In the Battle for a Progressive Congress

At this point, many journalists are speculating about the number of congressional seats that Republicans will lose on Election Day. But a boost in the size of the Democratic majority might not count for much if a blue wave simply makes it possible for conservative and centrist "blue dogs" to end up doggie-paddling into the House.

Less than two weeks before Election Day, the scent of red blood is in the water. "A big wave for Obama might be too much of a burden for Republican congressional candidates to bear," says the Rothenberg Political Report, "at a time when they are already saddled with an unpopular Republican president and an unpopular Republican brand." On Nov. 4, dozens of GOP candidates are likely to lose contests for House seats deemed "safe" just months ago.

But moving a progressive agenda on Capitol Hill will require more than defeating Republicans. It will require electing strong progressives. And the most meaningful shifts will come with genuine progressive candidates who actually take seats away from right-wing Republicans.

That's why Bill Durston's campaign against a very conservative incumbent, the notably arrogant Rep. Dan Lungren, has symbolic and substantive potential for helping to change the direction of Congress.

In late winter, I visited Durston as he was launching his long-shot campaign to unseat Lungren in a far-flung congressional district that extends from the Sacramento area all the way to the Nevada border. The conventional wisdom was that Lungren couldn't be beat. So, Bill Durston had the Democratic primary all to himself.

Congressman Lungren -- whose latest rating from the League of Conservation Voters gives him a score of 0 percent -- went into this election year with a mainstream aura of invincibility. The national Democratic Party apparatus showed no tangible sign of interest in ousting him.

But after a long grassroots campaign against the odds, polling now says that Bill Durston is in a statistical dead heat with Rep. Lungren.

If Durston wins, he'll be one of the most progressive members of Congress. I'm sure of that -- not just because of his background but also because this year I talked with him a lot and watched him in action many times. It's fitting to say that Durston is a former Marine who fought in Vietnam and is now strongly anti-war; that he's an emergency-room physician who is adamantly in favor of single-payer healthcare for all; that he's a genuine progressive on every issue under the sun. All true enough. But I've also learned, firsthand, about his resolute integrity and determined humility -- qualities that no piece of campaign literature is quite able to convey.

It doesn't surprise me that even now, as far as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is concerned, Durston scarcely exists. While pouring large amounts of money into dozens of other congressional races, the DCCC has done nothing for his campaign. Durston is not a "moderate," and he doesn't trim his sails for prevailing winds.

Thanks to grassroots volunteers and groups like Take Back Red California, Democracy For America and Progressive Democrats of America, the hold that Lungren had on his seat is now so shaky that Politico recently included him in a list of several Republicans now "fighting for their political lives, a reversal of fortunes that has caught even the most astute campaign observers by surprise."

A defeat of Lungren would be something of a political earthquake in Northern California. Similarly, a few hundred miles to the south, in Orange County, the luck of fellow right-wing incumbent zealot Rep. Dana Rohrabacher may be about to run out as he tries to fend off a strong grassroots challenge from progressive Democratic candidate Debbie Cook.

Understandably, this year the presidential campaign has largely overshadowed congressional races. But as a blue wave appears to be swelling across the country, it's a good sign that progressives are becoming more focused on what they can do to carry like-minded candidates into Congress.

Comments

[RTIII]

By the way, we should be supporting Cindy Sheehan as a progressive Democrat. OK, so she became an independent to run against Pelosi - that was NECESSARY to be in the race!

Let's put some punch in Cindy's hands: Please donate GENEROUSLY to Cindy's campaign!

CindyForCongress.org

[biofuelsadvocate]

Part 3 - continued comment about Marta Jorgensen - progressive candidate for 24th CA District

This year registrations for Democrats have brought the district to almost parity with the registered Republicans and there is a whopping 18 plus percent registered "declined to state". Marta is an unabashed progressive who doesn't hold back from stating her positions and is she wins, will be a strong progressive voice in Congress.

However, like Bill Dunstan, Marta has received virtually no help from the Democratic establishment, while garnering very welcomed support from Progressive Democrats of America, California Labor Federation and other progressive organizations and individuals. Like Bill Durston, she deserves our support and encouragement. Good luck Marta -for you and for us.

[biofuelsadvocate]

Part 2 - continued comment about Marta Jorgensen - progressive candidate for 24th CA District

Marta was the dark horse in the June primary election, and she beat out 2 other Democrats who had been long standing local politicians. She did so with a convincing 26 points over the second place finisher. She actually has a chance to do it again in the general election, as she is "bookended" by Obama on one side and Hannah-Beth Jackson (D) in the hottest California Senate race in the state, both of whom have been running extensive registration and get out the vote efforts.

Marta is going up against Elton Gallegly (R) who has been in Congress for 22 years, and is a straight down the line Bush supporter. He stands for just about everything opposite of what progressives stand for. Gallegly actually tried to retire in 2006 because of claimed health issues but it was too late to get off the ballot. As the incumbent, he comfortably slid back into office, but even his colleagues in Congress call him "Do nothing Gallegly".

Continued ¦

[biofuelsadvocate]

Part 1

California has another sleeper progressive candidate that may well unseat a long term Republican. That candidate is Marta Jorgensen (http://www.jorgensenforcongress.com) in the 24th Congressional District covering the majority of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The remaining 10% of those counties is currently served by Democrat Lois Capps.

Marta calls herself a "citizen politician" as this is her first campaign. The majority of her life was spent as a nurse (like Lois Capps who is one of only 4 nurses in Congress) and like Bill Durston is an advocate of a single payer health care system. Funny how health care professionals recognize the huge problem of health care in our country, but those outside it often don't.

Anyway, Marta got into the race at the promptings of Al Gore. She had been the regional director for the Draft Al Gore '08 campaign and when he decided to not run, he encouraged her and others to run for office to help bring about the change they all were fighting for. As you can imagine, she is a strong advocate for the environment and renewable energy. Her website spells out her positions on those matters and she supports efforts such as those found at http://www.oil-free.us.

Continued.....

[RTIII]

Go Bill Durston Go!

This article echos what I've been saying for a long time now - here on HufPo: The Dems are VERY vulnerable now to ever increasing encrochment by fascist, R-thinking politicians who know better than to run as an R...

PROGRESSIVES - NOW is your TIME!
.