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Democrats trying to unseat each other

Rep. Omar describes a bruising life in her new memoir - StarTribune.com
Omar's book fills in details of her life in Somalia before the country's government collapsed in 1991, forcing her family to flee. Her extended family, populated with teachers and civil servants, had been living what she describes as a comfortable middle-class existence at a compound in Mogadishu, "filled with African art, books of history, Somali poetry and music."

Unlike the experiences of many other Third World refugees, hers was not a life of destitute poverty.

...
Omar, now 37, pins her political awakening to her early 20s. But as described in a chapter titled "Early Midlife Crisis," it was also a turbulent time when she split from Hirsi for the first time, married another man, enrolled in North Dakota State University, impulsively shaved her head, and suffered debilitating headaches.
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About her second husband,
Omar writes no more about how she met Elmi or why they decided to marry. But by 2016, when she was running for state Legislature, she writes that the brief marriage was spun by a Somali blog into an allegation "that I had married a relative [reportedly her brother] illegally, to get him entry into the United States" — which isn't true, she writes.

"That Somalis were some of my harshest critics might seem absurd. But they refused to accept me because I refused to kiss the ring," Omar writes. She credits her father, now retired after a decade as a postal worker, for refusing pressure from Somali elders to push her out of her first political race.
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She has what might seem like a strange taste in heroes. She describes British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as "my greatest hero."
Despite vast political differences, Omar writes that she loves Thatcher's "Iron Lady" style, revealing that her father once gave her the same nickname: "Without any kind of special invitation or connections, time and time again she showed up in rooms filled with men and didn't have to do much to lead them to decide that she should be in charge."
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Rep. Rashida Tlaib selling ‘Impeach the mf’ shirts for reelection campaign - Roll Call - 2019 Sep 27

Brenda Jones: Rashida Tlaib’s Michigan Congress 2020 Race’s New Candidate | NewsOne - 2020 Mar 22
A longtime city council member in Detroit and one-time, short-lived Congresswoman has reportedly become the latest person to declare his or her candidacy against a member of the group of freshmen U.S. Representatives of color popularly known as “The Squad.” Brenda Jones, a Black woman Democrat and president of the Detroit City Council, has reportedly filed paperwork that means she intends to run for the seat in Congress that she lost to current Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib in 2018.

Jones, who has been on the Detroit city council since 2005, had not made any formal announcement as of late Sunday afternoon. Her candidacy would set up a rematch against Tlaib, whom she beat in a special election to replace Rep. John Conyers in 2018 two months before barely losing to the current congresswomen in the mid-term elections that same year.
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Checking on Ballotpedia, the elections went:
  • Special-election primary: BJ 37.7%, RT 35.9%, others 15.2%, 11.2%
  • Main-election primary: RT 31.2%, BJ 30.2%, others 14.1%, 12.5%, 6.6%, 5.4%
No Republicans ran in either election, giving BJ and RT big victories.
From the last one,
In a survey of voting intentions, Jones received 34 percent and Tlaib 43 percent, with 23 percent undecided.

The poll shows Tlaib’s lead dropping to 38 percent from 54 percent the previous year in Detroit, and from 57 percent to 48 percent in suburban areas.

Sarpolus cautioned that although polling shows Tlaib is vulnerable, Jones entered the race late and has struggled to build momentum in the past 16 months.

“Even though Tlaib’s base has been cut, Jones doesn’t have the money and hasn’t made any effort to organize a campaign since losing in 2018,” Sarpolus said.
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Seems like a close race. I haven't seen any polling on how well IO might do, or for that matter, AOC.
 
Keith Ellison: Why Rep. Ilhan Omar has my support - StarTribune.com
Leaders who challenge conventional thinking aren’t always recognized in their time (“I endorse Ilhan Omar’s challenger on merit,” April 20). But history usually honors their value. I see U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar as a leader who is disrupting conventional wisdom and challenging 50 years of thinking that has brought us stunning inequality, weakened public institutions and an utter lack of preparedness for a global pandemic.

Washington doesn’t usually embrace bold thinkers. Entrenched special interests like things the way they are: moneyed interests, a priority; working people of all colors, an afterthought. But in the Fifth Congressional District, we do embrace bold thinkers — and we should re-elect Rep. Omar.

