This week at Progressive Blue, we are focusing our attention on the candidates we believe deserve not just your vote and your vocal support, but the money and volunteers that will allow them to make it through these last 2 critical weeks successfully.
Each day this week, we have featured candidates, giving you a refresher on their backgrounds and an update on their races. Some you are probably very familiar with, some may be new to you, and all need your help.
So Follow me below the fold for previews and links to the first biennial Bake Sale Diaries...
The preview and link to each Bake Sale Diary published earlier this week will be published below every morning this week during the First PB Biennial Candidate & Cause Bake Sale!
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Darcy Burner: The Authentic Netroots Candidate (by alabama2008)
There are a number of candidates this cycle that would be considered netroots favorites. However, perhaps the most beloved by all of the Congressional Candidates is Darcy Burner running for Congress in Washington 08.
Dave Reichert currently represents this district, one of the most leaning Democratic congressional districts held by a Republican. Reichert narrowly beat Burner in 2006 and the rematch became one of the most expensive races in the country.
There's more...
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Heather Ryan: A New Hope for Progress in Western Kentucky (by RDemocrat)
Here at Ryan for Kentucky, one of our proudest accomplishments has been recieving the endorsement of Progressive Blue. One read through the posts on this blog and one can easily see that the Democrats here represent the heart and the soul of our party. It has been a wild ride for us here, and many of you have been along on it with us since the beginning. I wanted to look back at some of the things we accomplished together.
There's more...
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FL-08: Alan Grayson: "a one-man war against Contractor Fraud in Iraq." (by jamess)
| Alan Grayson is a progressive Democrat running for U.S. Congress in Florida's 8th District (which is the Orlando area - the eastern side of central flordia) |
Grayson's Web Site
DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation's largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Alan Grayson's campaign to represent Florida's 8th Congressional District.
"Alan Grayson doesn't back down, he takes on the tough fights and wins," said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. "Democracy for America is proud to endorse his campaign because Alan Grayson will be a progressive champion for his constituents."
Alan Grayson is a Harvard-educated attorney who has built a powerful reputation as a staunch opponent of government waste and fraud. As the founder and manager of his own law firm, Alan Grayson has conducted what the Wall Street Journal called a "one-man war against contractor fraud in Iraq."
(emphasis added)
http://blog.graysonforcongress.com/...
There's more...
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OH-16: John Boccieri - Embracing America's Middle Class (by GARoach)
John Boccieri was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. The grandson of coal miners, steelworkers, and carpenters, he went to college on a baseball scholarship, then joined the U.S. Air Force. He has served in the military for 14 years, including four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has represented eastern Stark County for eight years in the Ohio legislature as a State Representative and State Senator. John lives in Alliance with his wife and four children.
When John Boccieri launched his campaign for Congress in June 2007, he made a vow to Ohioans.
He promised to be a voice for change in Washington – a fighting force for working families, veterans, living wage jobs, and free and fair trade. And John vowed to always bring honesty and integrity to his work.
It’s time, John said, to renew the American spirit. It’s time to bring back hope in the promise of America, and reverse the poor decisions in Washington which are jeopardizing this promise for Ohioans today.
SUPPORT JOHN BOCCIERI, Donate Here!
There's more...
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Jim Martin and political courage. (GA-Sen) (by CLLGADEM)
Let's be honest from the outset - the odds have never been in Jim Martin's favor in Georgia's Senate race, and he knew that going in. He started relatively late, had a competitive primary to endure, and a Republican incumbent in a conservative state with a massive war chest to face after the August runoff.
This is now a margin-of-error race with two weeks to go, and the Road to 60 is definitely going through the Peach State!
SUPPORT JIM MARTIN, Donate Here -- or -- Here with the Blue Georgians!!
More below the fold...
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OR-Sen Candidate Jeff Merkley - A Progressive Coalition Builder (by sarahlane)
Oregon's House Speaker Jeff Merkley is running against Republican Gordon Smith in what has become the most contested race in the country. Getting rid of Gordon Smith and his support for failed foreign and economic policies would be good for all Americans. Smith has been an avid supporter of big oil and big pharma, and has always put their interests before the interests of working families. But, Smith's support of failed foreign and economic policies are not the reason you should get involved in the Oregon Senate race. Jeff Merkley is a talented, progressive workhorse who has a record of accomplishments that literally...blows my mind.
Full disclosure, I am the netroots director for OR-Sen candidate Jeff Merkley
There's more...
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FL-07: Faye Armitage --An Economist, A Health Industry Specialist, A Winner (by edgery)
In the Seventh Congressional District of Florida, a real battle has broken out with Faye Armitage (known around these parts as fayeforcure) coming on strong against incumbent Republican John Mica.
Florida's 7th District isn't an easy place to be a Democrat. In 2004, Bush won over Kerry by 57-43. In 2006, Mica beat his challenger 63-37. Republican voter registrations outnumber Democrats 43 to 35. Swing voters in this district will play a critical role in unseating the seven-term Congressman, and turning this race toward Armitage. This is a great district to to see if Obama has the long coat tails we're hoping for.
+ + + SUPPORT FAYE FOR CONGRESS!! + + +
Faye holds bachelor's and master's degrees in economics from the University of Amsterdam and taught economics at Valencia Community College in the late 1990s. She became a crusader for embryonic stem-cell research, patient safety and universal health care after a 1996 soccer accident left her son a quadriplegic. Although a first-time candidate, Faye Armitage knows her way around the halls of power already, and will combine her economics training and experience as a citizen-lobbyist in Tallahassee and Washington, to advocate for her 7th District constituents.
There's more...
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Larry Kissell - North Carolina District 8 is working to bring back Jobs! (by OneCarolinaGirl)
Larry Kissell will bring to Congress a depth of experience that few can match. Larry began his career working in a textile plant and remained there for 27 years. He experienced first hand job loss in 2003 and he became a public high school teacher. Today he lives in an area that has experienced enormous job loss and he is working to get those jobs back. He first confronted incumbent Robin Hayes in the 2006 election that was highly contested. Hayes only won by 329 votes and even that was never and absolute win to many.
There's more...
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Andrew Rice for Senate from Oklahoma...Putting people before politics (by OklahomaVoter)
"Our elected officials in Washington have put the interests of Wall Street executives ahead of the interests of Oklahomans on Main Street. It’s time Oklahomans had a U.S. senator who puts the people before politics."
I support Rice because he is NOT a formulaic career politician, and he will work to change Washington by bringing people from all sides together to get things done. Like Obama, he has a very disciplined and nuanced mind and vocabulary. Rice is articulate, respectful, not full of himself, and works hard. Above all, his priorities are people, not power. My commitment includes calling strangers, placing and delivering signs, manning tables, making buttons, giving donations, and manning a voter registration drive.
"My promise to the people of Oklahoma as I now campaign for U.S. Senate is the same promise I have made to my constituents in State Senate District 46:
• I will always be an independent voice for you.
• My service will be transparent and accountable to you.
• I am willing to change course when current policy isn’t working.
• I will work with both sides to get things done for Oklahoma."
More below the fold...
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Each Bake Sale Diary contains links to the candidates' pages for volunteering and/or donations, and you can also go to the Act Blue page and donate there as well if you wish!
These great candidates need any help we can give them during this campaign crunch time!
Thanks for reading!