Good luck trying to oust state Supreme Court justices in a D-leaning environment, PA Republicans. This isn't North Carolina where the Republican legislature forced partisan affiliations on the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court elections.
Service as a Navy SEAL has become a surer path to a seat in Congress than even playing football. Six members of the House - Ryan Zinke of Montana, Eli Crane of Arizona, Morgan Luttrell and Dan Crenshaw of Texas, Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, and John McGuire of Virginia - are former SEALS, as is Sen. Tim Sheehy of Montana. All are MAGA Republicans. Luttrell's retirement will reduce their number by one.
I would like to see more Democratic Navy SEALs run for office. I'm tired of MAGA Republicans running and winning in these red states because they see their Navy affiliation as a ticket to Congress.
Crenshaw's more of a Reagan Republican and less bad than most of them, he voted to certify the election result and supports Ukraine among other things. Those other House members are all bottom of the barrel except maybe Luttrell who's quitting after this term anyway.
For what it's worth, Jesse Ventura is a Navy SEAL and has views closely aligned with many liberal views Democrats have.
On the other hand, I am not familiar with Navy SEALS as politicians in the Democratic Party. Perhaps if anyone wants to enlighten me more of any history by all means.
One of the candidates in MI-7, Matt Maasdam, is a former Seal and says he’s the only retired Seal to run as a Dem. The former ambassador to the Ukraine, Bridget Brink, is also running. However, I tend to favor the third candidate, Josh Cowen, who’s an ed-policy professor at MSU. Obviously, any of the Dems would be a vast improvement over Barrett.
Chris Hunter, a former Navy SEAL, ran as a Democrat in 2018 to represent Florida's 12th congressional district. He lost to Republican Gus Bilirakis 39.7-58.1.
Hunter won the Democratic primary with 65% of the vote. In the general, he emphasized his experience as a federal prosecutor and FBI agent and on the issues of gun safety, environmental protection, and health care. It was a traditionally Republican district.
The Respect Missouri Voters Coalition started their petition drive to get the Respect MO Voters amendment on next year's ballot. Their aim is to get 300,000 signatures by January 1, 2026.
If this does get on the ballot next year, will the legislature's map still be used for the 2026 midterm? If the measure passes in 2026, will they have to have special elections under the old map shortly after the November elections, or will they only go back to the old map in 2028?
"The Respect Missouri Voters amendment would require ballot language to be clear, unbiased, fair, accurate and easy to understand; prohibit politicians from overturning initiatives passed by voters unless an 80% bi-partisan supermajority sends any changes to voters to approve; and would prohibit any legislation making it more difficult to gather signatures or pass initiatives at the ballot box."
It probably will, the issue is state republicans are going to put a rival initiative called "Protect Missouri Voters" on the ballot that will make it basically impossible for citizen ballot initiatives to pass. Not sure what will happen if both pass.
I hope the veto referendum is well funded and coordinated, no reason this should be solely grassroots it needs to have the full backing of the DCCC and DNC. Ohio & Nebraska also have veto referendums so I think Dems on the ground should be prepared to organize.
We should all watch this and share it with others. He lays it all out. And for anyone who doesn't know who Elias is or what he does, he's the top election rights lawyer in the country and the last person who would ever suggest anyone give up! So spare 30 minutes of your time to be informed.
I have a lot of respect for the work Marc Elias does (especially the Griffin/Riggs federal court battle) -- but some of his posts play into Democratic fear mongering and click baiting. And I'd wish he'd stop that.
Be honest about the threats Trump and extremist judges pose to our country, yes, but don't do what Republicans do on their RW media apparatus.
Did you listen to the entire video? He does not fear monger. He knows -exactly- what the Republicans have tried and are trying to do and how to fight it.
Preckwinkle is the most competent executive elected official in Cook County and would have been a significantly better mayor if white lakefront liberals hadn't been swayed by Lightfoot being a Black *gay* woman (Preckwinkle is also a Black woman) and a relative outsider (despite having no successes in the one role she did have leading the Police Board). A real tragedy that she didn't get to be mayor to end her career.