Many Minnesotans are drowning in student loan debt: Rep. Omar says “Cancel it.” Minnesotans suffer from a housing affordability crisis: She says, “Homes for all,” a Marshall Plan-scale investment in low-income housing to get a roof over everyone’s head. Minnesota families wonder how they’re going to pay for the health care they need in this pandemic: She says, “Medicaid for all.” Minnesotans have seen stagnant paychecks for decades: She says, “$15 minimum wage and a union.”

Critics wag fingers: “And how are you going pay for that?” She says, “The same way we paid for Iraq, Afghanistan and the latest trillion-dollar tax cut.”
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Keith Ellison was IO's predecessor in MN-05
 
 
 
Lauren Ashcraft for NY-12🌹 on Twitter: "Opponents: did you know lauren used to work at a BANK? And she now claims to be a Democratic Socialist?! And claims to want to...break up big banks? And regulate them?
Everyone who has ever worked a 5-figure salary job at a bank: Sounds about right. Where do I donate?" / Twitter
then
Zina Spezakis for Congress NJ9 ✊🏼🇺🇸🌈🌹🌎 on Twitter: "I hear you sister, and my response is that I've seen the belly of the beast from the inside, understand its weaknesses and know how to break it up and regulate it effectively." / Twitter
then
Lauren Ashcraft for NY-12🌹 on Twitter: "@ZSpezakis Yasss Zina!! ❤️❤️✊🏻solidarity, sis" / Twitter
then
Zina Spezakis for Congress NJ9 ✊🏼🇺🇸🌈🌹🌎 on Twitter: "@VoteAshcraft When they attack us personally, it's because we're winning." / Twitter

Zina Spezakis worked in some renewable-energy startups for a while. So both LA and ZS know what it's like in the business world. The most prominent member of this movement, AOC, also has had a little bit of experience, in her education-startup years and bartender years. She reportedly helped open a restaurant.

Zina Spezakis for Congress NJ9 ✊🏼🇺🇸🌈🌹🌎 on Twitter: "@VoteAshcraft You've seen the belly of the beast and know where its weaknesses are." / Twitter
 
Jamaal Bowman on Twitter: "Growing up my mother told me, life wouldn’t be easy for people like us.
We're doing everything we can to protect our communities in this crisis.
We deserve a representative who will do the same.
Join our campaign for change in #NY16: (donation, video links)" / Twitter
The video is a nice one, one that asks where 16-term incumbent Eliot Engel has been -- he's in DC full time, heading the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Then
the supreme court will destroy everything we want on Twitter: "A key thing many people forget about the AOC primary was how much of a voting issue Joe Crowley's absence in the district became. Powerful ad from @JamaalBowmanNY." / Twitter

16-Term Rep. Eliot Engel Faces Tough Reelection Fight
Mentions several other candidates campaigning on EE's absenteeism: Chris Fink, Sammy Ravelo, Andom Ghebreghiorgis

Azi™ on Twitter: ""Engel didn’t grant NY1’s request for an interview. His team also didn’t answer questions about when he last was in his district." — @emilyngo: https://t.co/aZZHXYCfxy" / Twitter

Alexis Grenell on Twitter: "Thinking about how well this strategy worked out for Joe Crowley https://t.co/BCEHPhSJrh" / Twitter

Jamaal Bowman on Twitter: "¯\_(ツ)_/¯" / Twitter

Aleksei says ACAB on Twitter: "@JamaalBowmanNY @justicedems Thinking bout that time AOC showed up to the debate and Crowley sent someone else to debate for him, like he could use someone who looked like the district ss a human shield. Like we were that stupid." / Twitter

NYC Councilmember Annabel Palma. AOC described her as "a woman with slight resemblance to me".
 
The June 2 primaries are surprisingly stacked. Here are 6 races to watch

Senate: IA

Incumbent Joni Ernst has no Republican challengers but several Democratic ones.
In Tuesday's primary, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has chosen to back newcomer Theresa Greenfield. Greenfield has been endorsed by EMILY's List, but the other Democrats in the race have strong credentials too: Navy veteran Michael Franken has the coveted endorsement of the local newspaper, The Des Moines Register, as well as the support of a number of sitting representatives. Kimberly Graham, meanwhile, has the endorsement of left-leaning grassroots organizations, such as the Iowa chapters of Our Revolution and Sunrise Movement. Businessman Eddie Mauro has been endorsed by a number of local and state leaders.
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House: IA-04

Incumbent Steve King has several Republican challengers, though only one Democratic one.
Republican politicos believe that if King remains in office, he'll threaten Ernst's seat in the Senate when he appears on the ballot next to her. And given Republicans want to hold onto their slim Senate majority this fall, it's a risk they're not keen to take. That's why they've backed Iowa state Sen. Randy Feenstra to challenge King in the June 2 Republican primary. Feenstra has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, including from sitting Republican lawmakers. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Right to Life foundation have also backed Feenstra.
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House: MD-05

Incumbent Steny Hoyer has been in Congress since 1981 - 20 terms. He is currently the House Majority Leader. His main challenger is 29-year-old McKayla Wilkes.

