXT ELECTION	# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE	SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE	NEEDED TO FLIP	DEMOCRATS UP	REPUBLICANS UP	OTHER UP
HOUSE	2018	51	60	23	8	52	0
SENATE	2018	11	15	13	2	13	0

NOTES: We field a god number of candidates for a state considered so deeply red, that is good to see. Although, if we run the same number of candidates in the Senate we can’t flip it even if we win all of the seats.

Want to prevent the Republican Horde from destroying PPACA/Obamacare & Medicare? Phone it in...

Angela Marx

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday November 13, 2016 · 7:45 AM PST

2016/11/13 · 07:45

Become a progressive warrior, call a Democratic U.S. Senator every day. EVERY DAY until Thanksgiving.

As you all know (unless you’ve been hiding under a rock in a deep, dark cave) we will see some significant changes in government this coming January when the Republican Horde arrives to take over Washington D.C.

The current Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, per Jonathan Chait on NYMag.com, “Paul Ryan Says Medicare Privatization Is On”. In a recent appearance on FoxNews Ryan told Brett Baier, “Because of Obamacare, Medicare is going broke.”

Which Chait and MSNBC have both identifed as a lie, because the opposite is actually true. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA/Obamacare) has reduced inflation in medical spending and reduced costs and has extended the lifespan of the Medicare Trust Fund by more than a decade. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities “Medicare is not bankrupt and healthcare reform has improved the program’s financing.”

Perhaps the Republicans have forgotten that this is something which George W Bush proposed and got smacked down hard for, the result of the 2006 mid-terms was The People’s response, turning the (D) 44 — (R) 55 configuration of the Senate into a (D) 49 — (R) 49 with 2 Independent seats (Bernie Sanders’ first term and Joe Lieberman’s last).

None of which is likely to sway Republican plans to hold another vote to repeal the PPACA in the opening days of the 115th Congress once Ryan takes up the Gavel in the U.S. House — and this time they’ll have a majority in the U.S. Senate willing to accede, but more importantly, a Republican President who may well sign such a bill if it ends up on his desk.

The incoming Trump Administration is floating his Cabinet picks, and Mother Jones covers the publicly identifiied possibilities in a piece (quite accurately) titled “Trump's Cabinet Is Going to Be as Bonkers as You Thought. Buckle up.” From Chris Christie to Sarah Palin (yeah, you thought you’d heard the last of her, but zombies never die — because they’re already dead!) and bad and worse options for seats in Interior and Attorney General and the rest of the 15 current Cabinet seats. Because Trump noted during the campaigning that he would lean towards getting rid of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Sure, why not, the environment is in great shape “Believe me!”

These and a whole host of other bad acts are already on the agenda. Come January 3, 2017, the new Congress will be sworn in and installed and ready to open for business.

Unless WE do something, that business will include the destruction of the progress of the past 60 years, across the board.

"But what can I do,” you may be asking, “didn’t I vote for someone else, isn’t that my part? What else can we voters do now? The election is over.”

Well, yes — and no. The election is over. But we citizens have an ace in the hole which we need to pull out and slap down on the table before that new Congress opens it’s first day of business.

Poll

157 votes Show Results

Should I update and add Republican Senate contacts or write a 2nd piece aimed at Republican Senators and U.S.House members?

157 votes Vote Now!

Should I update and add Republican Senate contacts or write a 2nd piece aimed at Republican Senators and U.S.House members?

Update and add GOP Senate contact information

28 votes

Write a separate story aimed at contacting GOP Senate and House members to warn them of the consequences of destroying these necessary programs?

129 votes

Texas: To flip the state Fort Bend County is a prime target

Texdude50

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday October 21, 2016 · 7:54 AM PDT

2016/10/21 · 07:54

Sorry this is a day later than I expected. Fort Bend County is located southwest of Harris County and is the largest suburban county in Greater Houston by population. I work there, have since April, but it is so close that parts of it are just collectively known as Southwest Houston.

Writing this is something I thought about happening four years from now, but Democrats in Fort Bend are on the ball. In 2012, just under 220,000 votes were cast. President Obama lost by 15,000 votes. They did set a record for number of registered voters in the county and there was a late surge of registrations.

The question is why will this county flip? The density map above based on census tracts shows heavy minority density along the county line. That line runs from northwest to southeast. The heaviest population centers are there and along the two highways running roughly southwest.

The population of the county is 716,000 and growing. It is roughly 21%, Black, 19% Asian, and 24% Hispanic. It is 35% White alone according to the census data. What I find fascinating is the suburban/rural divide that happens in the county. Over the years, as the county has grown, power shifted from the southern, rural areas to the northern urbanizing zones. Not to say the the GOP doesn’t have a powerful presence there. (My ‘father-in-law’ is a cranky old white man who votes straight GOP no matter what. He’s a very typical old school Ft Bend voter.)

Just to really show why demographics will play a key role in this: In 2010 the population of Ft Bend was 584,000 people. Estimates in 2014 had it at 685,000. Now it is at 716,000. There is a rich tapestry of people in the county. There is a large Indian (sub-continent) presence as well as Chinese and Vietnamese. Missouri City has a very large and powerful Black population. There is an old Hispanic population in the county seat of Richmond.

The trends have been running against the GOP here and given the exploding growth and demographic shifts, that could trigger a natural change, but the Fort Bend Democrats have been out in force with registration drives and other GOTV efforts. Those activities really matter. I’ve seen it up close. Don’t discount how pissed off minorities are in getting the vote out.

