Debbie Stabenow

MI-Sen (Map)

Stabenow’s campaign is currently well-funded, but stay tuned later in the race.
Debbie Stabenow is the current Junior Senator from Michigan and is in her first re-election campaign. She is facing well-funded opposition from Keith Butler, a black evangelical bishop from Detroit, and Michael Bouchard, a well-known and well-heeled sheriff from Oakland county. Most polls have Stabenow ahead by a significant margin, but the Republican primary is not yet over and Republicans have targeted her seat, so the margin will likely start to shrink after the primary. This is a must win for Michigan progressives.
For those unfamiliar with Stabenow, her senate web page can be reached here, and her campaign web site is linked below. She is a true blue Dem and has already risen to the third highest station in her caucus. Like other progressive Democrats, she works for better government, sponsoring a number of excellent bills including those for job creation, women’s health, port security, college affordability and savings, and international trade parity (of course, being a Republican-controlled congress, none of these initiatives have seen the light of day).

Ned Lamont

CT-Sen (Map)

This is an important and winnable primary race that can strengthen all Democratic Senators and further the progressive grass-roots and net-roots movements.
Current Senator Joe “Joeldrums” Lieberman gives cover to far-right Republicans and their agenda, such as keeping the status quo in Iraq and legislating religious fundamentalism. Lieberman has ben consistently critical of his fellow Democrats for not supporting the President fully on the Iraq war, often calling it “unpatriotic” to oppose the President “in a time of war”. Lieberman recently came out in support of legislation in Connecticuit that would allow hospitals with “moral objections” to deny emergency contraceptives to rape victims, saying “In connecticuit it should only be a short drive to another hospital.” Lieberman’s positions are so egregious that President Bush has called Joe his “favorite Democrat” and Fox News’ Sean Hannity has a monthly chat with him on his radio show. Many speculate that Lieberman has made such moves in preparation for another presidential bid in 2008 or in hopes of being appointed Secretary of Defense should Donald Rumsfeld be fired.
By contrast, Ned Lamont is a progressive Democrat who has pledged to put the interests of the Democratic party and the country ahead of his personal political agenda. Lamont is a graduate of Harvard and Yale and an entrepreneur who founded and manages a successful digital systems company. Like most progressives, he believes in better government: a balanced budget, economic and educational opportunity for all, affordable health care, real homeland security, and a sensible foreign policy. Ned’s progressive beliefs and his loyalty to the people he seeks to represent will make him an asset rather than a liability.
Although this is a Connecticuit race, our Democratic Michigan Senators and our movement will become stronger if Ned Lamont is elected.

Jennifer Granholm

MI-Gov

Jennifer Granholm is a true blue progressive, though she has been largely stalemated by the Republicans in the Michigan House and Senate. She won a slim victory in 2002, and has a strong Republican challenger in Bentley-driving billionaire Dick DeVos (heir to the Amway fortune). She needs as much help as we can give and fast.
See Granholm’s web page below for donations if the link to the right is not working.

Nancy Skinner

MI-09 (Map)

Nancy Skinner is a progressive talk radio personality with strong progressive values, lots of experience end exposure in the MSM, and the ability to get the base motivated. In my view, she is the best candidate in the MI-09 primary thus far, but you can check out the General Election Fund (below) to decide for yourself.

MI-09 General Election Fund

MI-09 (Map)

This affluent district trends conservative, but 49.2% of residents voted for Kerry in 2004. The incumbent, Joe Knollenberg, has strong name recognition, but has been caught up in a couple lobbying scandals involving the airline industry and Pan Godchaux. There is a large field of candidates in the primary including Nancy Skinner (above), Rhonda Ross, John Murray, Steve Reifman (who previously lost 40% to 59%), John Ashcraft, and Frank Cona. This is a must win for progressives! Be generous!

Jim Marcinkowski

MI-08 (Map)

Marcinkowski is a serious threat to Mike Rogers® who currently holds this U.S. congressional seat in a traditionally red district. Jim Marcinkowski is a former FBI agent, Navy officer, and CIA agent with a well-organized compaign and a simple straightforward message: “we can do better, we have to do better and with your help in winning this election, together, we will do better” (see his web site below). He has already had some friendly MSM press exposure due to his friendship with Valerie Plame, the covert CIA noc who was outed by the White House as retribution for her diplomat husband’s statements regarding Iraq’s lack of a nuclear program in the lead up to the war.

Tony Trupiano

MI-11 (Map)

Tony Trupiano is a progressive talk radio host and a populist, running in a right-leaning district with a corrupt representative (see below). He believes that “if you work hard and play by the rules, you should have the opportunity to realize the American Dream.” I concur. Donate to Trupiano if you like his message (campaign site link below) or check out the other candidates in the 11th.

