2018, what is to be done?
Well itās 2018, if youāre an American youāve lived a year with Trump as President. Sick of it? me too. Good news though! itās 2018! which meansā¦. ELECTIONS! Ā Democrats ended 2017 winning two governorās races, a Senate seat in Alabama(!) and many state level special elections. In 2018 all 435 US House seats are up, as are 36 governorships, State governments etc.
But lets focus for a moment on the 34 US Senate Seats up this year!
there are 33 regular elections and one special election. As you can see there are 24 Democrats and 2 Independents who sit with the Democrats up for re-election, and just 8 Republican seats up.Ā
Most seats are safe and unlikely to flip so lets get them out of the way.Ā California,Ā Connecticut,Ā Delaware,Ā Hawaii, Maine,Ā Maryland,Ā Massachusetts,Ā Michigan,Ā Minnesota,Ā Minnesota (special),Ā New Jersey,Ā New Mexico,Ā New York,Ā Pennsylvania,Ā Rhode Island,Ā Vermont,Ā Virginia,Ā Washington, andĀ Wisconsin seem very likely to stay Blue, whileĀ Mississippi,Ā Nebraska,Ā Utah andĀ Wyoming seem likely to stay Republican. SO NOW to the states in play!Ā
Facing a tough primary Republican Senator Jeff Flake declared onĀ October 24, 2017 he wouldnāt run for re-election. This leaves far rightĀ Kelli Ward as basically the only person running for the Republican nomination. Ward is a wing nut whoās all in on Trumpās wall and deporting everyone who tans. Ward is also famous for believing in the chemtrail conspiracy theory. One the Democratic side, CongresswomanĀ Kyrsten Sinema is running. Sinema is 41 years old, the first openly bisexual person elected to Congress, if elected to the Senate sheād be the first bi Senator and the second LGBT senator.Ā Sinema has been a big supporter of the DREAM actĀ
Her WebsiteĀ give her some money, orĀ volunteer if you live in Arizona
Florida is represented by Democratic SenatorĀ Bill Nelson. Nelson is the only former astronaut in Congress, and the only member whoās been in space. Nelson has been a strong supporter ofĀ NASA and other government science programs. In the aftermath of theĀ Orlando nightclub shooting Nelson was a leaning voice supporting a new gun control bill. Sadly Nelson is running in a state that Trump won, a state whoās other Senator is a Republican who won re-election overwhelmingly last year. While heās not yet officially running Republican Governor Rick Scott is the most likely Republican to run against Nelson and is polling strongly. Scott has blocked FloridaāsĀ Medicaid expansion 3 times leaving thousands without health care, ScottĀ doesnāt believe in climate change, his reaction to the Pulse Nightclub shooting wasĀ āthoughts and prayersā and he signed anĀ expanded version of Floridaās stand-your-ground law in 2017 this was the same law that got Trayvon Martin killed. So lets not elect him and re-election theĀ astronaut?
His WebsiteĀ give him some money, or volunteer if you live in Florida
Indiana is represented by Democratic SenatorĀ Joe Donnelly. Donnelly voted for Obamacare way back when he was in the House in 2010 and has supported it over and over again ever since. Donnelly was a key part of expanding CHIP in 2010 to cover 4 million more children. While a supporter of theĀ Second Amendment Donnelly took part inĀ Chris Murphy gun control filibusterĀ in 2017. Indiana however is a deep red state, Trump won there by 18 points, former US SenatorĀ Evan Bayh lost his run for senate in 2016 by 10 points, Indiana is the home of Mike Pence. Tons of Republicans are planning on running against Donnelly so far two of the Stateās Republican Congressmen are already running, with two more thinking about it, the Speaker of the State House and the StateāsĀ Attorney General are also thinking about it.Ā
His WebsiteĀ give him some money, or volunteer if you live inĀ Indiana
Missouri is represented by Democratic SenatorĀ Claire McCaskill. McCaskill has long been one of the leading protectors of the Planned Parenthood in the Senate. McCaskill has worked hard to reform how sexual assault/harassment is dealt with in the US Military. Sheās been one of the leading woman Senators speaking out in the #MeToo movement.Ā McCaskill also was one of theĀ co-sponsors for a bump stock ban bill.Ā Missouri is a deep red state, Trump won the state by 19 points, DemocratĀ Jason Kander lost his bid to become a senator in 2016. The most likely Republican to face her is MissouriāsĀ Attorney GeneralĀ Josh Hawley. Hawley is best known as one of the lawyer in theĀ Hobby Lobby caseĀ in fact arguing that businesses should be able to discriminate is basically the center of Hawleyās legal career. So letās re-elect the feminist grandma not the guy who says craft stores should be allowed to not hire the gays
Her WebsiteĀ give her some money, or volunteer if you live in Missouri
Montana is represented by Democratic Senator Jon Tester. Tester is a populist Senator well known for criticizing money in politics and the power of K Street lobbyists. Tester became a leading voice against the Republican Tax bill. Sadly Montana is a deep red state, Trump won it by 21 points,Ā Greg GianforteĀ won his special election to be Montanaās sole Congressman even though he bodyslamed a reporter. A number of Republicans are either running against Tester already, or are being talked about. Including TrumpāsĀ Secretary of the InteriorĀ Ryan Zinke. Itās not clear right now who will be the candidate against Tester but if you want someone who will fight to keep money out of politics and Wall Street in line, lets re-elect Tester.