In my heart of hearts I am expecting Hillary Clinton to carry Fort Bend by several thousand votes. There is a number I have in mind, but just sliding it into the blue shades will make the GOP crap themselves.

Early voting in Texas starts Monday. This will be a perfect weekend for block walking. GOTV.

CA-01 Butte: Let's evaluate our usual sucky election options (plus bonus haiku of State Props)

Besame

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday October 16, 2016 · 10:43 AM PDT

2016/10/16 · 10:43

Hyper-local candidates rarely hit the media with big headlines and heated hashtags. How do we know which Judges to vote for? I’ve decided based on yard signs. If the yard promotes other candidates I favor, I’ll vote for the Judges that yard promotes. Not the best system to create an informed electorate. I’d rather hear from you than your yard.

Together we can crowdsource a voter’s guide to Butte County, CA-01 and the 17 state propositions. I’ll list some main candidates and issues in my part of this area. I’ve not included every town in the county nor all of this huge District that stretches to the Oregon border. So if you want to discuss issues and candidates from other towns in the county or CA-01, add these to the comments and I can edit them into the text for more attention. Also I will note my opinions — all are open for discussion — and at the end add links to sources of info. I’ll begin with State Propositions and then narrow down to more local.

state propositions

For an overview of all 17 in an easy to digest fashion, check out the Haiku State Propositions (h/t to Damian Carroll haiku master). I’ll add a few of them in to break up the monotony (my opinions are in parenthesis).

51 — School bonds (I’m for it despite my concerns with allocations. See the story I’ll publish early next week on school districts.)
52 — Medi-Cal Hospital Fee Program (think I’m for this one too)
53 — Revenue bonds (sounds good but ??)

Bonds for big projects

(Like high speed rail and Delta)

Would need people’s vote

54 — Legislature, Legislation, and Proceedings (fairly sure No on this one — good idea poorly written)
55 — Tax Extension to Fund Education and Healthcare (Yes — it extends an existing tax on the people who should pay more — those with high incomes)
56 — Cigarette Tax to Fund Healthcare, Tobacco Use Prevention etc (Messy stuff. I don’t smoke cigs and probably will vote Yes. But adding $2 per pack is a hardship for many people who should stop smoking. Is forcing this by adding to their expenses our call?)
57 — Criminal Sentences Parole etc (OMG this requires haiku! I’m all for fewer people in prison. Yes.)

Earlier parole

Of prisoners serving time

For non-violent crimes

58 — English Proficiency Multilingual Education (Only those opposing this are the Repub and Libertarian Parties and one guy here on DK. All the Latinx families, ESL teachers, and educators I know are in favor. Yes.)
59 — Corporations Political Spending (If you want to overturn Citizens United, vote YES with me but sadly it’s not binding.)
60 — Adult Films Condoms (Everything I read says this will lead to messy silly lawsuits. Let the industry manage itself. I vote NO and promise if I’m ever in an Adult Film, I’ll use a condom.)
61 — State Prescription Drug Purchases (Sounds better than it is. No, with haiku explanation.)

In theory, lowers

The cost of some state-bought drugs

(But it could backfire)

62 and 66 — Death Penalty (with haiku — I’m going Yes/No.)

Proposition 62

Vote for this one if

You want to eliminate

The death penalty

Proposition 66

If you want the state

To execute more people

This one is for you

63 — Firearms Ammunition (Yes but I don’t know if there’s a nasty catch to this one.)
64 — Marijuana Legalization (Oh, I’d never use marijuana but if I ever somehow for any reason decide to puff but not inhale, I want to be legal about it. Plus it raises a ton of $$ for the state. Yes. If this passes, does it over-ride our County Measure L’s results?)
65 and 67 Plastic Bags (need moar haiku)

Proposition 65

Plastic bag makers

Put this one on the ballot

To punish grocers

Proposition 67

To ban plastic bags

Vote “yes” on 67

“No” on 65

CA-01 CANDIDATE

Once again we have legacy-candidate idiot pseudo-farmer Doug La Malfa (RWNJ TP) opposed by perennial opposition candidate Jim Reed (Democrat) Guess which guy I favor.

county measures

Measure J — Butte College Repair/Safety/Job Training (Probably Yes.)
Measure L — Medical Cannabis and Commerce (Using the yard sign criteria: stupid f’king signs NO ON L Public Safety Think About The Children!!! I’m voting Yes and thinking about the kids.)

county candidates

The offices to be voted on in November in Butte County include the following. If you wish to comment on or ask about others, add them to the comments and I’ll copy them into the text. All links associated with candidates go to their website.

Board of Supervisors 5th District — Doug Teeter (Incumbent) vs Maurice “Big Mo” Huffman (Democrat)

This one is easy for me. Although neither candidate represents my views, Big Mo has my vote because he’s not Teeter. Big Mo has never held public office but my conversations with him lead me to think he doesn’t want to develop the shit out of the area to generate money. He’s a musician who opposes legal marijuana. Sad that he’s the best we can do; the other guy is worse. Teeter claims to be “fiscally conservative” and has this statement on his website (my bold added). His ideas about how to generate income from our natural beauty are inconsistent with retaining it.

Butte County is the “Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty”. In order to develop our economy and increase jobs we should be leveraging our greatest resource, our land. I believe the key to Butte County’s growth and success is promoting agri-business, tourism, and amenities such as recreational opportunity.