MI-11 General Election Fund

MI-11 (Map)

The incumbent Republican in this right-leaning district, Thaddeus McCotter, has taken $20,000 from the indicted Tom DeLay’s ARMPAC and subsequently voted to weaken the House ethics rules so as to protect DeLay. He also co-sponsored a bill to build a 2 Billion dollar fence along the Mexican border. Go figure. At least two Democrats have been fielded to oppose him: Tony Trupiano (above) and Raymond Raczkowski. This could be a very close race, especially if the DeLay and Cunningham connections blow up.

Mary Waters

MI-Sec State

Does the name Katherine Harris of Florida ring a bell? How about Ken Blackwell of Ohio? Both had dual roles as chief elections officer and head of the Bush election campaigns in their respective states. How about the name Diebold? This electronic voting machine company’s CEO told Bush he would “do whatever it takes” to get him re-elected in 2004. We often don’t think of the Michigan Secretary of State as being that important, but it is a very influential position. This is the only Michigan Executive branch seat that has not been excruciatingly close in previous years: in 1998 it went to the Republicans 31% to 68%, then 43% to 55% in 2002. Mary Waters is the sole Dem in the field, a term-limited Michigan House Rep where she is floor leader. You can find her web site here.

Scott Bowen

MI-Atty Gen

In 2002, this seat was won by the incumbent Republican Cox by 0.2%. This is a very winnable seat, and one of the four sacred executive branch offices in Michigan. Bowen seems like the strongest candidate, though Lipsey (below) is a very close second.

Alexander Lipsey

MI-Atty Gen

In 2002, this seat was won by the incumbent Republican Cox by 0.2%. This is a very winnable seat, and one of the four sacred executive branch offices in Michigan. Lipsey seems to be a strong candidate. Check out their web sites and decide for yourself. We’ll change these up after the primary.

MI-02 General Election Fund

MI-02 (Map)

Challenge Republicans in every district! This will fund whoever gets the Democratic nomination in this red congressional district. Donations here encourage candidates to join in the race. At least one Dem, Kimon Kotos, has already thrown his hat in the race.

MI-04 General Election Fund

MI-04 (Map)

Challenge Republicans in every district! This federal congressional district is fairly red, but 45% of residents voted for Kerry in 2004. Two Dem challengers, the DCCC-supported John Emerick and Mike Huckleberry, have already announced. Let’s encourage them and other progressives to give Dave Camp a fight.

MI-03 General Election Fund

MI-03 (Map)

Challenge Republicans in every district! This very red federal congressional district has at least one registered challenger, Jim Rinck. Let’s encourage Jim and others to make the Bush-loyal Vernon Ehlers work to keep his seat. Every dollar counts.

MI-10 General Election Fund

MI-10 (Map)

Challenge Republicans in every district! It is true that Candice S. Miller is a very recognizable name, and she is likely to win re-election in this very red district even though she has financial ties to the now imprisoned Randy “Duke” Cunningham. But with two challengers in the race already (Rob Casey and Don Ritchie) and a weakened Republican party, we can force her to work hard and spend her money and time in her own district instead of helping more vulnerable Republicans. And just maybe, that Duke Cunningham magic will catch up to her by November.

MI-06 General Election Fund

MI-06 (Map)

Challenge Republicans in every district! 46% of residents in this rather conservative district voted for Kerry in 2004, so Fred Upton®’s challengers have a decent shot. So far, Kim Clark and Scott Elliott are in the race. Let’s give them something to work for, and something for Upton to worry about.

MI-07 General Election Fund

MI-07 (Map)

Challenge Republicans in every district! So far four Dems, Fred Strack, Daryl Campbell, Sharon Renier (who lost in 2004 36% to 58%), and Chuck Ream, have entered the primary. Give an incentive to the winner to take on Joe Schwarz and make him work to keep his Bush-loving seat.

Progressive Legislative Action Network

PLAN is the start of the progressive movement’s structure outside of and in parallel to the Democratic party. “The mission of the Progressive Legislative Action Network (PLAN) is to pass progressive legislation in all fifty states by providing coordinated research and strategic advocacy tools to forward-thinking state legislators.” They also provide direct support to legislators, journalists, and bloggers toward these ends.

Democracy for America

DFA began as Dean for America in 2002. It’s a progressive grass-roots organization, focused on developing a strong progressive movement in parallel to the Democratic party. A worthy cause.

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee

The DLCC picks what they percieve to be winnable state legislature seats and fund and train candidates there. We need this type of organization. However, like many inside-the-beltway organizations, they are hesitant to take risks on unknown candidates or strategists that they do not already know. So, a small donation to this group helps, but is not a good substitute for donating to individual state-wide campaigns.

Progressive Majority

“Progressive Majority has a clear and bold purpose: To elect progressive champions who will help change the direction of this country. We will do this by building a nationwide member network that will provide much-needed early support to progressive candidates – helping them to win elections and bring our values back into the halls of government.
“Progressive Majority is your one-stop connection to innovative and idealistic candidates working to build a practical — and progressive — future. Progressive Majority will foster the emergence of a talented “farm team” of future progressive leaders and decision-makers. We know it’s not going to happen overnight. But it can happen with disciplined strategies, determination and yes, your dollars.”