Central Pennsylvania, my home, is a “Trumpmuda Triangle” on the congressional level. Good Democratic candidates regularly disappear in the gerrymandered districts of uber Trump supporters Lou Barletta, PA 11, Scott Perry, PA 4, and Tom Marino, PA 10. Watch the behavior of my local Republicans in this video of a protester being assaulted at a local Trump rally. You will get an idea of why they feel they are so safe.
Yikes. Unfortunately, barring a miracle, the odious U.S. Congressman Lou Barletta is likely safe again this year. The bright spot: Republican PA State Representative Sue Helm, seen cheering a beating in that video, IS vulnerable this year. Shifting demographics in the suburbs of the capitol Harrisburg and Helm’s unwavering support for Trump have made the 104th PA State House District competitive for just the second time in living memory. Luckily, Helm’s Democratic opponent, Susquehanna Township Commissioner Jody Rebarchak, is the most serious challenger the district has seen in many, many years. Thanks to Donald Trump, her hard work may pay off with a pickup.
While Helm is better funded, there were a couple dozen volunteers at the recent organizational meeting I attended for her opponent Jody Rebarchak. That is not bad in a race like this, and, encouragingly, there were folks from both camps of our primary fight working side by side. Rebarchak, from the union bug on her handouts to her USA made t-shirts, is doing everything you would expect a good Democrat running a grassroots campaign to do. She is coordinating with other campaigns to maximize resources. She and volunteers are knocking doors and making calls across the sprawling 104th district. She is holding visibility events and stopping by practically every chicken corn soup sale and autumn church dinner in the district. Wherever she goes, Jody Rebarchak presents a stark contrast to her Trump supporting opponent - Jody stands up for women and women’s rights, and her campaign is making an extra effort to reach out to women across party lines, from one end of the district to the other.
Democrats have plenty to dislike about Representative Helm. She has resisted all calls to denounce Trump’s behavior. Even in light of the most recent revelations about Trump’s treatment of women and young girls, Helm continues to campaign for him. She is a member of the conservative legislation mill ALEC, and sponsored the PA version of their boilerplate voter ID law. Helm also sponsored Pennsylvania’s mandatory vaginal ultrasound bill, and voted for the 2012 Republican budget that gutted funding for the state’s public schools. She voted for PA HB 439, which would have imposed harsh penalties on undocumented workers and their employers. She is an active Realtor® and a part time legislator. the National Association of Realtors® openly bragged Helm was “instrumental” in stripping the sprinkler requirement for new home construction from the state building code. So Helm condones political violence, introduces and pushes legislation written completely by lobbyists, does not stand up for women, and holds the local fire marshals that fought for sprinklers in the same regard as Donald Trump.
If you live in the PA 104th House District or nearby, and I know a few kossaks must, I urge you to get on board today and help Jody Rebarchak if you can. If she can cut into Helm’s support in the reddest areas of the 104th by just a few points, this is a totally doable pickup. A few extra volunteer door knocks, or a couple of extra dollars, can and will make the difference in this race. Thanks Donald!
Please consider contributing and/ or volunteering for 104th District PA House candidate Jody Rebarchak in these critical last weeks before November 8. secure.actblue.com/...
Contact the campaign to to volunteer on the web, facebook or twitter.
http://www.jodyrebarchak.com
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Jody has earned the endorsements of the PA AFL-CIO, SEIU Local 668, Capital Region Stonewall Democrats, Central Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council, Keystone Progress, Planned Parenthood PA PAC, PSEA – PACE, Sierra Club PA, and the PA Federation of Democratic Women. She really is the most serious and hardworking Democratic opponent her district has seen since the 1970’s.
Thanks for reading!