As you know, Cheri Bustos-- with the support of Pelosi and Hoyer-- has moved to ban primaries against incumbent Democrats. The policy is tremendously unpopular and people who never even knew what the DCCC is re now hating it. Thanks to Bustos, the DCCC has become a dark spot against Democrats. Way to go! But despite her draconian decision, there are more and more candidates announcing their decisions to tackle Democratic incumbents.Blue America has a Primary A Blue Dog ActBlue page to help raise money for progressive Democrats running against entrenched reactionaries. So far this cycle, we are encouraging our members to contribute to the campaigns of Marie Newman, who's running for the southwest Chicagoland seat occupied by widely reviled Blue Dog Dan Lipinski; Eva Putzova, the progressive former Flagstaff city council member who is running in the mammoth AZ-01 district for a seat occupied by so-called "ex"-Republican Tom O'Halleran, who still votes with his old party an awful lot of the time; and Michael Owens, who's taking on odious corrupt conservative David Scott in the suburbs southwest of Atlanta (GA-13). You can contribute to all or any of these candidates by clicking on the Primary A Blue Dog thermometer on the right. And, don't worry; we're in the process of vetting another dozen progressive candidates who are running against bad Democrats next year.One new candidate I spent some time talking with yesterday is Kina Collins, a Chicago activist who's taking on Danny Davis on Chicago's West (IL-07). Davis who was first elected in 1996 had been involved with city and county government since 1979. It's a minority-majority district, just over 50% African-American and about 14% Latino. It's Illinois' bluest district (PVI is D+38); Trump only managed 9% of the vote. The district starts at the end of the Gold Coast, on East Banks Street and Lake Michigan and heads south as far as Kenwood and includes the Loop, the Magnificent Mile, the Near Northside and the near Southside and shoots west to the Near West Side and all the way out to Forest Park, Maywood, Bellwood and Westchester.I asked Kina how she could expect to beat Davis, who is a solid liberal with a strong "A" from ProgressivePunch. "His voting record," she told me, is the best thing about him. He has had a long and reliable career, but in our current political climate it is crucial that we elevate new leadership to take bold action. We don’t just need seniority, we want progressive leadership that advances the 7th district. I am running for Congress because we desperately need inclusive, transformative leadership at this pivotal moment. To address the urgent crises threatening the future of our country, we cannot simply proceed with business-as-usual."And she spoke like she meant it. "Our district," she continued, "deserves a fighter with a proven track record of policy making, coalition building, and working with diverse communities to get things done. Residents of the district are looking for a fresh approach, someone who has the energy and experience to mobilize inside the Congressional chambers as well as in the streets of our communities. There is a saying in Chicago-- 'It’s just politics; it's nothing personal.' I don’t agree with that. When a family is illegally detained by ICE in our district, that’s personal to me. When dozens of public schools get shut down in our neighborhoods, it’s personal to me. And when people can’t afford to pay for their insulin, mortgage, and food every month, that’s not just politics-- it’s definitely personal. With the backing and support of community members from across the district, I am ready to bring their concerns and new ideas to Washington, D.C. in 2020."A brief look around the country shows me a few incumbents being primaried and a few that should be who aren't. New Dem Terri Sewell (AL-07) is the main force holding up raising the minimum wage-- in a majority black district, where people deserve a raise.California
