Presidential Candidates for 2016? Can anyone give me names of Progressive Dems for Congress 2012?

[vaberella]

I notice that 2016 is a worry. I'm already prepared for a Paul Ryan 2016 Veep or Presidency. But to see people worried about 2016 for Dems? Yeah, that will be a factor.

But I don't want to focus on that. Because I'm worried about getting Obama a nice set of Progressive Dems in 2012 for Congress. It's a bit frustrating to deal with the meezly bit we have.

We want to keep moderate to Progressive Dems.

I hear no one talking about reinstating Grayson in 2012. Why?

I hear no one talking about getting Feingold back in Senate in 2012. Why?

Sure I hear it from people in Wisconsin, but do I hear it on DU? No. Why are we not talking about new Progressive candidates we can push in 2012---but we're focused on 2016---when our 2016 candidate can very well be coming from our 2012 bunch in Congress.

Does anyone know any other Progressives we should be pushing in other states and other districts. We need about 100+ Progressives. Anyone on DU running as a candidate or friends with a Progressive candidate? Please post here!

Give us the name and keep this thread kicked so we can start gathering info and getting the word out. If Wisconsin can organize and start moving to get 6 of the 8 Repubs recalled and later Walker. DU can do something.

I remember a poster naming one Woman progressive running for a seat. I think it was catgirl Please post that info again.

I think we can see a whole different Obama. One who doesn't have his hands tied at times by the machinations within Congress---when we not only take back the House and get a super majority in Senate---Super-majority for me is 65 because I allow room for a few AWOLers.

I think we can see some epic change. We have a lot of Dems who need to take in power and we need to vet all our Dem Congressmen. We know Grayson and Feingold are progressives. We need more like them in Congress and Senate. Anyone know anyone running who we can push.

For instance in Alaska I'm rooting for McAdams again!
In Florida---for the information going on around Meeks. I want him to run and we should rally to get him the vote.

Wyoming looks lost to us and a lot of other states. But there are some we can turn purple. Let's get on that.

These are liberal people. That we let fall to the wayside. We need to make some moves and shake some boats and we should do it now. So instead of focusing on 2016. Let's worry about getting some Progressive Congress men that we're sorely missing in 2012. I think people will be shocked having some legitimate backup makes. Also can we get some people who are effective with explaining our message.

[Shiver]

1. I'm hoping Feingold will challenge Walker for governor when the recall begins.

I'd love to have that man leading my state. I don't know who we can get to knock Ron Johnson out of the Senate, but that's a little more than five years away... 2016, actually. Hopefully, by then a good candidate will emerge.

[vaberella]

2. Who do we have to take over the Senate in 2012?

When are the elections for Congressmen/women in Wisconsin? Can you get me a list of progressive challengers by district? I mean now that we have this movement there must be people who want to get involved.

[Shiver]

6. Our other senator, Herb Kohl, is a democrat.

Not as great as Feingold was, but he isn't bad. I'm sure someone will come in soon though and proclaim him to be a 'corporate dem' or something. As of right now, it's not certain if he'll be seeking re-election, although he is 77 years old, so there is a chance he might retire. If Herb retires, Paul Ryan will 'contemplate' running for the seat.

As for Congress... not many have declared that I know of. Rob Zerban is challenging Paul Ryan, though, and that's the only one that I know of, and I know very little of his positions, other than he's incredibly against Ryan's budget plan.

A map of our Congressional districts:

Democrats currently hold the second, third, and fourth districts.

Compare the map, if you can, to the map of the recent Supreme Court election. Many of the Republicans congressmen are in those very red districts. ?w=640

Now, we had the 5th for a long time before Sensenbrenner won in 2002, so it's possible that could turn over. However, that's also Glenn Grothman's territory, so it might just be a solid red now. The 7th had a Democrat until the last cycle, when Obey retired and Duffy won. We could get that one back - the area is mostly blue and purple on the Supremem Court map. Ribble also came in with the last election, knocking out Kagen (I liked Kagen; he refused to participate in the congressional health care plan until every American could have access to affordable health care. Maybe he'll run again...). But again, aside from Zerban, I have no idea as to challengers.

[Tx4obama]

3. I don't like to defend republicans, but Murkowski has been voting with the dems

more than she used to especially on womens' issues, just the other day she voted with the dems to 'not' defund planned parenthood.
If Murkowski continues to vote with the dems, say like 25% or so of the time like Snowe & Collins & Brown does - then I don't see an urgent need to get her out of office.
It is true that McAdams is a democrat, but I'm not so sure he's ready for the major leagues yet.

I'd rather see time and money spent on getting the really awful republicans out of office like: Sessions, Grassley, McCain, McConnell, Vitter, DeMint, Rubio, Rand Paul, etc.