Reilly is a ghoulish racist who would be expelled from the party in a stronger party system, who has been completely silent about Trump's threats to invade Chicago (despite the most likely ground zero for them to swarm squarely hurting his ward the most) and has cheered on efforts to prevent CA retaliating against TX gerrymandering when IL just hosted the TX state house Dems. His closest ally on City Council is Ray Lopez, a profoundly stupid and incredibly racist bigoted traitor who has even less business being in the party. The only benefit in Reilly running for county commission president is that it hopefully sufficiently damages his almost certain attempt to turn around and run for mayor immediately after he loses.
No argument that Preckwinkle has done a good job at the County, but being "the most competent executive elected official in Cook County" is like being the least racist Republican. Not a very high bar.
She'll clobber Reilly. If he's going to run as someone soft on Trump in 2026, he can start writing his concession speech now.
If I were running message for Preckwinkle, I'd jump on Reilly saying he disagrees with Trump on "most things" and claim that he's a closet Trump supporter, like the people in the NYT focus groups who voted for Trump but thinks he goes too far rhetorically. Make him go on defense. Make him prove he voted for Harris. Ask what he's done on issues that the County Board President does (hospitals, the jails, the courts, the Forest Preserve). Make him out to be a grievance candidate who doesn't know the job and hasn't done anything related to it.
CO-08: Former rep Yadira Caraveo has dropped out after some pretty concerning stories about her mental health were published. I hope she gets the help she needs and we can nominate a someone who can focus 100% on campaigning and not personal challenges.
Question — who is the likely nominee now? Or at least the person doing best? I like Manny Rutinel personally (unless he did something stupid I didn’t know about), but who’s likeliest to win?
Yeah, I was worried that Caraveo would win the primary on name rec and then lose the general. Whoever emerges from the primary should be able to beat Evans in this environment. He has no crossover appeal.
TACO immediately stopped talking about Kirk's murder once it was revealed the shooter came from a white Republican family. I expect the RW media apparatus pivoted to the "lone wolf" excuse shortly thereafter.
I'm sure when Bernie was Mayor of Burlington, VT Trump would have said the same thing about him back when he was first running for Mayor.
Ahhh, the concept of giving a damn about others besides yourself (even while we don't necessarily have to agree with everything in Mamdani's agenda). Apparently Trump needs a lot of help with this.
On 2nd thought, he should be ordered to see a psychotherapist instead.
Good luck trying to oust state Supreme Court justices in a D-leaning environment, PA Republicans. This isn't North Carolina where the Republican legislature forced partisan affiliations on the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court elections.
Service as a Navy SEAL has become a surer path to a seat in Congress than even playing football. Six members of the House - Ryan Zinke of Montana, Eli Crane of Arizona, Morgan Luttrell and Dan Crenshaw of Texas, Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, and John McGuire of Virginia - are former SEALS, as is Sen. Tim Sheehy of Montana. All are MAGA Republicans. Luttrell's retirement will reduce their number by one.
I would like to see more Democratic Navy SEALs run for office. I'm tired of MAGA Republicans running and winning in these red states because they see their Navy affiliation as a ticket to Congress.
Crenshaw's more of a Reagan Republican and less bad than most of them, he voted to certify the election result and supports Ukraine among other things. Those other House members are all bottom of the barrel except maybe Luttrell who's quitting after this term anyway.
Though Crane, Zinke, and Van Orden all at least represent flippable districts.
I expect Van Orden to lose next year as he won narrowly in 2024 and even ran behind Trump in his district.
For what it's worth, Jesse Ventura is a Navy SEAL and has views closely aligned with many liberal views Democrats have.
On the other hand, I am not familiar with Navy SEALS as politicians in the Democratic Party. Perhaps if anyone wants to enlighten me more of any history by all means.
One of the candidates in MI-7, Matt Maasdam, is a former Seal and says he’s the only retired Seal to run as a Dem. The former ambassador to the Ukraine, Bridget Brink, is also running. However, I tend to favor the third candidate, Josh Cowen, who’s an ed-policy professor at MSU. Obviously, any of the Dems would be a vast improvement over Barrett.
