| Next week we will be adding 3-4 names to our Better Democrats list at Act Blue, so watch this space. Here's an update on our current candidates, including the district, Cook PVI and Cook Report rating for each race.
Darcy Burner, WA-08, PVI D+2, Toss up. Darcy had a stellar Q2 in fundraising, outraising Dave Reichert and coming in fifth in the Swing State Project power rankings, with 136% of the cash that Reichert has. In addition, following the tragic loss of her house in a fire, enough was raised to give her a needed break. She is back on the trail.
Sam Bennett, PA-15, PVI D+2, R favored. Sam Bennett, like all of our Better Dems, had a good fundraising quarter, coming within a hair of her incumbent opponent's total and leaping 25 spots in the Swing State power rankings. She now has 52% of her opponent's CoH (solid for a Dem) and has been added to the DCCC's "emerging races" list.
Debbie Cook, CA-46 PVI R+6, Likely R. One of our new additions, Huntington Beach mayor, environmental lawyer and energy expert Debbie Cook was a hit at Netroots Nation. She outraised opponent Dana Rohrabacher for the second straight quarter. Although the 20-year veteran of Congress has a big lead in CoH, Debbie is closing the gap in a year when GOPers are finding fundraising challenging at best. She also has a big lead in enthusiasm.
Eric Massa, NY-29 PVI R+5, Toss up. Eric Massa clocked in at #10 in the Swing State power ratings, our second Better Dem with more CoH (105%)than his incumbent opponent. In what looks to be a very blue year in New York State, Eric continues to vigorously challenge Randy Kuhl in this upstate district. He was unable to come to Netroots Nation this year because of a meeting with labor leaders, but sent his thanks for netroots support.
Tom Perriello, VA-05 PVI R+6, Likely R. Tom Perriello also had an extremely competitive quarter in his bid to unseat turncoat Virgil Goode, and his CoH stands at 62%, very good for a first-time challenger. He continues to build support, hitting Goode on the housing issue, and has been added to the DCCC emerging races list.
Dennis Shulman, NJ-05 PVI R+4, Likely R Our second new addition, Dennis Shulman, the blind rabbi running against extreme right winger Scott Garrett, got a nice write-up in the most recent New Yorker Magazine. He had a good quarter and has 40% of Garrett's CoH in a prohibitively expensive media market. He has been added to the DCCC emerging races list, and should benefit from some DCCC ad buys in the NY/NJ media market.
Jeff Merkley, OR-Sen Jeff's race has been upgraded by Cook to Toss-up, and one recent Rasmussen Poll showed him in the lead. He made a very strong impression at Netroots Nation. His fundraising continues strong, but because of his competitive May primary, he has a long way to go to match his opponent's CoH. Because he is a strong progressive, his race is absolutely key to improving the Senate next year. He needs your support.
That's our round-up for the week.
Please give generously to our Better Democrats and watch for more updates and additions. Keep us all posted on the races you are watching and candidates worthy of progressives' support. |
