“Yeehah!”
Back in the mists of time, a few guys came up with the idea of expanding Democratic gains by running candidates in every race, forcing Republicans to use their resources fighting challengers, not just PAC-ing contributions out to other candidates in contested races. Those guys bent the ear of a guy who ended up DNC Chairman and that idea became known as the Fifty-State Strategy.
The strategy enjoyed modest but measurable electoral success, surprisingly in red states and districts. More importantly, it hobbled efforts by Republicans, who suddenly had to spend dough in places they never had before.
This year presents an unprecedented opportunity for Democratic candidates. The Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision has galvanized American women of every age. The functional paralysis of Congress under GOP leadership can’t be hidden, and the accelerating wackydoodle drift of the Republican Party as a whole is even worrying… Republicans.
Still, the greatest advantage Democrats hold this year is the RNC’s surrender-and-assimilation into the Borg of MAGism. Before she was even named Co-Cashier of the new TNC, the Former’s daughter-in-law made clear that “every penny” given to the Committee would be used according to the desires of her father-in-law.
“Mine! Mine! Mine!”
That means down-ballot candidates can expect nothing from the national committee. The RNC was broke before the official Trump takeover, and there will be no dough forthcoming for anything but Himself’s decrees. Every ‘Pub will be limited to whatever they can raise themselves or get out of the party’s House/Senate campaign committees, which are themselves the next likely targets of the Trump family money vacuums. In ditching McCarthy, House ‘Pubs lost their champion fundraiser.
The upshot of all this is that the Republican Party is, in the year 2024, uniquely vulnerable to a 50-State Strategy. No dough. No institutional assistance. No enthusiasm for anyone not named Trump. This is a year that could yield surprising results for Democratic candidates in districts no one would believe.
Which is why you might want to consider running for office this year.
Not everyone, not every office. Me, I’m fortunate to have a competent and compassionate Democratic representation in Congress and the state legislature.But many of us live in districts so seemingly red Dems don’t even bother. That’s just throwing away seats, especially in a year like this.
And here’s the kicker: when you’re running in a “hopeless” district, any effort is something your opposition isn’t ready for. You don’t have to be a self-funding millionaire. You don’t have to quit your job. In a subsequent diary I’ll talk about one such minimalist campaign, as well as addressing some objections readers may have to the idea of running.
The original name of the pitch that became the 50-State Strategy was “Project 90,” after the adage that “90 percent of success is showing up.” This would be a great year to put that to the test.
In more than half the states, filing is still open for federal offices. Just sayin’…
Colorado 3/19/2024
New Jersey 3/25/2024
Missouri 3/26/2024
South Dakota 3/26/2024
Arizona 4/1/2024
South Carolina 4/1/2024
New York 4/4/2024
Tennessee 4/4/2024
Virginia 4/4/2024
Oklahoma 4/5/2024
North Dakota 4/8/2024
Michigan 4/23/2024
Florida 4/26/2024
Massachusetts 5/7/2024
Washington 5/10/2024
Vermont 5/30/2024
Wyoming 5/31/2024
Alaska 6/1/2024
Kansas 6/3/2024
Wisconsin 6/3/2024
Hawaii 6/4/2024
Minnesota 6/4/2024
Connecticut 6/11/2024
New Hampshire 6/14/2024
Rhode Island 6/26/2024
Delaware 7/9/2024
Louisiana 7/19/2024
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