I would suggest Harry Mitchell of Arizona.  But it doesn't fit your blue state suggestion.  I would argue that those massively growing western states are pivotal in future elections and will eventually be blue, however.

Sadly to say, that once the blueification of the NE is complete, the action will shift west because they are getting the new CDs and are increasingly blue.

oh, plus, Mitchell has a good chance against that fucking flushed red-faced rodeo clown JD Hayworth.

Linda Stender? She's very progressive, and the Dump Mike blog's been around since the beginning of the cycle at least, so there's definitely a netroots presence. The district did go for Bush by a slightly greater margin in 2004 than in 2000, but the difference was far less than the difference in every single other NJ district, so I'm guessing the district is actually getting more liberal (there's a significant and growing Asian population in the district, which could be part of the gain).

Chris Murphy in CT-5.  He's not getting as much attention as the other 2 CT House races, but the race was profiled in the NY Times story a few days ago.

I think its absurd the netroots aren't all over Kweisi Mfume for Senate in Maryland. Its as blue as states get and Democrats have a choice between a decent, but status quo, typical insider Dem and Mfume who has a unbelievable record as a Progressive activist. Either Democrat will win the nomination and we have the opportunity to help put a real Progressive and Populist into office. Latest polls show Mfume and Cardin in a dead heat and the netroots could definitely tip this either way.

Deval Patrick?

I know it's not a house/senate race, but he has a pretty strong netroots outreach effort.  He has been doing meetups for months.  He's a progressive candidate going up against a status quo dem in a state that has elected republican governers for far too long.

Even though we don't really need a farm team in a state like MA (half our house folks would make great senators, and a bunch of state level folks would play well nationally...), this is exactly the type of race that could help the whole national wave thing.

Guys remember, ppl with a lot of funding cant use this as much. therefore, with that in mind, here are my suggestions

Dan Maffei
Jim Webb
Jack Carter
Paul Hodes
Claire McCaskill
Tim Walz
Phil Kellam

I would like to ask you to consider listing my campaign on your Netroots Page.

I am a candidate for Congress in Missouri's 2nd district.  We in Missouri have been suffering for years due to state and local Democratic party organizations that have fallen into disrepair but we are working hard to rebuild.  We have been very disappointed that the national party and national campaigns have not invested in Missouri and this election cycle shows the same lack of support (with the exception of the support for McCaskill for Senate).  We believe that every single race must be contested.  We can not simply hand over seats to the Republicans and only focus on a few races that seem winnable in the North East.  That strategy has failed in the past and will continue to fail.  Missouri is a microcosm of the nation.  If Democrats can not figure out how to win in Missouri, we can not expect to win nationwide.  If we can not win in 2006 with new fresh candidates, then we will not be successful in 2008 and beyond.

Even though the 2nd district in Missouri seems difficult to win, it is not impossible to win.  We have not had strong Democratic challengers in quite some time so past results are a bit skewed.  The level of dissatisfaction in the district is high and a strong Democratic challenge to the most extreme representative currently in Congress, Todd Akin, will succeed, if we can get our message of change out to the voters.  Can you imagine the panic within the Republican party if an encumbant in a district gerrymandered to be a safe Republican district and who has a 98% voting record with Bush and DeLay, falls to a Democratic challenger?

We are looking for support not only from within the district but from outside it as well.  It would be a shame if the DCCC plan to pickup enough seats in the North East falls short by just one seat!

Thank you,
Rich

should the netroots page be open to gubernatorial and/or other statewide non-congressional candidates?

Running to oppose Jeb Bradley in a District ready to go blue with the right candidate.  I support Carol because she is progressive, fiscally responsible, pro-choice, and she is a woman and we need to get women equally represented in Congress in order to heal our country.  Carol has a real grass roots campaign going, with a lot of activists who worked for candidates in 2004, who have learned their lessons well, we are organized, energized and ready to take this district blue in November!

Missouri is trending blue and Claire has a great chance to unseat one of the nation's least popular Senators, a real wingnut, Jim Talent-less, who just had to pander to the right wing and announce his opposition to embryonic stem cell research.  A bi-partisan coalition, including a lot of business, industry, economic development and scientific research types have managed to get an initiative petition on the ballot to protect stem cell research in Missouri from the conservatives controling the legislature.  McCaskill supported that effort early and has pressed Talent to take a position.  He hedged until even the wingnuts wondered why he wasn't opposed.  His position is wildly unpopular with the moderate business Republicans in Missouri.

McCaskill is a great pick-up opportunity.  Her race will generate national interest this fall.  The netroots should be there before then.

john laesch in IL-14? i don't think this is winnable, but if old man hastert faces a strong challenge, it could keep his funds from flowing around the country, right?

also, jim webb, hands down. he has definetly recognized the importance of the netroots. and looking at the polls and his fundraising so far...he needs us badly. he has been working so hard to gain our support. he deserves this.

in fact, i don't know if there's any race more important and strategic for the netroots than the virginia senate race. we don't even have to win it; all we need to do is give allen a run for his money.

NY-20 Kirsten Gillibrand
OH-18 Zach Space
NH-2 Paul Hodes
CT-5 Chris Murphy
PA-6 Lois Murphy
AZ-8 Gabrielle Giffords
NV-3 Tessa Hafen
NY-24 Les Roberts
IL-10 Dan Seals
ID-2 Jim Hansen

That's the ten best i can come up with i would personally pick Hafen followed by Space and Gillibrand

Sherrod Brown

Marcy Winograd

Bernie Sanders

I nominate:

Chris Carney PA - 10
Bill Winter CO - 5
Jay Fawcett CO - 6
Phyllis Busansky FL - 9
Darcy Burner WA - 8
Andrew Horne KY - 3
Andrew Duck MD - 6
Dan Maffei NY - 25
Jeff Latas AZ - 8
Will Pryor TX - 32

These are all solid candidates -- some in some fairly red places like CO - 6 and MD - 06 -- in areas that we can win in a tidal wave Dem. year.  There are a few open seats.  None of these races is top tier so the Netroots might really make a difference.  I've met all except Busansky & Burner -- and I've heard great things about those two.  I may be wrong but I think only Maffei has a serious primary, and he still outraised the Rep. incumbant in the first quarter.  PA - 10 is a great seat to target because Carney is such a solid candidate and the incumbant, Sherwood, is such a total sleezeball.

