Earlier, Matt called out Democracy For America on why we endorsed Christine Jennings. Here's why - Democracy for America is a bottom-up organization. We have a unique endorsement process which starts with progressive activists on the ground. DFA members in Christine Jennings' district have been clamoring for an endorsement and we respect our members and believe they know what's best.
When we've talked to those grassroots activists, they talk about how engaged and involved Christine is; she comes out for meetings, events, and really listens to and respects people. They talk about the work she's done the last few years on election integrity - an issue of great importance in the district. In fact, one of our statewide leaders, Susan Smith, talked about how she's become much more of a fan of Christine's since the last election. I talked to Kindra Muntz, one of our in-district leaders, and she characterized Christine as a compassionate listener and a real fighter. I trust Susan and Kindra. I trust our local leaders on the ground. Those leaders look to DFA and to our endorsement process to give a powerful voice to on-the-ground progressive grassroots activists.
DFA members in Florida's 13th Congressional District know what type of candidate they want a whole lot better than anyone else. Trusting our members is what makes DFA so powerful and unique. It is why we backed candidates like Donna Edwards in Maryland, Jerry McNerney in California, and Deval Patrick in Massachusetts.
Christine Jennings is a strong progressive candidate who will work on the issues that motivated our members to get involved in her campaign in the first place: ending the War in Iraq, providing health care to all Americans, and resolving the climate crisis. Christine is running against a knuckle-dragging Republican, Vern Buchanan, who I can assure you will not work to advance a progressive agenda.
The question is not why did DFA endorse her campaign, but how could we not?
--Arshad Hasan
Executive Director, Democracy for America
STATE BLOGS