His WebsiteĀ give him some money, or volunteer if you live in Montana
Nevada is represented by Republican Senator Dean Heller. Heller was a key vote for the GOP Tax plan, unlike other RepublicanĀ āswing votesā Heller didnāt ask for any chances and just voted for it. Heller also voted repeatedly to kill Obamacare even after the Republican governor of his state begged him not to because of how many Nevadans it would hurt. Heller is likely one of the most unpopular Senator up for re-election. Heās running in a state Hillary Clinton won while heās tied himself closely to Trump. Heller is also unpopular with his own party and is being primaried by a far right candidate endorsed byĀ Sarah Palin andĀ Steve Bannon, This candidateĀ Danny Tarkanian has run for 6 offices in Nevada since 2004 and is 0-6 heading into his 7th run but looks likely to unseat Heller in the Primary. Now the Democrat who will face Heller orĀ Tarkanian in November is CongresswomanĀ Jacky Rosen. Rosen won a Republican leaning district in 2016 and is a newcomer to politics. Rosen has been a strong support for the DREAM act and fought against the Republican Tax Cut bill. In a twist if Tarkanian is the Republican nominee itāll be the second time Rosen andĀ Tarkanian will run against each other, Rosen beat him in 2016 for her Congressional seat. So letās boot out Dirty Dean Heller and beatĀ Tarkanian (again) and elect Rosen (which would mean Nevada would have two Democratic women Senators)
Her WebsiteĀ give her some money, or volunteer if you live in NevadaĀ
North Dakota is Represented by Democratic SenatorĀ Heidi Heitkamp.Ā Heitkamp is personally popular in her state representing the great plains populism. Heitkamp has vocally supported theĀ Buffett RuleĀ sponsoring a bill to ensure that people making more than a million dollars a year pay at least 30% in taxes. North Dakota is a deep red state, Trump won byĀ 36 points and maybe one of the few states were heās still has a net positive approval rating. in 2016 North Dakotaās other Senator a Republican sailed to re-election with 78% of the vote. So Heitkamp is a Democrat running in one of the reddest states in America. Right now no major Republican is running against her but that could change soon and against any Republican sheāll be running into the headwinds. So lets re-elect her
Her WebsiteĀ give her some money, or volunteer if you live in North Dakota
Ohio is represented by Democratic SenatorĀ Sherrod Brown. Brown is one of the most progressive and left wing members of the Senate. Honestly only Bernie Sanders and MAYBE Elizabeth Warren are to his left. Not only is Brown signed onto the Medicare for All bill he has introduced a single payer health care bill every year since he was first elected to Congress in 1993. Heās also supports the return of theĀ Glass-Steagall Act. Sadly for Brown (and really all of us) had drifted to the right in the years since his first election. Trump won the state by 8 points, Republican Senator Rob Portman walked to re-election in 2016 with a 21 point victory. The Republican most likely to face off with Brown is Ohio StateĀ TreasurerĀ Josh Mandel. Mandel is for the full repeal of Obamacare and doesnāt believe Climate Change is real. Lucky for usĀ Sherrod Brown beatĀ Josh Mandel like a drum in 2012 and lets help him do it a second time.Ā
His WebsiteĀ give him some money, or volunteer if you live in Ohio
Tennesseeās incumbent Republican Senator Bob Corker announced inĀ September 2017 he wasnāt running for re-election.Ā Tennessee is not the kind of state that Democrats are suppose to have a shot, but 2018 is gonna special. The last Democrat to win statewide office, former Governor (2003-2011)Ā Phil Bredesen is coming out of retirement to run for the seat. A former Mayor (Nashville 1991-1999) as well as former GovernorĀ Bredesen aggressively addressed the meth crisis in his state and balanced Tennesseeās budget after years of Republican mismanagement. The most likely Republican candidate is CongresswomanĀ Marsha Blackburn.Ā Blackburn is maybe Trumpās favorite Congressperson. She supported his Muslim ban, sponsored a bill to ban abortion after 22 weeks, claimed Obamacare had death panels, is againstĀ net neutrality (alsoĀ municipal broadbandĀ even thoughĀ Chattanooga has it). So lets elect the common sense Democrat not the wing nut Trump Congresswoman.
