Katie Hill is a 29-year-old executive of a $40m/year California non-profit called PATH (People Assisting The Homeless). She’s running to unseat Congressman Steve Knight, a right-wing Republican, in a SoCal district Clinton won by 7%. Katie Hill is going to beat Steve Knight, and you’re going to help.
You’re saying, “wait, 2018 is a long way away, and I’ve got Ossoff/Quist/Thompson/Virginia,” but early money is like yeast, and Katie Hill needs to build a grassroots campaign fast enough to keep the DCCC from endorsing the same unfortunate candidate they supported last time around, attorney Bryan Caforio, an impressive and polished guy with no ties to the district, who was easily tarred a carpetbagger and rode $8 million in ads to a 6% loss. Caforio is preparing to run again. That’s democracy, but the DCCC needs to understand there is a strong candidacy already coming together on the ground. The best way to help them understand that is, again, with your help.
This is the closest swing district to my neighborhood in LA. I was highly disappointed with Caforio’s wide loss, so when I read Katie Hill’s election announcement I was optimistic about her on paper. So optimistic that I drove to Santa Clarita at rush hour to be at her kick-off event. She was even more fantastic in person. Smart, tough, knowledgable, and deeply caring. My girlfriend was inspired too, and struck by Katie’s energy, strength, and genuineness. I came away confident she’s going to put in the work to win, and so when the ask came, I found myself giving her $100. For context, I am unemployed. That’s why I know you can give something.
CA-25 contains the bulk of northern Los Angeles County and centers population-wise on the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys, jutting westward to include most of Simi Valley in Ventura County as well.
|
clinton |
trump |
obamA |
romney |
obama |
mccain |
% |
50.3 |
43.6 |
47.8 |
49.7 |
49 |
48 |
As Hillary Clinton was carrying this district by almost 7%, right-wing Republican Steve Knight was carrying it by over 6%. How did this happen?
Well, for one, Steve Knight does have some assets beyond his short incumbency. He’s an Army veteran and 18-year LAPD officer, in a district that has a high veteran population, sizable aerospace employment, and a number of long-time LAPD bedroom communities. He has a Latina wife in a 35% Hispanic district. Most importantly, his father, Pete Knight, was a storied Air Force test pilot, popular Mayor of Palmdale, California State Assemblyman, and State Senator. Steve had his father’s old Assembly seat handed to him, then his old State Senate seat, and when 11-term Rep. Buck McKeon retired in 2014, Knight made it into California’s top-two primary with another Republican, carpetbagging former St. Sen. Tony Strickland, and found his way into congress, where he’s been a loyal party soldier.
Unlike Tony Strickland and Bryan Caforio, Katie Hill can not be called a carpetbagger. Raised by a police officer father and a nurse mother in both the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys, she now lives with her husband and their animals on a small farm in Agua Dulce, near the famous Vasquez Rocks (conveniently, she’s an avid rock climber). She can speak the language of her community, knows how to communicate progressive positions to a swing electorate, and when she gets to congress, she will be a rare and very much needed congressional voice on homelessness.
We need Katie Hill in congress. And we need the DCCC to know that. Help her out at Act Blue and see what happens.
Yes, it’s early! That’s why it’s the right time.