Progressive candidates line up to take down GOP
McClatchy DC | McClatchyDC.com
Progressive candidates line up to take down GOP
By Alex Roarty
July 31, 2017 5:00 AM
WASHINGTON
Lori Wahila and her son Matt have done everything together since jumping into politics this year: They took the same bus to the Womens March in Washington, joined local activist groups, and dedicated themselves to protesting President Donald Trump at every turn.
Now, this progressive duo from upstate New York are undertaking another venture running for office.
Lori, 60, is running for county legislator while Matt, 28, is seeking a seat on the local town council. And while a mother-son combo might sound unusual, theyre just two of hundreds of progressive candidates who have decided to seek elected office this and next year.
"A lot of people weve talked to are in same boat," Matt Wahila said. "Weve never really considered it before, but with everything going on, we have to do it."
"If we dont do it, who will do it? Thats been a sentiment from a lot of people."
Lori and Matt were in the capital Saturday participating in a candidate-training conference put on by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a liberal advocacy group thats seen a surge of interest from progressive who want to run for office.
The group hosted about 300 candidates for the three-day event almost double the number who attended the PCCCs candidate-training session in 2015, according to group officials.
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