MyDD :: House Recruitment Update

House Recruitment Update

by Chris Bowers, Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 04:04:13 PM EST

Sign up for the national DNC canvas on April 29th, and make sure you volunteer to phone-bank for Francine Busby from anywhere--Chris

I feel really pumped right now. Some big news just came over my inbox. First, in PA-15, I received the following email from a high-ranking Dem in the area:

My colleague on Northampton County Council (CD: PA-15th) Charles Dertinger has been drafted by the local Democratic Parties to mount a write-in campaign to appear on the November ballot to ensure Charlie Dent (R-PA-15) does not go unopposed. We are confident that Charles will successfully "get on" the ballot.

Sweet. Even if he doesn't we can nominate someone there. So the PA-15 looks good.

Even better news, Blue Jersey is now reporting that in New Jersey all thirteen districts featuring a Dem. There had been real doubts about NJ-02, and also some worries about NJ-04.

In something of a surprise, Alabama only left one seat unchallenged, the AL-06. This is actually respectable considering the situation they were in (or maybe I am just giving into a nice game of lowered expectations). And I was all set to write a front-page post blasting the Alabama Democratic Party. I'll pass on that for now.

According to BENAWAU''s latest post, all of this this would now mean that Democrats have 412 districts challenged. This is a fantastic total, nine seats better than the recent Democratic record of 403, and surpassing every recent total by every party except Republicans in 1994. Better yet, I think only four seats, AL-06, CA-42, MS-03, and TX-11 will definitely not have a Democratic challenger. That means we could still reach 431, smashing the recent all-party record of 419 districts set by Republicans in 1994.

This is just fantastic, fantastic news. The fifty-state strategy is really coming together. Congratulations to every Democrat who had the guts to file--this is going to be our year.

Tags: House 2006, fifty-state strategy, activism (all tags)

Permalink :: 22 Comments :: Post a Comment

And 'they' said Dean was c-c-c-crazy! (none / 0)

Hmmmph!

My man Dean is batting like... .900 on politcal predictions and assessments!

McCain sucks!

by teknofyl on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 04:12:19 PM EST

Re: House Recruitment Update (none / 0)

So I take it you're a lot more optimistic than Markos on the Democrats' chances this November?

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News - Covering Key Races Around the Country

by HellofaSandwich on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 04:17:52 PM EST

Re: House Recruitment Update (none / 0)

Curious,
what was the Republican record in 1994?
I wanna beat it. :-D

by Trowaman on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 04:34:20 PM EST

Re: House Recruitment Update (none / 0)

nm, I see it. 419. Me thinks we'll beat it.

by Trowaman on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 04:34:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: House Recruitment Update (none / 0)

I think that the Alabama Democratic Party deserves some real applause for this, even if they didn't get the one seat.

Clearly, their party isn't in great shape, and it's a lot tougher to get someone to run as a Dem in Alabama than in, say, New Jersey, so challenging almost all of the seats is still a good start. I wish they had gotten the 6th district, too, especially to help Baxley or Siegelman's chances, but getting all of these new challengers at least can start setting the stage for a stronger party in the future.

John McCain

by DanM on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 04:40:36 PM EST

Re: House Recruitment Update (none / 0)

The best part of this is that neither of Alabama's two Democrats got a Republican challenger. Only Spencer Bacchus got a pass on the Republican side. Going in down 5 seats to 2, that's a good deal.

by David Kowalski on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 05:10:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: House Recruitment Update (none / 0)

Good point. I may indeed write such a post.

by DavidNYC on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 06:46:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: House Recruitment Update (none / 0)

Fully half of the still unfilled seats are in Florida, Georgia and Louisiana.

by admiralnaismith on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 04:52:58 PM EST

Re: House Recruitment Update (none / 0)

And I doubt the Louisiana races will become exciting until five weeks before their November primary.

by illinois062006 on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 06:00:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: House Recruitment Update (none / 0)

Correction, Chris. NJ has 15 electoral votes but only 13 House seats. All thirteen will likely get a challenger. My last look at the state Elections site about 20 minutes ago showed that 15 Democrats and 10 Republicans had filed for the 13 seats. Ironically, our only vacancy was for NJ-6 where incumbent Frank Pallone's petitions were not shown. Even stranger, Robert Menendez was a late filer for his senate seat.

One of the Democratic filers, Deshon Porter in NJ-10 may well not make the ballot against incumbent Democrat Donald Payne. Porter had 211 signatures, just 11 more than the minimum required.

by David Kowalski on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 05:18:31 PM EST

Re: House Recruitment Update (none / 0)

thanks for the info. fixed

by Chris Bowers on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 05:54:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Message to all who are running (3.00 / 1)

Play to win.

Do not play, if you are not ready to win.

Most of the people who try something, are not prepared to win. Winning makes you different, it will saddle you with not only the job of realizing your dreams, but others as well. People like to stay in the back of the field. 80% of those who start the race, aren't in it to win.

Play to win.

by turnerbroadcasting on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 05:19:25 PM EST

Re: Message to all who are running (2.00 / 1)

It is time for a lesson in grammar. Perhaps talking points have a tendency to reduce intelligence and thought.

Play to win.

Do not play,delete comma if you are not ready to win.