Other elections in the county are divided into districts with different candidate options, such as the Butte County Board of Education and Butte-Glenn Community College. Speak up if you want to discuss these.

selected local positions and candidates

Paradise Unified School District — vote for no more than 3

Candidates: Rich Gingery (Parent/LocalBusiness Owner); Melissa Crick (Parent); Michael Greer (Special Education Teacher); Donna Nichols (incumbent); Chris Clifford (Retired); Roger Bylund (Retired Educator/Businessperson)

I have strong opinons on this based on solid info I’ll publish in more detail early this week. The first three on this list (Rich, Melissa, and Michael) are my choices. Bottom line: the current School Board promotes segregation, discrimination, elitism and is bad for the children, their parents, and the world.

Rich is active on his children’s Magalia school Site Council and made valuable changes despite School Board obstructionism. Melissa is a parent who works with local social service nonprofit CORE. She’s smart with a big heart. Mike lives locally and works out of the area as a Speech and Hearing therapist in another public school. These are good people. The School Board doesn’t need any more retired whatevers or incumbents.

Chico City Council - vote for no more than 4

Ann Schwab (Councilmember/Non-Profit Director); Mercedes Macias (Community Volunteer); Karl Ory (Nonprofit Housing Director); Tammi Ritter (Councilmember/Family Mediator); Randall Stone (Councilmember/Small Businessman). These are the five I favor but I don’t live in Chico. You can only vote for four.

The others and why I wouldn’t vote for them.

Loretta Ann Torres (Farmer/Businesswoman) Endorsed by scum of the earth Larry Wahl. I won’t even go into the UPS Stores he owns. Lisa Duarte (Veterinary Hospital Coordinator) She doesn’t sound too bad (won’t support the Walmart mega-monster) but has sorta-fine-sounding mush on issues like homelessness, crime (“I would like to make the police conduct sobriety checkpoints every night of the week.”) Jovanni Tricerri (Businessman/Nonprofit Consultant) He might be the best of this bunch but I can’t tell from his website info if he has real social justice credentials or is a missionary. Sean Morgan (Businessman/Councilmember/Professor) He’s endorsed by idiot La Malfa. Jon Scott (Entrepreneur/Property Investor) No website but his job description puts me off. Jeffrey S. Glatz (Business Consultant). Ditto.

city of chico measures

N — change the time of the City Council Meeting held on the first Tuesday in December of each even-numbered year from 7:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m
O — proposals for public works contracts to be provided on the city's website or other approved methods
P — permit the council to contract with a newspaper for publication of legal notices and official advertisements without advertising for the contract when there is only one newspaper of general circulation in the City

I don’t know — you can read the impartial analysis here. I suspect Measure P is from the Enterprise-Wretched who wants to be considered “the one newspaper of general circulation in the City” but that omits the News and Review, which I favor. I don’t even use the ER to line my parrots’ cages.

city of oroville

City Council, Parks and Rec etc are on the ballot and if you want to talk Oroville, bring it on. The only one I’ll mention here is Measure R, a 1 percent local sales tax to fund public safety. Everyone here knows that the public generally isn’t all that safe in Oroville but will a tax help? The ER wrote an article about it here — remember it’s the ER’s so . . .

The intention is that this tax is for public safety, outlined in the text as: “police protection, fire suppression, vehicle repair and maintenance, finance analyst and human resources.” However, since it is a general tax, the revenue could go toward anything approved by the council.

paradise town council

Melissa S. Schuster (Businessperson); Greg Bolin (Incumbent/Businessperson); Mike Zuccolillo (Businessperson); Steve “Woody” Culleton (Incumbent/Retired); Stan McEtchen (Mechanical Engineer)

I think the Paradise Town Council is important, don’t know the candidates. For example, Zuccolillo has a great name but this is one of his positions: “Create a Business Friendly atmosphere at Town Hall.” I suspect they all suck because really, this isn’t paradise.

and so on

I’ve run out of steam on typing in names of unknown candidates. I think the Paradise Irrigation District (PID) election is important and know why but I don’t know which candidates represent my opinions. One candidate for PID, Cliff Jacobson, has the website named spraychem — I’d not vote for him just due to that, but is this the best basis for decision-making? Area Parks and Recreation are important, too, especially in Chico where keeping Bidwell Park healthy and natural is my high priority.

Let’s help each other with these offices and add others to the comments.

Everyone knows something. No one knows everything.

links but i’m not saying these are worthy opinions

California Progressive Voter Guide to the State Propositions
Butte County Candidate Guide has them but doesn’t include all the candidates — El Medio, Golden Feather, Bangor, Thermalito and all our tiny hyper-local elections and candidates.
Butte County Contest/General Election Proof Sheet is a spreadsheet with all the candidates.

Stories on Daily Kos

Ready for ACTION? Ready to VOLUNTEER? Ready to CONTRIBUTE? Why Not Take a Look Here?

Yosef 52

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday October 06, 2016 · 1:09 PM PDT

2016/10/06 · 13:09

The Fighting Democratic Party, Ready to Win!

I left the Republican Party and the diseased conservative “movement” about 25 years ago. I was simply too disgusted by the growing religious fanaticism, and by tolerance for racist bastards like Jesse Helms. There were other reasons as well, but I won’t go into them. Suffice it to say I started voting Democratic in 1992 and I haven’t regretted it one bit. The only thing that has exasperated me sometimes is the lack of backbone and fire in the national party leadership. Being a somewhat combative and confrontational person, I stand up and fight for what I believe. I am an activist. I have worked as a volunteer in many Democratic campaigns and have fought the good fight even for causes that didn’t look promising.