New Mexico's Patricia Madrid fits all three of Matt's criteria perfectly:

1) Netroots presence in the state. Check! Not only are there a bunch of local NM bloggers really focused on the race, Madrid is reaching out to them. She's got a blog that's actually updated and interesting (www.madridforcongress.com/blog), she's reaching out to Bloggers with her "Bloggers for Madrid" program as well as lots of online graphics and stuff.

2) She seems to be pretty populist/progressive. She's called for Rummy's resignation and a swift withdrawel of troops from Iraq. She's good on energy independence and prescription drugs - and, she calls for an economy that works.

3) New Mexico is one of the most closely divided states in the nation and the district, I believe, voted for Kerry.

4) Another piece that I think is important and not mentioned is the need for progressives to support minority and female candidates. The progressive agenda is inclusive of all Americans and it's important for us to support candidates that look like and represent all Americans. Looking at the current netroots endorsed page, there's been one woman (Francine Busby) and one minority (Ciro Rodriguez) along with four white men. As the netroots endorsed page expands, let's make sure to give props to deserving minority and women candidates!

I think it's important to have one candidate within volunteering range of most netroots, if we can. In MA and northern New England, the obvious choice would be Paul Hodes, who fulfills all 3 listed factors. NH is the perfect new blue state. It's in that awkward transitional stage of blueberty, voting Dem nationally but still loyal to its local Republicans.

A couple more reasons:

• NH is not as expensive as most Northeaastern media markets, so some money and attention would make an impact.
  
• NH, especially Nashua, is really wired, so the netroots are in their element.
  
• If the netroots can prove their muscle in NH, it'll give us more weight in '08!

I nominate Paul Hodes in NH-2 and Jim Craig in NH-1. NH went for Kerry and elected a Democratic governor in 2004.  Hodes is close in the polls, even though few people even know who he is. Jim Craig has done a good job as Democratic house leader. Although the D's are in the minority, he has held his caucus together to help defeat anti-immigrant legislation and an ant-gay marriage amendment. He also is from a popular family in Manchester, which is the largest city in the district.

Jerry McNerney CA-11 is the grassroots backed candidate in a contested Democratic primary. Just like in the Cegelis IL-6 contest, Jerry is facing a DLC/DCCC-backed candidate with little actual support in the district. The opponent is a former Republican whose position on the Iraq War is that it's, "irresponsible to get out now." Jerry is committed to a firm timetable for withdrawal.

Jerry is an expert and businessman in renewable energy. His specialization is in wind energy engineering. The Republican incumbent is Richard Pombo, the chair of the powerful House Resources Committee. As chairman Pombo has raised his profile with his outrageous stances on environmental issues, not to mention his dealings with convicted felon and lobbyist Jack Abramoff. His district has changed greatly since he took office in 1992. This is the year to take him down.

In addition to all the DFA clubs and other local grassroots clubs support, Jerry has received the endorsement of the California Democratic Party and the powerful California Labor Federation, the statewide labor coalition.

The Netroots presence in the district is extensive as a portion of the district falls within the San Francisco Bay Area. Jerry has his own blog and multiple bloggers cover the race. The two most active blogs covering the race are saynotopombo.blogspot.com and progressive11th.blogspot.com

Please join the Northern Califorian grassroots and netroots community in helping elect a progressive Democrat who has the expertise and vision to make his district the "Silicon Valley" of the renewable energy industry and in Congress will fight Big Oil in order to secure our country's energy and environmental security.

www.jerrymcnerney.org

So some have probably read or heard from me on this one before, but for the benefit of this thread, a Texas rundown!

Ok, first off, statewide, there's nothing that needs adding to the netroots page. There's not stellar netroots candidate here, and seeing as how any Dem in Texas needs at least $3 million to even consider having a shot statewide, this is our of our realm.  So let's talk Congressional seats.

Even though it is 2006, this will only have been the 2nd time that we have used the current map as Texas was victum to the DeLay re-redistricting scheme (the 2000, 2002, and 2004 maps were all different).  Since 2004, Bush has become less popular in the state, as has the Republican Governor (drawing 2 independents in the race which may alter some downballot turnout).

We have 32 Congressional seats.
-21 Republican
-11 Democratic (counting Cuellar)

There are Democrats running in 31 of the 31 seats (with my hometown district of TX-11 going empty). The only Democrat with any serious challenge is Chet Edwards, last of the Blue Dogs that hung on in the 2002 'DeLay scrubbing' that knocked off 4 other incumbent Dems, which combined with the Party switch of Ralph Hall and the retirement of Democrat Jim Turner give us a list of seats that I describe as "if we can't win with scads of $$ and incumbent Congressmen, we ain't gonna win them with less money and the people put up this year". (which is why I look to areas we didn't fight for as hard last time where we have better candidates, changing demographics, and a less competition for dollars).

Let's look at the 4 seats we lost in 2004 and what we have this year, none of which I'd nominate for a netroots candidate.

TX-1 Gohmert (Sandlin loss) - Roger Owen (crazy)
TX-2 Poe (Lampson loss) - Gary Binderim (who?)
TX-19 Neugebauer (Stenholm loss) - Robert Ricketts (even Stenholm lost by 58%)
TX-32 Sessions (Frost loss) - Will Pryor (this was the most expensive race in 2004, over $8 mil)

Outside of these, there are a select few candidates who have received netroots coverage among the Texas bloggers, then after that a smaller set that have maintained active fundraising in districts that are actually winnable.

