Massachusetts

We've been talking about the race in MA-05 to replace Ed Markey for some time now. It's just a month away and there are 7 Democrats running. Six of them are garden variety Dems and one, state Rep. Carl Sciortino, is a proven, dedicated progressive leader, which is why we endorsed him-- and why progressive organizations from People for the American Way, Progressive Mass and Mass Equality to the Human Rights Campaign and Grey2kUSA have also endorsed him. This week-- starting today-- we're launching a fundraising drive to help Carl pay to run his amazing TV ad (up top).

We've been talking about Carl Sciortino's race for the Massachusetts House seat that Ed Markey gave up when he won the open Senate seat. Blue America is raising money for him directly here and raising money for a billboard campaign here.

October 15 is the date of the special election primary for MA-05, Ed Markey's former House seat. EMILY's List is pushing hard to elect a conservative Democratic woman, as always, this one best known as the chief sponsor of a bill to allow more warrantless domestic spying in Massachusetts.

As we've mentioned, the first time voters will have a chance to vote on going to war in Syria will be October 15, when Democrats in MA-05 pick between 7 candidates to replace Ed Markey in Congress. The Blue America-endorsed candidate, Carl Sciortino, has been the only one willing to come out against war.

Who recalls Rand Paul, possibly high-- no one knows for sure-- telling a bunch of incredulous Republicans last month that "we're going to win when we look like America.

I doubt we'll see a Republican primary fight between Florida's Bob Smith and Massachusetts' Scott Brown for the worthless GOP Senate nomination. Brown seems to have made up his mind to run for president governor (of Massachusetts), leaving the field open for Smith, who, unlike Brown, actually did at one time, live in New Hampshire, having moved there from New Jersey. In fact, he was both a Representative (beating someone named Dudley Dudley) and a Senator from that state.

Carl Sciortino with Ed Markey on election dayLast night, Alan Grayson (D-FL) endorsed Carl Sciortino for Congress, the progressive in a tight 5-way primary to replace Ed Markey. He joins People for the American Way, Blue America and all the Massachusetts LGBT and progressive organizations who have already endorsed.

There are a number of garden variety Democrats-- and worse-- running for Ed Markey's old House seat (MA-05), but there is only one strong progressive in the race: state Rep. Carl Sciortino, who was endorsed by Blue America last February.

The Senate wound up with 11 freshmen after the 2012 elections, 6 graduates from the House 4 from state government and one-- Elizabeth Warren-- direct from outside the grubby, hidebound realm of electoral politics:

Brownsberger wants to stand out-- even if only as the worst candidate in the raceA Republican isn't going to win Ed Markey's old House seat, MA-05. The district is very blue. Last year Markey was reelected 254,128 (76%) to 82,286 (24%). The district is composed of 24 townships. Markey rocked every one of them. Obama beat former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney 65-33%. The PVI is D+14. Republicans don't win in D+14 districts. The whole ball game in MA-05 is the primary.