His WebsiteĀ give him some money, or volunteer if you live in Tennessee
Texas is represented by Republican Senator Ted Cruz. Cruz is⦠wildly unpopular both inside his own party and state. For Democrats heās fighting for the title of second most hated Republican behind Trump. Of course Cruz is also one of the most right wing members of the Senate, someone who supports a full repeal of Obamacare with no replacement at all, some one who voted againstĀ disaster relief forĀ Hurricane Sandy, calledĀ net neutrality the āObamacare for the internetā, we can go on for days Cruz sucks. Normally weād just have to write off a state like Texas, itās so Republican right? well maybe not, Hillary Clinton did better there than Obama did in 2012. The factors that turned Alabama blue, large numbers of minority voters and college educated white suburban voters are in Texas in a big way. The Democrat most likely to be facing Cruz is CongressmanĀ Beto O'Rourke (the man with the best name in politics)Ā O'Rourke supports legalizing cannabis, heās been on the front lines in the fight against Trump immigration policy, he was part of 2016 sit-in for gun control on the floor of the US House. Cruz is a literal human monster,Ā Beto O'Rourke is a cool dude, lets make him a senator and Cruz not. Oh also in the first and only poll of the raceĀ O'Rourke was tied with Cruz.
His WebsiteĀ give him some money, or volunteer if you live in Texas
West Virginia is represented by Democratic SenatorĀ Joe Manchin. This is maybe one of the oddest races of 2018. If West Virginia isnāt the most Republican states in America itās close, Trump won the state by an earth shaking 42 points in 2016, itās governor, other senator, and all 3 of itās congresspeople are Republicans, every state wide office is Republican, Republicans hold large majorities in both State Houses. However former Governor and now SenatorĀ Joe Manchin is a Democrat and maybe the most popular person running for re-election in 2018. However Manchin is a Democrat offering key votes on health care and tax reform and standing against BetsyĀ DeVosā nomination. A lot of Republicans have jumped in to try and unseat Manchin, like a coal billionaire who was convicted of safety violations that got people killed, the RepublicanĀ Attorney General, and one of the Stateās Congressmen.Ā
His WebsiteĀ give him some money, or volunteer if you live in West VirginiaĀ
right now these Republican held seats look super safe but if youād told me a year ago that a Democrat was about to be sworn in as Senator for Alabama Iād have laughed in your face. First up is UtahĀ Republican Orin Hatch has been Senator for Utah since 1976 and Utah is an ultra-red state so heās fine right? Not so much, a poll found 75% of Utahans donāt want Hatch to run again. Indeed Hatch as been promising not to run for re-election every 6 years since the early 1990s, heās been string people along withĀ āwill he wonāt heā re-election stories for most 2017 but it seems pretty locked in that heās running. Hatch almost has closely tied himself to Trump who isnāt popular in the state, he famously said we just donāt have the money for CHIP after voting to give big business and rich people a tax cut. The likely Democrat in the raceĀ Salt Lake County CouncilwomanĀ Jenny Wilson is raising tons of money and even beat Hatch in an early poll (when people werenāt told she was a Democrat) itās a long shot but check out her website if youāre in Utah. Next isĀ Mississippi this should be a lock down for Republicans, an incumbent Republican up inĀ Mississippi should walk away with it. And maybe SenatorĀ Roger Wicker will. However thereās a lot of buzz that far-right radical,Ā State SenatorĀ Chris McDaniel will get into the race with Steve Bannonās backing. in 2014Ā McDaniel came with-in less than one point of unseating Mississippiās other Senator,Ā Thad Cochran, in a primary. Cochran only beatĀ McDaniel thanks to the support of black voters scared of an even more racist Republican. IfĀ McDaniel runs and unseatsĀ Wicker we could end up in a place like we were in Alabama. Mississippi and Alabama are twins in many was only there are even more black voters in Mississippi. There isnāt a strong Democrat in the race yet but thereās buzz aroundĀ Brandon Presley. If you recognize the name, yes he is related to Elvis, theyāre cousins.Ā Brandon Presley is a popular elected official representing northern Mississippi, normally the most Republican part of the state. Maybe stop by his FacebookĀ or Twitter and tell him to run. Next isĀ Nebraska again not a state we should even be looking at. Republican SenatorĀ Deb Fischer won election with nearly 60% of the vote sheās running in a deep red state, should be a shoe in. However the first and only poll of the race showed her 42% to 31% against her main Democratic rivalĀ Lincoln City CouncilwomanĀ Jane Raybould. Thatās not great numbers for an early re-election poll for a sitting Senator running in a state that should be easy for her. Maybe itās nothing, but check outĀ Raybouldās website. NextĀ up isĀ Wyoming which being totally real here I see no path to a Democrat winning there. Steve Bannon is hoping to push out Republican SenatorĀ John Barrasso in favor of the founder of Blackwater (and Besty DeVosā brother)Ā Erik Prince. Even if Prince runs and beats Barrasso thereās not much in the way of Democrats to stop him in the general election.
Well thatās it, thatās what 2018 looks like in the US Senate, if you got even an extra 5 bucks (and youāre an American, sorry guys) pick a candidate you like, one who speaks to you and hand them your 5 dollars. Donāt have money volunteer, and if you donāt live in or near a state where you can volunteer, well just reblog this and help it find someone who can help.Ā