ActBlue — A Bluer Congress in 2008

A Bluer Congress in 2008

by Jon Adams

35
Supporters 2,375
Raised $
Distributed among the recipients below

This page is dedicated to raising money to help progressive democrats in close races and increase our majorities in Congress.
In the House, we need to help strong, freshmen democrats who face tough re-election fights—a congressman is far more vulnerable in the two elections after first being elected. We also need to help strong progressive challengers who can help us obtain a truly progressive house of representatives in 2008.
In the Senate, 2008 presents a golden chance to gain a number of seats. Progressive democrats have great chances in a number of states—and opportunities keep on coming.

Mark Udall

CO-Sen (Map)

Mark Udall has been a member of congress since 1999 and is now running for the open Colorado senate seat. In Congress, he has fought hard for progressive causes, including stopping the war in Iraq, protection of the environment, and support for health care and labor rights. He has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood, the Sierra Club, and the Human Rights Campaign.

Raised on this page: 5 180
Raised across ActBlue: 291 29,161

Tom Udall

NM-Sen (Map)

Tom Udall is currently in Congress where he has served since 1999. From 1991-1998, he served as New Mexico’s attorney general. He has a strong progressive record fighting for working people, for high quality health care, protection of the environment, supporting the rights of women, minorities, and human rights, and to end the war in Iraq.

Raised on this page: 2 70
Raised across ActBlue: 745 351,069

Andrew Rice

OK-Sen (Map)

It is hard to find a more extreme right-wing zealot in Congress than Republican Senator Jim Inhofe. Inhofe is probably best known for his belief that global warming is a “hoax” foisted on the public by the liberal activists. He has compared environmentalists to “Nazis” and the Environmental Protection Agency to the “Gestapo.” After release of photos taken at Abu Ghraib prison, he showed no concern for what had been done, but said he was “outraged by the outrage” that followed the release.
His Democratic opponent, Andrew Rice, is a graduate of the Harvard Divinity School. In 1999, he directed a documentary film about an ex-con in India running a hospice for people with HIV. His life was drastically altered when his brother was killed in the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Afterward, Rice dedicated his life to public service. He is now an Oklahoma State Senator where he has proven to be effective working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Rice is a real populist with plenty of progressive ideas about how government should serve people. He knows that global climate change is real and threatens our way of life. He is fighting for veterans and tax reform for the middle class.
Rice will be a great senator. He deserves our support.

Raised on this page: 3 95
Raised across ActBlue: 2,628 121,681

Tom Allen

ME-Sen (Map)

Congressman Tom Allen has represented half of Maine since 1996. He is a Rhodes Scholar and is a Harvard educated lawyer. In Congress, he has established a reputation as a solidly dependable progressive leader whose values reflect the forward-looking, independent values of Mainers. He voted against the Iraq war and has consistently voted against Bush’s efforts to prolong and escalate the war. On the other hand, Susan Collins was an early supporter of the Iraq war and has handed Bush a blank check at every opportunity.

Raised on this page: 6 285
Raised across ActBlue: 1,754 77,335

Jeff Merkley

OR-Sen (Map)

Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkel is the son of a sawmill worker. In high school, he was an exchange student in a small town in Ghana where he experienced living with families struggle just to feed themselves. He later studied International Relations at Stanford and obtained a Masters of Public Policy degree at Princeton. Along the way, he worked in villages in Mexico and spent a summer in India. He has worked for affordable housing and served as the executive director of Habitat for Humanity.
In 1998, Merkel was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives and in 2003, elected the Democratic Leader. In 2006, under his leadership, the Democrats gained a majority in the House for the first time in 16 years. Merkel led the 2007 legislative session to its most progressive and productive session in 30 years. It passed historic anti-discrimination bills, passed historic investments in alternative energy, made Oregon a national leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, passed strong new laws protecting consumers and those in poverty, and made progress in education and health care.
In the Senate, Merkel will fight to end the war in Iraq, support veterans, fight for improved education, and fight global warming with plans for sustainability and renewable energy. He deserves our support.

Raised on this page: 2 80
Raised across ActBlue: 1,332 143,553

Mark Begich

AK-Sen (Map)

Anchorage mayor Mark Begich is taking on Ted Stevens. Need I say more? Stevens, famous for his “bridge to nowhere” and his unrelentless push to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, has a long history of corruption, waste of taxpayer money, and carrying water for big oil. His time is up.

Raised on this page: 2 65
Raised across ActBlue: 45 5,931

Jerry McNerney

CA-11 (Map)

Renewable energy executive Jerry McNerney was elected in 2006, defeating one of the worst anti-environmental Republicans, ethically challenged Richard Pombo. The district leans Republican so Jerry will have a tough fight in 2008. Stu Rothenberg and The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza rank this seat as one of the 10 most likely to change hands in 2008; Larry Sabato puts it on his competitive “Freshman 15” list; and Congressional Quarterly ranks it as one of the 22 toughest races for Democratic incumbents. It is also on Karl Rove’s hit list.
In complete contrast to the man he defeated in 2006, McNerney has a 100% pro-environment voting record. Overall, he has “voted progressive” 87% of the time.
If Jerry can win in 2008, we can keep him for a long time and turn the district blue for years.

