One of these women is a daily Foo Fighters listener and government watchdog who is so passionate about criminal justice reform that she’s posted multiple townhalls on topics such as combating hate and racism and the PA Innocence Project.
The other is a single mom, community activist, and small business woman absolutely committed to reflect and share the values of her constituents while taking strong stands on reproductive rights, healthcare, the minimum wage and education.
Something central these two Democratic candidates have in common is that they are fighting uphill (but not impossible) battles to flip their Central Pennsylvania districts Blue.
And so much is on the line in this election.
Please take a moment right now to get to know Patty Smith (PA-HD-104) and Lindsay Drew (PA-HD-106). I’m including their Bio videos below and links to their endorsement pages, which are filled to the brim with groups like Planned Parenthood, HRC, the Sierra Club and Clean Water Action.
This is exactly the kind of “edge of the possible” state legislative races where we can make a huge difference in 2020 by providing these candidates with the resources they need to turn out our voters in a red-to-blue district.
And, on that note, there’s one more essential thing that Smith and Drew share.
They also share districts that overlap with Democratic Pennsylvania US Congressional Candidate Eugene de Pasquale who is fighting to flip PA-10 Blue and is endorsed by Barack Obama, NARAL, Planned Parenthood, the Sierra Club and Moms Demand Action.
Every dollar and hour of volunteer energy going to support Smith and Drew also helps a Democrat flip a Republican House District currently rated a Toss-Up by the Cook Report...to the Blue.
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Personal note: As I was writing and researching this post, we all got word that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had passed.
Like all of you, I was heartbroken at the loss of a woman who is a personal hero of both my wife and me. RBG was larger than life and her daily leadership in the fight for every single woman, for every LGBTQ person, for every last one of us looking to the courts for true justice meant that while RBG lived, we had a giant of justice among us.
And now that she is gone, a Republican party committed to enforcing their minority views on the majority of voters seems to have a momentary upper hand. And, quite frankly, that burns.
I thought about shelving this diary. I thought about writing something strictly about RBG. About shifting gears.
But as I rewatched the candidate videos below, reflection allowed me to see that this diary was not only the best way to honor Justice Ginsburg, but that the fight that these two Pennsylvania women are fighting is EXACTLY where we need to be to honor Justice Ginsburg’s fight and legacy.
And every voter they persuade to our side in Central Pennsylvania is a bright light that we have lit to honor RBG’s life and memory, as well as our best bulwark for the many years of legislative and electoral battles ahead of us.
::
Now, Smith did not make the initial cut for Dailykos’ eminently worthy ActBlue State Legislative page, which is an effort that I wholeheartedly support. On a day when the Dem news stories about millions in contributions to US Senate candidates, I’d love to think that we all could pitch in another time to that Dailykos Anti Gerrymander ActBlue page. (My wife and I just did.) It is our best chance, and our best contribution, to remake the state legislatures we need to remake the USA.
But I also think that when you look at their heartfelt and honest bio videos and review their endorsements (Patty Smith / Lindsay Drew) you will agree with me that it is also worthy to dig deep and find a way to contribute to both Patty Smith and Lindsay Drew today.
Remember, on election night 2020 we will all be lighting candles, either in resistance, or symbolizing our victory and remembering those who made it possible.
And every action we take until that moment, until that night, is a candle we are lighting to honor RBG and John Lewis.
May their memories bless us in the struggles ahead.
::
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. 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:
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