ActBlue — Eliminate Weapons of Mass Destruction

John Adler

NJ-03 (Map)

Political experts believe that State Sen. John Adler (D) is in a commanding position to win this open seat race in 2008. Adler calls for a swift and responsible end to the war in Iraq, and he prioritizes securing nuclear weapons and stockpiles. Although the Republican Party is embroiled in a contested primary, strategists in Washington D.C. have made this seat one of their top priorities.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 138 91,598

$

Tom Allen

ME-Sen (Map)

In one of the most significant races of the 2008 elections, U.S. Representative Tom Allen of Maine is challenging incumbent Senator Susan Collins, who supports Bush’s policies in Iraq. Allen is a tried and true progressive who opposed the Iraq war from the start. Collins has a reputation as a moderate in some quarters, but her voting record proves otherwise. A ten-year veteran of Congress representing Maine’s first congressional district, Allen has been a consistent champion of thoughtful and responsible national security policies. Rep. Allen opposed the Iraq war in 2002 and has continued to vote to end the war. Although Collins has occasionally voiced concern over President Bush’s plan to escalate the war in Iraq, she has repeatedly voted in lock-step with the administration. Early polling has incumbent Collins well ahead of Allen, but the margin will evaporate as the challenger becomes better known in the rest of the state.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 1,789 79,176

$

Darcy Burner

WA-08 (Map)

Darcy Burner, a former Microsoft Executive, ran against GOP Rep. Dave Reichert in Washington’s eighth Congressional District in 2006 with a PeacePAC endorsement. Incumbent Reichert eventually emerged with a 51%-49% victory. Burner immediately announced that she would run again, and her aggressive campaigning in the off-year cleared the field of several potential primary opponents. Burner has made her opposition to the war in Iraq the centerpiece of her campaign. Burner has also taken strong positions on reducing the U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal, promoting diplomatic nuclear non-proliferation efforts and opposing the development of new nuclear weapons. Her opponent’s position is equally clear. Rep. Reichert has voted with President Bush on every Iraq war vote held in 2007. Burner can win this seat, but the campaign will be expensive, because Seattle media is relatively high priced.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 6,372 208,536

$

Donna Edwards

MD-04 (Map)

In the February 2008 Democratic primary, Donna Edwards won a stunning victory over current Rep. Albert Wynn, a staunch supporter of Bush’s Iraq policy. Wynn has since announced his early retirement, and Edwards must now run in a Special General Election.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 8,223 435,341

$

Bill Foster

IL-14 (Map)

Anti-war advocates scored a major victory in March 2008 when Democrat Bill Foster defeated a pro-war Republican in a special election that had become a clear referendum on whether the U.S. should have a permanent military presence in Iraq. Though Foster’s victory is a powerful rejection of the war policies of President Bush and his Republican allies, the two candidates will face off again in November’s general election.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 2,652 135,755

$

Al Franken

MN-Sen (Map)

Politically, for much of the 20th Century, Minnesota has provided the nation with some of its most articulate and progressive leaders. The Republican incumbent, Norman Coleman, has been a staunch supporter of President Bush on virtually every issue. Al Franken is in the progressive tradition of Minnesota Democratic leaders. He opposes building a new generation of nuclear weapons; opposes National Missile Defense deployment; opposes placing weapons in space; opposes first use of nuclear weapons; opposes an attack on Iran Supports removing nuclear weapons from hair trigger alert; supports moving toward a world free of nuclear weapons; ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; and increased funding for the United Nations. Franken will be a highly visible and knowledgeable Senator who will make his presence felt on progressive issues.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 2,147 49,924

$

John Hall

NY-19 (Map)

John Hall was one of a number of candidates in 2006 who won election against a well-established incumbent by challenging them over their support for the war in Iraq. John Hall ran on a peace platform, calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and sharply criticizing Republican incumbent Sue Kelly for her votes supporting Bush policies. His principled positions struck a chord with voters disenchanted with the quagmire in Iraq. Hall won a narrow victory with 51% of the vote. Hall’s razor thin margin of victory in 2006 guarantees that Republican strategists will target this district in 2008. Hall will need your help to fend off the Republican challenge.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 373 28,174

