Together, we can stop a rightwing takeover of the Senate, take back key governors' seats from the radical rightwing, and build a pipeline of progressive rockstars up and down the ballot. And we can prove that bold leadership in fighting income inequality isn’t just good for the country and our economy -- it’s a smart, savvy, winning political strategy.
Governors' Races
Governor Pat Quinn, Illinois
In Barack Obama’s home state, Governor Pat Quinn is fighting to raise the minimum wage, deliver high quality education, and build an economy that works for everyone in Illinois, not just the wealthiest few. His opponent, right-wing venture capitalist Bruce Rauner, has proposed cutting the minimum wage, and more massive tax break giveaways to big corporations and billionaires, while shifting that tax burden to working families. They’re neck and neck in the polls right now and turnout will make all the difference.
Mark Schauer, Michigan
Mark Schauer is a real progressive running against Rick Snyder, one of the most anti-woman, anti-worker governors in the country. With a proven track record of fighting for Michigan jobs in Congress, Mark’s ready to go to Lansing and reinvest in education, reverse Gov. Snyder’s $1 billion cut to schools and universities, end the undemocratic emergency manager system that’s harmed so many working families, and repeal Governor Snyder's new tax on retirees' pensions, which is costing seniors thousands more each year.
Wendy Davis and Leticia Van de Putte, Texas
Wendy Davis is a rising star building a people-powered operation to turn Texas blue. As state senator, she was the leading voice against a $5.4 billion in budget cuts to public schools in 2011, and gained national acclaim for her tireless work defending women’s health care access and reproductive rights from rightwing attacks. She and her Lieutenant Governor running mate Leticia Van de Putte are running to reinvest in education, infrastructure, and good local jobs for Texas working families.
Mary Burke, Wisconsin
Mary Burke, executive of Trek Bicycles, created thousands of jobs in Wisconsin before jumping in the race to defeat Scott Walker, perhaps the worst, governor in the country. DFA members stood with Wisconsin during the 2011 battle for workers’ rights, and during the 2012 recall fights -- and now we have a great opportunity to finish what we started. Mary Burke’s people-powered campaign is giving Scott Walker and his union-busting, anti-woman legislators a run for their money.
In Wisconsin, we’re also calling for Kelly Westlund, a former nonprofit executive, small business owner and elected official who’s running a powerful progressive congressional campaign in Wisconsin’s Seventh District against Tea Partier Sean Duffy -- the former reality TV star who famously said his family was “struggling to get by” on over $174,000 a year.
U.S. Senate
IOWA: Bruce Braley vs. Joni Ernst
Bruce is the leader of the House Populist Caucus. In one of the most important Senate races in the country for progressives, Bruce will be a tireless voice for working families – whether that’s expanding Social Security benefits for our seniors, supporting Elizabeth Warren’s plan to make college more affordable for our kids, or making sure corporations do their fair share. He’s running against a rightwing Tea Party Republican named Joni Ernst who has called President Obama a "dictator," threatened to shoot government employees, wants to abolish the minimum wage, and is in favor of privatizing Social Security.
We’ll also be calling for great leaders running for Congress in Iowa, like Pat Murphy, a prairie populist who’s ready to fight money in politics and overturn Citizens United; Staci Appel, who led the way for Iowa’s State Senate to become the first state to require equal pay for equal work, and Jim Mowrer, a bold progressive running against Rep. Steve King, whose hateful rhetoric against immigrants and constant attempts to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act put him in lockstep with the Tea Party.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Rick Weiland vs. Gov. Mike Rounds
Rick Weiland has crisscrossed the state, talking with voters about getting money out of politics, and about building an economy that works for all families, not just the wealthiest few. He’s ready to fight to expand Social Security benefits, raise the minimum wage and stand up to corporate special interests. DFA members got involved in this race early, and now, in a race that many Washington insiders had written off long ago, Rick Weiland is making rapid gains in the polls against scandal-plagued Republican Governor Mike Rounds.
ALASKA: Senator Mark Begich vs. Dan Sullivan
As a small business owner, former mayor of Anchorage, and now sitting Senator, Mark Begich has been a fierce advocate for Alaskan families. He’s got a proven track record of working to protect veterans rights, expanding affordable access to health care, and reinvesting in infrastructure and good, local Alaskan jobs. He’s running on a bold platform of expanding Social Security benefits so that all Americans can live with dignity and security in their later years.
