First off, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and a Happy Kwanza. I am playing catch up here. Received this e-mail today from the Progressives Change Campaign Committee:
THE BAD NEWS: Moments ago, Senate Republicans voted to pass their tax bill giving massive tax breaks to millionaires, billionaires, and big corporations at the expense of hard-working American families.
An NBC poll released just hours ago shows that only 24% of Americans think the Republican tax plan is a good idea. But that didn't matter to Republicans. In both the House and Senate today, Republicans made it clear: their only priority is enormous windfalls to their rich donors, big corporations, and themselves -- and to hell with the rest of us.
The solution to corrupt politicians who ignore the needs of the people is as old as democracy itself: THROW THE BUMS OUT!
THE GOOD NEWS: Democrats from blue New Jersey to purple Virginia to red Alabama have proven that in this poisonous environment, Democrats can oust Republicans everywhere, including gerrymandered districts Republicans have monopolized for years.
What we have to do is make sure great progressive candidates that really connect with people and support wildly popular ideas like Medicare for All have the support and resources they need to take advantage of this unique moment.
Can you donate $1 (or more) to 11 bold progressive candidates that can win in 2018, end the long national nightmare that began with Trump's election, and usher in a new era of progressive power?
Many of these candidates are running to take back the House from Republicans. One is running to oust Ted Cruz from the Senate. One is running against a very conservative Democrat. One is running for governor of the 1st presidential primary state in 2020. All of them will fight for to make the lives of everyday people better with ideas like Medicare for All expanding Social Security, making huge public investments in millions of infrastructure jobs, and making higher education affordable.
Randy "Iron Stache" Bryce (WI-01) is an ironworker, Army veteran, and cancer survivor. He's led his local union and gotten his hands dirty on the job. When was the last time Paul Ryan did that? Instead, Ryan has spent a lifetime unifying Republicans around ending Medicare for workers. Randy is running as a proud working dad for single payer health care, higher wages, and more manufacturing jobs -- and to stop the devastating Ryan agenda. He is famous on Twitter as @IronStache. Donate $1 to Randy's campaign.
Katie Porter (CA-45) is known as the "Elizabeth Warren of California" after writing books with Senator Warren and being appointed by then-Attorney General Kamala Harris to be California's top consumer watchdog. She has spent 20 years fighting Wall Street and powerful interests, and was one of the first to sound the alarm about the foreclosure crisis. Katie is taking on Mimi Walters, one of the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress. Donate $1 to Katie's campaign.
Andy Kim (NJ-03) is a former Obama administration diplomat who helped fight ISIS and has unique standing as he calls climate change a "national security crisis." His experience ranges from being a Rhodes Scholar to an advocate against homelessness, where he saw how many working families are living one paycheck away from catastrophe. He is running against Republican Tom MacArthur, who led the congressional push to repeal Obamacare. Donate $1 to Andy's campaign.
Cathy Glasson (IA-Gov) is a nurse and labor leader in Iowa. She is instinctively on the side of working people. And she is one of the most exciting candidates running for governor this cycle. Cathy is actively campaigning on a bold progressive platform: a $15 minimum wage, the right to form a union, and Medicare for All. Cathy attended our National Candidate Training in July 2017 and is committed to running a truly grassroots campaign. With her history as a nurse and union leader, we know she is a savvy fighter for working families. Donate $1 to Cathy's campaign.
Beto O'Rourke (TX-Sen) Ted Cruz is vulnerable. His approval rating are low, and Beto O'Rourke recently outraised him. Some call Beto the "Kennedy of Texas" because this 44-year-old inspires people and is seen as the future. Others call him a giant-slayer because he knows how to win a David-and-Goliath fight, because he's done it before. Beto defeated a corrupt, corporate Democratic incumbent in a primary in 2012. He told CNN, "I was running against 100-1 odds." Either way, if Beto wins, we'll replace one of the most extreme conservative senators in history with a true progressive. Donate $1 to Beto's campaign.
And, please congratulate and welcome our newest endorsed candidates for 2018!
Veronica Escobar (TX-16) is running in a primary for a Democratic open seat in Texas. She has a long record of progressive action as a County Commissioner and County Judge. She took on the local police chief when he called Black Lives Matter "a radical hate group," and sued the state of Texas over a bill that would have allowed local police officers to become de facto border patrol agents. She also led the effort to build public clinics in El Paso so poor and working families could access world-class care. If she wins, Veronica would be the first Latina elected to Congress from Texas. She's running against a former Republican who has raised half her money from Republicans -- we can't let Republicans steal this blue seat! The primary is March 6, so we need to act fast to give Veronica support. Donate $1 to Veronica's campaign.
Greg Edwards (PA-15) is a pastor who was recently arrested in the Capitol protesting the horrific tax bill. As he said, "This bill goes far beyond being a Republican or Democrat -- this goes to the heart of who we are as a nation, to what it means to be human." He is running in a primary in Pennsylvania for the open swing seat newly created from Republican Charlie Dent's retirement. The primary is crowded with other Democrats, and Greg has pledged not to accept corporate contributions, so every dollar counts. His primary is May 15. Donate $1 to Greg's campaign.
Liz Watson (IN-09) is running for Congress in Indiana against Republican Trey Hollingsworth. She is taking a no-nonsense approach to her campaign, talking about the kitchen table issues that matter most to voters, like good manufacturing jobs. As a former policy director in Congress, she wrote the Schedules That Work Act, the first-of-its-kind legislation to give employees more certainty around their work schedules, making it easier to arrange child care or hold a second job. If Liz wins, she will become a model for how populists can win red districts. She reminds us a lot of another "Liz" -- Elizabeth Warren. Donate $1 to Liz's campaign.
Mike Levin (CA-49) is a clean energy entrepreneur and non-profit director. He believes strongly in the power of clean energy to create jobs, and will also fight for Medicare for All, debt-free college, and a $15 minimum wage. Mike says he is proud to be part of the Elizabeth Warren wing of American politics. He's running to take on Darrell Issa, one of the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress, and he's been participating in local protests outside Issa's office each week -- and then inviting protestors back to his office to call voters! We believe in this type of grassroots organizing, and the way he's turning the Resistance into electoral power. Donate $1 to Mike's campaign.
Marie Newman (IL-03) is running in a primary against seven-term congressman Dan Lipinski, a Democrat, in this deep blue district. Why is she taking him on? Because Dan Lipinski voted against the Affordable Care Act, opposes abortion access and LGBT rights, and voted to defund Planned Parenthood. Meanwhile, Marie says she would be a "worker bee" for Medicare for All. We endorsed Marie Newman alongside a group of allies like NARAL, MoveOn, and Democracy for America. The primary is March 20. Donate $1 to Marie's campaign.
Jocelyn Benson (Michigan Secretary of State) is running for Michigan Secretary of State to protect voting rights, especially during the all-important elections in 2020. She is also running on a smart platform of the "30 minute guarantee" -- pledging that no one will have to wait more than 30 minutes to renew their drivers' license, register their vehicle, or cast their ballot. Oh yeah, and she's a former Elizabeth Warren student! She has no opponent in the primary, so she's focused on running a strong race to beat the Republican. Donate $1 to Jocelyn's campaign.
It’s time for progressives to build a new Congress, to end the nightmare of Republican governance, and show the world that progressives can win -- and make the lives of everyday people better. Our work starts right now.
Every dollar donated to these bold progressive candidates builds progressive power and moves us closer to shutting down the Republican disaster. Please donate generously.
Thanks for being a bold progressive.
-- Keith Rouda, PCCC organizer