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A first rate organizer
……Dana Balter https://electdanabalter.com/ needs some help. She doesn’t have much money. She will figure that out. She has figured everything else out. Unless some new Democrat shows up with a lot of money, she has the nomination for NY 24 wrapped up. The County Democratic Committees in each county in the district have endorsed her. Her principal opponent left the race.
……Beating the Republican incumbent is another story. Inside Elections considers this seat Likely Republican — a legitimate target if there is a Democratic wave. Daily Kos describes New York 24 as the 33rd most likely Republican held congressional seat to flip. That is a pretty high ranking. If Balter can raise the money, she will create her own Upstate New York Democratic wave and win.
……Incumbent John Katko has spoken publicly about the possibility that Republicans would lose the House. He is doing what he can to avoid being part of that loss. He has worked with Democrats — proposing, for instance, with Krysten Sinema, now running for the US Senate from Arizona, tax free parental savings accounts. He voted against his party to retain the Affordable Care Act. He has called for a federal commission to look at gun issues. He says he would support allowing law enforcement officers to ask judges for gun violence restraining orders against people considered an imminent risk to themselves or others. He says he would consider supporting other gun related issues the NRA does not support. He is safe enough discussing these issues because a Republican controlled Congress will not bring any of them to a vote. Republicans have been shaken by the reaction to the Parkland shootings, but they have not been stirred to action.
……Katko cannot adjust everything to avoid losing his seat. In 2015, for instance, he voted to ban funding for Planned Parenthood, succumbing to the illegal and doctored video and false claims that Planned Parenthood was selling fetal tissue. ……
Dana Balter does not need to adjust. She has been an energetic advocate. She supports and has been supporting for years:
- Guaranteed essential health services, coverage for pre-existing conditions and reduced drug costs;
- Revitalizing industry through green energy manufacturing
- Closing tax loopholes so that the wealthy pay their fair share
- Prison-reform focused on rehabilitation
- Mental health care and job training
- Investment in public schools and education excellence for all children.
Dana Balter‘s work has been with the cognitively impaired. She is a doctoral student at Syracuse’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs where she also serves as a visiting professor. The 2016 election of Donald Trump precipitated her candidacy.
……The 2016 election moved Dana Balter from policy study to political action. She has been a central figure of the Central New York Solidarity Coalition — a group with dozens of progressive organizations she has been able to coordinate in her support. This is a cliche, but cliches are cliches because they resonate. Coordinating a bunch of anti-establishment organizations requires the same skills as herding cats successfully.
……More than most candidates; certainly more than candidates who enter into the process with substantial resources of their own, Dana Balter https://electdanabalter.com/needs financial support. Katko started 2018 with more than $1 million on hand. Balter had between $50,000 and $75,000. Money does not guarantee a victory, but a candidate needs resources to compete for votes.
……Illinois had its primaries on Tuesday. All but the first mentioned Congressional races are opportunities to flip Republican seats. Flipping three of the Republican seats would be the kind of victory needed to gain control of the House. More would be better.
……IL-03 is a solidly Democrat seat (good thing, since the Republican nominee is a Nazi — he says that his Nazi past is in the past). The incumbent, Dan Lipinski, a socially conservative Democrat, defeated liberal Marie Newman 51-49. I wrote a note supporting Marie Newman. Now we should elect Lipinski.
….IL-12 Brendan Kelly, about whom I also wrote a note, won his primary easily. A prosecutor, he is a strong candidate against the incumbent Mike Bost in a district that Independent Elections (IE) describes as Leans Republican.……IL-13 Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, who had raised funds for Senator Durbin, beat her nearest opponent by 25 points as she prepared to take on Incumbent Rodney Davis in a district that IE describes as Likely Republican.……IL-14 Lauren Underwood, formerly an official at the Department of Health and Human Services, received well over a majority of the primary votes as she prepared to run against Incumbent Randy Hultgren in a district IE describes as Solid Republican.……IL-15 In an even more solidly Republican district, teacher Kevin Gaither won the primary to run against Incumbent John Shimkus.……IL-18 In a similarly solidly Republican district, Junius Rodriguez won the opportunity to run against incumbent Daren LaHood.……IL-06 In the most vulnerable Republican district, described by IE as Tilt Republican, we don’t know for sure who the Democratic nominee will be against Incumbent Peter Roskam. Planning Commissioner Kelly Mazeski has a half point lead over Executive Sean Casten with several precincts not yet reported.)…………………………………………
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