Those on Texas bloggers radar include...

TX-6 Joe Barton (R) - David Harris who is in Anna's territory.
TX-14 Ron Paul (R/L) - Shane Sklar who is out closer to Kuffner
TX-21 Lamar Smith (R) - John Courage with myself  in the Austin end and Matt on the San Antonio end.
TX-31 John Carter (R) - Mary Beth Harrell who has Eye on Williamson county on her.

Courage and Harris are Band of Brothers members. Harrell has a son in Iraq. Sklar is one of the few Dems to get the Texas Ag related endorsements.

Of these four though, Harrell is on the weak side of fundraising, and as of a couple of weeks ago, was still hunting around for a campaign manager. I fear that the netroots pressance over at Kos that the campaign has built is about the only thing built, and little has changed about the district that makes an already difficult seat easier to pick up.

Of the remaining three, Harris (certainly engaged in the netroots as well) seems to have lagged behind in fundraising in comparison to Courage and Sklar as well, though the Net Neutrality issue seems to have raised the profile of his opponent Joe Barton of late, though I'm not sure if that is enough.

That leaves Sklar and Courage, probably out top two netroots targets among Texas bloggers. I will now attempt to run them through the 3 points given in this post.

Shane Sklar

1. Netroots Presence- not in the district as far as I know, though Kuff is close to it. I wouldn't say that there has been any outreach specifically, though the camapaign has been running on a more traditional path that will make it structurally sound and an actual threat to Ron Paul, who voted against the Katrina relief bill, even though his district is on the Texas coast.

2. Populist or Progressive- You can take a look at his issues or endorsements but I don't think we can say that Sklar fits the bill of progressive really.  He's more of a good natured Blue Dog, a better fit the district actually, someone who'd be better than Cuellar, but still no Lloyd Doggett or Shelia Jackson Lee.

3. No Texas candidate would really fit this qualifier, but this seat isn't going to suck up lots of money (Sklar actually outraised Paul last quarter). I'm not sure if there is anything particularly strategic either, though recent poll numbers do suggest an opening here.

John Courage

1. Netroots Presence- Totally. In fact we have 2 bloggers that are just about working on or with the campaign (myself and Matt as listed earlier).  Additionally, in Austin we have PinkDome and In the Pink Texas while tending towards the humor side of politics, have been very effective at becoming snarky attack dogs when needed. There is also the off and on updated http://tx21.blogspot.com/

2. Populist or Progressive- I think I'll have to point out here that Courage was Sen. Russ Feingold's 1st Progressive Patriot as well as DFA's first Grassroots All Star.  You can read his primary issues but Courage was highly active in the Texas for Dean campaign, he was against he Iraq war from the beginning (against it back in 2002 when he ran in the old excessively Republican 21st) and has the ability to not have to run away from Democratic values considering that a huge chunk of Progressive Autin is inside the 21st thanks to the last round of redistricting.

3. Texas is not a blue state, but if there is one place that it is, it's in Travis County (Austin) where the 21st takes in half of it. (see the 21st change from 02-06 in this map in yellow).  The I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio, the anchors of the district, is one of the fastest growing and demographically shifting.  This district had the best performance in terms of votes cast against last fall's Texas Marriage Amendment, including west Austin House swing districts that actually voted against the amendment (in Travis, the only county of 254 to vote against the amendment at all, and by 60%) as well as most all of Hays County just south of Travis, the second best performance county in the state. (map).

More recently, a State House district that was Republican in 2002, 50/50 in 2004, just went 58% Democratic in a well funded and notable special election this spring. And the neighboring district just south which is nearly identical in makeup (and went unchallenged in 2004) has become an open seat with a solid candidate and progressive as the nominee. Two of the three rural counties in the district (Hays and Blanco) are currently being represented by another Democrat who was the only Democrat in 2002 to knock off an incumbent Republican out of 150 state house races and has kept it ever since. Each of these three seats were supposed to be meant for Republicans but because of issues, money, and candidates plus hard coordinated work on the ground, they have won.

Those people are already excited locally about working with Courage who is now somewhere over $130 raised (when he raised $180k total in 2002 without any institutional support).  The campaign manager is a skilled guy but one of the new generation of activists (used to tour in a punk band until he got the politics bug).

The campaign website was designed by locals. And one spinoff site Students With Courage has already launched, as part of a UT-Austin rally against Lamar Smith, which also resulted in this great video clip series that put the campaign on the national map. (The liberal University of Texas is entirely within the district)

Lamar Smith will soon be the second longest serving member of the Texas House, elected just one cycle after Tom DeLay. He's never had serious challeneges until Courage (the 04 candidate Rhett Smith didn't campaign at all and recently ran for the Republican nomination for Governor)  The guy just sits, builds up money, and gives it away (including to DeLay's defense fund).  He needs to be at the least distracted and drained, at best, defeated.

The Unions love John and are IBEW for one is going to be doing a fundraiser for him in DC. Feingold has already come down for a fundraiser with the possibility of Wes Clark coming soon among others.  Word also recently came in that Courage would be appearing on the cover of a certain magazine this fall with other Band of Brothers members.

But even with all this, it does come down to the money at times. The DCCC is willing to target if the campaign hits $250-300k by the June 30 filing deadling. That's the biggie. And that's where in my opinion, the greatest value for a netroots targeted candidate lies. Collectively, the difference can be made to aid ongoing fundraising efforts to hit that goal. And once that is done, it will enable the money to compete in a district that has everything going for it this fall in Texas in what is probably the best pickup chance in Texas outside of the allready well funded TX-22 effort.

