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Yeah, yeah I know; I’m doing another edition of Taking Back The House, just over 24 hours of the last installment but this one is a tad different. In fact, I would consider this a “housekeeping” (no pun intended) post to update some of the previous installments from earlier in the year.
Now that we are in mid-April and some prospective candidates have already announced their bids I find this post to be one of some importance to those who are fans of the series. We will do a small recap of each blog post and tell you if any updates have occurred. This space will also be updated as more information becomes available.
But what I suggest all of you to do is “like” these candidates on Facebook or “follow” them on Twitter. No, social media fans do not equate to electoral success but I find it best that some of us become better acquainted with the people who could very well start swinging the House to the Democratic side. It won’t be easy, especially in a midterm, but hey; it’s possible.
Michele Bachmann – Minnesota’s 6th congressional district
Our first edition of Taking Back The House involved the infamous Michele Bachmann. At the time, I thought the Bachmann seat would be the hardest to swing over given the red tint of her district and the fact that even though she underperforms in this district, it would take a lot for her to get unseated.
But since that mid-January night I wrote the blog, some revelations have made this race interesting. Now Bachmann has come under fire for alleged ethic violations over her failed presidential campaign in 2012. She has responded to these allegations by well…not responding to them and her national reputation continues to decay.
Now this seat looks more winnable than it did before though still not a certainty given the district and the possibility of Bachmann retiring (which is always possible I guess). Still, her challenger of 2012, Jim Graves recently announced he will be running against her in 2014. Graves will likely march to the nomination but the hope that the wealthy hotelier pumps some of his own money into his campaign exists.
Still do what you can do. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook. If you are in the area of Minnesota’s Sixth District, considering volunteering some time for his campaign. Knock on doors, phonebank, fundraise, donate, etc.
Mike Coffman – Colorado’s 6th congressional district
Unlike Bachmann’s seat, this seat has been made very helpful to Democrats in terms of swinging it to blue. In fact, with the exception of one other seat, I would take a guess by saying this is the most likely seat Democrats will get in 2014. Not a certainty, but its a really good bet.
In late January, we suggested Morgan Carroll as our candidate of choice. However, she announced she would not go to D.C. and Andrew Romanoff stepped to the plate. If Romanoff’s name sounds familiar, it might because you remember his failed 2010 bid against appointed incumbent Michael Bennet for one of Colorado’s Senate seat.
Romanoff is an experienced politician who was the Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives from 2005 to 2008. Romanoff is the most likely candidate to be the nominee and he appears to be as good as a get as we can expect.
- Andrew Romanoff’s Twitter
- Andrew Romanoff’s Facebook
- DONATE TO ANDREW ROMANOFF’S CAMPAIGN
Rodney Davis – Illinois’s 13th congressional district
One of the most pure tossups in the nation could very well be Illinois’s 13th congressional district which is represented by freshman Republican Rodney Davis. Davis doesn’t have as much of a record as most of the other candidates but he will still be a prime target for the DCCC.
David Gill, a doctor and nearly perennial candidate who has unsuccessfully run for office four times (including 2012) might throw his hat in the ring again. Gill beat out establishment favorite Michael Goetten in 2012 so he might scare off potential challengers in 2014 as well. Nonetheless, Gill is a progressive which is always a positive.
Other candidates include Champaign Mayor Don Gerard and Brendan McGinty. But the top recruit for the Democrats may very well be Madison County Circuit Court Chief Judge Ann Callis who was wooed during inauguration weekend. Keep your eyes pealed as none of these candidates have announced.
- David Gill’s Facebook
- Don Gerard’s Twitter
- Don Gerard’s Facebook
Gary Miller – California’s 31st congressional district
We should all know by now that there are no such things as “slam dunks” in politics but if the Democrats can’t turn this seat to blue then 2014 will be a disastrous year. Longtime Rep. Gary Miller was able to return to Congress for another election after redistricting made him pursue a blue seat. This district is a healthy blue and Miller, if he elects to run again, will be in the fight of his life.
The reason why Miller won in 2012 was due to the California “top-two” system in which the top-two vote getters in the primary, regardless of party, advance to the general election. Unluckily for Democrats, two Republicans made it to November.
This time though the Democrats will hopefully learn from their mistakes as DCCC backed candidate Pete Aguilar is giving it another go after finishing 3rd in 2014. This appears to be the establishment backed candidate though former Rep. Joe Baca could throw a wrench into things.
Still, get to learn the candidates more.
- Pete Aguilar’s Twitter
- Pete Aguilar’s Facebook
- DONATE TO PETE AGUILAR’S CAMPAIGN
Michael Grimm – New York’s 11th congressional district
Michael Grimm, in the midst of his second term in Congress, is another candidate who could very well be endangered come November of 2014.
The race to face him though hasn’t heated up much yet but Domenic Recchia has announced a run for Congress. Another name that’s tossed about is former Rep. Mike McMahon who Grimm beat to take this seat in 2010. Redistricting has kept it a tossup district though with a slight Republican tint to it.
- Domenic Recchia’s Twitter
- Domenic Recchia’s Facebook
- DONATE TO DOMENIC RECCHIA’S CAMPAIGN
David Valadao – California’s 21st congressional district
Back to California, again! Still this seat, which is winnable, hasn’t received much buzz yet and local Democrats appear frustrated at the lack of big name recruits. The big name appears to be Leticia Perez, Kern County Supervisor, who was just elected last November and is running for a State Senate seat vacated by Michael Rubio (who decided not to run in 2012). Still, the Democrats can’t afford to have another candidate such as John Hernandez as they did in 2012 if they want to dispatch Valadao.
Steve Southerland – Florida’s 2nd congressional district
Well it was yesterday’s addition but still, a huge pickup opportunity for Democrats as they have a prized recruit in Gwen Graham, daughter of former Governor and Senator Bob Graham.
Unlike 2012 nominee Alfred Lawson, expect Graham to be a big-time fundraiser who could really bring voters to the booth thanks to the popularity of her family’s name and her personal accomplishments.
- Gwen Graham’s Twitter
- Gwen Graham’s Facebook
- DONATE TO GWEN GRAHAM’S CAMPAIGN
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