Interesting! I looked at Matt Maasdam's campaign website and it seems like he has an unique background from a Navy and business standpoint.
Have yet to see where he stands on the issues but I'm sure Maasdam will get around to it at some point.
Chris Hunter, a former Navy SEAL, ran as a Democrat in 2018 to represent Florida's 12th congressional district. He lost to Republican Gus Bilirakis 39.7-58.1.
What kind of campaign did Chris Hunter run?
Hunter won the Democratic primary with 65% of the vote. In the general, he emphasized his experience as a federal prosecutor and FBI agent and on the issues of gun safety, environmental protection, and health care. It was a traditionally Republican district.
The Respect Missouri Voters Coalition started their petition drive to get the Respect MO Voters amendment on next year's ballot. Their aim is to get 300,000 signatures by January 1, 2026.
https://www.ksmu.org/news/2025-09-11/respect-missouri-voters-begins-gathering-signatures-to-place-a-measure-on-the-ballot-next-year
If this does get on the ballot next year, will the legislature's map still be used for the 2026 midterm? If the measure passes in 2026, will they have to have special elections under the old map shortly after the November elections, or will they only go back to the old map in 2028?
If the measure is on the ballot, the new map gets suspended and can't be used in 2026, and if it passes, the new map is repealed, period.
I think the veto referendum on the freshly gerrymandered Congressional map will be a separate initiative from Respect MO Voters.
I see, yes:
"The Respect Missouri Voters amendment would require ballot language to be clear, unbiased, fair, accurate and easy to understand; prohibit politicians from overturning initiatives passed by voters unless an 80% bi-partisan supermajority sends any changes to voters to approve; and would prohibit any legislation making it more difficult to gather signatures or pass initiatives at the ballot box."
I would expect this to pass handily.
It probably will, the issue is state republicans are going to put a rival initiative called "Protect Missouri Voters" on the ballot that will make it basically impossible for citizen ballot initiatives to pass. Not sure what will happen if both pass.
I think that one will be heavily defeated.
If both were to pass, I think the one that got the higher vote total would win the day, but I don't know.
That is generally the case when two directly contradictory initiatives are on the ballot, afaik
I hope the veto referendum is well funded and coordinated, no reason this should be solely grassroots it needs to have the full backing of the DCCC and DNC. Ohio & Nebraska also have veto referendums so I think Dems on the ground should be prepared to organize.
Postcards to Swing States is writing PA postcards if you want to help spread the word
Democracy Docket (Marc Elias): Trump's plan to steal the 2026 election: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PXQfDHr9Aw
We should all watch this and share it with others. He lays it all out. And for anyone who doesn't know who Elias is or what he does, he's the top election rights lawyer in the country and the last person who would ever suggest anyone give up! So spare 30 minutes of your time to be informed.
Let me add that his Democracy Docket newsletter is excellent and well worth subscribing to. It’s free, although you can choose to support his work.
I have a lot of respect for the work Marc Elias does (especially the Griffin/Riggs federal court battle) -- but some of his posts play into Democratic fear mongering and click baiting. And I'd wish he'd stop that.
Be honest about the threats Trump and extremist judges pose to our country, yes, but don't do what Republicans do on their RW media apparatus.
Did you listen to the entire video? He does not fear monger. He knows -exactly- what the Republicans have tried and are trying to do and how to fight it.
I'm referring to his posts on social media, not his videos per se.
You mean X and the like? I don't look at those, only the YouTube videos, so I'll take your word for it.
Activate America has addresses for those who want to send postcards. Cartoons for Democracy has custom political cartoons postcards for the campaign as well. https://cartoonsfordemocracy.myshopify.com/collections/protect-pennsylvania
Preckwinkle is the most competent executive elected official in Cook County and would have been a significantly better mayor if white lakefront liberals hadn't been swayed by Lightfoot being a Black *gay* woman (Preckwinkle is also a Black woman) and a relative outsider (despite having no successes in the one role she did have leading the Police Board). A real tragedy that she didn't get to be mayor to end her career.
