Eyeing the House, Democrats move to hire operatives in 20 GOP-held districts

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post



By Mike DeBonis February 2 at 6:00 AM

Democrats are moving urgently to harness the wave of grass-roots protests that have greeted President Trump in his first weeks in office to reclaim the House majority in next year’s midterm elections.

As of this week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is hiring full-time operatives to do political organizing work in 20 key Republican-held districts — an unusually early investment in House races that do not even have declared candidates yet.

Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), the committee’s chairman, called the move “unprecedented” for Democrats, who need to pick up two dozen GOP-held seats to win the majority.

“We’ve seen women and people gather around America to march for progress; now we’re asking them to run for office, to volunteer and to vote,” he said. “I can very safely say that the DCCC has never done this this early, and I don’t know of any other of the campaign committees that have launched an initiative like this this early.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/eyeing-the-house-democrats-move-to-hire-operatives-in-20-gop-held-districts/2017/02/01/32a754f0-e8a6-11e6-bf6f-301b6b443624_story.html?utm_term=.55f244e574dd&wpisrc=nl_politics&wpmm=1

[SticksnStones]

1. Halla - fricking - luia.

[NewJeffCT]

2. We need a return to the 50 State Strategy

this seems like a start.

[dhill926]

9. yep....

[cstanleytech]

24. A return to it and it cant just be for one election cycle either it has to be permanent.

[MBS]

25. YES!!! n/t

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Issues at this point, not candidates

and I wonder if it's a little too early for party operatives

Nothing quells grass roots like organization from Washington

[haele]

14. Never too early for party operatives.

So long as they keep the local party in the loop.
Party operatives can provide coordination with local and national media, a common message, money, equipment, and targeting support from the national donation databases they've access to.
If the DCC is going to help local candidates and issues for 2018 elections, they need to start now to build their local infrastructure and ground game now. While people are still shocked and looking for a competent plan that makes sense to begin a fight.
If we wait even six months from now, overload will set in, and people will fall into apathy, normalizing Drumpf and the GOP's theft of democracy.

Haele

[Hekate]

19. Plus a bajillion

[JHB]

23. I'd say "plus bajillion", but I've been beaten to the punch...

...and must go with +gazillion.

What quells the grass roots is Washington swooping in for campaign season but practically ignoring local conditions the rest of the time.

[rpannier]

34. could have gone with brazillion

[JHB]

36. Tried to, but my jokes fall flat in Portugese

[Iggo]

4. Get to work, Dems.

Now.

[iluvtennis]

6. +10,000 nt

[ananda]

5. Do we have a DNC chair yet?

[DK504]

8. Nope.

But I am happy to see that they aren't waiting for another election to get moving on getting these psychos out of office.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Great, they use pastors, we use operatives

If Trump trashes separation of church and state, can we form

The Church of Democracy?

[Doitnow]

17. Amen

[flygal]

40. Yes!

[calimary]

10. GOOD!

I hope this means that some of these GOP rubber-stampers won't be running unopposed any longer. We've literally handed these assholes victories in some districts without even firing a shot. Or maybe more accurately - without even BOTHERING EVEN TO TRY to fire a shot. Hell, without even suiting up for battle in the first place.

That's why we did so much better under Howard Dean as DNC Chair. His 50-state strategy was a winner. We got the House back, we got the Senate back, and then we got the White House back. Because he refused to write off ANY seat ANYWHERE. I kept reading reports and accounts about how there were Democrats there, in those districts, who'd finally been thrown a lifeline after being left on "ignore" for years. Some of them, as I'd read, had been PLEADING for help, for resources, for advice, for even minimal involvement, because they'd been ready to work and ready to try to make some inroads - and they were dismissed, ignored, written off, left quite literally adrift.

With the arrival of Howard Dean, SOMEBODY finally woke up and realized that there were people to fight for in those districts, people who were willing to fight if only they had a little help or backing. Previously, AND I'd wager - after that, we "shrewdly" (AHEM! Cough-cough) decided to put some of these back on ignore. No point in contesting them. File them away in the "Why Bother" file. Well, that's NO strategy for any victory or re-conquest - or growth or even any base-line sustenance! It's nothing but COMPLETELY AND SPECTACULARLY IDIOTIC!!!