Now, understand me: we should be winning this thing by 20 or 25 points. But we’re not. Hillary Clinton faces a media establishment that largely despises her and blows every so-called “scandal” into a national issue. Donald Trump, while receiving strong criticism, gets away with political murder constantly. Can you imagine—CAN YOU IMAGINE—the shitstorm that would be sweeping the media if Hillary Clinton had accepted a Purple Heart as a gift while saying, “I’ve always wanted one of these?” Can you imagine the shrieking we would hear if she had refused to release her taxes? If she had run a scam “university” that had bilked ordinary people out of thousands of dollars? If she had declared bankruptcy four times? If she had been the target of FIFTEEN HUNDRED lawsuits for non-payment/non-compliance? If she had threatened to kill her opponent? If one of her chief campaign aides had said Trump should be shot for treason? If she had stirred up one-tenth of the racial and ethnic hatred Trump has deliberately incited? If her campaign manager was a vicious white supremacist asshole? If her other manager was associated with one of the worst misogynists in America (Phyllis Schlafly)? If one of her advisors was a Holocaust denier? If she had had a campaign manager that had accepted $12.7 million in bribes from the Russian government? If she had fallen on her face as utterly and completely in a debate, as Trump did? If she had had the kind of meltdown Trump had over the revelation of his tax manipulation? SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVEN FROM THE RACE, and you and I both know it. There is a monstrous double standard that she is up against. For 25 years she has been the target of the ugliest, most vile, most prolonged hate campaign in American history. And it has had its effect. That’s simply the reality. The election is close.

You know what I do in such cases?

I WORK HARDER. I FIGHT HARDER. AND BY GOD, I WIN.

The Diary is Split Into Seven Sections:

I. Registration and Early Voting Info

II. How to Join the Clinton Campaign

III. Political Ammunition (Pro-Clinton, Anti-Trump)

IV. How to Contact the Media

V. Unions and Other Organizations Supporting Clinton-Kaine

VI. Act Blue, Official Democratic Organizations, and Senate Candidates That Need Your Help

VII. House Candidates Who Need Your Help

I. LOOK HERE FOR REGISTRATION AND EARLY VOTING INFO!

VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR EVERY STATE:

www.eac.gov/...

ELECTION INFORMATION FOR EACH STATE:

A. Voter ID:
www.voteriders.org/...

B. ROCK THE VOTE:

www.rockthevote.com/...

C. EARLY/ABSENTEE VOTING? I GOT YOUR EARLY VOTING RIGHT HERE, PAL!

Here’s where you start: Early Voting Calendar from Vote.org: www.vote.org/...

Ballotpedia also has useful information:

ballotpedia.org/...

From the site: 34 states + DC allow no excuse early voting. Here they are, with links to info pertaining to each of them, except DC.

These three states are mail-in only voting (with info links):

Colorado, Oregon, and Washington

And from the National Conference of State Legislatures, found here: www.ncsl.org/...

Early Voting: In 37 states (including 3 that mail ballots to all voters) and the District of Columbia, any qualified voter may cast a ballot in person during a designated period prior to Election Day. No excuse or justification is required.
Absentee Voting: All states will mail an absentee ballot to certain voters who request one. The voter may return the ballot by mail or in person. In 20 states, an excuse is required, while 27 states and the District of Columbia permit any qualified voter to vote absentee without offering an excuse. Some states offer a permanent absentee ballot list: once a voter asks to be added to the list, s/he will automatically receive an absentee ballot for all future elections.
Mail Voting: A ballot is automatically mailed to every eligible voter (no request or application is necessary). In-person voting sites may also be available for voters who would like to vote in-person and to provide additional services to voters. Three states mail ballots to all eligible voters for every election. Other states may provide this option for some types of elections.

D. FIGHT VOTER SUPPRESSION!!

www.aclu.org/…

Kossack Goodwhich has a VITAL diary about registration right here: www.dailykos.com/...

II. LOOK HERE FOR INFO ON JOINING THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN!

WANT TO TAKE ACTION NOW? START HERE!!

JOIN THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN:

www.hillaryclinton.com/...

PHONEBANKING FOR CLINTON:
www.hillaryclinton.com/...

VOLUNTEER FOR HILLARY IN:

PENNSYLVANIA: www.hillaryclinton.com/...

OHIO: www.hillaryclinton.com/...

MISSOURI: www.hillaryclinton.com/...

MICHIGAN: www.hillaryclinton.com/...

FLORIDA: www.hillaryclinton.com/...

WISCONSIN: www.hillaryclinton.com/...

IOWA: www.hillaryclinton.com/...

GEORGIA: www.hillaryclinton.com/...

ARIZONA: www.hillaryclinton.com/...

NORTH CAROLINA: www.hillaryclinton.com/...

TEXAS: www.hillaryclinton.com/...

NEVADA: www.hillaryclinton.com/...

Additional Nevada contacts from Kossack askyron:

VARIOUS CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS.

NORTHERN NEVADA WASHOE COUNTY DEMS

775) 829-1699

1465 TERMINAL WAY #1, RENO, NV 89502

Reno

3695 KINGS ROW, RENO, NV 89503

Carson City Democrats

775.841.3367

502 E. JOHN STREET, SUITE G, CARSON CITY, NV 89706

CALLING ALL KOSSACKS!! LOOK HERE : www.90for90.org

III. LOOK HERE FOR POLITICAL AMMUNITION!

HERE IS MY PERSONAL LIST OF LINKS TO DEFENSES OF HILLARY CLINTON. SPREAD ‘EM AROUND! [COPY AND PASTE!]

https://thepolicy.us/thinking-about-hillary-a-plea-for-reason-308fce6d187c#.icuakzgsc [MUST READ!!]

http://hillarybook.nationalmemo.com/ [ebook of The Hunting of Hillary by Joe Conason and Gene Lyons]

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/hillary-clinton/

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/9/17/1422403/-Hillary-Clinton-s-Record-of-Accomplishments

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/clinton-fbi-investigation-documents [Josh Marshall. OUTSTANDING.]