Reilly is a ghoulish racist who would be expelled from the party in a stronger party system, who has been completely silent about Trump's threats to invade Chicago (despite the most likely ground zero for them to swarm squarely hurting his ward the most) and has cheered on efforts to prevent CA retaliating against TX gerrymandering when IL just hosted the TX state house Dems. His closest ally on City Council is Ray Lopez, a profoundly stupid and incredibly racist bigoted traitor who has even less business being in the party. The only benefit in Reilly running for county commission president is that it hopefully sufficiently damages his almost certain attempt to turn around and run for mayor immediately after he loses.
Huh, I didn't know Lightfoot is gay.
Her wife is one of maybe three good things associated with her (Invest South/West and managing DCASE are the other two).
Lightfoot also has the biggest dick in Chicago:
https://www.gawkerarchives.com/politics/lori-lightfoot-i-have-the-biggest-dick-in-chicago
No argument that Preckwinkle has done a good job at the County, but being "the most competent executive elected official in Cook County" is like being the least racist Republican. Not a very high bar.
She'll clobber Reilly. If he's going to run as someone soft on Trump in 2026, he can start writing his concession speech now.
The other option would be Biss tbh.
I don't think Reilly is stupid enough to run on being a closet Trump supporter lol.
If I were running message for Preckwinkle, I'd jump on Reilly saying he disagrees with Trump on "most things" and claim that he's a closet Trump supporter, like the people in the NYT focus groups who voted for Trump but thinks he goes too far rhetorically. Make him go on defense. Make him prove he voted for Harris. Ask what he's done on issues that the County Board President does (hospitals, the jails, the courts, the Forest Preserve). Make him out to be a grievance candidate who doesn't know the job and hasn't done anything related to it.
Not the *most* important thing but Reilly approved the ugly "Trump" sign on the Chicago Trump Tower, so would never support.
Happy 35th birthday to me.
Mazel Tov!
We share a birthday. Happy birthday Justin!
Happy Birthday to both of you!
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday! Hope you do something good/fun for yourself today!
CO-08: Former rep Yadira Caraveo has dropped out after some pretty concerning stories about her mental health were published. I hope she gets the help she needs and we can nominate a someone who can focus 100% on campaigning and not personal challenges.
https://www.cpr.org/2025/09/12/yadira-caraveo-drops-out-8th-congressional-district-race/
Good news. I was worried about this race.
Question — who is the likely nominee now? Or at least the person doing best? I like Manny Rutinel personally (unless he did something stupid I didn’t know about), but who’s likeliest to win?
Yeah, I was worried that Caraveo would win the primary on name rec and then lose the general. Whoever emerges from the primary should be able to beat Evans in this environment. He has no crossover appeal.
Good move on her part. Hope she gets to take some time to work on these issues outside of the public eye.
so kirk assassin comes from a repug family...father a sheriff?
It appears as if the theory goes that he's a groyper.
It depresses me that I had to remind myself that, six years ago, I vaguely knew what the Groyper wars were
TACO immediately stopped talking about Kirk's murder once it was revealed the shooter came from a white Republican family. I expect the RW media apparatus pivoted to the "lone wolf" excuse shortly thereafter.
Nancy Mace's flip flop is probably the best of them all.
https://bsky.app/profile/esqueer.net/post/3lynkqo3ioc2k
They’re all shameless but she might be the most shameless of the lot.
Trump concedes that Mamdani is going to win. Calls him a "Little Communist". https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/nyregion/trump-mamdani-nyc-mayor.html
The day TACO leaves this earth will be a day of celebration. I’m beyond sick of his ugly mouth, ugly little hands and that hideous neck vulva.
I'm sure when Bernie was Mayor of Burlington, VT Trump would have said the same thing about him back when he was first running for Mayor.
Ahhh, the concept of giving a damn about others besides yourself (even while we don't necessarily have to agree with everything in Mamdani's agenda). Apparently Trump needs a lot of help with this.
On 2nd thought, he should be ordered to see a psychotherapist instead.
He’s beyond help. A pathological narcissist can never be undone or cured - they are broken forever. We just have to wait out until 2029 or…🪦.
Oh sure. I was referring to when Democrats control the White House and the appropriate executive order would be in place. ;)