House: NM-02

Incumbent Xochitl Torres Small will be in a tight race with whichever Republican wins the nomination.

Governor: MT

Wide open in both parties.

Democratic Presidential primaries. They continue.
 
lpetrich said:
House: MD-05

Incumbent Steny Hoyer has been in Congress since 1981 - 20 terms. He is currently the House Majority Leader. His main challenger is 29-year-old McKayla Wilkes.
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An anti-Israel radical running against a pro-Israel Jew. Should be interesting.


House: NM-02

Incumbent Xochitl Torres Small will be in a tight race with whichever Republican wins the nomination.
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How do you even pronounce that?

Democratic Presidential primaries. They continue.
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Sanders campaign:
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Derec, I researched how to pronounce Xochitl Torres Small's name and you can do that also. I thought that you were very self-reliant.

BronxNet recently had a debate between the 12 Democratic candidates for NY-15: Frangell Basora, Michael A. Blake, Ruben Diaz Sr., Mark Escoffery-Bey, Samelys Lopez, Chivona R. Newsome, Julio Pabon, Tomas Ramos, Ydanis Rodriguez, Marlene J. Tapper, Ritchie Torres and Melissa Mark Viverito.

That was after the TV studio's hosted debate between the Democratic candidates for NY-14: AOC, MCC, Badrun Khan, and Sam Sloan. It also hosted a debate between a supporter of AOC and one of MCC.
 
Jamaal Bowman Gets Backing From Engel Challenger
Andom Ghebreghiorgis is dropping out of the race to unseat New York Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel and endorsing his former opponent Jamaal Bowman, signaling that progressives in the race are coalescing around the Justice Democrats-backed former Bronx middle school principal.

“With the election almost upon us, the reason why I entered the race hasn’t changed,” Ghebreghiorgis said in a statement Monday. “I’m proud to stand with the Working Families Party in making the final push to send Jamaal to Congress.”
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That statement: Campaign Suspended — Andom Ghebreghiorgis for Congress Back to The Intercept.
... Engel has faced scrutiny over being absent from the district during the pandemic — and lying about it to The Atlantic.

Engel, who has been in office since 1989, is facing his first serious primary challenge since 2000. His progressive opponents have highlighted his record on foreign policy, from initial opposition to the Iran deal to support for the Iraq War and Israeli settlements. They have also focused on his campaign contributions from the defense industry, from which he has received more than $200,000 over the course of his career.
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So he has been supporting a foreign policy that makes business for his big campaign contributors.

He got some pressure to quit his campaign so as not to divide the anti-Engel vote.
His withdrawal from the race and endorsement of Bowman was facilitated by the New York Working Families Party, according to sources close to the decision. The WFP hailed the decision in a statement on Monday. “We’re proud to stand together with Jamaal and Andom, who are fighting for the change we need in the Bronx and Westchester: Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, and equitable funding for education,” said WFP state director Sochie Nnaemeka. “With just three weeks until election day, it’s more important than ever that our movement come together to deliver the change working people deserve.”
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Rep. Eliot Engel Challenged Over Defense Industry Backing
Introducing himself during a primary debate for a New York congressional district that covers parts of the Bronx and Westchester, left-wing insurgent Jamaal Bowman cut right to the issue that’s at the center of his challenge to Rep. Eliot Engel: reliance on campaign contributions from corporate interests and the defense industry. “He’s taken more money from weapons manufacturers than 144 Republicans in the House,” said Bowman during the debate that took place on Zoom and was aired by News 12 New York on Tuesday. “He’s completely funded by corporate PACs and big donors.”
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Then the issue of his absenteeism, an issue that AOC used against Joe Crowley.
“The congressman hasn’t set foot in the district since the pandemic hit,” said Waleed Shahid of Justice Democrats. “A big complaint about Crowley in 2018 was that he also didn’t live in the district. That’s something that voters care a lot about.”