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2016/sep/01/fact-checking-clinton-foundation-controversy/

http://www.politifact.com/global-news/statements/2016/jun/15/hillary-clinton/clinton-clinton-foundation-helped-9-million-lower-/

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/8/12/1559575/-Where-the-Hillary-Clinton-Attacks-Come-From

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/8/13/1559878/-Fox-Nation-Hypes-Scoop-On-Clinton-Charity-Scandal-That-Turns-Out-To-Be-Totally-Bogus

http://deadstate.org/fbi-to-gop-for-the-last-time-hillarys-extreme-carelessness-does-not-mean-gross-negligence/

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/new-york-times-cloud-shadow-clinton-coverage

http://m.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/09/14-excerpts-fbis-report-hillary-clintons-email

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/9/3/1566594/-The-Clintons-The-Arkansas-Project-and-some-Origins-of-the-Crooked-Hillary-Meme

HERE IS MY OWN PERSONAL LIST OF ANTI-TRUMP LINKS. USE THEM WELL! [COPY AND PASTE!]

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/

http://www.salon.com/2016/06/22/fact_checking_trumps_garbage_truck_of_lies_his_speech_accusing_clinton_of_corruption_is_riddled_with_fiction_and_conspiracies/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-hypocrisy-at-the-heart-of-trumps-campaign/2016/07/01/b8939d10-3f7f-11e6-80bc-d06711fd2125_story.html

http://www.salon.com/2016/07/07/following_the_trump_money_hes_running_his_campaign_just_like_he_did_his_casinos_as_a_big_scam/

http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/being-honest-about-trump?utm_content=buffer9c5b3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/cover_story/2016/07/donald_trump_is_unfit_to_be_president_here_are_141_reasons_why.html

http://www.vox.com/2016/7/18/12210500/diagnosed-dysfunction-republican-party

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/donald-trumps-ghostwriter-tells-all

https://imgur.com/uOU48BM

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/trump-putin-yes-it-s-really-a-thing

http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2016/07/how-putin-weaponized-wikileaks-influence-election-american-president/130163/

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-trump-and-putin-thing-a-detailed-response

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/8/1/1555171/-Mafia-Don

https://m.reddit.com/r/EnoughTrumpSpam/comments/4teoxl/a_final_response_to_the_tell_me_why_trump_is_a/?utm_source=mweb_redirect&compact=true

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-hired-me-as-an-attorneyplease-dont_us_579e52dee4b00e7e269fb30f?section=&

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/02/us/politics/donald-trump-draft-record.html?_r=0

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/carter-page-trump-russia_us_57a0f329e4b0693164c2fb41?section=&

http://www.newsweek.com/2016/08/12/donald-trumps-business-failures-election-2016-486091.html

http://www.thepeoplesview.net/main/2016/8/7/eat-your-damn-peas-already-why-hillary-rodham-clinton-is-the-only-real-choice

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/8/11/1559260/-The-Big-Lie-of-Obama-s-U-S-Withdrawal-from-Iraq-must-be-stopped-cold-Now

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/8/18/1561657/-Breaking-from-AP-Emails-link-Trump-advisers-to-covert-campaign-for-pro-Russian-Ukraine-government

http://fusion.net/story/338016/trump-manafort-marines-nato-protests/

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/8/26/1564104/-Russian-mob-linked-former-Trump-employee-visited-Trump-Tower-recently-and-he-isn-t-saying-why

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/8/30/1565211/-Donald-Trump-s-is-touchy-touchy-touchy-about-his-net-worth-and-not-going-to-show-his-taxes

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/08/donald-trump-scandals/474726/ [VERY valuable.]

http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2016/09/sadistic_pervert_roger_ailes_is_advising_donald_trump_why_isn_t_that_a_scandal.html [Ailes the Asshole]

https://thinkprogress.org/is-hillary-clinton-right-about-trump-supporters-this-is-what-the-polling-data-says-2b37625a1df3#.i8oqpq1dh

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/search/node/Larry%20Klayman%20type:blog [Attack on Larry Klayman, racist/lunatic/idiot founder of Judicial Watch]

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/8/30/1565227/-Trump-Campaign-CEO-Women-s-Liberation-Movement-is-Bunch-Of-Dykes-from-Seven-Sisters-Schools

http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/_hang_the_b_tch_f_g_n_gger_uncensored_video_of_trump_rallies_exposes_culture_he_s_created

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/8/3/1556556/-A-letter-from-J-R-Martinez-to-Donald-Trump

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/09/19/1571922/-50-NAT-L-SECURITY-EXPERTS-sign-open-letter-calling-Trump-foreign-biz-dealings-direct-threat

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/09/20/trump_is_racist_here_s_a_reminder.html

http://theweek.com/articles/648712/case-against-donald-trump

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/9/22/1573109/-Law-professor-writes-that-evidence-indicates-Trump-could-be-impeached-before-he-could-take-office

https://nucleardiner.wordpress.com/2016/07/24/trump-and-russia/

https://nucleardiner.wordpress.com/2016/07/29/what-trump-has-said-about-russia/

https://nucleardiner.wordpress.com/2016/07/30/donald-trump-fellow-traveler-or-useful-idiot/

https://nucleardiner.wordpress.com/2016/07/26/trumps-russian-deals/

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/9/24/1574013/-ABC-News-Report-Trump-Suffers-Another-Bout-of-Russian-Amnesia