If there is wind to be had (and we've already seen it in TX-21 in the state house election inside it) and a wave needed this fall, I give you all of the above analysis in this comment as my thoughts on Texas to digest. I admit my bias in being in the district, but I also would be willing to bet that the other Texas bloggers on here would probably agree with the overall points made here.

Whew, maybe this should have been a diary.

Criteria 1) The VA-05 is a district buzzing with netroots activism (Waldo is sort of the blogfather around here) and a 75-80% Democratic stronghold in Charlottesville (UVA) with a strong DFA, MoveOn presence.

Criteria 2) Al Weed is a 42-year veteran and a farmer running as a populist progressive in every single way, against Virgil "MZM-Scandal" Goode, a socially-backwards, xenophobic bigot embroiled in scandal. He ran in 2004 and was skewered for his reasonable defense of gay marriage, and strong opposition to the war. Now the district is tired of Jerry Kilgore politics and suffering terribly from republican leadership (Martinsville I think has the highest military enrollment rate in the country).

As for criteria 3, this district went for Kaine in 2005, and Virgil was elected as a Democrat. In an electorate dominated by independents, no one noticed when Virgil switched parties, but they notice what's going on in the country today.

Al has been campaigning for three years, started a thinktank to promote Switchgrass and National health care in rural Virginia, and outraised Virgil in Q1. Your money will go twice as far in this district, if not farther. First of all, it's a cheap district in which to run an election, much cheaper than most northeastern states (We're talking about $700k, not 1.4 mil, and Al raised 500k last time around); second of all, Virgil is hurting from MZM, awaiting further implications out of the Wade confession, and needs nothing more than some voter education to get himself kicked to the curb.

Suck up resources or have strategic implications? Virgil is going to have to run a lot of smear ads to distract voters from his vote-selling practices, and he can certainly spend a lot of republican cash; plus, every voter turned out for Al will vote for Jim Webb in an area he has not focused much on so far.

(FD: I volunteer for Al when I'm not being a student, but I don't get paid. I write a blog to encourage people to get involved with his campaign.)

I would like to suggest my candidate, Coleen Rowley in MN-02,who today received a unanimous endorsement from the district's DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Laborer) party.

Here's my pitch:

1) Minnesota has a fairly active netroots community, with a number of politically-oriented blogs.  At the moment, there are two blogs I know of focused on this campaign, Dump John Kline and John Kline's Record (full disclosure: I publish the second of these blogs).

2) Coleen is a true progressive.  Her main priority is ethics reform, but she's also campaigning on universal health care, energy independence, and protection of civil liberties.  She has also spoken out strongly on how Republican control of Congress weakens our national security, and supported Russ Feingold's call to censure Bush.  Earlier this year, she came in a close second behind John Courage in Feingold's first Progressive Patriots competition.

3) MN-02 is a red district in a blue state.  It seems Minnesota has been trending away from blue and more into the purple in recent years, but I believe that 2006 will see the Democratic party rebound strongly in Minnesota, with not only Coleen's candidacy but that of Tim Walz and Amy Klobuchar as well (it remains to be seen which Democrat will represent Minnesota's 6th Congressional District).

4) I thought I would make this point since someone else made it above.  Coleen has done well in fundraising --- nearly $270,000, with over $100,000 on hand at the end of the first quarter --- but not outstanding.  In other words, she's clearly viable, but it's also true that a little bit of financial help from the netroots will go a long way toward picking up another House seat for the Dems --- and sending another RSC member packing.

Thank you for your consideration.

David Bailey
Rowley for Congress

I nominate Pete Ashdown, Utah- US Senate, to be added to the candidates page. Utah is a very blue state-Vush still has the highest approval ratings here, but things are changing. Over half of Utahns surveyed want someone new instead of re-electing Hatch. Hatch has been in the Senate since 1976.

You may think that there's not much of a netroots presence in Utah, but there really is. We recently organized a blogswarm for Pete Ashdown's candidacy and we are being talked about in all the political circles even Conservative ones.

IPac is interested in the race and so should the national Netroots. The more national attention that Pete gets will increase his name recognition and he definitely needs the money.

Pete's website is www.peteashdown.com
go and check out his blog and his blogroll
we need the help

Chris at YDems- www.ydems.com or ydems.blogspot.com

Tim Walz, MN-01

1. Minnesota has a strong netroots community: Drinking Liberally community of bloggers, minvolved, MnPublius, DFLers, Mn Campaign Report, etc.

In the district, Vox Verax, Blue Ox, Rochester Democrats and others (sadly, Backbone Minnesota just went on hiatus).

2. Walz is a high school math teacher and recently retired 24-year veteran of the Minnesota National Guard who decided to get more politically involved when two of his students were not allowed into a 2004 Bush rally in Mankato.

He's both populist and progressive, and reaches out to the netroots. See this additional example.

He out-fundraised the GOP incumbent last quarter.

3. The 1st is fairly conservative, but has been captured by Democrats--last one, Tim Penny, who retired from the House in 1994.

Jack Carter-NV-sen.

and Jim Webb-PA-sen

-C.

I nominate Jim Henley, who is running against the Republican incumbent John Culberson for TX-07 (Houston area).  Henley is a teacher and former Baptist minister whose progressive grassroots campaign has already galvanized many supporters with little or no previous political experience, as well as many young people.  He supports ethics reform, phased, rapid withdrawal in Iraq, energy independence, and comprehensive immigration reform.   He received over 65% of the vote in the primary.  Henley is not accepting PAC donations, and netroots support could have a significant impact on his funding.  