The incumbent, seemingly realizing that his absence during the pandemic could be a liability ahead of the June 23 election, lied about it to The Atlantic, claiming falsely that he had been splitting his time between New York and his home in suburban Maryland.

“He takes every campaign seriously,” said Tom Watson, Engel’s campaign spokesperson. “He’s never lost one.”
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Sure, sure (sarcasm). After AOC's victory over JC, one would think that he might have at least tried to be present in his district every now and then, but he hasn't been. In "Knock Down The House", we find that Joe Crowley gave a donation to a Democrat running in a Nevada race two weeks before his primary election. He also sent a surrogate to debate AOC, a woman "with slight resemblance to me", according to AOC.

His foreign-policy positions are hard-like hawkishness, something that his campaign contributors likely appreciate for all the business that it will bring them. Like defending Israel's settlements in the Palestinian territories.
Throughout his career, Engel has also taken positions more in line with Republicans than Democrats. In a 1999 interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, Engel bragged that he was “one of those Democrats that crossed party lines and supported George Bush in the House vote in Operation Desert Storm.”
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Engel primary challenger drops out, endorses fellow challenger | TheHill
notes
Andom Ghebreghiorgis on Twitter: "I decided to run for Congress because I knew that our needs weren't being met. Today, we've decided that the best way to ensure these needs are met is no longer through our own campaign. That's why I'm suspending my campaign and endorsing @JamaalBowmanNY. https://t.co/IasOLnRYgy" / Twitter
 
More on NY-16
Eliot Engel’s Hot Mic Moment: ‘If I Didn’t Have a Primary, I Wouldn’t Care’ - The New York Times - "Mr. Engel, a Democratic congressman from New York, is facing a primary challenge and has been criticized for staying in Washington during the pandemic. He made the remark at an event after returning to the Bronx."
“In the context of running for re-election, I thought it was important for people to know where I stand, that’s why I asked to speak,” Mr. Engel said. “Of course I care deeply about what’s happening in this country, that’s what I wanted to convey. I love the Bronx, grew up in the Bronx and lived here all my life. I would not have tried to impose on the borough president if I didn’t think it was important.”
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New York's Engel heard on hot mic: 'If I didn't have a primary, I wouldn’t care' - "His remarks come just weeks before New York’s primary elections on June 23."
Bowman said Tuesday that he wasn’t surprised by the flub.

“It’s disgusting, it’s abhorrent, it’s unfortunate, and it’s disappointing, but it’s not surprising,” Bowman told POLITICO.

“It just exemplifies and shows everything we already knew,” he said of the hot mic comment. “To say if I didn’t have a primary I wouldn’t care, it captures everything not just wrong with him but the political system.”
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Sammy Ravelo: Candidate For NY Congressional District 16 | New Rochelle, NY Patch - yet another one.


I'm now watching the primary results come in.
 
In MD-07, Kweisi Mfume won the D primary. He was in Congress some decades back, and he then headed the NAACP. One of his challengers was Mara Rockeymoore Cummings, widow of the late Elijah Cummings, formerly in MD-07.

McKayla Wilkes lost against incumbent Steny Hoyer in MD-05 D primary

Kimberly Graham lost against Theresa Greenfield in IA-SEN D primary

Kimberly Graham For US Senate (IA) on Twitter: "Hi friends! Kimberly here. With 1,226 of 1,379 precincts reporting, it's clear we did not win tonight. As I've said before, this is not about one race. This is a movement for many kinds of justice. We have only begun. Thank you for your support, from my heart. KEEP GOING! kg" / Twitter

Kimberly Graham For US Senate (IA) on Twitter: "I'm feeling good about what we did here, on a fraction of the funding of the other 3 candidates. No t.v. ads. (They all had t.v. ads.) That's pretty good -- and we kept people talking about what will actually lift up the most people. So we KEEP GOING! 💚 kg" / Twitter

Teresa Leger Fernandez won against former CIA lawyer Valerie Plame in NM-03 D primary

TLF emphasized her rootedness in the district, and she was supported by AOC's Courage to Change PAC.

Teresa Leger Fernandez on Twitter: "Thank you NM3!
This is a win for our communities & families across our district. Our campaign has been about bringing people together & lifting up the diversity that makes us New Mexicans.
It’s time to take bold and courageous action to protect what we love. Ahora es Cuando!" / Twitter

Her district is a safe Democratic one, so she's likely to be elected in the main election.
 
