Down ballot, down home. Vote Local

by: jpfdeuce

Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 15:12

Mutually Assured Destruction had a great diary today about Obama securing votes from elderly Floridians -- how Hillary helped convert them and how John McCain assured them not to vote for him.  The point of this diary isn't to simply note that diary.  Nope.  

The diary, however, reminded me how easily forgotten the rest of the ballot can be.  I can't say that Floridians in Tampa Bay, Florida in general or elsewhere in the country are aware that there vote counts on more than just the presidential election.  And it's vital in those down-ballot races for that matter.  

While people are sold on Barack Obama, how many of them are aware of or participating in the down ballot races?

Progressives sweep WA primaries

by: raincityman

Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 14:04

Last week's primary election in Washington state had 11 candidates on the ballot that were endorsed by Progressive Majority, the country's leading organization that recruits, trains and elects progressives to down-ballot offices. These candidate will form a farm team who can run for higher office in future years.

I am privileged to serve as the Washington state director for the organization.

Ten of these 11 candidates won their primaries and moved on to the general election this November. This is a stunning victory for Washington state progressives, and for progressives across the country!  These are candidates that we recruited and spend months training and assisting with their campaigns.

Here are two examples of this work unfolding in the primary:

Snohomish County: A new Progressive Majority

The most important race in the primary was for Snohomish County Council, where Brian Sullivan won the Democratic nomination against a long-time elected official. As his district is strongly Democratic, he faces only token conservative opposition in the general election. Sullivan replaces a conservative Democrat and changes the balance of power on the council from conservatives to progressives!

At Progressive Majority, we have been working on the Snohomish County Council since we opened our doors in 2004 when the council had a 4-1 conservative majority. In 2005, we helped Dave Somers get elected here; this primary Sullivan won, and this fall we have one other council race in the county.  If our candidate Mike Cooper wins in the other Snohomish County district up for election this fall, we will have a 4-1 progressive majority!  Now, that's PROGRESS!

Big upset in Port of Seattle, but battle not over yet

The other shocker on primary night was when Progressive Majority candidate Gael Tarleton led incumbent Seattle Port Commissioner Bob Edwards. In fact, Edwards is at 28%!!!!

Currently, the split is 3 conservative commissioners and 2 progressive commissioners, so if Gael wins, and Progressive Majority endorsed incumbent Alec Fisken retains his seat, we're ready to take a majority.  The progressive community has been fighting for a majority on the port for years; this year we have our best chance in years to win. It's time for change, and Gael is ready to deliver that change!

With a unique background in national security, Gael has experience that counts - she reported to Al Gore's commission on Global Climate Change, developed plans for oil spill response and cleanup for the U.S. Coast Guard, and put technology in place to limit the impacts of nuclear power at ports nationwide for the EPA. She's been endorsed by King County Democrats, Washington Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club and 15 local Democratic organizations.

Here is a complete list of Progressive Majority-endorsed candidate results from the Washington State primary.

County Offices
John Lovick - Snohomish County Sherriff
Won! Faces a tough general election.

Brian Sullivan - Snohomish County Council, District 2
Won! Faces token opposition in the general.

Bob Kelly - Whatcom County Council, District 1, Position B
Won! Currently leading other candidates 2:1.

City Offices
Dan McShane - Bellingham Mayor
Won! The leading vote-getter over 6 primary opponents.

Maureen Judge - Mercer Island City Council, Position 3
Won! The leading vote getter over 3 primary opponents.

Terry Scott - Shoreline City Council, Position 6
Won! While the election results are close, he will advance to the general election and held an incumbent to under 35%!

Marilyn Strickland - Tacoma City Council, At Large
Won! The leading vote-getter in a four-way primary.

De'Sean Quinn - Tukwila City Council, Position 2
Lost in a three-way primary.

Ron Bonlender - Yakima City Council, District 3
Won! Bonlender will face strong opposition this fall.

Port Commission
Note: despite its name, all of King County votes on the port commission races -- about 1/3 of the state's voters

Alec Fisken - Seattle Port Commission, Position 5
Won! Alec will face a very strong race this fall against a very well-funded opponent.

Gael Tarleton - Seattle Port Commission, Position 2
Won! Leading a 6-way primary over an 8-year incumbent.

The path to national progressive success is local action

by: kuvasz

Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 16:25

Debates by Democrats on the tactical advantages of special issues, of merely being "pro" this or "anti" are useless because it plays to the strength of our adversaries, viz., the overwhelming advantage of the Right's organizational strength in the corporate boardrooms and at the local, grass roots level throughout the nation.