    His opponent John Culberson has a voting record nearly identical to Tom DeLay's. He is a  co-sponsor of the Sensenbrenner "Build a Big Fence" immigration bill and has staked an extreme conservative position on most issues.  He and DeLay have been a major obstacle to the development of public transportation in Houston, and much of his support comes from energy companies, developers, and others whose "special interests" are in conflict with the interests of his constituents.  In 2004, he took his district with 64% of the vote against a Democratic candidate who failed to mount a credible campaign.  However, with Tom DeLay's fall from power, Culberson is much more vulnerable now than in the last election, and the urban part of the district in particular is unenthusiastic about his extremist positions.

While the Democratic establishment writes us off as a hopelessly red state, Texas Democrats are out for blood this year, with vigorous campaigns at local, regional, and state levels.  Our state and local progressive blogs have already played an important role in developing momentum for Democratic efforts, including the Henley campaign. Coordination of campaign GOTV efforts means that netroots support for Jim Henley could reverberate through campaigns across the Houston area.

Chuck Pennacchio for PA-Sen

1)Pennsylvania provides Pennacchio with solid, growing netroots  support (Booman Tribune, Fasctesque, Chris Bowers of MyDD, Dragonballyee, The Cajun Jew, A  Big Fat Slob).

2)Chuck is running a PAC-free, corporate-free campaign for Senate in Pennsylvania against Bob "Santorum-lite" Casey. Chuck is a populist like no other. He has personally spoken to over 30,000 Pennsylvanians at more than 300 events. Chuck's vigorous grassroots campaign is run solely by over 6,000 volunteers. Just the other day, The Centre Daily Times (Centre County, PA) published 9 letters to the editor favoring Chuck and zero supporting Casey.

Chuck is a progressive like no other. Unlike Bob Casey, Chuck Pennacchio wants to get out of Iraq, keep the nuclear option off the table for Iran, is pro-choice, wants universal health care, and wouldn't support judges like Alito and Roberts. Most importantly, his campaign is people powered--no corporate or PAC money--so he really needs and deserves netroots money. Some people have called Chuck a "non-viable candidate," because he doesn't have enough money--that's too be accepted from someone who doesn't accept PAC and corporate money. To the naysayers, we can make Chuck "viable" by funding him!

3)Pennsylvania is a blue state in the northeast. Rick Santorum is so disliked that any Democrat can beat him. A recent Zogby poll confirms that Pennacchio can beat both Casey and Santorum when people are informed about their positions (info at www.chuck2006.com). Why should we settle for another Lieberman like Bob Casey when we can have a real Democrat in Chuck Pennacchio?

Some people here have already suggested Jack Carter and I absolutely second that. With the help of his daughter Sarah he is right now one of the most active Netroots candidates out there. He definitely needs our help since the DSCC hasn't really put this race on their map yet. So, the money from the netroots would make a very big difference. Also, Nevada is a relatively small state with a relatively cheap media market so our money could really have an impact. And if you go through all the Senate races you just realize that without trying to win in Nevada, Arizona or Virginia we will not win back the Senate this year.

Furthermore, Nevada has the potential of turning blue this year. CD-01 is held by Democrat Shelley Berkley, the in 2002 created CD-03 sees a very serious challenge by former Reid staffer Tessa Hafen against incumbent Jon Porter.

CD-02, which covers virtually all of Nevada except the area around Las Vegas, is an open seat. The Republicans are battling it out in a three way primary with one club of growth style candidate largely financed from out of state and another candidate being the wife of the incumbent (who is now running for Governor) the Democrats have a very strong candidate in Jill Derby.

Derby managed to outraise her Republican opponents in the first quarter, she was within the margin of error in a recent poll against the incumbent's wife. I have recently written a diary on this race: Jill Derby within the Margin of Error in Republican NV-02.

Interestingly the DCCC has actually realized the potential of Nevada and has included both Hafen and Derby on their "Red to Blue" list.

All I'm saying is that we need to put Nevada on the map as well and I suggest we do so with at least one of the candidates mentioned above.

His primary is in nine days. A burst of net roots support could give him the ability to increase his visibility. He has made over 300 campaign appearances. He is the darling of the netroots throughout the state and is a charismatic progressive leaders who MANY say could be the next Paul Wellstone. He is running against Bob Casey, who the centrist and DLC elements of the DLC "annointed" as their chosen candidate. Zogby polling shows that Casey loses his big 17 point  lead entirely(as he did in his losing race against Rendell for the governor's seat) when voters find out about his stand on issues.

Pennacchio has great positions on the issues and could be a dream senator for progressives.

A one week burst of funding from progressives could give him the money to buy media that could help him point out the differences between him and help him GOTV.

If Pennacchio beats the odds and wins, he will become the most famous person in America on May 17th, the day after the primary. All the news weeklies will put him on the cover and he will become the beloved underdog who will be catapulted into an incredible populist position to beat Santorum. Money will pour in. The same senators who did fund raising for Casey will do it for Pennacchio. Net roots will pour money into his campaign because his coattails will carry other democratic candidates throughout the state. And then, when he gets to congress, he'll be the only senator elected without PAC money.

The beautiful thing is, putting money into Pennacchio is a no-lose situation. If he wins, it's an incredible investment. If he loses, but pulls more than he's predicted to, then that's a strong statement about the netroots power. And if he loses, then Casey, the annointed one, will be there, ready to carry on the race.

Chuck is a small d Democrat, which means he stands for a set of convictions; convictions the majority of Democratic voters share, and that the PA and national Democratic parties have chosen to deemphasize or disregard.  You don't act on your convictions (or build unity) by selling them out.  How often do we have to hear people say that Democrats don't stand for anything before we get it that people won't vote for Democrats if they don't stand for anything?

Why are people are so passionate about Chuck?  Why are large numbers of them willing to spend a beautiful day like today canvassing?  It's precisely because he is advocating hard for Universal Health Care, Expanded Stem Cell research, Living Wage, Choice, World-class education, an end to the War, progressive taxation, and everything Democrats actually believe in.  And because he's willing to fight.  The Democratic Party that asks our unquestioning allegiance has lost 10.5% of its turnout since 1998 by selling out.  We can't continue to do it and remain a viable party.

