The following diaries are examples of this week's Election Diary Rescue. This post features a collection of 35 diaries.
(ME-Sen) ME-Sen Bellows challenges Collins to stand up to GOP on Marriage Equality by slakn1 - Can Susan Collins (R-ME) lead the Republican Party to a position that is supported by 40% of her party and 64% of self described moderates? Democratic challenger Shenna Bellows issues the challenge.
(NY-21) Elise Stefanik: Raise the Retirement Age for Workers Under 30 by Upstate Blue - In a recent interview with the Glens Falls Post Star on the budget proposal by Congressman Paul Ryan (R), Republican congressional candidate Elise Stefanik, and former Ryan advisor, suggested raising the retirement age of individuals under 30 years old as a means for balancing the federal budget. Meanwhile, her opponent, Aaron Woolf, the Democratic candidate in the 21st Congressional District, reiterated his opposition to the Ryan budget plan.
(MD-Anne Arundel County Council) Longtime Democrats Form Slate, Call Out Neo-Confederate Opponent Who Is Running as a Democrat by jhutson - In a sneaky move, a hard core theocratic Republican still fighting the Civil War changed his registration the day before filing for election as a Democrat. Honest Democratic candidates in the county have gotten together to make sure citizens know the truth.
For the Mid Terms, the ACA is a winner. But it's not the only one. by Pluto - While the Republicans have utterly spent themselves trying to repeal ACA - with nothing else to show for their time in office - Dems who embrace it should do well. But for sheer turnout potential, how about student loan forgiveness?
This is the 16th weekly edition of Election Diary Rescue. It covers rescued down-ticket election diaries published from Sunday, April 20, through Saturday, April 26. We hope you enjoy the following gems dug up by our dedicated team of miners.
Diaries: (35)
Senate: (5) posts
House: (9) posts (8) states
State and more: (12)
Ballot Initiatives: (2)
General: (3)
Please check below the fold for more great diaries.
EDR has compiled, described and linked
down ticket election related diaries since 2006.
EDR chronicles the passion, power and effectiveness of political engagement and shines a light on candidates and issues that might be otherwise missed. It gives quick access to races, hopefully inspires people to write about contests that interest them, and has become an archive for thousands of election related diaries over the years.
Archive links
Format and Tags
Diarists can help the EDR mining team by identifying the race in the diary title, for example: (FL-14) or (GA-Gov) or (NY-Sen). Using the "Elections" tag is also very helpful and keep in mind that your first sentence or two can be what you would like to see in the EDR description.
This edition of EDR was made possible by the following miners and editors: Alma, eeff, edrie, Joieau, Land of Enchantment, randallt, sylv, suejazz and turbonerd. Special thanks to Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse.
Senate - 5
(ME-Sen) Duo Stumps Downeast with video by illegitimi no carborundum – Democratic Congressman Mike Michaud is campaigning for Governor against Paul LePage (R) along with Democrat Shenna Bellows who is running against Susan Collins (R) for US Senate. This diary highlights two very attractive, progressive candidates.
(ME-Sen) ME-Sen Bellows challenges Collins to stand up to GOP on Marriage Equality by slakn1 - Can Susan Collins (R-ME) lead the Republican Party to a position that is supported by 40% of her party and 64% of self described moderates? Democratic challenger Shenna Bellows issues the challenge.
(Sen-Var) The path for a Democratic majority in the US Senate after 2018 Final (with poll) by abgin - In the last of a series the diarist offers analysis on current and future Senate races.
(Sen-Var) NYT Polling Shows GOP Senate Chances Fading by Reinvented Daddy - Things aren’t looking as dark as predicted in some southern states.
(Sen-Var) Donor Help: The DSCC won't shut up so I gave money to Credo. by daeros - Diarist explains a donation pathway for Democratic Senate candidates that doesn't rely on mostly ineffectual mass media ad purchases by the DSCC.
House - 9
(CA-33) Something stirs in Los Angeles - Attention LA Kossacks by Shockwave – Info on hearing some of the democratic candidates running in the June 3rd primary.
