WOOHOO! WIN IN MISSOURI!!! Tuesday night Democrats in Missouri flipped the 97th house district with Mike Revis’s victory! He ran in a red district that we did not contest in 2016 and where Clinton got only 33,31% of the vote.
| cANDIDATE |
RACE |
Dem vote share |
clinton 2016 |
swing |
| ETHAN PERKINSON |
MO-HD39 |
35.67% |
24.45% |
17.5% |
| MIKE REVIS |
MO-HD97 |
51.56% |
33.31% |
31% |
| RONNA FORD |
MO-HD129 |
30.91% |
16.36% |
25% |
| JIM SCAGGS |
MO-HD144 |
47.38% |
19.14% |
53% |
It’s also worth noting how stunningly close Jim Scaggs came to an upset in a district Clinton only got 19.14% (!) of the vote! This is why we should never ever accept the notion that the district is too red. We fight the battles that are worth fighting, and that means all of them.
This is our second weekly Special Election Watch diary! We do this because the state legislatures are the front lines on the war on women, workers, and voters. These are also elections where small investments can have a big impact.
Next week there are five special elections! And all five Democratic candidates are women! On Tuesday there are two elections in Minnesota, and on Wednesday there are elections in Oklahoma, Georgia and Florida. We urge you to donate to the campaigns if you can, and boost them on social media. If you are geographically able, please volunteer!
Weare always saying that we want a 50-state strategy with no Republicans running unopposedin any election. It’s important to remember what we ask of those running. Wendelforhouse is honest about that his candidate diary. Well worth the read. If you have $10 to support any of the candidates below (by all means go nuts and support all of them if you can), they would be very thankful.
If you’re wondering what effect these races have, outside putting another Democrat in a state house, just read all the hundreds of articles about Mike Revis today. Next week we have five opportunities to turn 2018 into a rout! Let’s do it!!
Meet the candidates:
Karla Bigham
Karla Bigham is the Democrat running in the Monday, February 12 special election in Minnesota’s State Senate District 54. She is a current Washington County Commissioner and two-term former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Karla cites education, infrastructure and public transportation as important issues for her campaign. Read her full bio here.
Campaign quote:
“As a life-long resident of Senate District 54, this area is extremely important to me. It has always been my home, which is why I have such a passion to serve my neighbors.”
Karla is running a stellar campaign and often talks directly to her voters through Facebook direct videos. She posts pictures with large volunteer groups and has lots of door-knocking and phonebanking events.
She is running in a pretty competitive district, which Obama won with 52.5% in 2012 but Clinton was barely edged with just 44.73% of the vote in 2016.
The 54th district contains parts of Dakota and Washington counties, southeast of St. Paul moving southeast along US-10 to the Wisconsin border plus Afton to the northeast; South St. Paul, Newport, St. Paul Park, Cottage Grove, Hastings, and Afton, and areas in between.
Help her GOTV and hold the 54th by:
Donating to her campaign.
Following her campaign on Facebook and Twitter.
If you live in or close to her district, volunteer.
Melissa Wagner
Melissa Wagner is the Democrat running in the Monday, February 12 special election in Minnesota’s House District 23B. She has worked in education for 24 years, and is currently a special education coordinator. She lists healthcare, education, infrastructure, environment and net neutrality as important issues on her website.
Campaign quote:
“I've been a school Social Worker and Special Education Coordinator with the Minnesota Valley Education District (MVED) for more than 20 years. It's given me the opportunity to work with kids, families and schools throughout the area and help make sure every kid has a fair shot at success.”
Melissa is running in a rural and realtivly red district in southern Minnesota, where Clinton got only 32.70% of the vote in 2016, but Obama only barely lost it with 47.30% in 2012. The district contains parts of Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Waseca, and Watonwan counties; areas east, south, and west of Mankato, such as Waterville, New Richland, Mapleton, Amboy, Lake Crystal, Madelia, and St. James.
Help her GOTV and flip the 23rd by:
Donating to her campaign on ActBlue.
Following her campaign on Facebook and Twitter.
If you live in or close to her district, volunteer.
Margaret Good
Margaret Good is the Democrat running in the Tuesday, February 13 special election in Florida’s 72nd House District. She has gotten national attention and the endrosments of among others Joe Biden. Biden also is expected to record a robocall touting Good.
Margaret worked in the non-profit community before enrolling in the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she served as an editor of the Florida Law Review and graduated with honors. Margaret serves on the board of directors for the Sarasota County Bar Association and is a leader in The Florida Bar. She is an avid runner and volunteers as a board member of the Manasota Track Club. She lists healthcare, education and the environment as her most important campaign issues.
We’ll do a Vice Presidental quote on this one:
“Margaret will be a champion in Tallahassee in the fight for affordable health care, public education for all our kids, and protecting Florida’s vital coastline.” — Joe Biden.
Margaret is running in a swing district where Clinton got 46.03%. This is maybe the biggest pick up opportunity this week and there are a lot of people going all inn for her.
Help her GOTV and flip the 72nd by:
Donating to her campaign on ActBlue.
Following her campaign on Facebook and Twitter.
If you live in or close to her district, volunteer.
Treva Gear
Treva Gear is the only Democrat running in the Tuesday, February 13 special election in Georgia’s 175th House District, and she faces three Republicans in this jungle primary — if no one takes 50%, a runoff will take place on March 13. Treva desided she wanted to run for this seat because it had gone uncontested for too long.
Campaign quote:
“I am running for the Georgia House of Representatives, District 175 because the people in my district and throughout the state need someone who will represent them, voice their concerns, and advocate for them regardless of their race/ethnicity, sex/gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, disability, or level of education.”
Treva Gear has a Doctorate in Adult and Career Education, and if you are really interested you can read it here. Education is her number one issue and she is all about job opportunities and education opportunities. She will be a good representative in the fight against the war on women, workers and voters.
Help her GOTV and flip the 175th by:
Donating to her campaign on ActBlue.
Following his campaign on Facebook and Twitter.
If you live in or close to her district, volunteer.
Amber Jensen
Amber Jensen is the Democrat running in the Tuesday, February 13 special election in Oklahoma’s 27th State Senate District. Amber is currently a volunteer at Woodward Mid-Day AMBUCS, raising money to help disabled children obtain rehabilitative devices after illness, injury, or other mobility issues.
When we contacted Amber about her campaign she said:
“I’m running because NW Oklahoma deserves better. We need someone who will work to balance the budget responsibly, properly fund our public schools, ensure access to quality health care, and fix our crumbling roads and bridges. For too long, we’ve accepted less than we deserve. It’s time to elect someone who will fight for rural Oklahoma.”
Amber is running in a very red district where Clinton got just 11.32% in 2016. Still, Democrats have been winning a lot in Oklahoma lately, and Jim Scaggs just showed us that no district is to red to be competitive.
Help her GOTV and flip the 27th by:
Donating to her campaign.
Following her campaign on Facebook and Twitter.
If you live in or close to her district, volunteer.
The full roster for February:
You can read our first diary, with information about our motivation for doing this, here.
Read an explination on how to use Facebook to help candidates here.
Read the full Special Elections Calander here.
