As we all know, we’re coming down to the wire on the 2018 midterm elections. Like most of you, I’ve made some contributions to candidates I’d particularly like to see win and to some who look like they’re in need of help.
Earlier today, however, it occurred to me that I might not have directed my contributions in the most effective manner. With control of Congress and, indeed, the future of American democracy at stake, I wondered whether there were perhaps some tight races in which the Democratic candidate hadn’t been receiving the kind of love s/he deserves, particularly in terms of financial help. Although I’m not on DailyKos as much as some of you, I couldn’t recall seeing any diaries devoted to identifying tough races that are close, but still winnable, and in which some late-breaking contributions might make a real difference.
This led me to the idea of asking my fellow Kogs to nominate people I’ll call “candidates on the cusp.” There are a few basic criteria for entry into this category. First, the individuals must be Democratic (natch) candidates for the House or Senate. Second, they must be in closely contested races but have a legitimate shot at winning. Third, they must be flying a bit under the radar, at least insofar as people outside of their districts or states are concerned.
I posed this question to some of my fellow Partners & Mentors team members, and the always helpful peregrine kate brought up the name of Gretchen Driskell, who’s in a rematch with anti-labor Republican Tim Walberg in Michigan’s 7th congressional district. (If you want to know why it would be especially good to dump Walberg, see here.)
Driskell’s race is a perfect example of what I’m talking about. RCP scores the race as "Leans GOP." The smart folks over at 538.com give Driskell a 3 in 7 chance of winning. Clearly, Driskell is the underdog, but she’s definitely got a fighting chance. After peregrine kate brought her to my attention, I headed over to her candidate page, clicked on “Contribute,” and donated through ActBlue.
So now it’s your chance. Here’s how it works. Have you had your eye on a close House or Senate race that’s perhaps been overshadowed in all the horse race coverage? Is the Democratic candidate within range of victory or just on the cusp of it? Is it possible that some additional, late-in-the-game contributions could make the difference between victory and defeat? (Bonus points if the candidate would unseat a particularly odious Repug.)
If you know of such a race, then tell us about it in the comments. Make the pitch for your preferred candidate. Explain why your fellow Kogs should chip in a few of their hard-earned dollars to support the woman (or man) you’re cheering for. With any luck, we’ll be able to generate a little more cash for our “candidates on the cusp.”
Thanks for reading. The floor is now yours.