 
Rep. Eliot Engel is the head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, so I'm worried about what will become of AOC's Congressional career after this. So far, she has avoided primarying the House leadership, because doing so would primary her bosses.

She hasn't endorsed Shahid Buttar or McKayla Wilkes, because doing so would piss off two of her bosses: Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. She also hasn't endorsed any of the challengers of Carolyn Maloney of NY-12, because CM is the head of the Oversight Committee, another boss. Yet another AOC boss is Maxine Waters of CA-43, head of the Financial Services Committee, but she wasn't challenged by any Democrat.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "This moment requires renewed and revitalized leadership across the country AND at the ballot box.
On June 23rd, New York will be holding primary elections.
Tomorrow I will be rolling out a slate of New York endorsements.
Tonight, I am endorsing @JamaalBowmanNY for Congress. https://t.co/vsCAeIi2kk" / Twitter
then
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Jamaal has dedicated the last decade of his life serving his community as a school principal and community servant.
I could tell you all about him, but he tells his story better than anyone else. https://t.co/36HhnlMWAl" / Twitter
noting
Jamaal Bowman on Twitter: "Growing up my mother told me, life wouldn’t be easy for people like us.
We're doing everything we can to protect our communities in this crisis.
We deserve a representative who will do the same.
Join our campaign for change in #NY16: [url]https://t.co/ZPBT4mR3rf https://t.co/ACPFCkL6q5" / Twitter[/url]
(with an inlined video about JB)

Then
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Not only is Jamaal a profound community leader, but I believe he’d make a fantastic colleague in the United States House of Representatives.
Support his campaign for Congress here: https://t.co/110v6GXeVK" / Twitter

Then
Jamaal Bowman on Twitter: "Wow. I am so grateful for this endorsement.
@AOC’s commitment to working people of all backgrounds, her engaged presence, and her commitment to a more responsive Democratic Party have inspired me immensely. We’re building an amazing coalition to deliver change in
#NY16." / Twitter
 
Who will AOC be endorsing?

Here's one possibility:

Grace Meng backs AOC for re-election, adding nuance to Queens political punditry — Queens Daily Eagle
mentions
WBAI Radio Archives - City Watch - Sun, May 24, 2020 18:00 PM
Has Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06) - her district is the only all-Queens district of NY Congressional districts.

Some people in her district live in very cramped conditions, thus easily spreading the virus.

GM gets along well with AOC. She rebuts a NYPost article that states that other NYC Congresspeople avoid AOC when planning coronavirus relief:
Grace Meng on Twitter: "Respectfully, this is inaccurate from my experience. I’ve personally been on multiple calls/texts w/ @AOC - from calls w/our local hospitals to calls w/ NY delegation & @NYGovCuomo to organizing food and PPE deliveries. And if & when we’re not invited, we get it done anyways. 💪" / Twitter
with response
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "@Grace4NY Thanks, Grace - always a honor working with you in the fight for our Queens families 💪🏽💪🏽" / Twitter

Then the issue of Queens-delegation Congresspeople having town halls without AOC. GM doesn't know what's going on with that. AOC has been involved in a lot of virtual meetings about the virus, at least in GM's experience.
 
About Grace Meng's primary challengers, Melquiades "Mel" Gagarin is running on the left, while Sandra Choi is ideologically similar to her, but considers her too close to the Queens political machine.

Some months ago, AOC went on a trip to Puerto Rico with Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-12) and Rep. Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), along with Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD-07, House Majority Leader), on account of an earthquake there. So AOC may also endorse CM and/or NV. There are also a lot of state and local politicians whom she might also endorse.

AOC may also endorse some state and local politicians -- she did mention that it is a New York slate.

What Eliot Engel risks happening to him, from 2 years ago: Joe Crowley loses Democratic primary to socialist newcomer - AOC


An aspect of some of the races that concerns me is vote splitting. With several similar candidates in some races, they could split the progressive vote and allow less progressive ones to win. Like NY-15. In some cases, this was resolved by some of the candidates dropping out, like Andom Ghebreghiorgis, who dropped out to support Jamaal Bowman. But in NY-12, only one candidate dropped out, with Carolyn Maloney continuing to have three other challengers.

Having primary runoffs would be good, and instant-runoff-voting primaries even better.
 
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