Raised on this page: 9 350
Raised across ActBlue: 597 19,037

John Yarmuth

KY-03 (Map)

In 2006, John Yarmuth defeated Republican majority leader Mitch McConnell’s right-wing protégé Anne Northup 51-49, turning this Louisville district blue for the first time in a decade. In Congress, Yarmuth has stood up to the Bush Administration in Congress. He has condemned Bush’s reckless Iraq policy and has voted against expanding Bush’s unchecked warrantless wiretapping powers on American citizens. His voting record is “progressive” 94% of the time.
Yarmuth’s 2008 opponent again will be Northup, who is back for a rematch. Over the past decade, Northup has proven to be an expert at raising bundles of money from big companies, particularly, tobacco companies, HMO’s, and polluters. In 2008, McConnell will be on the ballot, bringing the Republicans to the polls. Yarmuth needs early help to keep this seat blue.

Raised on this page: 7 145
Raised across ActBlue: 35 6,031

Carol Shea-Porter

NH-01 (Map)

In one of the biggest upsets of 2006, Carol Shea-Porter unseated a GOP incumbent 51-49 in a district that has been Republican for decades. She is the quintessential grassroots member of congress and represents her constituents—not special interests. Larry Sabato puts this race on his competitive “Freshman 15” list, it is one of Karl Rove’s top targeted races for 2008, and Congressional Quarterly ranks it as one of the 22 toughest races for Democratic incumbents.
Since being elected, Shea-Porter has been a consistent progressive voice in Congress She opposed the FISA bill, supported the McGovern Amendment, and has tirelessly worked to bring the troops home. She will not support any funding for Iraq without a hard redeployment date. She has authored a bill to increase Pell grants and introduced legislation to stop Bush’s signing statements. She deserves our early support.

Raised on this page: 5 200
Raised across ActBlue: 1,169 66,258

Nancy Boyda

KS-02 (Map)

Nancy Boyda won 51% of the vote in 2006 in this very republican district, even as she was outspent by more than 50%. She is on Karl Rove’s hit list for 2008 and the NRCC chairman has declared that he will target her. Larry Sabato puts this race on his competitive “Freshman 15” list and the Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza ranks it as one of the 10 most likely to change hands. Congressional Quarterly ranks it as one of the two toughest races for Democratic incumbents.
Boyda has rejected assistance from the DCCC and needs lots of small contributors. If she can win in 2008, we may hold this seat for a long time.
She deserves our support. She has voted against the war in Iraq every time. And she voted against giving Bush warrantless wiretap authority. Indeed, although she represents a very red district, she has voted “progressive” 84% of the time. What a contrast to the right-wing zealot she defeated in 2006—who is running against her now.

Raised on this page: 16 445
Raised across ActBlue: 199 13,606

Larry Kissell

NC-08 (Map)

Schoolteacher Larry Kissell may have run the most creative campaign in 2006. Heavily outspent (more than 3-1), and with only 88 dollars in the bank five weeks before the election, he came within 327 votes of winning. 2008 will be his year if he is given the financial backing he needs.

Raised on this page: 5 130
Raised across ActBlue: 1,385 99,367

Charlie Brown

CA-04 (Map)

Lt. Col. Charlie Brown is a 26-year military veteran who served from Vietnam to the Gulf War and is a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 2006, he barely missed defeating ethically-challenged and reactionary incumbent John Doolittle in this very republican district, even though he was badly outspent.
Brown is a strong opponent of the Iraq war and is working hard to bring decency to this district’s representation. But he needs the financial resources to compete. Please help.

Raised on this page: 4 140
Raised across ActBlue: 4,126 119,993

Harry Mitchell

AZ-05 (Map)

In 2006, solid progressive Harry Mitchell unseated right-winger J.D. Hayworth with 50.4% of the vote in this Republican leaning district. Stu Rothenberg ranks this seat as one of the ten most vulnerable democratic seats in 2008 and Congressional Quarterly ranks this as one of the 22 toughest races for Democratic incumbents.

Raised on this page: 7 115
Raised across ActBlue: 96 3,591

Darcy Burner

WA-08 (Map)

Darcy Burner is a former Microsoft employee and an exceptionally gifted new politician. Her district is trending blue. She is passionate advocate for ending the war and bringing the troops home safely and for protecting our Constitution from those who would shred it. Burner came very close to winning in 2006. Let’s make 2008 her year.

Raised on this page: 1 20
Raised across ActBlue: 6,342 192,473

Total: 00,000