progressive grassroots

On April 1st 41 Progressive Majority recruited, trained and endorsed candidates will have their general election for local office in Wisconsin! Progressive Majority is one of America's most successful progressive grassroots organizations.

To all our Wisconsin readers: please get out tomorrow, April 1, 2008, and vote for any of these great people running in your area.

Lena Taylor
Candidate for Milwaukee County Executive (Challenger)

State Senator Lena Taylor is a Milwaukee native who was first elected to the State Legislature as an Assemblywoman in 2003, and quickly ascended to the State Senate after winning a special election in 2004. Lena has championed progressive values for her entire political career, and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Lena earned a Bachelor's Degree in English from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1990, and a law degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1993; she is a member of the Milwaukee Boy Scouts advisory board, the Girl Scouts of Milwaukee Area, the NAACP, and Urban League of Milwaukee. Her opponent, conservative incumbent Scott Walker, is rumored to run for Governor in 2010. If Lena wins, we can stop him now.

Howard Dean put it this way: "You have the power!"

His brother, Jim Dean, now head of Democracy for America, put it this way: "We have to take ownership of the process."

Since the highly flawed 2000 election, progressives have slowly, ever so slowly been waking up to the need for taking ownership of the political process. At first, in all honesty, we were pretty lame at it at first. As recently as 2005 I saw the progressive grassroots, at least in NYC, largely unable to get its act together in any effective way. But by 2006 we started to see real results from what began in 2000.

The extreme right wing of the Republican Party took some 30 years to take nearly complete control of our political system. They did it by patiently and doggedly focusing on every elected position, no matter how low, in every state. They did it by repeating their agenda, their talking points over and over until people started absorbing it without even realizing it. They did it by taking over the media, station by station, newspaper by newspaper. They did it by focusing on LOCAL politics.

Progressives had lost that connection with local politics. But they have been rediscovering it. And that has led to a wave of new organizations that are revitalizing grassroots politics and reconnecting Democrats with their local community, a connection that should never have been lost.

Democracy for America, Wellstone Action, Blue Tiger Democrats, and Progressive Majority are, each in their own way, probably the most effective of these new organizations. Each has its own focus, its own strategy, and collectively they are making a real impact.

Tuesday November 6th is election day in Virginia. If progresssives want to have an influence, they have to focus on low turnout elections like this one. This is one of our best chances to have an effect...if we VOTE!

Here are some resources and recommendations for Virginia voters:

Chap Peterson for State Senate, 34th district:

I've advocated for this guy before, and now is the time to vote for him. Endorsed by AFL-CIO, League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Fairfax County Coalition of Police, Fairfax County Deputy Sheriffs, Gov. Mark Warner, Gov. Tim Kaine, Sen. Jim Webb and others. I picked Chap for top attention earlier this year and I place him there again just before election day.

I don't have enough info on other candidates to make specific recommendations for other races right now, but here are some resources to help you decide.

AFL-CIO endorsed candidates for Virginia in 2007

League of Conservation Voters endorsed candidates for Virginia in 2007

Sierra Club Endorsements

Tuesday November 6th is election day 2007. I have been covering as many states as I could to highlight races that are important to progressives, relying on organizations I am familiar with like Democracy for America and its local affiliates and Progressive Majority.

Well, each time I post about this over at Daily Kos SOMEONE wants more. Now it's Utah. Yep...there are things the progressive grassroots can do in Utah as well. So here we go...PROGRESSIVES GET OUT AND VOTE IN UTAH!

First off is a school voucher referendum that needs to be opposed. VOTE NO ON REFERENDUM 1. This school voucher referendum is opposed by the Utah PTA, NAACP - Salt Lake Chapter, League of Women Voters, Voices for Utah Children, Communities for Quality Education (CQE), American Civil Liberties Union, Utah Family Partnership Network, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) - Utah Section, and many others. And there is a scathing editorial in the Salt Lake Tribune urging a "NO" vote on Referendum 1.

Democracy for Utah also has endorsed Ralph Becker for Salt Lake City mayor. Becker has also been endorsed by Salt Lake County Hispanic Caucus, Sierra Club, Utah Black Democratic Caucus, Cal Rampton (former Governor of Utah), and many, many others.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6th is election day. Continuing my push to get out the progressive grassroots for the 2007 election on TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6th, I now turn to Minnesota. This one is for Paul Welstone!

These are the endorsements of Progressive Majority in Minnesota:

Melvin Carter III, Candidate for St. Paul City Council - Ward 1 (Challenger)

Melvin Carter is a 28 year old, African American, first time candidate for Saint Paul City Council. Melvin is a lifetime resident of Saint Paul with a background in community and electoral organizing; most recently he worked on the Policy Outreach Team in the office of Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. Melvin is running against a Chamber of Commerce-endorsed and one-term incumbent, Debbie Montgomery. Melvin's election would contribute to shifting the St. Paul City Council from a moderate Council to a progressive Council. Melvin has already secured the endorsements of AFSCME Council 5, Take Action Minnesota, ACORN PAC, and St. Paul Firefighters IAFF Local 21, St. Paul Trades & Labor Assembly, Congressman Keith Ellison, Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Laborers Local 132, SEIU Minnesota State Council, Stonewall DFL, and six of the 12 DFL legislators in Saint Paul. Melvin is a dynamic leader with potential to make a difference in St. Paul.