$

Jim Himes

CT-04 (Map)

Himes has a diverse background that makes him uniquely qualified for public service. He is challenging long-time incumbent Rep. Chris Shays®. Although a moderate on domestic issues, Shays has been a consistent and vocal supporter of George W. Bush’s foreign policies and the war in Iraq. While the district votes Democratic for most offices, Shays is personally popular with his constituents, who have elected him to 11 terms.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 648 59,623

$

Tim Johnson

SD-Sen (Map)

Over the past six years, Tim Johnson has averaged an 83% rating on Council for a Livable World’s annual voting record. He voted against the nuclear bunker buster and new low yield nuclear weapons. He has supported efforts to trim spending on missile defense while increasing funding for nuclear non-proliferation programs. He co-sponsored with Sen. Barack Obama an amendment to restore funding to the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. He opposed John Bolton’s nomination to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and was one of only 12 Senators to oppose the U.S.-India nuclear agreement that has severely undermined global non-proliferation efforts. For a Democrat running in South Dakota, any re-election contest is sure to be close, but Senator Tim Johnson has overcome many challenges in his life, both physically and politically. With your help he will continue to fight for his state and for effective national security policies.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 6,240 374,104

$

Mary Jo Kilroy

OH-15 (Map)

Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy’s impressive run in the last election, her well-publicized local political work and her history in community organizing give her a clear advantage in this competitive open seat race. Bringing an end to the war in Iraq, along with guaranteeing that troops have the protective gear and the training they need, is a top priority for Kilroy. She believes that the nation’s most pressing foreign policy concerns are the proliferation of nuclear weapons and our dependence on foreign oil. The election in the 15th district is likely to be close again in 2008, as it is split between predominantly Democratic Columbus and the Republican dominated suburbs. Kilroy’s strong performance against the entrenched incumbent in 2006 shows her political strength. However, she will need significant financial resources if she is to succeed this year.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 114 37,647

$

Dan Maffei

NY-25 (Map)

Maffei attracted attention in 2006 when he came within 3,000 votes of defeating nine term incumbent Rep. Jim Walsh® in a campaign based on sharp criticism of Walsh’s support of the Iraq war. Walsh is not running again in 2008, and it is not clear who the GOP candidate will be. However, the close race in 2006 ensures that this seat will remain a top Republican priority.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 1,615 53,969

$

Eric Massa

NY-29 (Map)

With 24 years of experience in the U.S. Navy, Eric Massa strongly opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq and resigned his staff position on the House Armed Services Committee in protest. In 2006 he decided to run for Congress and lost to incumbent Representative Randy Kuhl, finishing better than any Democrat in this district in recent memory. Massa is running again in 2008 with a better chance of victory because of improving Democratic fortunes.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 4,816 302,674

$

Jeff Merkley

OR-Sen (Map)

The Oregon Senate race is becoming closer every day. Jeff Merkley is a rare Senate candidate who is an expert on nuclear weapons and national security issues and plans to make them a focus of his career in the Senate. He is mounting a challenge to incumbent Republican two-term Senator Gordon Smith in Oregon that is receiving national attention. Merkley’s path to the Senate will not be easy. He is running against a resourceful incumbent who is trying to cultivate moderate image. However, Merkley will be running in a state where the tide is moving strongly toward the Democrats. Merkley will be an important progressive leader in the Senate. His background on nuclear weapons, his knowledge of national security issues and his political experience clearly indicate that we need him in the U.S. Senate.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 1,352 144,900

$

Patrick Murphy

PA-08 (Map)

As a soldier in the U.S. Army, Patrick Murphy served in Bosnia and fought in the current Iraq war – a war he is now fighting hard to end. In 2006, Murphy challenged freshman Republican Mike Fitzpatrick in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District. He won a close 1,500 vote victory over the incumbent. In Congress, Murphy quickly emerged as one of his party’s spokesmen for the effort to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq. Shortly after being sworn in, he teamed with Senator Barack Obama and Congressman Mike Thompson to introduce the Iraq De-Escalation Act of 2007 which would withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by March 1, 2008. In the heated debates over Democratic attempts to pass anti-war legislation that followed, Murphy was selected to deliver the closing arguments for withdrawal. Republicans are eager to silence this effective voice for peace, and the close vote on 2006 makes them think they can win in 2008.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 897 29,751