• CA-07- Ami Bera is a conservative crook who deserves a primary but there's no opponent• CA-12- Unfortunately, Nancy Pelosi has 3 Democratic challengers. Shahid Buttar looks like the strongest candidate.• CA-15- There are 3 Democrats trying for Eric Swalwell's seat... just in case he gets elected president?• CA-16- This is important. The worst California Dem, Blue Dog Jim Costa, is being challenged in his Central Valley district by Kim Williams. I've by trying to get in touch with her but so far to no avail.• CA-18- Anna Eshoo, a Pelosi and Big PhRMA ally is being challenged by Rishi Kumar, a Saratoga City Councilman.• CA-26- Julia Brownley, a total waste of a seat has earned a nice primary, but no one is running against her.• CA-29- Tony Cardenas also deserves a strong primary. His corrupt and slimy (and a child molester) and he has two primary opponents, Angelica Duenas and Abdeli Sanchez.• CA-31- Pete Aguilar also deserves a primary-- and doesn't have one, at least not yet.• CA-41 Mark Takano is being primaried by Simon Mark Alvarez, who describes himself as a "Luciferian."• CA-51- Juan Vargas deserves a challenge and he's going to get one from activist Aeiramique Glass.• CA-52- Scott Peters deserves a primary but I believe he sold his seat to a wealthy friend and is running for mayor of San Diego.• CA-53 Susan David is being primaried by Jose Caballero
Diana DeGette (CO-01- Denver) is pretty much a waste of a seat and she has two primary opponents, former House speaker Crisanta Duran and trans rights activist Charlie Madison Winters.Nathan Clay, a progressive activist is running against New Dem Ed Perlmutter again (CO-07, in the suburbs west and north of Denver).In Florida Al Lawson (waste of a seat) is being challenged by Albert Chester but people tell me he isn't any better than Lawson. (FL-05). No primary for head Blue Dog Stephanie Murphy unfortunately (FL-07) and no primary for Blue Dog Charlie Crist (FL-13). A couple of candidates are going after Alcee Hastings (late of a seat), James Taylorand Emmanuel Morel (FL-20). And last but not least, Wasserman Schultz has one opponent so far, Christine Olivo. (FL-23).Tulsi Gabbard is being primaried by state Sen Kai Kahele in her HI-02 district.Aside from Danny Davis and Dan Lipinski, there are 2 other incumbents facing primaries in Illinois. Bobby Rush has two challengers, community activists Robert Emmons and Ameena Matthews (IL-01). And who could possibly deserve a primary more than Cheri Bustos (IL-17). William Swisher, a progressive activist, is giving it a shot.Kentucky's lone Democrat, John Yarmuth, is getting a challenge in his Louisville district by Attica Scott, a state Rep.Maryland has some real garbage congressmen, especially Steny Hoyer, who's being challenged by McKayla Wilkes and Briana Urbina. Believe me, if either of them looks viable, Blue America will be all over it.Massachusetts needs more primaries. Richard Neal (corrupt) has two potential opponents, David Daley and Alex Morse, the mayor of Holyoke. 6 Dems are being talk up as primary challengers to Seth Moulton, including former congressman John Tierney, who's been recruited by Pelosi. I think Barbara L'Italien would be a better option.Brianna Wu is taking on all around bad guy Stephen Lynch again.In Detroit Brenda Jones is likely being encouraged by AIPAC to run against Rashida Tlaib.Minnesota will see a progressive, David Sandbeck, running against garden variety Democrat, Betty McCollum (waste of a seat). AIPAC is absolutely trying to get rid of Ilhan Omar and there are 2 candidates being talked about, state Senator Bobby Joe Champion and Margaret Keliher, the ex-House speaker. Putrid DINO and Blue Dog Collin Peterson is being primaried by Stephen Emery, who appears even worse than Peterson!!In Missoui, Cori Bush is a strong opponent for corrupt seat waster Lacy Clay (St Louis) and progressive activist M.G. Salazar is challenging Emanuel Cleaver in Kansas City.New Jersey has some really terrible Democrats-- Josh Gottheimer, Jeff Van Drew, Donald Norcross, Frank Pallone and Mikie Sherrill. Pallone has progressive activist Russ Cirincione running against him.New York will see primaries against Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Kathleen Rice (NY-04), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Grace Meng (NY-06), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Jerry Nadler (NY-10), Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Eliot Engel (NY-16), and Nita Lowey (NY-17). But the Democrats who most deserve primaries-- Hakeem Jeffries, Anthony Brindisi, Max Rose, Antonio Delgado and Sean Patrick Murphy are all unchallenged.G.K. Butterfield (NC-01) is being challenged by progressive DeAndre Cooper. David Price (NC-04) is being challenged by progressive activist Daniel Ulysses Lockwood.In Oregon Milwaukie mayor Mark Gamba is challenging Blue Dog Kurt Schrader.In Texas, Sheila Jackson Lee has 4 primary opponents. Blue Dog Henry Cuellar is about to get one and it looks like State Rep Ramon Romero is going to take on Marc Veasey.Progressive truck drive Joshua Collins, a Democratic Socialist, is running against Denny Heck in WA-10 and that looks like a live race in the making.