(FL-19) Primary preview of Florida CD19 Republican Primary by bluedemocrat. This post is comprised of sketches of the three main Republican candidates running to replace Republican Trey Radel, who resigned earlier this year after a cocaine conviction. (Spoiler: the vote was Tuesday, April 22 and self-funding newcomer Curt Clawson, Tea Partier endorsed by the likes of Michele Bachmann and Rand Paul, beat out the career politicians in the race to become the Republican candidate for this vacant seat.)
(IL-02) Rep. Robin Kelly marks one-year with gratitude to the Daily Kos community by Reading on Walden Bookstore - And in-depth recounting of Robin Kelly's (D) accomplishments as representative, after being elected to replace Jesse Jackson, Jr. last April.The list is impressive.
(MI-06) MI-06 - Democratic Sneak Attack? by Arbo - Michigan's 6th House District is classified "safe Republican" for long-time incumbent Fred Upton (R), but professor Paul Clements (D) may surprise the handicappers.
(MN-06) MN-06 Emmer up big in internal poll by ericf - Diarist has poll numbers for Minnesota's US district 6.
(NY-21) Elise Stefanik: Raise the Retirement Age for Workers Under 30 by Upstate Blue - In a recent interview with the Glens Falls Post Star on the budget proposal by Congressman Paul Ryan (R), Republican congressional candidate Elise Stefanik, and former Ryan advisor, suggested raising the retirement age of individuals under 30 years old as a means for balancing the federal budget. Meanwhile, her opponent, Aaron Woolf, the Democratic candidate in the 21st Congressional District, reiterated his opposition to the Ryan budget plan.
(VA-10) VA-10 Firehouse Primary by PSUCentrePA - In one of the first important GOP primaries of the election season, complete with short-period voting. Retiring republican incumbent Frank Wolf leaves an R+2 PVI "lean Republican" rating, but that depends on who gets the R nomination. Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust (D) has a strong shot in the general. Others running are Independent Frank Piliere and Independent Green Dianne Blais. List of Republicans included.
(WI-06) Joe Leibham by Jeffsimpson - Diarist gives us some details on why we wouldn’t want Joe Leibham (R) to win this election.
(House-Gen) House 2014 -- ways to get it - 1. by Frank Palmer - Diarist lists and outlines strategies for attacking Republicans and getting Democrats out to vote that could help overcome the handicap redistricting has imposed in too many states.
State, local and more - 12
(CT-CD48) The NRA needs to be fought in Everytown. Colchester Connecticut is Everytown. by Paulforstaterep - Candidate Jason Paul (D) stops by to let us know his stance on the NRA and gun laws.
(MD-Anne Arundel County Council) Longtime Democrats Form Slate, Call Out Neo-Confederate Opponent Who Is Running as a Democrat by jhutson - In a sneaky move, a hard core theocratic Republican still fighting the Civil War changed his registration the day before filing for election as a Democrat. Honest Democratic candidates in the county have gotten together to make sure citizens know the truth.
(MI-StRep-60) Jon Hoadley (MI HD60) Canvas Kickoff by Scottsolomon - Canvassing for Jon Hoadley (D) running for the Michigan State House District 60 seat will kick-off on April 26th. Links to help the Hoadley campaign included in the diary.
(MI-Gen) Michigan filing deadline presents (relatively) few surprises by ScottyUrb - Diarist offers the unofficial list of Democratic and Republican candidates at the filing deadline.
(NY-AD-113) NY-AD-113 - NYS Assembly Candidate Carrie Woerner Gains Momentum, Picking Up Influential Endorsement by Upstate Blue - Last week, New York State Assembly candidate Carrie Woerner (D-Malta) picked up the endorsement of the Women's Campaign Fund. The endorsement will provide a substantial boost for Woerner's campaign in a district that includes a large portion of the Upper Hudson Valley region.
(PA-Gov) PA-Gov: I'm Proud to Defend Obamacare by Allyson Schwartz. Rep. Schwartz is running for Governor in Pennsylvania, choosing to post to Daily Kos on an account just opened this month.
