Outstanding story by a downballot candidate
We are interpreting “downballot” very broadly, to mean anyone below the presidential level. Many candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have posted here, and some of them are even famous names now! Stories supporting gubernatorial candidates have been posted here as well; all are eligible to be nominated.
At the same time, Daily Kos has always had a soft spot for the names even further down the ballot: folks running for state legislature or delegate, candidates for mayor and city council, brave souls willing to challenge the conservative domination of school boards, and people running for other state and local-level executive offices.
The 90-for-90 program in Virginia has introduced Daily Kos to many quality candidates, and after several hard-fought years, produced a Democratic majority in the Virginia House of Delegates. A similar push in Florida greatly reduced the number of uncontested races, forced Republicans to defend seats in red areas they thought they could take for granted, and raised awareness of the importance of voting for downballot candidates and in off-year or special elections.
Just in case you’re wondering, you can nominate stories by candidates who did not win their races. One of the best things Daily Kos can do is encourage people to run for office, whether they are predicted to win or lose. This is important for a whole host of reasons. Time and time again outstanding candidates have given their all in difficult races, only to suffer a heartbreaking loss. We MUST push back against the tendency to focus on the disappointment so intensely that we lose sight of the big picture. If an election loss becomes the end of the road for a talented, engaging candidate, all that hard-won hands-on experience evaporates, instead of adding another essential brick to the wall of party-building.
An election loss is not the end of the road. It is the beginning. We must stop leaving promising candidates by the wayside because of an unrealistic expectation that no one should run for office unless they are sure they will win their first time out. The best training for running for office is to run for office, and it increases the long-term health of the Democratic Party to stop handing our opponents access to uncontested seats. The “run twice to win once” mantra has worked wonders for our political adversaries for decades, and it is exciting to see that Democrats have finally adopted this philosophy as well.
So let’s recognize Daily Kos contributions by downballot candidates, winners and “losers” alike. They are more than just the farm team for higher office; these change-seekers are essential to the future of democracy and inspirational in their own right.
Nominations will be open as long as this story is accepting comments. You can nominate any writing that has ever been posted on Daily Kos. Don't be shy: You can even nominate yourself!
