March 2020 State Primaries (click link for more info)

March 3: Arkansas 

March 3: North Carolina 

March 3: Texas 

March 10: Mississippi 

May 12: Nebraska 

May 12: West Virginia 

May 12: Georgia (2 seats)

May 19: Idaho 

May 19: Kentucky 

June 2: Iowa 

June 2: Montana 

June 2: South Dakota

June 9: Maine 

June 9: South Carolina 

June 30: Colorado 

June 30: Oklahoma

August 4: Arizona 

August 4: Kansas 

August 6: Tennessee

August 18: Alaska 

August 18: Wyoming

November 3: Louisiana 

Let’s Win BAck the senate, Okay?

No matter what happens, a bunch of us will probably be annoyed about whatever candidate that ends up on the top of the Democratic ticket. Luckily, our election responsibilities don’t end there! If you don’t like the presidential candidate (and even if you do), why not look downballot. 23 Republican Senate seats are up for election in 2020. The current occupants of these seats all voted not guilty on Articles 1 & II at the Senate impeachment trial. Let’s give their jobs to somebody else!

The process of electing Senators in 2020 has already begun, and there are a million ways to help out. If you live in a state with a close Democratic race, consider putting your money, time, and energy into electing a Democratic Senator where you are. (We’re talking to you Alabama.) Of you live in one of the 14 states with no U.S. Senate election in 2020 (California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Wisconsin), consider adopting a Senate race elsewhere! Many no-contest states have resources that could make a real difference in places where there are races going on.

The Democrats running for Senate this year are a diverse lot. There are progressives and moderates, there are women and people of color. There is something for everyone!

We can all have a role in ditching Mitch!

Ways to help a campaign:

Donate money:  All campaign websites have a big DONATE button somewhere on the front page.  It is often the first thing to come up.  Decide if you want to focus on one campaign or spread your money around. Giving directly to a campaign means you aren’t subsidizing outside organizations.

Volunteer:  In the internet age it has become easier for out-of-staters to volunteer their help.  You can do phone canvassing, texting, or mail postcards to voters.  You can help register people to vote or simply get out the vote.  Familiarize yourself with issues of interest in the state so that you are knowledgeable when speaking to voters.  Keep in mind that in 2020 state representatives will be elected who will be drawing up redistricting maps from the Census.

Visit:  Consider a visit to the state of your candidate.  2020 is looking to be a year of political tourists where people can help by going door to door.  There may be opportunities to stay in supporters’ homes and hang out in campaign offices.  Political campaigns are a great way to meet new people and visit new places.

Arkansas: The Natural State

No Democratic Primary

Have the Clintons lost all of their contacts in Arkansas? How is it that there is no Democratic candidate here?!


Incumbent:

 

Tom Cotton (r)

This Harvard Law School educated senator’s most recent conspiracy is that the Coronavirus was created in a Chinese biosafety lab near Wuhan, China. He is a fervent Trump supporter and loves a good conspiracy theory. 

More Reading: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/17/descent-gop-into-authoritarian-know-nothingism/

 

North Carolina: The Tar Heel State

Democratic Primary March 3rd (Super Tuesday)

With talk of Fidel Castro’s literacy initiative in Cuba in the air, it only seem right we should consider our own literacy and feature great reads about the primary states that we are highlighting. Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain is a North Carolina classic, as is current best seller Where the Crawdad’s Sing.  Margaret Maron has written a whole series of mysteries about North Carolina that feature Judge Deborah Knott.


 

Incumbent:

Thom Tillis

According to a recent ethics complaint, he sent out a fundraising letter for Presidential Protection Fund during the impeachment trial.  Made it clear before the trial that he would vote to acquit Trump, you know, BEFORE hearing the evidence. His approval rating is 33%. 

Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate:

Cal Cunningham

Cal Cunningham served in the North Carolina State Senate from 2001-2003 as one of the youngest members elected.  He served in the U.S. Army Reserve following the events of September 11, 2001 and did three active duty tours.  He is a leader at a nationally recognized environmental services and waste reduction company in Raleigh.  Cunningham has served as Vice Chairman of the Governor’s Crime Commission which deals with school gun violence, the opioid crisis, domestic violence, and sexual assault. 

Positions: Cunningham’s priorities include low cost accessible health care, economic opportunity for all, livable wage, improve education, climate change and protecting the environment, protecting women’s health and rights, preventing gun violence, and fixing broken immigration system.

 

Texas: The Lone Star State

Larry McMurtry writes cowboy sagas while transplants James Michener writes massive novels like Hawaii and Texas. Molly Ivins writes wise political commentaries, called George W. Bush ‘Shrub,’ and said, “Good thing we've still got politics in Texas - finest form of free entertainment ever invented.

 

Incumbent:

John Cornyn

The Senate GOP’s majority whip, and a creation of Karl Rove. Read more: https://theintercept.com/2019/09/30/john-cornyn-texas-senate-election/

Democrats:

Mary Jennings (MJ) Hegar (Winner/RUNOFF COMPETITOR)

  • Veteran who worked to change policy on women in the military

  • Ran for Congress 2018

  • Endorsed by DSCC, leading in polls

Positions: Fix ACD, concerned about the climate, worker protections

Royce West  (RUNOFF COMPETITOR)

  • Texas State Senator

Positions: Invest in ACA, re-engage with Paris climate agreement. Invest in education