I’ve been taking a break from Daily Kos because it’s the holidays and honestly, I just needed a break from posting a lot of diaries. I have so many races to cover heading into 2022 midterms and I have a lot of big things coming up for next and to close out this year. Today certainly sucked but it’s a great reminder why a 50-50 U.S. Senate isn’t working and why we need to strip away power from people like U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D. WV). The only way we do that is by expanding our U.S. Senate majority next year and Democratic U.S. Senate candidates have been making that case. Here are a few e-mails I received today. Frost, from Lt. Governor John Fetterman (D. PA) who is running for the open U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania:
This is outrageous.
Hours ago on Fox News, Senator Joe Manchin announced that he’s voting NO on Build Back Better, the transformative social investment + climate bill that Democrats have been working on all year.
So let me set the record straight here, Mary.
Send me to D.C. and — unlike Senator Manchin — I would vote YES on Build Back Better…
… plus, I’d also vote YES on codifying Roe v. Wade, abolishing the filibuster, raising the minimum wage + a lot more.
I’m running for U.S. Senate to be that 51st Democratic vote when it counts, you know? Because now is the time for Democrats to *actually* vote like Democrats and get sh*t done.
If that’s the attitude you believe is urgently needed in the U.S. Senate, will you stand with me + our campaign by rushing a contribution of $50 today? Trust me with your support, you’ll *always* have mine in Washington, D.C.
Thanks,
John
John Fetterman
Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
P.S.
Speaking of the filibuster, here’s how Gisele feels about it
Element removed
(and I agree). Not only would I vote YES on Build Back Better in the U.S. Senate— I’d vote YES to abolish the filibuster, too. Donate $50 or more to help our campaign get there.
Click here to donate to Fetterman’s campaign.
Next, from Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes (D. WI) who is running against U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R. WI):
Earlier this morning, Joe Manchin declared he was a “no” on President Biden’s Build Back Better bill... and he did it on Fox News, of all places.
We know these can be difficult and frustrating times, but we cannot despair. There’s too much at stake.
We are one vote away from universal pre-K. We are one vote away from finally taking climate change seriously. We are one vote away from taking on the drug companies and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.
Mandela Barnes will be that vote.
Let’s be even more direct: If Mandela Barnes beats Ron Johnson, he will be the 50th vote to get this done.
But that is precisely why corporate special interests will do and spend whatever it takes to beat him. And why we have to ask:
Can you please make a $3 contribution to Mandela Barnes’ campaign for U.S. Senate before our official FEC fundraising deadline ends in just a few days? He will be that 50th vote if you’re with him.
Thank you in advance for chipping in here. We can overcome Washington Republicans. We can overcome Joe Manchin. But we can only do it together.
Team Mandela
Click here to donate to Barnes’ campaign.
The next one is from Rep. Tim Ryan (D. OH-13) who is running for the open U.S. Senate in Ohio:
Hello—
This is not the news I was hoping to wake up to this morning. Senator Joe Manchin just announced he will not vote for the Build Back Better Act, killing any hope for passage of this historic bill.
The Build Back Better Act is a lifeline for working families across the country. It will lower prescription drug costs and cap insulin at $35. It will extend the child tax credit, cutting taxes for those who need it and putting money directly in the pockets of parents. And it will ensure corporations and the wealthiest 1% start paying their fair share.
It’s clear a 50-50 tie in the Senate is not good enough. If we want to make progress on the issues that matter, we can’t let a single Senator stand in our way. And Ohio is the best chance we’ve got to expand our majority.
Please, donate $25 or more to help us flip Ohio blue. Political analysts have rated us as one of the most winnable races for Democrats, but only if we have your grassroots support. Let’s turn this anger into energy and energy into action.
Look, I’m not afraid to stand up to my own party and tell them no when I have to. But I’m pissed off that Senator Joe Manchin is refusing to help us get this bill across the finish line.
We should be fighting to make working people’s lives easier—not harder. That’s why Americans elected us and it’s time we deliver on our promises.
When we win this Senate race, I can assure you I’ll do just that.
— Tim
Click here to donate to Ryan’s campaign.
The next one is from Veteran Lucas Kunce (D. MO) who is running for the open U.S. Senate seat in Missouri:
Congress found a way to spend $6.4 trillion on pointless wars, defense contractors, and "nation building" in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Now, after a year of bickering, Joe Manchin suddenly decided he can't figure out how to invest a fraction of that amount in nation building here at home.
Here's a promise: Send me to the Senate, and you'll never wonder if I'm fighting to invest in everyday Americans instead of my own stock portfolio. Politicians who stand in my way won't have to wonder either. It’s time to start nation building here at home — so let’s flip Missouri’s open U.S. Senate seat and get it done:
Will you chip in your first donation of $5 to our grassroots movement so we can put our message in front of voters? From Politico to CNN, election watchers across the country are starting to see we have a real shot at winning this race — your support right now could be the difference we need.
Anyone saying we can't afford to invest in everyday Americans is a liar.
When I’m in the U.S. Senate, you’ll know I’m fighting for everyday Americans — that’s why I don’t take a cent of corporate PAC money and don’t pull any punches when it comes to taking on defense contractors, Big Pharma, Wall Street, the fossil fuel industry OR their corrupt allies in Congress.
Together, we’re building a people-powered movement so we can invest in our country and make real change happen.
We can do this. Let’s flip this seat,
Lucas
Click here to donate to Kunce’s campaign.
And finally, I received this e-mail from Rep. Val Demings’ (D. FL-10) U.S. Senate campaign who is running against U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (D. FL):
I want you to hear this directly from me:
The Senate is broken, and we can’t let any one senator stand in the way of progress like the Build Back Better Act. We have to expand our Senate majority.
This is a once-in-a-generation piece of legislation, and if I were in the Senate I would fight like hell to make sure it passed.
That's why I'm here today personally asking you – will you support my campaign to become the 50th vote Democrats need in the Senate to pass critical legislation like the Build Back Better Act?
Please, give now to defeat Marco Rubio and defend the Democratic Senate majority. Every single dollar helps in this critical race that would guarantee a Democratic Senate and enough votes to pass our agenda.
The Build Back Better Act could do so much for everyday Americans:
– It could provide the largest funding increase to Medicaid since its creation, expand Medicare and reduce the cost of prescription drugs.
– It could help support more than 17 million low-wage workers.
– It could make the single largest investment in affordable housing in history.
– It could represent the largest effort to combat climate change in American history.
And so much more. This kind of legislation is what more than 81 million Americans voted for last year – but too many of our elected officials continue to stand in the way.
I promise you, I'll fight for – and vote for – this progress every single day as your next U.S. senator.
But I can't get there without your help. Please, will you make a donation to my campaign right now to send another Democrat to the U.S. Senate who will fight for everyday Americans and secure President Biden's Senate majority for two more years?
Click here to donate to Demings’ campaign.