Most of the people who try something,delete comma are not prepared to win. Winning makes you different,substitute colon for comma it will saddle you with not only the job of realizing your dreams,substitute semicolon for comma but others as well This is a fragment. I recommend writing a complete sentence so as to establish a parallel structure with the sentence preceding the semicolon. People like to stay in the back of the field. 80% of those who start the race,delete comma aren't in it to win.

Play to win.

And how are you upholding your dictum of "playing to win," turner broadcasting? Are you running for office? And are you implying we should not run quixotic races against popular Republican incumbents?

Your comment is cryptic, somewhat marginal and very vacuous. Perhaps writing more than a mere talking point would make your comments more substantive.

by illinois062006 on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 06:08:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Message to all who are running (none / 0)

I hardly think it's fair or reasonable to read his comment as "only people that are running for office are playing to win." His point is a valid one if I read him correctly- namely that running a bunch of candidates who are ill-prepared to run an effective campaign doesn't just lose those races but ultimately damages the Democratic brand. Many of these districts haven't seen a Democrat run in a while, and if we put up a stiff, that's the image they're going to come away with for the party.

by Lucas O'Connor on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 06:57:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Message to all who are running (none / 0)

I don't know about that.

A name on the ballot--as long as the man or woman is not A) incompetent, B) scandal-ridden, C) offensive--is preferable over no name on the ballot. Why? I think it hurts the Dem brand more not to even contest races. Joe Blow, upon seeing the the Democrats have not challenged their incumbent Republican congressman of XX years, for the nth time, will just say: "The Democrats don't even bother to challenge anyone. No wonder they're losers."

Plus, running a limp body also helps you identify the Democratic baseline in a district--that's useful for future challengers.

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News - Covering Key Races Around the Country

by HellofaSandwich on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 07:01:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Message to all who are running (none / 0)

It's a tricky line to draw. If the person is well meaning ideologically/personally but just can't pull a good campaign together, that's one thing and I'll take it. If the person is just not willing to put forth a reasonable effort, it makes the only message that local Dems can pull together a negative one.

by Lucas O'Connor on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 08:33:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I disagree (3.00 / 1)

It is really demoralizing to show up on election day and have no one to vote for for a House or Senate or state legislative seat. I support challenging every single Republican, even if we can't get candidates to run great campaigns against all of them. Just making sure there's a Democratic line on the ballot for every office communicates to the voters that our party is serious.

John McCain: 100 years in Iraq "would be fine with me."

by desmoinesdem on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 08:41:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

PA-15 (none / 0)

My district: Thank god we have a challenger finally. I'd like to think my threat to run against Dent if the Dems did not identify somebody had some impact...though I realize that the Lehigh Valley Dems don't read their emails or listen to messages, so probably not.

Anyhow, I hope Dertinger makes a serious run of it. There's lots of ammunition to use against Dent.

by smintheus on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 06:12:17 PM EST

Who is Greg Pierce? (none / 0)

Who is Greg Pierce and is he a serious candidate for AL03 or just a placeholder? That is probably the only Alabama district we have a reasonable shot at.

by Jay on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 08:07:53 PM EST

Pierce. (none / 0)

This is from an earlier comment about him:

Okay. I came across a cached google article that shows that he ran against George Wallace, Jr. for a spot on the Public Service Commission. He lost. But the article does give a bit of info on him:

Greg Pierce (Democrat)

Date of birth: Sept. 2, 1954 (48).
Hometown: Alexander City.

Educational Background: Attended Faulkner State Junior College and Troy State University Montgomery.

Professional Background: Currently working as an independent consultant while running his campaign; formerly worked as a telecommunications engineer for Alltel Communications.

Political Background: Lost Alexander City mayoral election in 1996; member of the Tallapoosa County Democratic party executive committee.

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News - Covering Key Races Around the Country

by HellofaSandwich on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 08:27:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: House Recruitment Update (none / 0)

Those figures make me realize that Rep. Steve Chabot of Cincinnati, aka Mr. Conservative, is about to start packing his bags.

Everyone should read up on the man that is going to replace one of the most powerful and conservative Republicans in the House: Democrat, JOHN CRANLEY.

Cranley is the #1 vote-getter now on Cincinnati City Council and he already has a VERY strong campaign put together without a primary opponent...The same campaign race that the DCCC chairman called "ground zero" in 2006.

Check it out: http://www.johncranley.com

by alexwinter2006 on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 09:18:07 PM EST

Re: House Recruitment Update (none / 0)

Running a candidate in each district is actually a civic imperative, not just a strategy. The role of political parties in a democracy is to provide voters a choice. Every uncontested incumbent is a failure of both political parties. In other countries, political parties often have written into their bylaws that they must field a candidate in each race.

Now in the US, you have a super-long campaign season that means you have to all but quit your job to make even a token run for office, byzantine procedures for filing for office, and no public financing or control over campaign costs, which again means extensive fundraising for even a token race. I'm always impressed by people who run anyway, knowing that they are going to lose 30% to 70%. And I think one reason for those lopsided margins is that running against an incumbent is so difficult that voters tend to assume that anyone who does so must be crazy.

The recurring failure of both parties to not challenge in any race is one of the signs that democracy in the US has serious problems.

The Democrats are not doing that badly this year. If the Republicans were thrown out of all but four districts, AL-6 would be one of the four they still held. On the other hand, NJ-2 is very winnable for the Democrats and not even fielding a candidate there would have been a travesty.

by Michels on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 11:19:13 PM EST

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