[Blue Idaho]

11. About god damn time...

We need new blood and a 50 state strategy NOW!

[angrychair]

12. We are 47 seats in the hole

We need to be active in a lot more than 20 districts and if we don't do more to address gerrymandering and voter suppression it won't matter.

[moose65]

21. Yes, but....

We are down by 47 seats, 241 - 194, but we have to win back 24 seats for the majority. It's great that they are starting now, instead of sitting on their hands and whining! There should be a Democratic candidate in every House district, no matter how red. It doesn't matter if the district is 80% conservative - you never know when the Republican candidate will fall apart in a scandal, or be a horrible fundraiser, or whose campaign just fails miserably. Someone has to be there to pick up the pieces in those situations. We have to fight for every district!

[Sedona]

13. I just applied for a job!

Finding myself looking for a job at a time when my country and party can use my skills and experience may be a silver lining in my unemployment.


DCCC Jobs board is here:

http://dccc.org/jobs/

[jeffreyi]

15. Check out swingleft.org

I signed up to help.

[More_Cowbell]

16. "Democrats move"

A friend and I were jokingly talking about moving, yesterday. Our votes are wasted in California, but if we could move to a red state/district somewhere...

[trc]

28. You would be shocked by what you hear from those around you. Trust me, I live in Central Texas

and put up with so much ignorance. Neighbor had a trump/pence sign in his yard until recently, nicely framed by his Confederate battle flag hanging in the front window. Sooo much ignorance...

[duhneece]

30. How about southern New Mexico?

Northern NM is safely (if any actually are) Dem, but southern NM has Tea Party Steve Pearce. Please truly consider Las Cruces (if you have to live in progressive city) but, if you can be comfortable fighting the odds, come to Alamogordo! I'm going to run again and I need you...you'd fit right in, Cowbell!

[trc]

33. I have family in Alamo and the Sacramento area, was looking at some property near weed for sale

this last summer...but really love the Chama area up north. Ah to live in a democratic state again. Soon, very soon

[duhneece]

35. If you don't contact me by private message when you're out this way...

you will be in trouble. 66 year old women who are 5 feet tall are the ones for you to be scared about! ha

[flygal]

41. I just moved to a red state

I am amazed how many liberals I have found here. Yes, we are outnumbered, but I love feeling like my I'm now upping the dems votes!

[malthaussen]

18. 'bout time. n/t

[Kingofalldems]

20. Of course Trump's internet yeoman says we have no chance and are doomed.

[TexasBushwhacker]

22. I hope they go after Ted Poe

He got in because of the gerrymandering in 2003. Part of his district had a Democratic prior. He's also been battling leukemia since last summer. There were a lot of foreclosures in his district and the demographics have changed.

Here's his district. No gerrymandering here!



He won with 60.6% last November. His district is only 37% white, 30% Latino, 12% Black, 8% Asian. I think he's beatable with a good GOTV.

[PDittie]

29. They are going after Culberson

since Hillary carried CD7. But hopefully with Deb Kerner and not James Cargas.

[TexasBushwhacker]

32. Sweet!

Jim Cargas just does seem to be able to close the deal. 3 runs, 3 losses.

I wish Anisse Parker would get back in. I'm hoping Julian Castro will run for Senator or Governor. As awful as Greg Abbott is, I'm more scared of Dan Patrick going any farther. Not to be mean, but I think he's bipolar.

[gopiscrap]

26. Excellent

[Raster]

27. GO TEAM D, GO!

GOAL: Vote EACH AND EVERY Rethuglican OUT OF OFFICE!!!

[ehrnst]

31. But we have to raise that money in $25 increments in order to be pure, right? (nt)

[Tiggeroshii]

37. Target all of them

"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."

-George Orwell



Let this be our revolution.

[vlyons]

38. Please please come after my district

Tx-05 Jeb Hensarling - Chairman Finance committee and T-party darling and putz

[Amimnoch]

39. mine too!

Tx-07 Cargas came SOOOOO close to upending that tool Culberson. 2016 was the closest it has ever been that I recall. It would be great to have a congress critter that responds.