$

Jon Powers

NY-26 (Map)

Only 29 years old, Jon Powers, an Army Captain and decorated Iraq War veteran, schoolteacher and nonprofit leader, is already a very impressive figure. Powers was deployed to Iraq in the spring of 2003 where he witnessed firsthand the devastation and lost opportunities that resulted from the Bush Administration’s mismanagement and lack of planning for post-invasion Iraq. Returning home to Western New York to resume his career as a social studies teacher, Powers saw how mismanagement in Washington was affecting the working families he grew up with. Now, Powers is running against Republican Rep. Tom Reynolds who is known more for his coziness to Washington lobbyists than for his legislative achievements, and Powers’ impressive credentials make him a real threat to unseat this five term incumbent. Powers’ impressive credentials on the ground in Iraq give him a unique perspective on the use of America’s military to secure our nation at home and abroad and redeem America’s prestige around the world.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 1,959 236,647

$

Joseph Sestak Jr

PA-07 (Map)

Joe Sestak served for 31 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring in 1995 as a three-star admiral. Concerned with President Bush’s policies, both foreign and domestic, in 2006 Sestak ran for the U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, challenging an entrenched Republican incumbent. Now he is running for reelection.Since coming to Washington, DC, Sestak has been a vocal advocate of bringing our troops home from Iraq. Capitalizing on his seat on the Armed Services Committee and his stature as the highest ranking retired military officer ever elected to the House of Representatives, he has made informed analyses of why and how we should bring our troops home in speeches to Congress and the public. A number of supporters of President Bush are lining up to challenge him in the 2008 election, and they are sure to enjoy generous support from the Republican national party.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 3,183 549,224

$

Jeanne Shaheen

NH-Sen (Map)

New Hampshire has had a political revolution, joining the rest of New England in electing Democrats overwhelmingly to political office. This new environment gives former Governor Jeanne Shaheen’s second challenge to incumbent Senator John Sununu an important edge. Republican Sununu is considered the most endangered incumbent in the nation. While Shaheen starts out ahead in the contest, the outcome may hinge on financial resources. At the most recent reporting period, Sununu had $2.7 million in the bank, Shaheen less than $200,000. She will need to raise $10 million. The Sununu name is still a formidable political asset in New Hampshire, although his support for the Iraq war has diminished his favorable rating among the voters. Jeanne Shaheen’s victory will help produce a working majority to stop the Iraq war and support multilateral engagement with the rest of the world.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 1,075 202,355

$

Mark Udall

CO-Sen (Map)

In Colorado, there is a rare opportunity to elect a progressive Democrat to the United States Senate to replace a very conservative Republican incumbent who is retiring. Representative Mark Udall is willing to take unpopular stands when necessary; he voted against the Iraq war resolution in October 2002 in the face of pro-war hysteria generated by the Bush Administration. Not long ago, Colorado was regarded as a solidly red state, but it has been steadily shifting toward blue. Mark Udall’s prospects in this race are enhanced because the seat is open following the announced retirement of incumbent Republican Senator Wayne Allard. The likely Republican nominee is former U.S. Representative Bob Schaffer, who voted a hard-right Republican line and was a down-the-line
supporter of the Bush agenda on foreign, military and domestic affairs.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 297 29,383

$

Tom Udall

NM-Sen (Map)

A hardworking and effective legislator, Democratic U.S. Representative Tom Udall, currently serving his fifth term in the House of Representatives, is well-known and highly respected across the state as a strong advocate of progressive issues. Udall’s record is excellent on arms control as well as on issues of war and peace. Udall has been an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq. He voted against the authorization to send troops in 2002, for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, and against building U.S. permanent bases in Iraq. Although Tom Udall is the favorite (many nonpartisan pundits rank New Mexico as the 2nd most likely Senate seat to switch parties) he is not a cinch. Those opposing him are sure to spend whatever it takes to distort his progressive record as they fight to hold on to this seat.Tom Udall will need your help to beat his Republican challenger in this race.

Raised on this page: 0 0
Raised across ActBlue: 759 360,646

$