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/09/trump-supporters-neo-nazis-white-nationalists-kkk-militias-racism-hate

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/9/25/1574079/-Trump-Adviser-Carter-Page-Traveled-to-Moscow-Before-RNC-Platform-was-Changed-to-Favor-Putin

http://samuel-warde.com/2015/11/21-donald-trump-quotes-about-women/

IV. LOOK HERE FOR INFO ON CONTACTING THE MEDIA

HERE ARE SOME PHONE CONTACT NUMBERS FOR MAJOR MEDIA:

NY Times 212-556-1234

ABC 212-456-7777

CNN 404-827-1500

NBC/MSNBC 212-664-4444

CBS 212-975-4321

From Kossack EMcClendon:

Some media executives that that need to hear from us:

NBC

STEVE BURKE Chief Executive Officer, NBCUniversal

DEBORAH TURNESS president of NBC News

ANDREW LACK Chairman of NBCUniversal News Group

CNN

JEFF ZUCKER President of CNN Worldwide

KEN JAUTZ Executive VP, CNN

MSNBC

PHIL GRIFFIN president of MSNBC

PAT BURKEY

JANELLE RODRIGUEZ

BRIAN WILLIAMS

ABC

BEN SHERWOOD Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks President, Disney|ABC Television Group

JAMES GOLDSTON President, ABC News

CBS

LESLIE MOONVES Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS Corporation

GIL SCHWARTZ Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, CBS Corporation

More media contact info from Kossack Catskill Julie

AP 212-621-1500, write info@ap.org , tweet @ap @AP_politics @Kathleenatap

NY TIMES 212-556-1234, DC bureau 202-862-0300, letters@nytimes.com, public@nytimes.com, Tweet @NYTPolitics @maggieNYT @jmartNYT (Politics editor) @amychozick

Washington Post 202-334-7410 @washingtonpost @Fahrenthold @TheFix @DanBalz @RuthMarcus @PostBaron (Editor)

USA Today @SusanPage (DC bureau chief) @HeidiPrysbyla @bjonesusat (Brent Jones-standards ed.) @USATODAYmoney @USATODAY @usatodaylife

Wall St Journal 212-416-2000 @WSJ

NPR 202-513-2000 @nprpolitics @tamarakeithNPR @npratc @drshow (Diane Rehm) @CokieRoberts

ABC 212-456-7777 @ABCpolitics @ABC @ThisWeekABC

CBS 212-975-4321 @CBSpolitics @CBSnews @FaceTheNation

CNN 404-827-1500 @CNN @CNNPolitics @CNNPoliticsdesk @jeffzeleny @danmericaCNN

NBC/MSNBC 212-664-4444 @NBCpolitics, @NBCNews @TODAYshow @hardball @ MitchellReports, @Maddow @chrislhayes @lawrence @TamronMSNBC @KatyTurNBC @JoyAnnReid @kwelkernbc @morning_joe @MattLauer

PBS 703-998-2150 @NewsHour @gwenifill @JudyWoodruff

Bloomberg @jeneps (Jennifer Epstein) @MarkHalperin @jheil (John Heilemann)

@UnivisionNews @hispanic411 @TelemundoNews

Politico @politico , Stat News @rickberke , @HuffPostPol , @KurtEichenwald (Newsweek, Vanity Fair)

V. LOOK HERE FOR UNIONS AND PEOPLE SUPPORTING CLINTON-KAINE, AND INFO ON HOW TO HELP THEM

HERE ARE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS ENDORSING CLINTON:

en.wikipedia.org/...

HERE ARE LABOR UNIONS WORKING FOR CLINTON AND HOW YOU CAN CONTACT THEM: This is from the Wikipedia article above. Click on the links and you’ll be taken to articles on the union. In a box on the right on each page, you will find their websites:

AEA – Actors' Equity Association, representing 44k
AFGE – American Federation of Government Employees, representing 302k
AFL-CIO – American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, representing 12.7m
AFSCME – American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, representing 1.3m
AFT – American Federation of Teachers, representing 1.6m
AWIU – International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, representing 30k
BAC – International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, representing 76k
BCTGM – Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers' International Union, representing 74k
CWA – Communications Workers of America, representing 475k
IAM – International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, representing 570k
IATSE – International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, representing 125k
IBEW – International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers,* representing 725k
IBT – International Brotherhood of Teamsters,* representing 1.3m
IFPTE – International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, representing 80k
ILA – International Longshoremen's Association, representing 65k
IUOE – International Union of Operating Engineers, representing 375k
IUPAT – International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, representing 104k
IW – International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, representing 124k
LIUNA – Laborers' International Union of North America, representing 558k
NABTU – North America's Building Trades
NALC – National Association of Letter Carriers,* representing 277k
NEA – National Education Association, representing 3m
NTEU – National Treasury Employees Union, representing 83k
OPCMIA – Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association, representing 39k
OPEIU – Office and Professional Employees International Union, representing 102k
PASNAP – Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, representing 5k
SEIU – Service Employees International Union, representing 1.9m
SIU – Seafarers International Union of North America, representing 35k
SMART – International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, representing 150k
TWU – Transport Workers Union of America, representing 116k
UA – United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing, Pipefitting and Sprinkler Fitting Industry of the U.S. and Canada, representing 330k
UAW – United Automobile Workers, representing 990k
UBC – The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, representing 520k
UFCW – United Food and Commercial Workers Union, representing 1.3m
UFW – United Farm Workers, representing 10k
UNITE HERE, representing 264k
USW – United Steelworkers,* representing 860k
UURWAW – United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers, representing 22k

VI. LOOK HERE FOR ACT BLUE, THE DSCC, THE DCCC, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS, AND SENATE CANDIDATES THAT NEED YOUR HELP!