There is an opportunity here to take our party back from the brain trust that has been losing elections -- the House, the Senate, the Presidency -- since the early 'nineties, but still maintains they know best.  I'm personally sick to death of party paternalism.  And with Casey crashing in the polls, I gather I'm not alone.

I agree with everything Chris said on this matter the other day.  It's a primary; vote your beliefs.  Chuck Pennacchio for US Senate.

Jerry McNerney for CA-11 fits all your criteria exactly.

1) Strong netroots support--His first run was primarily supported by East Bay for Democracy and Silicon Valley for Dean. This time, support has spread through most of the former Dean groups in Northern California from Santa Cruz to Sonoma. Lacking Pombo's war chest, volunteers are holding cellphone phone banks and driving all over the huge district to canvass. The volunteer energy is amazing.

2) Strong populist/progressive stances--Jerry is a quiet man, not given to passionate speeches. But, as a man who has spent his professional life working in the alternative energy field, he is passionate--and knowlegeable--about ending American dependence on foreign oil. As a father with a son in active duty, he is passionate about ending an unwinneable war in Iraq and preventing one in Iran. As a small businessman, he is passionate about supporting the American economy. Though he expresses these passions quietly, his quiet strength on these and other issues has continued to win him dedicated supporters.

3) Blue state--Though the California coast is true blue, inland areas have been strongly Republican for many years. As population density grows in these inland empires, California is precariously balanced. This district has been considered a safe Republican one for many years. But with McNerney's surprisingly strong showing last time (suprising because he was running as a first-time candidate with no money and no name recognition), and the number of environmental and clean-money groups arrayed against his Republican opponent Richard Pombo, the seat now looks winnable. And, after winning the endorsement at the California State Democratic Party convention last weekend over his DCCC-backed primary opponent with over 70% of the vote, and the backing of the Progressive Democrats of America--McNerney looks like an even more viable opponent.

This is a true chance to beat back the Republican tide encroaching on coastal California. To beat an incumbent congressman who is dirty in more than a few ways, and to support a progressive candidate with strong netroots backing. Like Francine Busby, Jerry McNerney is not the choice of the Party establishment. They've backed a former Republican who, in the words of one convention obserever, gave a "mean" speech at the endorsement caucus when it was clear he was losing. And lost, even with the physical support of former Senator Max Cleland (there to give the keynots speech and to support the stupid "fighting Dems" strategy). But, like the Busby campaign, local Democrats are sending the DC establishment a clear message about who they want--Jerry McNerney!

To find out how you can support Jerry McNerney, go to www.jerrymcnerney.com

Chris in Santa Cruz

(Truth in posting, the campaign paid me $100 in January to help write a brochure. However, I am not paid to blog. Nor have I received any payment for the writing I did for the the campaign before or after that.)

I'd like to second the nomination of Al Weed -- VA-05.  He meets 2 1/2 of your criteria.

1.  Good netroots presence in the District.

2.  Excellent progressive candidate.

2 1/2.  Virginia is not in the northeast, and it is not in a state recognized as being blue.  But Virginia is going to be a netroots battleground state in 2006, going up against George ("Mr. Confederate Flag 2006") Allen.  The netroots candidate is Jim Webb for Senate, and if he gets the nomination for Senate, it's GONNA BE FUN!

As for the 5th District -- it went for Mark Warner in 2001, and Tim Kaine in 2005.  The incumbent is Virgil ("MZM's Representative 'A'") Goode.  For those of you who have not been following things, when MZM's Mitchell Wade was indicted, the indictment to which he pled guilty alleged that MZM illegally funnelled $46,000 in campaign contributions to Representative A's re-election campaign account, and that MZM was looking for (and received) Congressional approval for an earmarked $9 million expenditure to locate a new facility in Representative A's district.  Those familiar with Patrick Fitzgerald's prosecutorial style suggest that those who have been named as "Representative A" in one indictment tend to end up as "Defendant A" in a later indictment.

I believe that Virgil is either going down or is going to be seriously wounded in the next few months.  

Al Weed ran two years ago and got clobbered.  So what's different now?  

1.  Even in the 5th, folks are fed up with Washington.

2.  Al has learned something.  As has been said before, the only way you learn how to be a Congressional candidate is to be a Congressional candidate.

3.  Al now has some name recognition.

4.  His work on biofuels has begun to attract some serious attention in the District, which has been heavily dependent on tobacco for generations and is looking for another crop.

5.  MZM.

Al Weed is a candidate that netroots folks would be proud to support.  Virgil Goode is a candidate that netroots folks would be proud to defeat.

A simple choice is offered to you all

here are some great cannidates.

James Webb VA - Senate.  

Deval Patrick - MA Governor (the only person when the time comes who will be able to keep a lock on Kennedy's Senate seat)

Kirstan Gildabrand - NY 20th CD

and last but not least

Jack Carter NV - Senate

I would like to nominate Patrick Murphy in the PA-8 District.

1. Netroots wise, several larger bloggers in the area have been covering the race including AboveAverageJane, Atrios, and a few others.

2. He's in PA, in a race that many put in the top 25 house races, with a decent chance of beating the incumbant Congressman.

3. The incumbant is a freshman, and one with close ties to Rick Santorum and the current GOP establishment.

4. Murphy outraised the incumbant last quarter, but is still down money, and needs the help.

5. The campaign has worked to reach out to the netroots, working with its own blog www.murphy06.com/blog, and getting coverage on blogs at events like Drinking Liberally.

I think we should support Amy Klobuchar. The MN-Sen race is a critical race. Amy has taken the time to post on DailyKos and take questions from folks in the community. She also reaches out to local bloggers. She invited local bloggers to chat with her over drinks recently.

