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5/12 Nebraska Primary Election Results: Second Congressional District; CA-25 Special Election; & Evening OT

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Justice Democrat and TPW favored progressive candidate Kara Eastman is running again in the NE-02 Dem primary. Polls have closed.

She has a reason for that smiley emoji:


(image credit: NYT)

In CA-25, Christy Smith is in the special election as the Dem candidate. She was endorsed by Bernie Sanders yesterday:

More about that race to replace Katie Hill, who won in 2018. This would fill the seat until November, in which there will be another election.

The margin of victory matters in California
In 2018, Ms. Hill won the district by a nine-point margin. All signs point to a narrower margin on Tuesday. And no matter what happens, the two candidates will go on to a rematch in November. Democrats have played down expectations for the special election, but argue that they will fare better in the fall, when more voters are motivated to show up for the presidential election.

If Mr. Garcia emerges the winner, expect Republicans to seize on the victory as evidence that they can win in suburban swing districts and as a way to energize their base.

But the district’s changes have been clear for years, as the electorate has become younger and more diverse. Now, nearly half of all voters in the district are black, Latino or Asian. In 2016, the district backed Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, over Mr. Trump by seven points — and a Republican win would most likely prompt hand wringing among Democrats, who are counting on suburban voters to take back the White House.

In California, Republicans have consistently lost ground to Democrats in the past several years — the G.O.P. holds just seven of the state’s 53 congressional seats.

More jibber jabber in the comments. Tonight BYOB.

5/10 Mom’s Day and OT

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Jibber-jabber in the comments. Hope everyone is having a nice Sunday. I’ve got a chicken poked with lemon in the crockpot.

I’ve always liked this song John Lennon wrote about his mom. Here’s one of his children singing the tune.

5/8-9 TGIF – Sanders on All In; Saturday Open Thread (Updates)

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Just saw this announcement:

Update: here’s the video clip.

The IL governor is pushing for the IL Leg to pass a vote by mail for the GE.

Benny’s Bar is open and you are also welcome to add jukebox YT’s for merriment in the comments. See you there!

5/7 Sanders Hosts TH on COVID-19 Affectations on the Criminal Justice & Prisons; Evening OT

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

More jibber-jabber and the bar is open. See you in the comments!

Bar is Open.JPG

Bar is Open.JPG

Alex Morse for Congress MA-01

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Let’s introduce Alex Morse, MA-01, running as a Justice Democrat this year.

Alex’s story in the 1st congressional district starts in a Holyoke housing project where his parents met and fell in love. Both his mother and father grew up in poverty. Alex’s parents started a family as teenagers and neither had a chance to attend college. They worked tirelessly with what they had, struggling from job to low-wage job on public assistance in public housing. Over time they were able to make their way into the working class. Now 33 years down the road, Alex’s father heads to the same meat packing company in Springfield every day of the week for work. And Alex still recalls the neighborhood family daycare his mom ran at his childhood home.

Alex’s parents worked hard to provide opportunities for their children — Alex and his two older brothers — that they didn’t have. Alex’s gratitude for his parents, and for the city of Holyoke, led to his passion for public service. The gratitude he has to his parents, and to Holyoke, became a passion for public service. At 16, Alex came out to his parents, and their response of unconditional love and support gave him the courage to bring his whole self into this life, and into this work.

His interest in public service brought him to Brown University, and led him to become the first member of his family to earn a college degree. While a student, he spent his summers in Holyoke, coming back to his hometown to serve under-resourced youth like himself learn skills for future success. Back at school, Alex’s vision for organizing and helping his hometown only grew deeper. He announced his candidacy for mayor of Holyoke at age 21, while still a senior at Brown. He has served as Holyoke’s mayor since 2012, winning 4 elections during his time in City Hall. Elected at 22, Alex is the youngest and first openly gay mayor in the history of the city of Holyoke.

Since taking office, Alex has spearheaded the city’s economic rebirth in the vision of a new generation using Holyoke’s unique assets: renewable energy and existing infrastructure, to prepare the city for the coming climate change demands. Millions of public and private dollars have grown downtown with green energy projects. Vacant mill buildings are now home to community dining, arts industries, the Holyoke Community College Culinary Arts Program, and more.

This growth all turns on Alex’s belief that the greatest asset of any American district is its people. Whether pursuing a housing strategy that promotes growth while avoiding gentrification, giving citizens tools to launch small businesses, or improving public safety through community policing, Alex has always moved forward with the doors of City Hall wide open to the voices of its biggest treasure: The People.

As Mayor, he implemented and defended a needle exchange program to fight the scourge of the opioid epidemic. His commitment here was spurred not only by the public costs, but by his family experience with his brother’s heroin addiction and seeing firsthand the emotional, financial, and generational toll that this disease has on all the people it touches. He opened the city’s arms in welcome to hundreds of Puerto Rican families displaced by Hurricane Maria. He has been a steadfast defender of reproductive justice, a leader for affordable housing solutions, and he was the very first politician in the state to endorse marijuana legalization, citing both economic opportunity and the disproportionate impact of drug laws on minority communities. Alex is a leading champion for progressive values.

Alex regularly travels the country to share his experiences with students and other leaders. He’s been a lecturer in Urban Government and Politics at UMASS Amherst since 2014. His teaching seeks to instill in his students a deep belief in democracy and the capacity of politics to make communities stronger, more prosperous, and more just. His life has been about always doing the work, always seeing the people, and always bringing it home.

Shall we add him to our list? BTW, there are no GOPers so far who have announced any intentions to challenge the seat. Primary is September 1st.

4/30 Shared Priorities For COVID-19: Jayapal, Pocan, Sanders, and Warren Panel Discussion & OT

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

On in 10 minutes (close to 6 CT) is a panel discussion via YT with Reps Pocan and Jayapal, and Sens Sanders and Warren.

Our Revolution is having an event too.

We’ll add more news, tweets, and videos in the comments. This serves as an open thread. It’s Thursday evening and Benny’s bar is open for HH.

Bar is Open.JPG

Bar is Open.JPG

4/27 Jayapal Endorses Here’s the Deal Joe; Sanders TH on COVID-19 & OT

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

What if she were being vetted? Long shot for sure.

“As progressives we all understand that the essence of what we believe in is the concept of solidarity,that we’re all in this together. No matter what our color may be,no matter where we were born,no matter what kind of work we do. We are human beings, and we are in it together.”

I wish he would address the NY ballot issue, but don’t believe if he will. Meantime, there’s been push back from Bernie’s team, but we’ll put those in the comments section. Consider this an open thread. BYOB tonight.