ACT BLUE for contributions to Democratic campaigns:

secure.actblue.com

THE DSCC:

secure.dscc.org/...

THE DCCC:

dccc.org

Let’s not forget the Governors!

democraticgovernors.org

DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATES THAT NEED OUR SUPPORT TO MAKE THE SENATE TURN BLUE!

Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire: maggiehassan.com

Katie McGinty, Pennsylvania: katiemcginty.com

Russ Feingold, Wisconsin: russfeingold.com

Tammy Duckworth, Illinois: join.tammyduckworth.com/...

Patrick Murphy, Florida: www.murphyforflorida.com/...

(Let’s kick Rubio OUT of the Senate!)

Jason Kander, Missouri: www.jasonkander.com

By the way, check out this ASS-KICKING commercial from Kander:

YouTube Video

Patty Judge, Iowa: pattyjudgeforiowa.com

(Send Grassley and his arrogant obstructionism home!)

Deborah Ross, North Carolina: www.deborahross.com

Ann Kirkpatrick, Arizona: www.kirkpatrickforsenate.com

(Time for BAD NEWS for John McCain!)

Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada: catherinecortezmasto.com

VII. LOOK HERE FOR HOUSE CANDIDATES WHO NEED YOUR HELP!

A HOUSE CANDIDATE I REALLY WANT TO HELP!

Doug Applegate in California: applegateforcongress.com

KICK DARRELL ISSA’S ASS OUT OF CONGRESS ONCE AND FOR ALL!

Here Are Other House Candidates from My Previous Diaries:

MONTANA:

Denise Juneau. denisejuneau.com

NEW HAMPSHIRE:

Carol Shea-Porter: www.sheaporter.com

NEW YORK:

Colleen Deacon colleendeacon.com

Anna Throne-Holst annathrone-holst.com

Kim Myers www.myersforcongress.com/

Zephyr Teachout www.zephyrteachoutforcongress.com

OHIO

Steven Fought: www.stevenfought.com

TEXAS

Pete Gallego: petegallego.com/...

Ruby Woolridge: www.voteforruby.org

WASHINGTON:

Joe Pakootas: www.pakootasforcongress.com

WYOMING:

Ryan Greene (this is the horrible Liz Cheney’s opponent.

ryangreene16.com

I’m fired up, I’m ready for combat, and I’m in it to win it! I’m a Democratic shark and I smell Republican blood in the water. Don’t worry, don’t whine, don’t fret that we’re not running away with this thing—YET. TAKE ACTION! GET TO WORK! STAND UP AND FIGHT.

AND WIN!

P.S. PLEASE ADD LINKS FOR ANY OF YOUR FAVORITE CANDIDATES IN THE COMMENTS!

In the immortal words of Bluto…

YouTube Video

Crowdsourcing the 50 State Strategy: It's Crunch Time, And We Need You!

Christopher Reeves for Crowdsourcing the 50 State Strategy

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday September 07, 2016 · 5:01 PM PDT

2016/09/07 · 17:01

LAS VEGAS, NV - FEBRUARY 19: Volunteers and campaign workers make phone calls at a campaign office for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on February 19, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Clinton is challenging Sen. Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential nomination ahead of Nevada's February 20th Democratic caucus. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

A movement is growing at Daily Kos to fix a key problem in our party — regardless of whether Hillary, Martin, or Bernie wins the presidential nomination. In the past couple of months we’ve launched Crowdsourcing the 50-State Strategy and are recruiting activists to join us in this long-term, bottom-up rebuilding process.

If you are interested in volunteering to help with this effort please send our group a kosmail and let us know how you want to help. Nav ajo, who is organizing volunteers, will send you an invite. Also please post your own diaries and recommend the work of others you think are good additions to the effort.

So, it’s been a few months. And you may have thought we left, right? Wrong. Those who have been working on crowdsourcing the 50 state strategy have had a year of pretty amazing accomplishments.

We managed to recruit candidates into races in several states: Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Florida else elsewhere who reached out and said: I may be willing to run, what would it take?

Now we are in crunch time, and I’m coming to the Daily Kos community and sending up an alert: WE NEED YOU, NOW. STAT.

How can you help? Let’s talk!

Hoomai29

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday May 31, 2016 · 5:56 PM PDT

2016/05/31 · 17:56

Scan from original on Epson 10000XL scanner — We lose America when we ignore rural Americans.

TrueBlueDonkey’s, May 8 I Am a Realist post is wonderful. You should read it.

Unlike TrueBlueDonkey, I'm STILL a strong Bernie supporter--AND it is quite likely that Hillary is going to be the nominee. (Congratulations!) That said, the self-disarmament of the Democratic Party in rural areas is the reason that a wackjob like Donald Trump can win the Republican nomination.

