Received this e-mail today from Democracy For America:
When it comes to Congress -- or government on any level -- representation matters. But unfortunately, the U.S. Senate right now looks almost nothing like the country it represents.
A Congressional Research Report released in July ran through the dismal numbers: Of the Senate’s 100 members, 93 are white, and 80 are male. Only ONE currently elected member of the Senate -- Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii -- is a woman of color.
Those numbers are absolutely unacceptable. This does not represent our values or reflect our country. This lack of progress in our most important legislative body means that real issues and perspectives are being short-changed. It also means that women of color with progressive values who will fight Wall Street, raise the minimum wage, and take on our broken campaign finance system are being denied a crucial chance to build power.
Fortunately, this November we have the opportunity to make a huge dent in Washington's representation problem. Right now, there are THREE amazing, DFA-endorsed candidates for the U.S. Senate who are progressive champions AND women of color -- and we're asking you to help us do everything possible to make sure that they win.
Can you chip in $3 or more now to support DFA's work to create a more reflective democracy by electing a record number of women of color to the U.S. Senate in 2016?
Here are the three progressive women of color that DFA is supporting to help take back the Senate in 2016:
- Catherine Cortez Masto in Nevada: Catherine Cortez Masto is running for Nevada's open U.S. Senate seat, and it's critical that she wins and keeps Senator Harry Reid's seat in Democratic hands. The latest polls show a tied race between Cortez Masto and Republican Joe Heck. Cortez Masto served two terms as Nevada's Attorney General and took on the big Wall Street banks on behalf of homeowners. She became well known for her integrity and leadership on behalf of Nevada families, women, and seniors.
- Tammy Duckworth in Illinois: Tammy Duckworth is an Iraq War Veteran who has been an extraordinary advocate for veterans in her role as Congresswoman from Illinois 8th Congressional District. She's running for U.S. Senate against Republican Mark Kirk, a Republican who claims to be independent, but who frequently votes the GOP party line and recently said President Obama is acting like the "drug dealer in chief." This is expected to be a very close race, but Trump is dragging Kirk down and Duckworth now has a growing lead in the polls.
- Kamala Harris in California: As California's Attorney General, Kamala Harris took on the Wall Street banks during the foreclosure crisis. In this crucial race to fill Barbara Boxer's open Senate seat, Harris is running against a moderate Democrat in California's top-two electoral system. Harris's opponent is chasing Republican voters. But Trump has fueled a massive surge in voter registration from progressives in California, especially young people and Latinos. We need to channel those votes toward the real progressive in this race: Kamala Harris.
Democracy for America is committed to creating a Congress that is both more progressive AND more reflective of the electorate it is charged with representing. That's one important way we will build an effective political revolution. This November, we have a unique opportunity: We can draw a sharp contrast with Donald Trump and his racist, sexist campaign by electing the most representative -- and proudly progressive -- Senate in U.S. history.
Will you chip in right now to help DFA take back the Senate and make history by helping these three incredible women of color win?
Thanks for all work you're doing to help make Congress more progressive -- and less exclusive.
- Jim
Jim Dean, Chair Democracy for America
Click here to donate to Cortez Masto, Duckworth and Harris’ campaigns.