Even if you plan to sit out the Congressional elections, PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR LOCAL RACES

[Lydia Leftcoast]

I fully understand why some DUers might want to stay home in 2010, but frankly, that would be stupid.

Your nominally Democratic Congresscritter may be an out-of-touch "elephant in a donkey jacket," and perhaps you won't notice any difference if s/he is replaced by a Republicanite.

However, there are several layers of public officials on the state and local level who are NOT out-of-touch and whose actions can make a great deal of difference to your everyday life. You can even go talk to them personally.

For example, my state representative and state senator are both staunchly on the right side of two of my favorite issues, health care (single-payer) and mass transit (they're for it). I want to support them, as I do the gubernatorial candidate, assuming that the DFL nominates one of the Dems who would either fight for or sign a state single-payer bill if elected, and not the sleazoid who seems to think that he's entitled to the job.

It's the local pols who decide what the state or county or municipality spends money on, and those decisions affect your everyday life even more than your Congresscritters do.

So make up your own mind about your Congresscritter. If s/he is a slime or a Republican in disguise and the thought of voting for him/her makes you nauseated, then do what your conscience tells you--leave the space blank, write in someone else, or even vote third party.

But please, please, please do not stay home in November. If you stay home, the pols will pretend that you don't exist, and they will view even 6% versus 4% of eligible voters as a "landslide." Fine candidates who DO reflect your ideals may go down in flames because you and like-minded people boycotted the election.

If only Americans realized how important their local races are...

[zipplewrath]

1. Staying involved

What you are advocating, and I agree, is staying involved in as much of the process as you can. Don't blindly give money to some political organization, but be sure to target your funds to specific candidates, or bundlers that are strongly aligned with your beliefs. And, as you suggest, that includes local and state elections. Trends here ultimately influnece future elections. This is where many "up and comers" actually get started. Also, consider looking around nationally, especially in the primary season and target your help and money at that time. The Spector race is a good example. People from outside the state can donate money and influence that race. Looking around for specific contests in which there is an actual opportunity to influence races between those supporting your positions and those not, can have the largest influence.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. Excellent point

Kucinich and Sanders both got started in local races.

[nykym]

2. In our little progressive

circle of friends it's "If you don't vote you loose your right to complain".

[raccoon]

4. Excuse me if this sounds clueless, but how do you find out about local races?

Usually I go to the polls and have no clue about the local people, I've just seen signs about them here and there.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. Well, in Minneapolis, the local paper puts out a supplement before election day,

and in Oregon, all voters receive a Voters' Guide in the mail.

If your state doesn't do this, then ask your local Dem headquarters for a list of people running for various offices.

[Ozymanithrax]

7. Check with your district Democratic Party Headquarters...

They will have a rundown of all local races.

The local news runs regular features on local races.

Write down names you see on signs, and google them. Many of those local people will have information out on the internet, and some have a web presence.

If you are registered, you may get a mailer from the election board in your county/state/district giving you a run down on all candidates.

[MrsBrady]

13. do an internet search for your state and county (local area) party headquarters

if you have trouble with that...PM me, and I'll try to help you find yours.

[MrsBrady]

6. local races are the keys to taking back Texas - please support your local party

amen

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. Very true

The Dems are starting to take back the suburbs in the Twin Cities as the Republicans go farther into Cloud Cuckoo Land.

[MrsBrady]

10. edit: delete...dupe

[MrsBrady]

11. tarrant county here, aka fort worth area....

is about to go blue...

we are working to push it over the edge...

dallas has already turned

if we get a blue tarrant county, we can get a dem gov and dem state house (i think we only lack one to have a democratic texas house)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. LIttle things count

I've told this story on DU before, but back around 1998, there was a state legislative district in suburban Portland where the Dems didn't even bother to field a candidate, so it automatically went red every time.

Then, a Socialist (a real one) entered the race and won 12%. I knew people who lived in that district, and they voted Socialist because they were tired of having no choices and being written off by the Dems.

The Oregon Dems looked at the results and thought, "We thought this district was solid red, but a Socialist has won 12%. It must not be as red as we thought."

In 2000, they ran a candidate. He came within a couple of percentage points of winning.

In 2002, they ran the same candidate. This time he DID win.

[HuckleB]

9. K & R.

[Buzz Clik]

14. k&r

[Lydia Leftcoast]

15. Thanks for the kicks--this is an important thing to remember

if we want what is best for the country. The local races are of vital importance.