Lucy Flores is nothing if not her own candidate. Earlier this year, she came out with a full throated endorsement of Bernie Sanders for President. This turned out to be consequential, as it cost her the endorsement from Emily’s List, who backed one of her opponents instead, even though the opponent was down double digits to Flores in the latest poll. Normally I like Emily’s List, but this time I think they blew it. I thought their objective was to promote the “best” female candidates, and Flores is clearly that. Instead, this time, they let their displeasure of her endorsement of Sanders color their perception, and her qualifications. Sorry Emily’s List, but to me that seems shallow and counterproductive.
But sometimes, principles pay off. Somehow, at one point or another Bernie Sanders became aware of her and her endorsement. In April, in response to criticism that he wasn’t helping the rest of the party with his fundraising haul, Sanders sent out a donation e-mail blast to his supporters. On that e-mail was a short list of congressional candidates, all of whom had endorsed Sanders. In his e-mail Sanders requested that his supporters split their donation, half to his campaign and half to another campaign, or to dice it up between all of the candidates. Lucy Flores of NV-04 was one of those candidates.
The story made the news at the time because it was the first time that Bernie was putting skin into the larger game. But the shelf life of the story was short. There was no follow up reporting, and as far as I know, that was the only time Bernie made that plea, although I could be wrong. I’m not on his mailing list, and I would welcome a Bernie supporter to correct me if that statement is incorrect.
I don’t have the short list of candidates, so I can’t speak for their campaigns, but I do have information on the result it had on the Lucy Flores campaign here in NV, and the results are almost mind boggling. According to a recent report on mynews4.com as reported by the Associated Press;
Flores reported raising more than $428,000 in the first few weeks of April, which dwarfs the amount that she and her two main primary opponents each raised in the first three months of the year.
For a congressional race my friends, that is a windfall! Lucy didn’t just “feel the Bern”, she got 3rd degree Berned. And in the best way. If ever there was an example of loyalty being rewarded, you’re looking at it right here. Remember, the Kos isn’t the only place with people willing to donate outside of their districts and races. Who knows how many Sanders supporters made private donations to her and swelled the coffers even more.
Lucy is an incredibly strong candidate. She has a powerful and compelling personal history. While in the NV Assembly, in supporting a sex education measure, she spoke emotionally from the well, recalling her agony at the age of 16 in deciding to terminate her pregnancy because she was not ready for a child, and her shame at having to ask her mother for the money for the procedure. She championed and passed a bill that made it easier for victims of sexual and physical abuse to terminate their leases without penalty so that they could get away from their abusers. Her platform reads like every progressives dream “to do list”.
So, there you have it. I’m taking my own advice to heart from my earlier diary and highlighting a local race of great importance. This is a “red” seat being vacated by Joe Heck running for the Senate, and it can be flipped, Lucy has widespread name recognition, and the cash will get her even better known. You can click here if you’d like to learn more about Lucy, donate or sign up to help her campaign out.
Thanks as always for reading!
Monday, May 9, 2016 · 12:12:43 AM +00:00
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Murfster35
I have received information in the comments section regarding my contention that her endorsement of Sanders cost her the Emily’s List endorsement. Both Sanders fundraising statement and the AP report I quoted in the diary alluded to the time frame coincidence, but there was no direct statement from Emily’s list, nor an internal leak to support that. As such, I consider myself corrected on that issue, and apologize wholeheartedly for having made an inference with no documentation to back it up.