Andy and Deborah Rappaport grant@skylinepublicworks.com Like you, we believe that Democratic victory at the state level is critical to advancing a movement that can pass and protect progressive policy at all levels. Below are ActBlue-enabled state races for governor and state legislatures that are particularly critical because they represent close races in states where "trifectas" -- Dem control of the governor's mansion and state legislature -- are either possible or in need of defense. These trifecta states represent our clearest opportunities to pass progressive policy and put our vision to life. Also, we have recommended support to several secretary of state races in order to protect the right to vote now and in the future in likely 2008 battlegrounds as well as states facing electoral challenges from Hurricane Katrina or large new immigrant populations. This list is the result of deep analysis of the best bets and most impactful uses of our political dollars. We hope you'll join us in helping our state-level compatriots fight the good fight to win. public true 48800.00 6 Chet Culver false IA-Gov culver 100000.00 15735.87 250 http://www.chetculver.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/8995 5073.47 6 Former Democratic Secretary of State Chet Culver holds a slight lead over the Republican Jim Nussle (41% to 38%, Rasmussen 7/27) in an open Democratic seat. While this race is getting a lot of attention from Presidential hopefuls, Chet Culver is a really great candidate and is one of the few candidates in the country who is running a serious young voter campaign. He is a a former high school government teacher and football coach. There is no contribution limit in this race. John Baldacci false ME-Gov baldacci 750.00 1123.47 7 http://www.baldacciforgovernor.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/4620 1073.47 6 The Democratic Incumbent Governor in Maine has a tough race. The latest poll show Governor Baldacci just one point ahead of the Republican (43% to 42%, Rasmussen, 7/19). Maine continues to be an important state for Democrats and we should do what we can to keep the Democratic Governor. The contribution limit is $500. Eileen Carney false MT-HD-01 eileen carney 160.00 983.47 11 http://Libby.org/~jecarney https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9853 333.47 6 Former Rep. Eileen Carney is running to re-capture this seat in Libby, MT. Carney was defeated in the same race (Heinert and Brown) by less than 50 votes in 2004, and has come back ready to win this cycle. Contribution limit = $130. Randy Kenyon false MT-HD-08 kenyon 160.00 375.47 10 http://www.randykenyon.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/6049 333.47 6 Kenyon is a Kalispell city council member with strong ties to sitting Rep. Mike Jopek and Governor Schweitzer. Has a strong volunteer operation, and is running hard. Contribution limit = $130. Jeanne Windham false MT-HD-12 jeanne windham 160.00 490.46 10 https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/8706 333.46 6 Windham won her 2004 election by 6 votes after a Supreme Court case invalidated several double-votes for her Republican opponent, Rick Jore. She is facing Jore for a rematch this year in what will be again a close race. Contribution limit = $130. Geannine Rapp false MT-HD-18 geannine rapp 160.00 985.46 13 https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9908 333.46 6 Rapp, a PR/press staffer for the Great Falls Clinic, has run a strong race in this open seat. The Republican primary broke our way, with ultra-con (Focus on the Family) Jesse O’Hara beating a moderate businessman. Contribution limit = $130. Bill McChesney false MT-HD-40 matthews 160.00 335.46 8 https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/6066 333.46 6 McChesney is a former Department of Transportation supervisor and now works as a volunteer teacher. This is a critical open seat for Democrats to hold in conservative eastern Montana. Contribution limit = $130. Katherine Lee false MT-HD-38 katherine lee 160.00 465.46 9 https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/11505 333.46 6 Lee is an attorney, former justice of the peace, and owner of a bed and breakfast. She ran for St. Senate in 2002, and won the Dawson County half of the seat by over 800 votes (lost the other, more rural portion). This is the other critical eastern Montana seat. Contribution limit = $130. Steven Erb false MT-HD-43 lindeen 160.00 335.46 8 https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/6069 333.46 6 Erb is an IBEW electrician (secretary for local 532), and has been involved with campaigns in the area for several years. He has received strong support from congressional candidate Monica Lindeen (this is her seat), and from organized labor. Contribution limit = $130. Kendall Van Dyk false MT-HD-49 kendall van dyk 160.00 1618.46 36 http://www.Kendallvandyk.com https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/11510 333.46 6 Van Dyk, a 26 year-old staffer with the Northern Plains Resource Council, defeated a well-known Democratic trial attorney in the costliest primary on the Democratic side this year. His campaign team has run one of the most technically sound races in the state. Contribution limit = $130. Emilie Eaton false MT-HD-58 eaton 160.00 333.46 6 http://www.Eaton4hd58.com https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/8713 333.46 6 Eaton won a close election in 2004 and will once again face a close race. Contribution limit = $130. Paul Beck false MT-HD-59 paul beck 160.00 335.46 8 http://www.beckforcarboncounty.org https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/11515 333.46 6 Beck is the immediate past chair of the county party, an active coach/volunteer with his kids’ school and parish, and a small businessman. His campaign is based on a large volunteer team. Democrats came within 200 votes of the seat in both 2002 and 2004 with a less active candidate than Beck. Contribution limit = $130. Bob Ebinger false MT-HD-62 bob ebinger 160.00 333.46 6 http://www.bobebinger.