The second, unstated point to TrueBlueDonkey’s post, however, is that a robust 50-state strategy is the single most important factor to Democratic success in this presidential election and in retaking the US Senate, US House and state governments...We must, fiercely, follow a 50-state strategy, or we could easily lose even the Hillary-Trump election. We CANNOT overlook the rural vote. This is a big part of why the 2010 and 2014 disasters happened. AND, by not ignoring the rural vote, as Howard Dean did in 2006 and 2008, is one of the major factors for why 2006 and 2008 were so successful. Heck, I marched for Barack Obama in the 2008 Butte, Montana 4th of July Parade. Obama and Dean did not take the rural areas lightly. And, yes, Obama lost Montana by 3 points, but people from Montana talk to people in the other 49 states and we can never be sure which message is the one that turns a vote one way or the other. The only thing we can be sure of is that if we do not communicate, we cede the rural conversation to the Republicans and they then have a very clear platform from which to broadcast their inane vision of reality.

The rural areas are mostly natural resource economies, but who's talking, really talking, about farming? Not Bernie, not Hillary. Who's talking about working in the woods, or the mines? Not Bernie, not Hillary. Who's talking about saving rural post offices? Maybe Bernie, but not loud enough, because it's not a union issue, it's an issue of not having to drive forty miles to pick up a package. Who’s talking about saving America’s small towns and schools? Crickets...

AND, in the face of pervasive, and overwhelming drought, who's talking about massive, federal water projects!!! If there's one issue that can start to get farmers to listen to Democrats, start building pipelines, massive pipelines to get enough water to Oklahoma and Nevada and Fresno and Iowa and Pine Ridge and Eastern Montana so that their crops don't burn and their aquifers don't dry up. There's your issue!

Here’s another one, while you’re using rural land to put in solar and wind farms, figure out how to leave some of the electricity for local, small town jobs—let’s ship our manufacturing jobs to Pierre, South Dakota, not China!

Oh, wait, I think I hear it now, yup, representatives from New York, and San Francisco and Seattle and Chicago and some lizard head guy from Louisiana talking about how it would imbalance the environment, how expensive it would be, and besides we only need to win eighteen states to win the presidency--(and won't mention that those same eighteen States are the only places they make the big bucks fundraising from liberal doctors)...

Not big on a fifty-state strategy? Here's a clue. Those 32 States, often at near starvation wages, often under threat of farm foreclosure, grow your fucking food! They mine the coal and frack the natural gas for your electricity. They, (sustainably harvest), the pine and fir and maple for your houses and furniture, and they, at least a few of 'em, listen when you bother to expend campaign resources and put Democratic operatives on the ground 24/7 to find out what their lives are about...and then they still vote 60-40 for the Republicans.

But, you know what--and this is Jon Tester's secret—if you only lose the rural areas 60/40, then miracle of miracles--Democrats get the Senate back! ...And pretty soon you get the House back, and pretty soon Democratic/Farm/Labor parties start actually turning out voters again, and Democrats start getting state houses and governorships back...all because you put resources in rural areas, began listening to rural folks again and truly, not in the Trump bullshit way, started making ALL of America great again.

50 States or Bust! Truly.

Last Call for Michigan Precinct Delegates. Deadline Today. I applied, will you?

2thanks

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday May 03, 2016 · 11:52 AM PDT

2016/05/03 · 11:52

4 p.m. today is the deadline to get your name on the August 2, 2016, primary ballot as a candidate for precinct delegate in Michigan.

Precinct delegates are elected directly by the voters of each precinct to serve as a bridge between voters and the Democratic Party in your neighborhood, and if you are elected, you will represent your neighborhood at Democratic meetings. Apparently Michigan has a lot of empty precinct delegate seats.

To run, you must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a registered voter, and a resident of the precinct you wish to represent. Easy!

There is no filing fee, and no petition signatures are required. All you need is a notarized Affidavit of Identity which you must complete and submit to your County Clerk by 4:00 PM on Tuesday, May 3rd — TODAY!

What to do

All you have to do is print out the online form, fill in the few blanks, get your signature notarized, and deliver the form to your county clerk by 4 p.m. today.

You can get the Affidavit of Identity online here. (The site is county-specific, but the affidavit is good for any county in Michigan.)

Detroit’s County Clerk is at 2 Woodward Avenue, Room 502. I dropped my affidavit off there last week.

More information

For more information, check out peregrine kate’s post from a couple of weeks ago here. She has asked Michigan Kossacks to become a precinct delegate many times online.

Are you running for precinct delegate?

I think DoReMI and sydneyluv have also delivered their affidavits already. Have you?

If you are not a resident of Michigan, do you want to be or plan to be a precinct delegate in your state? If you want to post deadlines for other states, please feel free to do that.

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The legacy of Dr. Wm Ferguson Reid Sr lives on in all of us, tell him Happy Birthday on his 98th!

Want to push back against these white supremacists, including the one in the Oval? JOIN US Sept. 1-4

ATTN: Candidates & Democratic Party Chairs, DemocratsWorkForAmerica.org a SuperPAC for you!

Democrats, let's take the fight to Virginia Beach!

STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES - data overviews for all 50 states - what do you think about yours?

Want to prevent the Republican Horde from destroying PPACA/Obamacare & Medicare? Phone it in...

Texas: To flip the state Fort Bend County is a prime target

CA-01 Butte: Let's evaluate our usual sucky election options (plus bonus haiku of State Props)

Ready for ACTION? Ready to VOLUNTEER? Ready to CONTRIBUTE? Why Not Take a Look Here?

Crowdsourcing the 50 State Strategy: It's Crunch Time, And We Need You!

50 States or Bust! Make ALL of America Great Again!

Last Call for Michigan Precinct Delegates. Deadline Today. I applied, will you?