Sure as the sun rises, the battle for Bucks County, Pennsylvania will light up the electric tote boards on election night.
Home to a tooth and nail battle for a US House race in Pennsylvania US CD-01 where Christine Finello is bringing a commitment to climate, healthcare and reproductive rights, Bucks County is a favorite barometer for election night commentators.
We have a say so in the results in PA-01 this election night!
Hidden inside Bucks County are two PA State Legislative races where Democrats have a shot at winning two of the nine seats needed to flip Pennsylvania’s State House Blue, impacting legislative priorities, 2021 redistricting and even GOP attempts to manhandle the will of Pennsylvania’s voters.
Gary Spillane is running in PA-HD-142, where his story as a local father and business owner will resonate, Gary also brings the endorsements and environmental stewardship that Bucks County voters demand.
Critically, in response to Republican attacks on the right to vote, Spillane in unequivocal when it comes to voting and voter suppression:
Fair Elections and an End to Gerrymandering
I support Fair Districts PA, the coalition calling for non-partisan redistricting at the state level to stop partisan gerrymandering. I support early voting, no excuse mail-in ballots, same-day registration, automatic voter registration when a citizen turns 18, and other reforms that make it easier for all Pennsylvanians to vote. I also support campaign finance reform for increased transparency and accountability for our elected officials.
Lauren Lareau may be the candidate in these profiles who least appeared on anyone’s radar. But she should be! EveryDistrict rates the LDI of her district as a pure tossup between R and Dem. What’s more Lareau’s positions on healthcare and the environment stand out, where Lauren has taken a position that provides a clear distinction between her and her Republican opponent, who, like Susan Collins, is trying to thread the needle in a district where voters are angry at Trump and the GOP. Lareau is clear on climate for all of Pennsylvania to hear:
We must be more responsible with our environmental resources, which is why Lauren supports a moratorium on new fracking wells, in addition to a shale tax on gas companies. Pennsylvania is the only state in the country that doesn't have a shale tax, and that is simply irresponsible since PA is the second largest producer of natural gas in the country.
The proceeds of this tax should be used to invest in renewable energy technology and infrastructure projects, so that Pennsylvania can be a leader in renewable energy job creation and the conversion from fossil fuels to a green energy economy. Lauren wants to see Pennsylvania committed to 100% renewable energy by 2050.
Access to a clean environment is also a social justice issue that must be addressed. Historically, poor communities have been taken advantage of by large corporations that use their communities as a dumping ground for the toxic waste from their factories.
Now, every vote that Spillane and Lareau turn out will help Christine Finello in PA-01 and the Biden/Harris ticket overall in Pennsylvania. If one of them wins, potentially providing Democrats with a ninth seat in the Pennsylvania State House against all odds, Democrats will have established a clear demarcation line in our democracy.
Even at this late date, we can help! These two elections could come down to the final GOTV weekend.
To support Gary and Lauren and 23 other amazing local state legislative candidates, please consider pitching in at my State Level Impact 2020 ActBlue Page (more details below.)
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About this series:
I’m a longtime local election activist and Dailykos blogger dating back to 2003. I was part of helping local blogs and the netroots drive Democrats to take back the House in 2006 and helped build some of the biggest and most successful grassroots and online groups supporting Barack Obama.
The 2020 Democratic State Legislative candidates are heroes, and deserve our support. (If you are on Twitter please click on that link!) They are our best chance of changing US politics including GOP voter suppression and gerrymandering for decades to come and many of them will run campaigns that help us win electoral college votes and key US Senate and House votes:
Pennsylvania:
Michigan:
Wisconsin:
North Carolina:
Arizona:
Texas:
Georgia and Florida:
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You can also visit and donate at my State Level Impact 2020 ActBlue Page
This is an unaffiliated fundraising page that I created to provide a data-private, email opt out default option for those looking to contribute to many candidates at one time without signing up for emails or sharing your info with a group.
You are able to donate to 25 worthy local candidates flipping Red seats Blue, but with the email setting to default opt-out (you have to opt-in at the end if you want to be subscribed.) Not only does this send last minute money to crucial local campaigns (who can spend on digital GOTV right up until the last second!) but it also lets you save yourself the hassle of unsubscribing from multiple lists. Even small donations split multiple ways make an impact. 103 of us have donated a grand total $9,270 so far, and every donation is definitely appreciated by the candidates.
I know we can grow that total even more, as the election closes.
Trust me, this will help us win.
Please consider donating today.
(Prefer to donate via a group or organizational portal? This DLCC page focused on flipping state houses and the official DKos anti-Gerrymander page are great options!)