(PA-Gov) PA-Gov: Obamacare Frenemy Allyson Schwartz Running on Obamacare Now by PrimaryBlog - Third Way/New Democrat congresswoman Allyson Schwartz may not be the best person to put in charge of health care reform in Pennsylvania.
(PA-Gov) Running on Obamacare in Pennsylvania by Joan McCarter. Allyson Schwartz's unambiguous embrace of the successes of ObamaCare was noted on the DK front page, too.
(SC-Gov) Defending the Constitution & Standing Up to Deceitful RGA Ads by Vincent Sheheen - Diarist is running for the Democratic nomination to face Governor Nikki Haley in November, brings attention to deceptive ads from the Republican Governors Association.
(TX-SD25) Texas wasting taxpayer money by BooneForTexas - Donna Campbell (R) likes to waste money drug testing people seeking unemployment benefits. Daniel Boone (D) would rather go after corporate welfare waste.
(WI-Gov, Sen) WI-Gov & Sen: PPP, Walker (R) Leads Burke (D) By 3 Points, Feingold (D) Leads Johnson (R) By 6 by poopdogcomedy - Encouraging news out of Wisconsin from PPP.
(WV-Gen) Koch Group Sends Out Mailings Telling WVA Voters It's Too Late to Register by Dartagnan - "Freedom-loving" scumbags hard at work suppressing the vote in West Virginia, as Koch front group Americans for Prosperity Foundation attempts to fool voters in eight counties by telling them it's too late to "update" their voter registration.
Ballot Initiatives - 2
(AK-Gen) Dem control of Senate hopes boosted: AK ballot initiatives moved from primary to general election by misterwade. Mostly, we're used to behind-the-scenes maneuvering to tip the election scales towards Republicans. This diary reviews three ballot initiatives (marijuana legalization, minimum wage, fisheries protection from mining) which are being scheduled for the general election in November rather than Alaska'a August primary. Amongst other things, this should help Mark Begich's re-election, thereby helping Democrats retain the majority in the US Senate.
(MI-MinWage) Mich GOP terrified of Raise the Wage ballot proposal, offers pathetic alternative to "save jobs" by Eclectablog - Michigan Republicans are so frightened by allowing an initiative to raise minimum wage onto the November ballot that they're instead trying to pass a paltry 75¢ increase now. Their fear is that the ballot initiative would spur Democratic turnout.
General - 7
Why the Electoral College is a good thing and its coming end is even better by homunq – The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) now has 165 EVs, or 61% of the 270 necessary to take effect. The NPVIC is an agreement between states to assign all their electors to whichever candidate gets the most popular votes nationwide. As more and more states sign on to the Compact the diarist sees in the Electoral College the seeds of its own destruction.
Stephen Wolf's US House Race Ratings 4/2014 by Stephen Wolf - In his analysis of the current state of play state of the US House races, the diarist expects the national popular vote or generic ballot to be fairly close with a very modest Democratic edge like it was in 2012, which as we saw was not nearly enough for a Democratic house. He would give Republicans at least a 95 percent chance of maintaining their hold on the chamber for a rating of Safe Republican overall.
GOTV: Eclectablog tells us how it's done by ShoshannaD - Diarist offers a 4-point plan from Eclectablog for organizing and activating GOTV efforts.
A Little Early Voting Giddy-up For You On This Fine Spring Day in Carolina by CocoQ - Diarist has early voting info for North Carolina.
@TheDemocrats Please! Help me promote #WalkUrPrecinctWeek By Angie in WA State - Diarist has a post up about walking a precinct & knocking on doors.
SCOTUS keeps Tillman Act in force by VClib - In upholding an Iowa state campaign finance law, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed the Tillman Act forbidding direct contributions from corporations to the campaigns of candidates for federal office. This will allow other states to beef up their campaign finance laws in spite of Citizens United. It will do nothing to rein in corporate PACs, though.
For the Mid Terms, the ACA is a winner. But it's not the only one. by Pluto - While the Republicans have utterly spent themselves trying to repeal ACA - with nothing else to show for their time in office - Dems who embrace it should do well. But for sheer turnout potential, how about student loan forgiveness?