I think the netroots should start picking some Senate races to get involved in and of course, I wouldn't mind a little more gender balance on the list.

Visit AmyKlobuchar.com to learn more.

I see some great nominations in this comments section that I agree with, particularly Patrick Murphy, Al Weed, Chuck Pennacchio-- something we should have done in January when Casey showed his true colors by gratuitously endorsing Alito-- Coleen Rowley, John Courage, Paul Hodes, Chris Carney, Marcy Winograd, Bernie Sanders, Lois Murphy, John Laesch, and Linda Stender. But there are 2 candidates facing primaries from shills representing the Inside the Beltway Democratic Establishment that I really want to get behind: Jerry McNerney (CA-11), who has been mentioned here a few times already, and Jan Schneider (FL-13), who has not. These are both great candidates who I have already added to the Down With Tyranny ACT BLUE Page. But that isn't all they have in common. Both ran against entrenched incumbents last time and both did shockingly well, McNerney as a write-in candidate against Richard Pombo! Jan, running a progressive, grassroots campaign against the execrable, lavishly financed Katherine Harris, garnered the strongest showing against a Republican incumbent in the state of Florida.

Instead of recognizing an opportunity to take these two districts by nurturing the grassroots candidates, Rahm Emanuel (speaking of execrable) and the Inside the Beltway Democratic Establishment found their own shills to run. McNerney and Schneider are far two independent-minded for the likes of Emanuel and Hoyer. Schneider, though badly outspent, already beat Emanuel's hollow ex-Republican shill once before. And in California, McNerney seems to have all the grassroots support and was even endorsed, overwhelmingly, last week-- the same week the disgraceful DCCC endorsed his ex-Republican opponent (gotta hand it to Emanuel; he's consistent in his love for people who switch party registrations even if they hold on to their old ideas)-- by the California Democratic Party convention.

We should have gotten behind Christine Cegelis in a big way. She could have won. We have an opportunity here to go to bat for two true grassroots progressives who will make great members of Congress. And, in the process, we can perhaps cut down the folks we will be fighting after the Democrats become the congressional majority and Emanuel starts proving what we all claim is untrue-- that corruption and elitism are indeed bipartisan.

Jim Webb in the Virginia Senate race fits this definition to a tee.  His candidacy, in part, started from the netroots.

Listen to the new audio on the front page of the Jim Webb for Senate campaign site and find out why.

Jack Davis, NY-26, running in a rematch of his 2004 race against Tom Reynolds.  He got 44% of the vote in 2004, but since this is a potential Democratic sweep year he could win this time.  Tom Reynolds is chair of the NRCC.  Jack Davis is founder of http://www.saveamericanjobs.us/index.sht ml, Save American Jobs which supports fair trade as opposed to "free" trade.

I also support all the Jim Webb nominations.  Webb is our best hope for taking out George Allen, and he needs all the support he can get to overcome Allen's $10 million war chest.  Paul Wellstone overcame a huge Republican war chest in 1990 with an entirely grassroots campaign and Webb can too.

Also please consider:
Allan Lichtman (MD-Senate), especially if you are getting sick of all the attention on the Cardin-Mfume horse race.  Horse races should not be what the netroots is about.  You can say no to the horse race by supporting somebody besides the two frontrunners.

Cynthia Matthews, CA-26, rematch against David Dreier.  Matthews gave Dreier his strongest ever competition for the seat two years ago.

Peggy Lamm, CO-7.  If nothing else, as a way of showing disapproval of the person posting astroturf to MyDD attacking her.

I also think Al Weed (VA-05) is an excellent choice. He has been working against a conservation opponent in the Primary Caucus process and the district Convention is two weeks away. Even though Al has gotten enough delegates to effectively take the nomination, his opponent is now trying to get these pledged delegates to change their votes at the convention. So, it will be a fight just for the nomination until the very end.

The 5th District is the largest district in Virginia and covers 22 localities (cities and counties). Al has put lots of miles on his vehicles and lots of time on the clock visiting every one of these areas. He has worked very hard over the last few years to find out more about the district's problems and to identify possible solutions. He has come up with several ideas that could benefit the district and help the constituents in this time of economic hardship.

He also answers the hard questions about his stand on the issues. He has developed position papers on each issue and posted them on his website for all to see. There is no hidden agenda with Al Weed. He is as dissatisfied with our representation in Congress (Virgil Goode) as everyone else. Virgil has been around for 10 years and things have gotten worse, not better. He spends more time worrying about building a fence along the border than developing working solutions for his district.  

I know that Al would appreciate any help that could be sent his way.

I would like to recommend Mark Wilson - Democrat for US Senate in Washington. Mark is running as a Progressive alternative to incumbent DLC Senator Maria Cantwell in the September Primary Election. The winner will take on recently retired Safeco Ins. CEO, Mike (Don't call me Slade) McGavick.
   Many will say that Mark is undeserving because he can't match the $$$$$$ of the incumbent. I would ask if that isn't exactly why he should be endorsed? Mark's campaign is about and for the people having a true representative voice in DC. He does not have the connections of a corporate (Real Networks) millionaire or the reach of the state party and its "protect our incumbents" fundraising machine. Mark is reaching out directly to the people via his website, email, word of mouth and, most importantly, direct outreach to as many organizations as will allow him access. For his efforts, Mark has earned the personal endorsements of Democrats from across the state, the Progressive Caucus of Snohomish County Democrats, and the 38th LD Democrats.
   Mark's platform speaks volumes to the true Progressive Democratic agenda:

http://votemark.org

As your next United States Senator
Mark Wilson will work to:

* Bring an immediate end to our nation's ill conceived costly adventure in Iraq

• Protect Social Security
  
• Oppose: NAFTA, CAFTA, WTO. Repeal Taft-Hartley
  
• Direct 50% of weapons spending to conversion from fossil fuels to renewable energy, which will build bridges to peace while creating jobs
  
• Refocus our troops on national defense
  
• Enforce air and water quality standards
  
• Establish a National Peace Academy
  
• Support basic education, kindergarten through age 20
  
• End the tragic, costly, and misguided war on drugs
  
• Make sure health care becomes the right of all Americans

  I hope that all who are concerned about true Progressive ideals and values will give serious consideration to this campaign.

