The next five ActBlue states: OH, PA, TX, FL, MT

From the diaries--Chris

Last week Chris Bowers ran this poll to decide where ActBlue should go next, and the results are in! We're now focusing our fire on Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, and Montana. (We had originally planned on just going with four states, but with a statistical tie between Texas and Montana for the #4 spot we're including them both.)

Check out the the full background, but in brief, when we've activated ActBlue in these states:

  • Every Democratic candidate for every state legislative and executive office can immediately accept contributions online.
  • Every supporter can immediately fundraise online for the Democratic candidates and party committees of their choice.

There's just one catch: we need the resources to do it. The most challenging part of bringing this huge strategic advantage to Democrats at the state level is the legal side — the staff time and lawyers, Lawyers, LAWYERS, required to do this right are going to cost on average $10,000 per state, at least for the first set of states we take on.

So we're asking: can you help make it happen?

This isn't like supporting a single candidate: funds invested now will be returned many times over to candidates in crucial races across the country. So this is about leverage. This is about building a lasting piece of infrastructure for online politics, and bringing lasting strategic advantage to Democrats where it matters most.

Please support these states today.



Display:


NY, NY, NY (none / 0)

Five State Senate seats. I cannot say that enough.

Five State Senate seats.

The 10,000 Things
by Andrew C White on Tue Oct 18, 2005 at 02:02:43 PM EST

Re: NY, NY, NY (none / 0)

We've also got a page where you can support any state of your choice.
Want Blue States? ActBlue.
by brahn on Tue Oct 18, 2005 at 02:33:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NY, NY, NY (none / 0)

Youze guyze do good work. Keep it up... and don't mind the comments from the peanut gallery.

(but get a NY specific page up as soon as you can or we'll send someone over to make you an offer you cannot refuse)

The 10,000 Things
by Andrew C White on Tue Oct 18, 2005 at 04:34:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I know it's completely annoying... (none / 0)

When you are trying to move forward and some bozo like me suggests tweaking the strategy...but I already said I'm a bozo, right?

Anyway, just tossing this out: West Virginia.

It has a Democrat registration edge, the GOP there is in disarray and 2nd district Rep. Capito sits in a district that was represented by various Dems for over 20 years before she took it.

And, she's high on the Tom DeLay dirty money list.

Keep up the good work.

For your amusement: New on EWM: Fitzgerald Issues Frog-Marching Guidelines

by The Muse on Tue Oct 18, 2005 at 03:06:56 PM EST

Re: I know it's completely annoying... (3.00 / 2)

Democratic.

Please people, stop using Frank Luntz's word.

Rudy Giuliani hates firefighters. And puppies.
by Fran for Dean on Tue Oct 18, 2005 at 03:45:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Election Law Question (none / 0)

Since municipalities are part of states, does that mean that Mayors and City Councilman can use them, as well?
Progressive Philadelphia Politics: Young Philly Politics
by DanielUA on Tue Oct 18, 2005 at 03:12:03 PM EST

Re: Election Law Question (none / 0)

Depends on the particular state.  

In some places the local/municipal laws are identical to the state laws, and in those cases the answer is "you bet!"  We'll just need help identifying the candidates and such.

However, in other places (esp. big cities like NYC and Seattle) the local/municipal laws are another layer of complexity again, so we'd need to hold off.

Want Blue States? ActBlue.
by brahn on Tue Oct 18, 2005 at 03:16:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

When the different postions are out (none / 0)

I would strongly recommend donations to Texas Attorney General candidate David Van Os.

David is a real progressive populist and with adequate funding could win based on his message.  I'm hoping next year to get him on the DFA list.  David has on his website, very proudly, a picture of him, his wife, and Dean together at Democracy Fest.

David Van Os for Texas Attorney General.

by Trowaman on Tue Oct 18, 2005 at 03:25:29 PM EST

david rocks (none / 0)

he has a heart of gold, too.
Visit us at TexasKAOS, where we're taking Texas back!
by annatopia on Tue Oct 18, 2005 at 05:01:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Someone explain to me how this works (none / 0)

I understand the basic gist.  By who decides where the money is directed?  To what candidates?  Based on what criteria?  How much money is directed to that particular candidate?  

For example, a state like Texas will have literally hundreds of races in 2006.  Spreading a $100,000 over those races doesn't do squat.  Who decides what races do focus on.  Surely there must be a limited list of candidates Act Blue will decide to contribute money to.  If not, this is a huge waste.  

Just wondering.

by Eric11 on Tue Oct 18, 2005 at 10:55:35 PM EST

Re: Someone explain to me how this works (none / 0)

ActBlue does not decide who to contribute money to.  ActBlue is simply an easy way for people to donate to candidates.  It is especially helpful to candidates because the credit card processing fees that ActBlue has are much much less than if a candidate were to use another company.  If you go to ActBlue's website, you'll see a list of all the US House and US Senate candidates.  You can contribute to any of them, and ActBlue sends them that amount to the appropriate campaign.
Rudy Giuliani hates firefighters. And puppies.
by Fran for Dean on Wed Oct 19, 2005 at 02:10:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Someone explain to me how this works (none / 0)

That still does not answer the question.

Who decides who gets the money in these "blank check" ActBlue state fundraisers and what is the criteria?

For instance, someone may want to give to liberal candidates in Penn and not to Casey...what then?

Besides telling us how to live, think, marry, pray, vote, invest, educate our children and, die, the GOP has done a fine job of getting gov't out of our lives.
by Parker on Wed Oct 19, 2005 at 11:29:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Someone explain to me how this works (none / 0)

Ah, I see -- am I understanding correctly that the question is "where does the $10k go?"  If so:

The $10k does not go to candidates; this is the funding that allows ActBlue to do the substantial legal and technical work required to expand its fundraising capacity to the executive and legislative races in the state in question.

Once that work is done, individual fundraisers can raise funds for the Democratic candidates of their choice in that state.

Want Blue States? ActBlue.
by brahn on Wed Oct 19, 2005 at 12:39:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Someone explain to me how this works (none / 0)

I think when you contribute money to the Pennsylvania fund they linked to above, that means they're collecting the $10,000 necessary for legal work that ActBlue needs to do in order for us to be able to contribute to state candidates in Pennsylvania through their website.  In other words, those $10,000 they're collecting for each state doesn't go to candidates - it goes to setting up ActBlue so that we can donate to candidates in that state.
Rudy Giuliani hates firefighters. And puppies.
by Fran for Dean on Wed Oct 19, 2005 at 12:54:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]


You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.