#arazona

Midterms! often times people don’t bother to vote in midterm elections, but they’re super important! there are 36 Governorships up for election on November 6, 2018. Bad news, right now only 9 of those are held by a Democrat. HOWEVER there’s good news there are 13 governorships that Democrats have a good chance to flip, states that predictions say are tossup (or even leaning Democrat). And here’s what you can do, VOTE! but also if you live in any of the states below, get out there! sign up to volunteer for these excellent candidates, make phone calls, knock doors, give money, a dollar, 5 dollars whatever you have laying around. 2018 you can make a difference by helping these candidates:

Alaska

Mark Begich: Former Senator from Alaska (2009-2015) and Mayor of Anchorage (2003-2009) Mark Begich is in a competitive 3 way race against Independent (former Republican) Governor Bill Walker and a yet to be named Republican. Begich was a close ally of President Obama in the Senate being a key vote for Obamacare. Totally pro-Choice and promising to defend Alaska’s legal Marijuana. Go here to throw him some money and sign up to volunteer

Arizona

David Garcia: A relatively unknown political outsider Garcia has jumped to the front of the Democratic primary pack and is leading the embattled Republican Governor in early polls. Garcia has worked in education for most of his life and would be Arizona’s first hispanic governor. Check out his website to throw him some money or sign up to volunteer 

Colorado 

Jared Polis: Colorado’s Democratic Governor (John Hickenlooper) is term-limited and the race to replace him is tight. Jared Polis has been a member of Congress since 2009. He was the first openly gay man to run for a first term in congress while out. If election Polis will be the first gay governor in the United States. Polis is a progressive Congressman and aggressively against the War on Drugs. Go here to donate and volunteer.

Connecticut

Ned Lamont: Connecticut might be one of the bluest states in America but it’s governor’s race is anyone’s game. Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy is not running for re-election. Ned Lamont is a long time progressive activist, most famous for defeating Joe Lieberman in the Democratic primary in 2006 over the Iraq War. Lamont was a key supporter of Obama in the 2008 primary, and ran for governor in 2010. go here to donate or volunteer 

Florida

Gwen Graham: Florida hasn’t had a Democratic Governor since Jeb Bush won in 1998. However former Congresswoman Gwen Graham, daughter of Florida Governor/Senator Bob Graham can change that in 2018. She’s surged to the front of the Democratic Primary pack. She’s fighting to expand medicaid in Florida, raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and is for common sense gun control after Florida suffered two of the worst mass shootings in American history. Head to her webpage to donate and volunteer to not have Florida have a 4th Republican governor in a row

Georgia

Stacey Abrams: Former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, Stacey Abrams is the first black woman to win a party’s nomination for Governor, if elected she would be the first black woman governor in American history, the first woman and the first black governor of Georgia and the first black governor in the Deep South since reconstruction. In the statehouse she fought for more affordable college and her progressive campaign has focused on education and economic fairness. Hit her website, give what you can and volunteer 

Illinois

J. B. Pritzker: Illinois is one of the bluest states in America, but it has a Republican Governor who has made a total hash of it. JB Pritzker is a long time supporter of LGBT rights, supports marijuana legalization, wants to pass state level net neutrality, and endorsed by Planned Parenthood in the primary. To throw out Bruce Rauner and put a Democrat in charge visit Pritzker’s webpage to donate and volunteer 

Iowa

Fred Hubbell: Fred Hubbell has spent 30 years working in philanthropy serving on the boards for Iowa Planned Parenthood, UNCF, NAACP, the Iowa College Foundation Board, and the United Way. Hubbell is a fighting a progressive campaign focused on education and healthcare. Visit his webpage to donate and volunteer to flip farm country blue

Maine

Janet Mills: For the last 8 years Maine has had it’s very own Trump mark 1, Paul LaPage, and Republicans want 4 more years. Maine’s Attorney General, Janet Mills has sued both LaPage and Trump on a number of issues as well as covering all of Maine’s medicaid expansion with money from a suit against big tobacco. Mills will expand medicaid like the voters want, fight the growing child hunger issue in the state and tackle the opioid crisis through treatment. Go here to donate and volunteer 

Michigan

Gretchen Whitmer: 8 years of Republican government lead to the Flint water crisis and many black cities being placed under the control of “financial managers”. Gretchen Whitmer was the Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate (2011-15). Whitmer lead the fight to expand medicaid in the state making Michigan one of the few states with a Republican governor to do so. Go to her webpage to donate and volunteer 

Minnesota

Lori Swanson: Minnesota’s Democratic governor Mark Dayton, is retiring and the race to replace him will be tight with former Republican governor Tim Pawlenty in the race. Minnesota’s Attorney General Lori Swanson has lead the Democratic Primary pack. As AG she’s taken on for-profit college and forced arbitration. She also sued Trump over the muslim ban. Head to her webpage to donate and volunteer. 

Nevada

Steve Sisolak: As a commissioner for Clark County (Las Vegas) Sisolak focused on clean energy. Sisolak is fighting a campaign based on clean energy, common sense gun control and higher spending on education and affordable college. Hit his website to donate and volunteer 

New Hampshire

Molly Kelly: Molly Kelly was a State Senator from 2006 to 2016. Kelly worked her way through law school while a mother of small children. In the State Senate she focused on education, and the opioid epidemic. She’s refused any PAC money and pledges to get money out of politics. She’s a major supporter of Planned Parenthood and a woman’s right to choose. Go here to donate and volunteer for Molly 

New Mexico

Michelle Lujan Grisham: A Congresswoman since 2013 Grisham is the chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. from 2004 to 2007 Grisham was Secretary of Health of New Mexico. In Congress Grisham focused on raising the minimum wage, Student Loan forgiveness, the gender wage gap. Grisham is running a campaign on growing New Mexico’s economy and growing clean energy. Go here to donate and volunteer

Ohio

Richard Cordray: A figure in Ohio politics for many years serving as a state Rep, Solicitor General of the state, Treasurer of Franklin County, State Treasurer, and Ohio Attorney General between 1991 and 2011. In 2012 Obama appointed him to be the first Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were he fought against dodgy credit card companies, banks and pay-day loans. Cordray is running a progressive populist campaign. Check out his website to donate and volunteer 

Tennessee

Karl Dean: Tennessee is a deeply red state, but former Mayor of Nashville (2007-2015) Karl Dean is making a go of it. As Mayor Dean guided Nashville through the great recession for a dramatic recovery, opened an Office of Environment and Sustainability, and dramatically increased spending on the city’s schools. Head to his webpage to donate and volunteer 

Wisconsin

Tony Evers: Tony Evers has been the superintendent of Wisconsin public educations since 2009. Evers has fought Governor Scott Walker over his attempts to run spending on schools. His campaign is focusing on education, infrastructure, and healthcare. Check out his website to donate and volunteer