When researching stories to help educate readers about the absolutely great field of Democratic State Legislative candidates in 2020, once in awhile I come across a powerful quote or personal story.
This one has both.
Pennsylvania’s Claudette Williams running in PA-HD-176 (In Monroe County in Northeastern PA to the North of Allentown) was quoted in an article covering the rallies in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. Her speech as a veteran, a mother and a Black woman is powerful and presages the message of Joe Biden’s powerful speech at Gettysburg yesterday.
This is from the Pocono Record from early June:
Monroe County saw its third protest march in a week on Sunday, and organizers wanted to make sure community engagement following the death of George Floyd doesn’t fade away. After a march through East Stroudsburg, speakers at Dansbury Park encouraged attendees to vote, donate, educate themselves and have tough conversations with friends and family members.
“We should be back here next week, next month, next year,” said Claudette Williams, the Democratic candidate for state representative from the 176th District. “And we won’t stop until we get what we’re asking for.” Williams spoke about the fear that black mothers have for their sons.
“I’m afraid for his life,” Williams said of her son, an Atlanta police officer. “He might wear that uniform, but once he takes that uniform off, he’s a black man. And his life is in danger. And this should not be.”
Claudette Williams is no stranger to service. Williams is a United States Army veteran who answered the call and served our nation in Iraq. Her story is one of constantly overcoming challenges she faced and yet relentlessly bringing people together.
I taught the soldiers under my command that their lives depended on trusting each other and working together. That message carried my troops and me very far overseas. I know I can help make the changes Pennsylvania needs in Harrisburg with the same drive to succeed.
I say that Harrisburg is not a mess. I say it’s an opportunity to raise a new voice and fix issues that have gone unaddressed for far too long. I plan to be a leader and a voice for the citizens of Pennsylvania’s 176th House District who have often gone unheard.
-Claudette Williams
PA-HD-176 will undoubtedly pose a challenge for us to flip in 2020. However, this is exactly the kind of district (Northeastern PA) where recent polling showing margins weakening for Republicans in areas that Trump carried may represent real meaningful opportunities for grassroots Democrats like Claudette Williams.
For a candidate backed with powerful endorsements what Williams needs in the close out of the race is support from grassroots donors like us.
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US Marine Corps Captain, high school teacher and business woman Deb Ciamacca has slightly better edge in her campaign to flip Pennsylvania’s 168th district just West of Philadelphia.
Ciamacca’s story has strong and compelling parallels to Williams above. Deb is also endorsed by Sister District, which give her strong support with phonebanking and postcards as we near election day:
Two veterans, two lifetimes of service, and two women ready to lead Democrats to victory in Pennsylvania in November. (Also, two Dkos endorsed candidates!) What a great opportunity to make a difference.
If you are at all (like me, like me) burned by previous election cycles this is a GREAT targeted way to support candidates who will drive turnout in a crucial battleground state.
And, yeah, if we flip the Pennsylvania House on election night?
Well, big change will come to Pennsylvania and Deb and Claudette will have so much to do with that!
(And so will you!)
Here’s a link to an email opt-out Act Blue page I created for folks who want to chip in to candidates running to flip districts Blue. You can find both Ciamacca and Williams there, or just chip in to the entire slate.
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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:
Mokah Jasmine Johnson (GA) | Akilah Bacy (TX) | Joanna Cattanach (TX) | Ricky Hurtado (NC) | Sara Rodriguez (WI) | Franccesca Cesti-Brown (FL) | Brandy Chambers (TX) | Anton Andrew (PA) | Chokwe Pitchford (MI) | Sarah Yacoub and Emily Siegrist (WI) | Travis Boldt (TX) | Patty Smith and Lindsay Drew (PA) | Keke Williams (TX) | Donna Lake and Nicole Quick (NC) | JoAnna Mendoza and Felipe Perez (AZ) | Barb Anness (MI) | Shaun Murphy-Lopez and Deb Andraca (WI)
You can also visit and donate at the State Level Impact 2020 ActBlue Page (Page created w/ an email privacy option for those who prefer to make a one time donation to multiple candidates.)