Click here to support and learn more about Melvin.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6th is election day. If progressives want a solid voice in American politics we gotta influence elections. And off-year, low voter turnout elections like what is coming up TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6TH are the best chances for progressives to affect the outcome.

Continuing my push to get out the progressive grassroots for the 2007 election on TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6th, I now turn to Arizona.

Here are two endorsements by Progressive Majority, one of the most effective progressive grassroots organization in the country, for Arizona voters:

Marie Lopez Rogers, Candidate for Mayor of Avondale (Incumbent)

Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers of Avondale is running for reelection as the only Latina in a Latino/a city. She was appointed Mayor in January 2006, has lived in the district for 50 of her 57 years, and is a former member of CWA. She is endorsed by the police, firefighters, AFL-CIO and SEIU. Marie is a strong progressive, and she is the key to halting or slowing legislation from a city council that is dominated by conservatives.

This was previously an agricultural town that is rapidly growing with scores of subdivisions along Interstate-10 west of Phoenix. It also includes Phoenix International Race Way that attracts tens of thousands of people to NASCAR races. Marie wants to preserve the quality of life in Avondale by working for safer streets and neighborhoods, providing efficient cost-effective city services, and ensuring a vital economy through an appropriate balance of residential, commercial and recreational development.

Coninuing my push for progressive victories for election day 2007 this Tuesday, Nov. 6th, I want to highlight candidates endorsed by Democracy for Tennessee. All of these candidates are running in Nashville:

DFT Endorses Candidates in Nashville Elections!

DFA Nashville and Democracy for Tennessee are proud to announce the endorsement of the "Nashville New Wave" slate of candidates running for Metro Council!

These six candidates, running for office for the first time, promise to bring a diverse, new, progressive vision to Nashville that will allow our city to prosper and give hope to the next generation. Representing areas all across the county and campaigning using grassroots tactics, the New Wave slate are ready to take our county back. They are...

SAM McCULLOUGH

Sam didn't set out to run for Metro Council, but residents of his district, long impressed at how he worked to help solve their problems, talked him into it.

Sam believes in improving the quality of his neighborhood and making people's lives better. As a life-long Nashville resident, people have looked to him as a leader.

His persistence has won him the trust of his neighbors and he will become a valuable and trusted voice on the Metro Council.

To help get out the vote for Sam, email here: jim@democracryfortennessee.com

SHANE BURKETT

If progressives want a solid voice in American politics they sure as hell better vote, vote carefully and, ideally, get out the vote for the best candidates. And off-year, low voter turnout elections like what is coming up TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6TH are the best chances for progressives to affect the outcome. So from now until Tuesday, get busy to prove progressives are a force in American politics.

Continuing my lead up to the 2007 elections on TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6th, I now cover the Democracy for America and Progressive Majority endorsements for Washington State.

Jackie Minchew- Everett City Council - Position 7 Endorsed by Democracy for Washington, Democracy for America, Sierra Club, Washington Conservation Voters...and many more)

Charlene Rawson - Everett City Council - Position 4 (Endorsed by Democracy for America, Democracy for Washington, Everett Firefighters, The Sierra Club, Washington Conservation Voters...and many more)

Al Runte - Seattle City Council - Position 3 (Enddorsed by Democracy for Washington, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 77...and many more).

This comes from Indiana Progressives:

Indiana Progressive Caucus at IDEA

Start: Aug 25 2007 - 9:00am
End: Aug 25 2007 - 10:00am

Come to Indiana's Annual I.D.E.A. Convention and caucus with the Indiana Progressives PAC. Join in the discussion about oure exciting plans on moving IP PAC forward in 07, 08 and beyond! Discussion will include a draft of our new bylaws and upcoming election of board members and officers of Indiana Progressives.

For details about I.D.E.A. and the Belterra Casino Resort Spa where it will be held go to the Indiana Demcratic Party website at http://www.indems.org/

Indiana Progressives believe to win nationally we must first win locally. Our message is positive, practical and progressive!

Wellstone Action was founded to carry on the work of Senator Paul Wellstone after his death. One of the things they do is train activists. Their training sessions include:

Camp Wellstone, a dynamic weekend-long training program that teaches progressives how to win on issues and elect good candidates;

Campus Camp Wellstone, a training specifically designed for college students interested in getting and staying involved in progressive political activism;

Camp Sheila Wellstone, training for advocates and citizens working to end domestic and sexual violence;

Wellstone Action’s Labor Program (WALP) partners with progressive labor organizations committed to building infrastructure, leadership and capacity within local unions and with community partners.

These training sessions have been exceedingly successful. You too can sign up and become a more effective activist.

Here is the schedule for the next few months:

2/23 - 2/24/07 Campus Camp Wellstone: Washington University

2/27 - 2/28/07 Camp Sheila Wellstone - Indian Country
Camp Sheila Wellstone in Indian Country will train 75 Native women on the skills to organize to change the high rates of domestic and sexual violence in their communities