Tuesday at midnight was the FEC deadline for campaigns to get their quarterly fundraising reports in. A few candidates got extensions for one reason or another. But I wanted to share a few bits and pieces with you. Before I get to the congressional races-- which is what I want to talk about-- I have one presidential factoid to make clear. Yesterday, John McCormick and Chad Day of the Wall Street Journal reported that since he entered the race in July, Tom "Steyer has spent more than $26 million on TV ads, airing more than 53,000 spots in markets that reach Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada voters… All told, that is more than six times as many as the rest of the Democratic field combined." How'd that happen? Well, he's a billionaire and he wrote his campaign a personal check for $47,597,697.36. Would you call that trying to buy the election? Billionaires are allowed to do that. If you don't mind that because his messaging is ok and he seems to be progressive, imagine if a Koch or some other super-rich villain was doing the same thing.OK, better news. Marie Newman is the progressive Democrat we have been supporting in Chicagoland for the seat held by reactionary Blue Dog Dan Lipinski. The DCCC has interfered in her race in every conceivable way, trying to guarantee that Lipinski-- who is anti-Choice, anti-LGBTQ, anti-immigrant, anti-healthcare, etc-- is reelected. The DCCC can control most unions and control front groups like End Citizens United but what the DCCC can't do is control grassroots donors. Lipinski, who gets most of his money from corporate PACs and lobbyists-- and has an average per donor contribution of just over $1,000-- only raised $177,741. Marie, who gets 100% of her contributions from grassroots donors, either directly or through groups like Blue America, reported a beautiful $351,326 haul last quarter-- and an average contribution of $46. I put that 2020 congressional thermometer on the right so you can contribute to Marie's campaign right now (by clicking on it). I spoke with her about her report yesterday and she told me she feels "incredibly blessed to have the grassroots support. Our campaign is partnering with and actively solving problems with the very powerful grassroots voice here and throughout our nation. I am honored to have accomplished this fundraising achievement with them. We are eternally grateful." How about we all give $47... to raise her average?Now back to the DCCC. They tell their freshmen not to bother their pretty little heads with any of this policy stuff and leave that to Pelosi and Hoyer and their leadership team. Instead, they're supposed to spend all day on the phone begging rich strangers for money. The DCCC insists vulnerable freshman always have between a million and a million and a half dollars on their war-chests. As they spend, they're supposed to increase the pace of raising funds. It's a disgusting and grueling and hated system and it's at the heart of congressional corruption. Ironically, some of the freshmen who brought in the most money didn't follow the DCCC demands, but instead did it by performing and delivering for their constituents and for a national audience. It's the old Bernie Sanders/Alan Grayson model. It sure worked for AOC, as you're about to see.AOC endorsed BernieThe list below is not what the Democratic freshmen raised this quarter; it's how much each freshman now-- as of September 30-- has in their campaign war-chest (Cash on hand). I listed them from most to least. Some slacked off because they don't have serious challenges and some slacked off because they're self-funders-- like Steyer-- and couldn't be bothered and some just were too busy with... policy and delivering for their constituents. Most of the freshmen with the biggest war-chests are in the most vulnerable seats.
• Josh Harder (New Dem-CA)- $2,001,018 (even PVI)• Katie Porter (D-CA)- $1,991,004 (R+3)• AOC (D-NY)- $1,909,866 (D+29-- primary challenge)• Chrissy Houlahan (New Dem-PA)- $1,841,041 (D+2)• Elissa Slotkin (New Dem-MI)- $1,729,528 (R+4)• Mike Sherrill (Blue Dog-NJ)- $1,683,939 (R+3)• Max Rose (Blue Dog-NY)- $1,666,201 (R+3)• Haley Stevens (New Dem-MI)- $1,608,391 (R+4)• Katie Hill (New Dem-CA)- $1,545,381 (even PVI)• Ilhan Omar (D-MN)- $1,561,439 (D+26-- primary challenge)• Harley Rouda (New Dem-CA)- $1,530,320 (R+4)• Antonio Delgado (D-NY)- $1,525,203 (R+2)• Tom Malinowski (New Dem-NJ)- $1,496,100 (R+3)• Xochitl Torres Small (Blue Dog-NM)- $1,473,889 (R+6)• Abigail Spanberger (Blue Dog-VA)- 1,458,150 (R+6)• Andy Kim (D-NJ)- $1,454,733 (R+2)• Colin Allred (New Dem-TX)- $1,453,457 (R+5)• Sean Casten (New Dem-IL)- $1,447,538 (R+2)• Lizzie Fletcher (New Dem-TX)- $1,439,979 (R+7)• Lucy McBath (New Dem-GA)- $1,341,507 (R+8)• Joe Cunningham (Blue Dog-SC)- $1,337,647 (R+10)• Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (New Dem-FL)- $1,269,804 (D+6)• Cindy Axne (New Dem-IA)- $1,198,084 (R+1)• Kendra Horn (Blue Dog-OK)-$1,195,089 (R+10)• Mike Levin (D-CA)- $1,185,411 (R+1)• Jennifer Wexton (New Dem-VA)-$1,181,602 (D+1)• Kim Schrier (New Dem-WA)- $1,177,711 (even PVI)• Lauren Underwood (D-IL)- $1,174,106 (R+5)• Sharice Davids (New Dem-KS)- $1,161,442 (R+4)• Elaine Luria (New Dem-VA)- $1,148,389 (R+3)• Jason Crow (New Dem-CO)- $1,123,002.82 (D+2)• Angie Craig (New Dem-MN)- $1,115,148 (R+2)• Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)- $1,113,173 (D+33-- primary challenge)• Anthony Brindisi (Blue Dog-NY)- $1,102,210 (R+6)• Susie Lee (New Dem-NV)- $1,083,970 (R+2)• Ben McAdams (Blue Dog-UT)- $1,055,162 (R+13)• Abby Finkenauer (D-IA)- $963,100 (D+1)• Jeff Van Drew (Blue Dog-NJ)- $931,541 (R+1)• Donna Shalala (New Dem-FL)- $785,311 (D+5)• Jared Golden (New Dem-ME)- $793,860.22 (R+2)• Chris Pappas (New Dem-NH)- $758,150.25 (R+2)• Steven Horsford (New Dem-NV)- $753,888 (D+3)• Gil Cisneros (New Dem-CA)- $658,185 (even PVI)• Joe Neguse (D-CO)- $654,347.64 (D+9)• TJ Cox (D-CA)- $645,652 (D+5)• Susan Wild (D-PA)- $644,040.31 (D+7)• Ann Kirkpatrick (New Dem-AZ)- $500,707 (R+1)• Greg Stanton (NewDem-AZ)- $460,454.13 (D+4)• Veronica Escobar (New Dem-TX)- $380,101.95 (D+17)• Sylvia Garcia (D-TX)- $285,623.23 (D+19)• Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)- $276,909 (D+34)• Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA)- $239,496.63 (D+13)• Dean Phillips (New Dem-MN)- $225,884 (D+1)• Ed Case (Blue Dog-HI)- $216,265.00 (D+17)• Andy Levin (D-MI)- $210,665.98 (D+4)• Deb Haaland (D-NM)- $201,489.16 (D+7)• Chuy Garcia (D-IL)- $186,602.78 (D+33)• David Trone (New Dem-MD)- $40,531.28-- loaned campaign $600,000. (D+6)• Jahana Hayes (New Dem-CT)- n.r.• Lori Trahan (New Dem-MA)- n.r.• Madeleine Dean (New Dem-PA)- n.r.
I had long talk with one freshman, Andy Levin, who is not is a super-safe district but who did not raise the kind of money the DCCC demands of members like him. We had a long talk about it yesterday and this morning he sent me this note. When you're reading it, please consider giving Andy a contribution at this link. It's easy to understand why-- especially considering he has the single best voting record of any member of Congress.
Howie, you have given me a hard time for not raising enough money. I am determined to raise the money I need to do my part to change our world, fundamentally, root and branch, bend it towards justice. But I have to admit I hate the way it’s done now. Calling wealthy people and asking them for money is not the best way for a union organizer and climate change warrior to spend his time. I think the current system is so fundamentally broken. I’m proud that my Transparency in Corporate Political Spending Act was included in HR 1, a bill we passed through the House that would transform American elections-- including with significant public funding to reduce the advantage rich people have in American political life. It would match all contributions under $200 six to one!Here are some things I’d rather be doing than dialing for dollars:• Leading the charge to expose the absurdity of 31 Republican amendments to weaken the Protecting the Right to Organize or PRO Act. (We defeated every one.)• Being an original co-sponsor of the Green New Deal and working with Alex and other colleagues to launch the Building Blocks of the GND. (Stay tuned!)• Launching Medicare for All on the House Lawn and fighting for it in the Democratic Caucus.• Walking the picket line with striking UAW workers.• Going into the Fox News lion’s den and speaking the truth about the need to impeach Trump-- now!• Playing hockey in the beer league with my buddies in Michigan’s 9th District.• Saving the lives of Iraqi-Americans whom ICE is trying to deport to Iraq, where they would face torture and even death.• Going to Bangladesh to visit Rohingya refugees and poor villagers and workers seeking to organize unions to achieve the most basic safety and dignity in ready-made garment factories.• Whipping Democrats to have the courage to pass the Raise the Wage Act to get to $15 nationally by 2025 and eliminate sub-minimum wages for tipped workers.• Helping pass a new and improved Violence Against Women Act.I could go on, but you get the idea. Isn’t the world better off if I spend my time fighting to make real a radical new vision of America and our place in the world, so women can control their bodies, kids can get a great education, and workers can enjoy some reasonable share of the fruits of their labor? Let’s go!!