These are some of the closest races of 2014 and ones we have to win. There are certainly other races worth paying attention to, but I think these are the key races to 2014.
The Greedy Oil Party has, more than ever, become the party of "No!" The party of obstructionism. The Republicans don't care about governing America anymore, all they care about is raw, naked power and greed.
We have to fight back.
Below I list some of the key House races of 2014. Most of these are the "must win" races for BOTH parties. In many cases the Repubs are so desperate to win these races that they are resorting to dirty tricks. Some of these races are longer shots but still possible to win and are in districts that a strong Dem presence will help win statewide races.
Want to win big in 2014? These are the races we need to start with! You can donate to these campaigns on my Key House Races 2014 ActBlue Site.
Alex Sink FL-13
CRITICAL RACE: A special, March 11 election to replace Republican Bill Young. This is a real toss up and a solid shot for us to flip a lean red seat blue even before election 2014 gets going. Alex Sink is the Dem candidate and she was quite good as Florida's elected CFO. Winning this is critical to an aggressive Democratic strategy. Remember, Repubs are so desperate to win this one that they created a fake campaign site to smear Alex Sink. Sadly the FAKE site comes up in a Google search above the real site! Alex Sink has been endorsed by International Association of Firefighters Local 747 and the Florida Professional Firefighters, the Pinellas County Classroom Teachers Association, the Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association and the League of Conservation Voters.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Joe Garcia FL-26
Another close Florida race, this time playing defense. Joe Garcia has a good shot at re-election, but the numbers are tight and the Republicans would LOVE to take this seat.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Staci Appel IA-03
This might be our most important race to take from the Republicans. It is a seat that has been held by the Greedy Oil Party for some time, but it is now a solid toss up. That means it is critical that we win this one. Having roots in Iowa (my father is from there) I would love to see this seat get flipped to blue. Staci Appel is our likely candidate...and the Repubs have their dirty tricks squad out to get her with a fake website even before she is officially the Dem nominee!
And on a historical note, if Staci Appel is elected it will be the FIRST TIME Iowa elects a woman to Federal office. I think it is about time Iowa is represented by a woman in Congress!
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Jim Mowrer IA-04
Another race in Iowa, this is the longest shot on this list, but the Repub incumbent is so bad, he may yet mess up his own re-election chances. This is perpetually a close race and though it usually falls to the Repubs, making this competitive will help with statewide Dem races.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Sean Eldridge NY-19
This is one of a handful of prime chances to flip a red seat in NY state blue, and it is the one where the odds are most evenly balanced. This is another race where the Greedy Oil Party is so desperate to win they created a fake website to smear Sean Eldridge. They don't think they can win this one honestly, so the Repubs once again stooped to lying.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Carol Shea-Porter NH-01
This is a BIG one. NH-1 is one of our most important seats to defend. This is a pure tossup race in a seat that leans a tad red. Carol Shea-Porter won this seat despite that red tint, and the Greedy Oil Party is eager to take it back. I am eager to STOP them from taking it back.
Plus, Ken Burns likes her!
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Andrew Romanoff CO-06
Another key pick up opportunity. This is a dead heat and one of our best chances to flip a seat. Colorado also has a somewhat close race for Governor this year, so pushing hard in this seat helps state wide candidates as well. This seat was formerly held by Tom Tancredo and would be particularly sweet to flip. I have been pushing to win this seat for years now (ever since Tancredo voted against helping Hurricane Katrina victims) and this year is our best shot. Romanoff has made
raising the minimum wage a key part of his campaign. GREAT candidate (though his website is kind of lousy!)
Sadly, the best video I find relevant to Andrew's 2014 campaign is a REPUBLICAN video highlighting Andrew Romanoff's strong support for Obamacare! Still, pro-Obamacare and pro-raising minimum wage makes him a top candidate in my book!
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Aimee Belgard NJ-03
Yet another one of our best chances of flipping a seat to blue. People think of NJ as a blue state, but this race is a dead heat and the Repubs are sweating it. Winning this seat would help solidify New Jersey as a blue state. She is also another voice for increasing the minimum wage!
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Scott Peters CA-52
This is one we have to really defend. A dead heat which the Repubs want to flip to red. We have to hold the line here. Endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Sierra Club, San Diego City Firefighters Association, Chicano Democratic Association, Progressive San Diego, League of Conservation Voters, International Association of Fire Fighters, Human Rights Campaign, and many others.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Jerry Cannon MI-01
This is a red leaning district we have a shot to turn blue. It is also a district that could be important for winning the Senate and Governor races since a strong Dem showing here would help swing statewide races. If we want ANY chance of winning back the House, this is a must win district. Jerry Cannon is a Veteran and a former sheriff, and has been endorsed by VoteVets.org. He is a supporter of the Lilly Ledbetter Act and protecting Social Security.
Here is a Roll Call interview with Jerry: (warning: preceded by an ad)
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Clay Aiken, NC-02
This is a long shot for us, but Clay Aiken is running a surprisingly strong campaign and I think this could be an upset by the end. In addition, high Dem turnout in this district will help us hold the Senate seat.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Jennifer Garrison, OH-06
Another long shot but one I think is worth fighting to flip. A strong wave of Dem sentiment, say thanks to Obamacare or anger at the Greedy Oil Party's anti-working class and middle class policies, could be enough for us to win this one.
Interview with Jennifer Garrison from Roll Call:
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Ann Kirkpatrick, AZ-01
A seat we have to defend and one where a strong Dem showing could help win the Governor's seat in Arizona. This race is another target of Repub dirty tricks we have to fight against.
Ann Kirckpatrick has been endorsed by NARAL, Service Employees International Union, Arizona AFL-CIO, White Mountain Apache Tribe, Navajo Nation Fort Defiance Agency, Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly, Navajo County Superintendent of Schools Linda Morrow, and many others.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Ron Barber, AZ-02
A seat we have to defend and one where a strong Dem showing could help win the Governor's seat in Arizona. This race is another target of Repub dirty tricks we have to fight against.
League of Conservation Voters for Ron Barber:
http://www.lcv.org/...
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Patrick Henry Hays AR-02
Another red district we have a shot of winning...and another district where a strong Dem showing could help us in Senate and Governor races. Swinging both the House and holding the Senate depend a great deal on this one district. Former Mayor of North Little Rock Patrick Henry Hays is our candidate here.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Nick Rahall WV-03
The Koch brothers are desperate to defeat Nick Rahall...and we need to defend this seat...it is also a district where high Dem turnout will help the statewide race for Senate, a race we strongly have to defend. AND, this is yet another race targeted by a dirty tricks campaign by the Greedy Oil Party. Rahall is conservative for a Dem, but it would be far worse if the Koch Brothers have their way in this district.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.