We are having this “CK issue” here in Phoenix, AZ. Unfortunately, he has a tie to our city and we have a State Senator and a local pastor both proposing to name streets after him. I’ve written a letter to the editor in our local paper where, at least, one street would be affected and I absolutely do not support a racist/misogynist to don our street signs. We’ll see what kind of pushback I get to my letter. It runs on Wednesday. I hope my house doesn’t get egged, bombed, or shot at!
Also, as progressive as I personally am, one size does not fit all. You have a point.
Marie Glusenkamp Perez won her district because she ran twice against Joe Kent, an extreme right wing neo N@zi Pr0ud B0y (who Trump later appointed to Tulsi Gabbard's National Security team - a very scary appointment). If she had run against a more 'normal' Republican, she would've lost. And as soon as Republicans in that district figure that out, she might very well be out of a seat.
The reason progressives get upset at her is because she presented herself as a progressive in her first run and many of us came out from Portland (just across the river) to canvass for her. She owns an autobody shop in Portland, attended the famously progressive Reed College in Portland and she seems to be selling out her values.
It's not just Portlanders who are upset with her - after all, she doesn't represent us. Her constituents are upset with her, too. That district is trending more and more blue, thanks to folks moving across the river from Portland. Many residents of Vancouver, WA - the largest city in the district - are frustrated with her votes.
The national media and pundits who continually hold her up as an example of a rural Democrat who manages to win in a purple district – or as an example ALL Democrats need to follow – are missing the nuance specific to her district and her races.
I’m not arguing that she shouldn’t be primary. I’m arguing the progressives from out of district who don’t understand the district should not be speaking on the issue when they don’t understand it. I think it’s super valid to primary her with someone who’s maybe just as moderate, but a little more honest or maybe even a little less moderate, but not an all out progressive not yet anyway
Ah, but I do understand the district. I have friends & family there and I live right next door. I've watched the evolution of this district for 25 years. The folks who *don't* understand the district are NYT opinion writers who haven't ventured west of the Hudson yet write about MGP every chance they get. What I'm saying is that she ran -and won- in 2022 as a progressive & then changed her tune.
The 2022 primary is not instructive, as the competition was against the Republican incumbent who was being targeted for voting to impeach Trump for January 6th. All the heat in that race was between Herrera-Buetler and Kent. In fact, if JHB hadn't been challenged by Kent, she would've easily beaten MGP.
The district was softened for MGP thanks to progressive Democrat Carolyn Long, who ran in 2018 and garnered 47.3% of the vote - in the general.
Am I happy a Dem is in that seat and not a Republican? Of course. But Representative Gluesenkamp-Perez and Candidate Gluesenkamp-Perez seem to be two very different people, and that's what I take issue with.
Important converation on diversity of Dem districts.
We are having this “CK issue” here in Phoenix, AZ. Unfortunately, he has a tie to our city and we have a State Senator and a local pastor both proposing to name streets after him. I’ve written a letter to the editor in our local paper where, at least, one street would be affected and I absolutely do not support a racist/misogynist to don our street signs. We’ll see what kind of pushback I get to my letter. It runs on Wednesday. I hope my house doesn’t get egged, bombed, or shot at!
Also, as progressive as I personally am, one size does not fit all. You have a point.
Please keep me posted. I would love to be able to share that you got a win.
Will do!
Marie Glusenkamp Perez won her district because she ran twice against Joe Kent, an extreme right wing neo N@zi Pr0ud B0y (who Trump later appointed to Tulsi Gabbard's National Security team - a very scary appointment). If she had run against a more 'normal' Republican, she would've lost. And as soon as Republicans in that district figure that out, she might very well be out of a seat.
The reason progressives get upset at her is because she presented herself as a progressive in her first run and many of us came out from Portland (just across the river) to canvass for her. She owns an autobody shop in Portland, attended the famously progressive Reed College in Portland and she seems to be selling out her values.
It's not just Portlanders who are upset with her - after all, she doesn't represent us. Her constituents are upset with her, too. That district is trending more and more blue, thanks to folks moving across the river from Portland. Many residents of Vancouver, WA - the largest city in the district - are frustrated with her votes.
The national media and pundits who continually hold her up as an example of a rural Democrat who manages to win in a purple district – or as an example ALL Democrats need to follow – are missing the nuance specific to her district and her races.
I’m not arguing that she shouldn’t be primary. I’m arguing the progressives from out of district who don’t understand the district should not be speaking on the issue when they don’t understand it. I think it’s super valid to primary her with someone who’s maybe just as moderate, but a little more honest or maybe even a little less moderate, but not an all out progressive not yet anyway
Ah, but I do understand the district. I have friends & family there and I live right next door. I've watched the evolution of this district for 25 years. The folks who *don't* understand the district are NYT opinion writers who haven't ventured west of the Hudson yet write about MGP every chance they get. What I'm saying is that she ran -and won- in 2022 as a progressive & then changed her tune.
The 2022 primary is not instructive, as the competition was against the Republican incumbent who was being targeted for voting to impeach Trump for January 6th. All the heat in that race was between Herrera-Buetler and Kent. In fact, if JHB hadn't been challenged by Kent, she would've easily beaten MGP.
The district was softened for MGP thanks to progressive Democrat Carolyn Long, who ran in 2018 and garnered 47.3% of the vote - in the general.
Am I happy a Dem is in that seat and not a Republican? Of course. But Representative Gluesenkamp-Perez and Candidate Gluesenkamp-Perez seem to be two very different people, and that's what I take issue with.
But look at the numbers, the Republican vote was split three ways. If the Democratic vote had been split two ways we still would’ve lost.
💞💞💞 thank you Ariella!