[vaberella]

11. Oh no. I know that. And that's b/c she's still smarting from the slap she got from Republicans.

However, if we can get her out for someone like McAdams who came up out of no where I think it's better. Repubs I don't think we should be touching are Collins and Snowe who I find are strategically necessary.


I think Brown needs to go---but his popularity looks relatively sound unless we get some nice Progressive in the seat it would be great. Brown is one of pricks who moves with the tides and political pressure of losing his seat. So he knows his constituents will turn on him.

I agree with you on the list you mentioned. Those should be target places. I think McAdams does have a chance and I do understand the buying into of Murkowski...but I don't know---McAdams seems worth while. Unless we can get him as a Congressman. Then that would be great.

I can take McAdams as congressman from Alaska. We need only a few more seats in the Senate. I think about 6 and coming Senators. But the focus really should be in House cleaning...if you get my meaning.


I'm actually creating a site on this. So I'll get back to you on this personally by email. And post a link on the thread.

[Tx4obama]

12. Some links

You probably already know most of this, but I'm posting this here for those that might not

Class 1, US Senator seats (33) up for re-election in 2012 - Chart: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classes_of_United_States_Senators


List of retiring US Senators
Democrats (4): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,_2012#Democrats_retiring_.284_seats.29
Republicans (3): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,_2012#Republicans_retiring_.283_seats.29

[rpannier]

13. Ensigns seat should be a target

Then we go after the tea baggers that primary Lugar and Hatch (though I'm afraid Utah is probably a lost cause)

[vaberella]

16. Utah? Wyoming...I'm hearing Nebraska....

I don't know what America needs in order to realize they are dealing with a corrupt party.

[TheKentuckian]

15. About none of those guys are running next year, I don't recall about Sessons.

We're on the defense this trip. We gotta cover a lot of seats and most of the TeaPubliKlans are from deep redville.

Congress is, of course, a different matter but the Senate is ugly.

[applegrove]

4. How about Anthony Weiner? Is he too young?

[vaberella]

9. No. My focus is on Purple, to Red states. I figure the relatively blue people are sorted.

However if he ever comes under fire most definitely. This is for the people who might need a bit of help. The idea is turning Red States Blue by taking over Congress. And when we say Blue--we're looking for more Royal Blue people thank the Near Purple colored Dems if you get my meaning.

Royal Blue = Progressive Dem

Purplish Blue = Democrat

Purple = Conservative Democrat.

[martymar64]

5. Brian Schweitzer - Governor of MT

The guy with the Veto branding irons.

He's the kind of guy we need in the White House.

[vaberella]

10. I'm not looking at White House. But we'll put him on the list for 2016. How about that?

We need to start off with cleaning up the House right now.

[liskddksil]

7. Here's a Few

CA-36: Special Election - Right now current Secretary of State of Califonia, Debra Bowen, is a progressive candidate who has been endorsed by Howard Dean. She is running in a primary against Janice Hahn, who seems to be the establishment's choice.

http://www.debrabowen.com/
-----------------------------
These progressive candidates have already announced that they will be running in 2012. Significant fund raising help now will ensure that they can be competitive next year.

CA-3:

Ami Bera, a medical doctor, ran for this seat against Dan Lundgren in 2010, and came up short. With the increased turnout generated by the presidential election, this race could be winnable this time.

http://www.beraforcongress.com /

MI-8:

Lance Enderle ran as a write-in after another Democrat dropped out against long-time incumbent Mike Rogers. With re-districting possible to shake up many of the races, and the unpopularity of Gov. Rick Snyser and buyer-remorse setting in, any Democrat has a chance this cycle.

http://lanceenderleforcongress.com /

NH-1:

Carol Shea-Porter represented this district from 2006 to 2010, when she lost to Frank Guinta. However, the dynamics will be completely different with 2012 being a presidential election, and the significant over-reaching by the GOP house, (Guinta like all but four Republicans has voted yesterday to privatize Medicare.)

http://www.sheaporter.com /

NH - 2:

Ann Mclane Kuster came up just short against Charlie Bass in 2010 during a bad year all-around. Kuster ran a progressive campaign last-time and beat Katrina Swett in the primary election, who attacked Kuster for being too liberal for the district.

http://www.kusterforcongress.com/

[vaberella]

8. Thank you for this. I'm actually going to be using this. I have to send this over to a site.

We're working on establishing a sort of Progressive Caucus with a good set of members in Congress. Our initiative will be in promoting the Progressive people into congress.

Thank you again.

[liskddksil]

14. Your Welcome!

[nemo137]

17. Kick!

I'd also take this opportunity to encourage people to vote Dem in state and local races, especially 1.) after Censuses (which is where I'm afraid we're going to get extra humped from 2010) and 2.) for County Clerk and Secretary of State, as they're in charge of voting, and having ones who actually believe that more people voting is a good thing can only help us, both as a party and a country.