Top Two

1. AN UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY

I had not planned to run for Congress at all, certainly not against Barbara Lee, arguably one of the most progressive longterm members of Congress. However, when we realized she would be unopposed on the primary ballot, we saw an opportunity we needed to seize: we could have a one-on-one contest between a no-corporate-money Green and an incumbent Democrat who does take corporate money.

Primary elections originated in the American progressive movement and were intended to take the power of candidate nomination away from party leaders and deliver it to the people.  California’s Top Two Primary takes power away from third parties representing the 99% and delivers it to the 1%.