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/11517 333.46 6 Ebinger, a Livingston city council member and film-industry professional is challenging conservative Rep. Wagman in this Democrat-leaning seat. Contribution limit = $130. Sheila Hogan false MT-HD-77 sheila hogan 160.00 1020.46 14 https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/11521 333.46 6 Hogan, a jobs-training and economic development specialist, is running a strong campaign against Republican Representative Scott Mendenhall, one of the lead sponsors of CI-97 (SOS/TABOR) and a rising star conservative. Contribution limit = $130. Jill Cohenour false MT-HD-78 cohenour 160.00 333.46 6 https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/6088 333.46 6 Cohenour has won both of her prior races by slim margins and this year will be no different. Contribution limit = $130. Ken Hansen false MT-SD-17 hansen 160.00 333.46 6 https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/7838 333.46 6 Ken Hansen, a farmer/rancher from rural Blaine county, is running for his second term. Contribution limit = $130. Margie MacDonald false MT-SD-25 cromley 160.00 1170.46 16 http://www.margiemacdonaldsd25.com https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/7842 333.46 6 Margie McDonald, a former Schweitzer appointee and head of the MT Council of Churches, faces off against Republican House Leader Roy Brown in the biggest legislative race in the state. Contribution limit = $130. Joe Cohenour false MT-SD-39 joe cohenour 160.00 410.46 10 https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/11539 333.46 6 Cohenour is an Montana Highway Patrol officer, involved with the East Helena School Board and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Contribution limit = $130. Larry Jent false MT-SD-32 larry jent 160.00 483.46 8 https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9875 333.46 6 Rep. Larry Jent, a 3-term legislator and attorney, stepped up to run for the seat vacated by Democrat Mike Wheat. The district leans Democrat, and Jent has represented the tougher half of the district in the House. The main concern is his opponent's ability to self-fund and to raise money from tavern/gaming association members. Contribution limit = $130. Jean Cowan false OR-HD-10 cowan 100000.00 4578.64 10 http://www.jeancowan.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/8847 4073.46 6 Four Republican votes are all that stops progressive policy from being passed in Oregon. Democrats have the Governor and a solid majority in the Oregon Senate. Now they need to pick up four seats in the House. It is a tall order, but possible. There is no contribution limit in this race. Chris Edwards false OR-HD-14 chris edwards 100000.00 4140.46 9 http://www.chrisedwardsfororegon.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9934 4068.46 5 Four Republican votes are all that stops progressive policy from being passed in Oregon. Democrats have the Governor and a solid majority in the Oregon Senate. Now they need to pick up four seats in the House. It is a tall order, but possible. There is no contribution limit in this race. Brian Clem false OR-HD-21 brian clem 100000.00 4115.46 9 http://www.brianclem.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9942 4068.46 5 Four Republican votes are all that stops progressive policy from being passed in Oregon. Democrats have the Governor and a solid majority in the Oregon Senate. Now they need to pick up four seats in the House. It is a tall order, but possible. There is no contribution limit in this race. Suzanne Bonamici false OR-HD-34 avakian 100000.00 2083.46 6 http://www.suzannefororegon.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/6667 2068.46 5 Four Republican votes are all that stops progressive policy from being passed in Oregon. Democrats have the Governor and a solid majority in the Oregon Senate. Now they need to pick up four seats in the House. It is a tall order, but possible. There is no contribution limit in this race. Larry Galizio false OR-HD-35 larry galizio 100000.00 2112.97 11 http://www.larrygalizio.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9951 2068.46 5 Four Republican votes are all that stops progressive policy from being passed in Oregon. Democrats have the Governor and a solid majority in the Oregon Senate. Now they need to pick up four seats in the House. It is a tall order, but possible. There is no contribution limit in this race. Rob Brading false OR-HD-49 rob brading 100000.00 2443.66 24 http://www.robbrading.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9954 2068.46 5 Four Republican votes are all that stops progressive policy from being passed in Oregon. Democrats have the Governor and a solid majority in the Oregon Senate. Now they need to pick up four seats in the House. It is a tall order, but possible. There is no contribution limit in this race. Tobias Read false OR-HD-27 tobias read 100000.00 2136.64 8 http://www.tobiasread.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9948 2068.46 5 Ron Wyden says "Tobias Read is one of the most exciting young Democrats I have come across in quite some time". Winning this open seat is critical to Democratic chances to win the Oregon House. The district leans Democrat, but Read's opponent, backed by Oregon Right to Life, holds a fundraising edge due to his ability to self-fund. There is no contribution limit in this race.