This is a familiar post I have mostly put up but the topic is important.There are Just a few days left to help. These races are critical 2 of the 24 seats republicans need to flip to be able to amend the constitution are up for election in a special election Tuesday.
The George Cava campaign is scheduling people to help with get-out-the-vote calls and other GOTV activities for the next few days. You can sign up here GOTV Sign Up Sheet
Evidently, there's also a serious independent campaign with canvassers and phone bankers in 32, run by Cenk Uygur's "Wolf PAC" organization: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wRI7lq-8wI Please check it out!
THE DANGER
As many of you know, I have been beating the drum about State Legislative races. Winning seats in these races is of critical importance not only to our party but, potentially, to our Democratic-Republic.
It bears repeating. Republicans are only 24 state legislative seats away from controlling all state legislative bodies in 38 states. Once they hit the threshold they will have the power to change the constitution as they see fit, with nothing Democrats can do to stop them.
- reproductive rights — abolished
- marriage equality — ended
- voting rights — restricted
Those 3 things are just the best case scenario changes if we cede this kind of power to the Republican Party.
OUR WEAK POINTS
The 24 seats that the Republicans need to flip are found in 6 states, detailed below:
LEGISLATIVE BODIES BETWEEN REPUBLICANS & CONTROL OF 38 STATE LEGISLATURES
States
|
Total Seats
|
Needed for Majority
|
Democrats
|
Republicans
|
Seats Needed to Flip
|
Alaska House of Representatives
|
40
|
21
|
17
|
21
|
1
|
Colorado House of Representatives
|
65
|
33
|
37
|
28
|
5
|
Connecticut House of Representatives
|
151
|
76
|
78
|
72
|
4
|
Connecticut State Senate
|
36
|
19
|
17
|
17
|
2
|
Delaware House of Representatives
|
41
|
21
|
25
|
16
|
5
|
Delaware State Senate
|
21
|
11
|
10
|
10
|
1
|
Maine House of Representations
|
151
|
76
|
77
|
72
|
4
|
Washington House of Representatives
|
98
|
50
|
50
|
48
|
2
|
Totals
|
603
|
307
|
311
|
284
|
24
|
If Republicans succeed in flipping these chambers, they will amend our Constitution. We can not allow that to happen. 3 of these seats are up for special election TOMORROW. We must support these races now. Here are the races, 2 of them determine which party controls that legislative body.
CONNECTICUT BALANCE OF POWER
|
TOTAL SEATS
|
NEEDED FOR MAJORITY
|
UNCONTESTED
|
CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY
|
DEMOCRATS
|
REPUBLICANS
|
OTHER
|
HOUSE
|
151
|
76
|
26
|
50
|
78
|
72
|
1
|
SENATE
|
36
|
19
|
1
|
18
|
17
|
17
|
2
|
|
NEXT ELECTION
|
# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE
|
SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE
|
NEEDED TO FLIP
|
DEMOCRATS UP
|
REPUBLICANS UP
|
OTHER UP
|
HOUSE
|
2018
|
125
|
151
|
-3
|
78
|
72
|
1
|
SENATE
|
2018
|
35
|
36
|
2
|
17
|
17
|
2
|
All of the seats in the other column are empty seats to be filled by special election on February 28, 2017. All 3 of those seats are critical to turning back Republicans efforts to control 38 states in order to amend our Constitution.
CONNECTICUT SENATE SPECIAL ELECTION FEBRUARY 28
Prior to the November 2016 election Democrats enjoyed a 21-15 majority in the State Senate. Republicans gained 3 seats to tie the chamber at 18-18. Two vacancies arose since the election, one Democrat, and one Republican seat. Whoever wins these races could determine which party controls the chamber.
Special elections are notorious for their remarkably low turnout and low turnout elections all tend to favor the Republican on the ballot. We must engage in these races to drive turnout as much as possible. And there is little time. Below are the Democratic candidates that need your support. If you are in the New England states these races I am certain could use your help.
Senate District 32 was formerly a Republican seat and House District 115 poses the hardest seat to win of the 3 (according to a local kossak). I am sure they can all use help though.
I believe there is public financing for these state races in Connecticut.
CONNECTICUT SENATE DISTRICT 2 — DOUGLAS MCCRORY
In another sign that Democrats are not taking this threat seriously, I can find no active campaign website and not even a campaign facebook page. I presume he is actively trying to win this seat, but I am not sure anyone can engage in this race. He also is a sitting member of the Connecticut House, which means, if he wins, Connecticut Democrats are putting another seat we need to defend the Constitution in electoral danger in a low turnout Special Election.
Here are the only contact methods I have found for him if you do want to reach out:
I wish I had contact info for his campaign, but I was unable to find any of that information.
On a post I did yesterday a person familiar with Connecticut politics recommended people contact party operatives in each district to see what help they need, so here is that contact info:
- DALockett1 at gmail dot com - Dorian Lockett
- Bloomfield: Hon. David Baram — (860) 243-3041
- Hartford: Mark DiBella — (860) 982-1086
- Windsor: Darleen Klase — (860) 977-7884
- State Central Committee
- Nathan Karnes (860) 219-9953
- Harriette Howard harriettehoward -at- Comcast -dot- net
CONNECTICUT SENATE DISTRICT 32 — GREGORY CAVA
Here are various ways you can reach out to the Gregory Cava campaign:
Party operative in this district contact info:
- Watertown: J. Paul Vance — (203) 510-3175
- Woodbury: Lesa Peters — (203) 232-8231
- Southbury: Denise Forgione — (203) 910-9569
- Seymour: Philip Wilhelmy — (203) 888-4383
- Bridgewater: Alan Brown — (203) 354-3586
- Roxbury: Tina Brockett — (860) 354-9157
- Washington: Kerry O’Toole — (860) 868-1618
- Bethlehem: Anne Marie Mastroianni — (203) 266-7115
- State Central Committee
- Ed Edelson ededelson -at- charter -dot- net
- Sharon Botelle-Sherman (203) 266-9051
CONNECTICUT HOUSE DISTRICT 115 — DORINDA BORER
Here are various ways you can reach out to the Dorinda Borer campaign:
OK, that is all I can find for her.
Party contact info for this district:
- West Haven — Jim Morrissey (203) 937-0586
DELAWARE SENATE DISTRICT 10 — STEPHANIE HANSEN
SHE WON!!!!
THE NEW DELAWARE BALANCE OF POWER
|
TOTAL SEATS
|
NEEDED FOR MAJORITY
|
UNCONTESTED
|
CONTESTED LOSSES TO LOSE MAJORITY
|
DEMOCRATS
|
REPUBLICANS
|
OTHER
|
HOUSE
|
41
|
21
|
8
|
13
|
25
|
16
|
0
|
SENATE
|
21
|
11
|
2
|
9
|
11
|
10
|
0
|
|
NEXT ELECTION
|
# DEMOCRATS RAN LAST CYCLE
|
SEATS UP NEXT CYCLE
|
NEEDED TO FLIP
|
DEMOCRATS UP
|
REPUBLICANS UP
|
OTHER UP
|
HOUSE
|
2018
|
33
|
41
|
-5
|
25
|
16
|
0
|
SENATE
|
2018
|
8
|
10
|
1
|
5 |
5
|
0
|
In this case, this seat and the entire Senate chamber is up for election due to an appointment by a Democratic governor. Why are Democrats willing to risk our Constitution like this? Low turnout elections, which special elections are are prime avenues for Republicans to win seats they otherwise could not. Given the stakes why take this risk?
WE NEED TO WIN THESE SEATS — HELP IF YOU CAN