The Midwest is a Combo of Offense and Defense. Can We Thread the Needle Here?

by bilboteach

Community

(This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday, Sep. 03, 2024 Tuesday, Sep. 03, 2024 at 3:31:02am PDT

MARIBEL, WISCONSIN - APRIL 03: Snow blankets the rural landscape on April 03, 2024 near Maribel, Wisconsin. A heavy, wet snow fell on much of Northeastern Wisconsin, causing several power outages and traffic accidents. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) — Yes, it snows frequently in the Midwest. But you'll never find nicer people anywhere in the rest of the United States.

In the excitement about MVP Harris I feel that another important goal has been lost. We’re falling for the same trap we always do in a Presidential year — we focus so heavily on the race for the highest office that we lose sight of the fact that Congress is equally as important to enact our agenda.

I’ve covered the key races in the Mid-Atlantic, Great Plains/Mountain West, the Rust Belt, Southwest, New York and California. Those states alone have enough potential to win back the House of Representatives and keep the Senate. But what about other areas of the United States? I’m happy to take a quick look elsewhere too!

Today, I’m looking at the key races in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. There are plenty of competitive House races in the region, plus one Senate race that will be a close one. It is a combo of offense and defense in this region of the USA.

But first, the donations to the Good News Roundup team have dried up in recent times. Donating below is more efficient than to each individual candidate, and you don’t get the spammy calls and emails either!

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 23: Rep. Lauren Boebert (R) (R-CO) speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol June 23, 2021 in Washington, DC. Boebert announced she has introduced a resolution to censure U.S. President Joe Biden related to border security and enforcement of immigration laws. Also pictured is Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Here is the Defeat the MAGA Dozen Fund on ActBlue! These 15 incumbent members of the GOP are MAGA Republicans residing in swing districts. The challengers are all strong and can win in these tougher districts. Please donate and then share a link to this site on your social media! #MAGADozen

We have raised nearly $9k of the $10k goal so far!

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 18: U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) holds hands with Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as the House of Representatives holds its second round of voting for a new Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol on October 18, 2023 in Washington, DC. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) failed in his bid to become Speaker of the House on Tuesday after all Democrats and 20 members of his own party declined to vote for him. The House has been without an elected leader since Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was ousted from the speakership on October 4 in a move led by a small group of conservative members of his own party.

Here is the Save the Majority 2024 Fund on ActBlue! There are plenty of Democratic members of the House that are still vulnerable to being defeated. These 26 members need a boost! Please donate and then share a link to this site on your social media! #SaveTheMajority

We have raised nearly $13.8k of the $15k goal so far!

Now that this is out of the way, let’s dive into the contests!

Illinois

Illinois-17: Rep. Eric Sorensen

Illinois’ 17th district is the only one at risk in a masterful gerrymander of the state. It is held by Rep. Eric Sorensen, who used to be a meteorologist in the region before joining the House. He is facing off against retired judge Joe McGraw in a race that hasn’t drawn much national attention yet. Still, I expect a close race as this district is trending the wrong way. I’ve already written about the race for Illinois’ 17th district.

DONATE TO REP. ERIC SORENSEN

Iowa

Iowa-1: Christina Bohannan

Iowa’s 1st district has a GOP incumbent in Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. The district was narrowly won by Trump, and Democrats are sensing an opportunity to flip it back in 2024. Our nominee is former State Rep. Christina Bohannan, who ran for this seat in 2022 and had a disappointing performance. This time could be different as she is getting tons of support from national Democrats. I’ve already written about the race for Iowa’s 1st district.

DONATE TO CHRISTINA BOHANNAN

Iowa-3: Lanon Baccam

Iowa Democrat Lanon Baccam — Lanon Baccam is ready to make history in Iowa as the first PoC to represent the state in Congress.

Iowa’s 3rd district is one of those seats that is very closely divided. Trump very narrowly carried the district in both 2016 and 2020. Rep. Zach Nunn narrowly unseated the previous incumbent (Rep. Cindy Axne) in 2022. Lanon Baccam is running to flip back this district to our side in 2024. He’s hoping to become the first person of color to represent Iowa in Congress. I have already written about the race for Iowa’s 3rd district.

DONATE TO LANON BACCAM

Minnesota

Minnesota-2: Rep. Angie Craig

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 02: Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) speaks at a press conference on the reintroduction of the bill "Ensuring Womenâ€™s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act" outside the U.S. Capitol Building on February 02, 2023 in Washington, DC. The bill, which has passed in the House of Representatives, but did not reach the senate, would protect the right for people to travel across state lines for reproductive health care. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) — I’ll ignore the fact that Rep. Angie Craig was one of the first to call for Biden to step aside...

Minnesota’s 2nd district is in the Twin Cities area but it also extends into rural areas to the south. Biden won it comfortably, but Rep. Angie Craig has yet to win by a substantial margin. She faces prosecutor Joe Teirab for the right to represent these constituents. Craig has statewide potential someday, so it is important for her to keep on winning this swing seat.

DONATE TO REP. ANGIE CRAIG

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Senate: Sen. Tammy Baldwin

FILE - Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions confirmation hearing for Julie Su to be the Labor Secretary, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 20, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) — Wisconsin is a schizoid state. How can liberal Tammy Baldwin share the Senate with Ron Johnson?

Wisconsin has an important Senate race in the state, and it is expected to be a close one despite what polling says. Incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin has been lucky to run in environments favorable to Democrats in 2012 and 2018, but now she shares a ballot with Trump. She’s lucky that her opponent, businessman Eric Hovde, is such a mess politically. Keep an eye out for this race.

DONATE TO SEN. TAMMY BALDWIN

Wisconsin-1: Peter Barca

MADISON, WI - MARCH 10: Democratic Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca gestures as he speaks during a session of the assembly at the Wisconsin State Capitol on March 10, 2011 in Madison, Wisconsin. Thousands of demonstrators continue to protest at the Wisconsin State Capitol as the Wisconsin house prepares to vote on the state's controversial budget bill one day after Wisconsin Republican Senators voted to curb collective bargaining rights for public union workers in a surprise vote with no Democrats present. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) — He’s back after a nearly 30 year absence. Peter Barca is trying to reclaim his old seat.

Wisconsin’s 1st district is another seat Trump narrowly carried. It looked like Rep. Bryan Steil would go effectively unchallenged again for a while but former Rep. Peter Barca stepped up to run. He has been active in Racine and Kenosha for a long time and even represented this very area 30 years ago. It will be a longshot but it is great that we have a strong challenger for this district.

DONATE TO PETER BARCA

Wisconsin-3: Rebecca Cooke

Rebecca Cooke is the 2024 nominee for Wisconsin — Rebecca Cooke has a similar profile to Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.

Wisconsin’s 3rd district covers much of the western parts of the state. It transformed from a safe blue seat to a red-leaning one during the Trump era. Rep. Derrick Van Orden is a terrible human being as evidenced by him attending the rally to storm the Capitol on January 6th. Rebecca Cooke is hoping to flip this seat back for Democrats. If you choose to donate to one person today, make it Rebecca Cooke.

DONATE TO REBECCA COOKE

These are the endangered incumbents for the Midwest, plus a few strong challengers. We need to win as many of these districts as possible to have a robust majority in the House of Representatives. The region also has an important Senate race in a chamber that will be 50-50 at best. Also, keep an eye on the Missouri Senate race... May our nominees have luck in their races!