No new names from me, but I suggest strongly that we keep the number of chosen candidates low.  Support of too many risks dillution of our strength.

Also, I would include a standard of a small enough venue where net support can have an impact.  For example, stay out of state-wide races in big states.

Finally, although I do not know of particular candidates, I suggest we fight in a couple of state legislature and state senate races in Colorado, Michigan, and/or other states where a close majority can be seized or needs protection.  

One of the most Progressive candidate out there running in a race that the netroots money can make a big diffrence in. Bob Bowman is a fighting Democrat a pilot during the vietnam war who in 2000 ran for President on the Reform party ticket this time he is running for Congress as a Democrat to defeat Dave Weldon. Dave Weldon is connected to Abro-Gate or whatever you want to call it and is known for breaking his term limits pledge and for breaking the Checks and Balences system of our government by keeping Terry Schivo alive agenst her will. He needs to go this year and we need to make this seat Blue again. http://bowman2006.com/

Jim Webb is EXACTLY the kind of candidate we Democrats need to "Crash the Gate." In short, Webb is an outsider, a populist/progressive/social libertarian, and a reformer in the year of Jack Abramoff.  Webb has been endorsed by Wes Clark, Paul Hackett, Bob Kerrey, Tony Zinni, and many others, like liberal former Congresswoman Leslie Byrne and openly gay Arlington County Board member Jay Fisette.  Word is that Harry Reid is going to back Webb as well.  Mark Warner is holding a fundraiser for Webb this coming Thursday in Arlington. Finally, Webb is THE candidate of the netroots in Virginia, supported by nearly every blogger in the state and hundreds of grassroots activists who "drafted" him to run.  In contrast, Webb's opponent Harris Miller is a long-time lobbyist (for outsourcing, H1-B visas, Diebold, etc.) who has almost no grassroots support at all.  

For more on Jim Webb, please see here.

Thanks.

Mark Wilson, a veteran for peace, is the Democratic challenger for US Senate in Washington State. The seat is now held by a pro-war Democrat who voted for the PATRIOT Act (twice), for NAFTA & CAFTA, and recently co-sponsored a bill with Rick Santorum. Mark is a champion of civil liberties and a sensible progressive Democrat. His campaign is picking up steam but the incumbent will outspend him. Grassroots support is the key.

My recommendation: support Jim Webb for US Senate in Virginia, running against George Allen. Virginia is shifting from red to purple, a bluer purple every day. Webb is the only candidate who can defeat Bush-clone George Allen and forestall Allen's delusions of grandeur--- Allen thinks, if he wins re-election to the Senate he is a natural to become POTUS in 2008. God help us all.  

Webb is truly a grassroots candidate, drafted by the progressive grassroots to run, supported by the largest volunteer army in Virginia's history, and running in a primary against a machine Democrat (who is more Republican than Democrat in reality--- Harris Miller). Webb has the credentials and the charisma to clean Allen's clock. All he needs is money to run a strong  campaign with a powerful progressive message..

Webb is a progressive Democrat (he began life as a Democrat, became a luke-warm Republican when, upon returning from Vietnam as a wounded Marine, he found Carter granting amnesty to draft dodgers; he returned to the Democrats because he could not stomach the hypocrisy and the social agenda of the Repubs). He served as Asst. Sec. of Defense and Sec. of the Navy under Reagan, resigned over a policy disagreement. He is a successful, award-winning author ("Fields of Fire" and other combat novels), author of a successful screen play ("Rules of Engagement"), a prize-winning journalist, and, more recently author of "Born Fighting." It was while researching this book, a history of the Scots-Irish in America, that he realized he was a progressive, Jacksonian Democrat, and that this country under Bush had gone far off track, leading him to accept a grassroots draft to become a candidate for the US Senate.

With this war hero, this articulate, thoughtful and charismatic leader in the US Senate, we would be well on the way to putting America back on the right track. Help now, put Webb on your list of Netroot Candidates please.

Support Jim Webb for US Senate in Virginia, running against George Allen. Virginia is shifting from red to purple, bluer daily. Webb is the only candidate who can defeat Bush-clone George Allen and forestall Allen's delusions of grandeur--- once re-elected, Allen intends to become POTUS in 2008. God help us.  

Webb is truly a grassroots candidate, drafted by the grassroots to run, supported by the largest volunteer army in Virginia's history.  Charismatic, with a strong progressive message, Webb can win.

Kirsten Gillibrand most definitely.

Another vote for Pennacchio.  He is just such a breath of fresh air.  We need his wisdom and passionate commitment to progressive politics in the Senate.

PATTY WETTERLING, MN-6

Patty is a progressive populist running for a seat she lost by only 8 points in 2004 to incumbent Mark Kennedy. This year,  the seat is OPEN and the lady she's running against, Michelle Bachmann, is an extremist, openly anti-gay, right-wing republican. Wetterling was leading in US-SENATE polls (over Klobuchar!!) before she dropped out to run for congress for financial reasons (Klobuchar is the insider). In short, this race is extremely winnable, and Wetterling is a very strong candidate. She is immensely popular in Minnesota, with a history of child-rights advocacy since the disappearance of her son 16 years ago. I urge the blogosphere to contribute to this race.

I also support Rich Lesh for MO-2; it will be difficult, but Akin=Bush, and Missourians really hate Bush.

Darcy Burner, 8th CD, Washington State.

Hello Matt,

Previous people have mentioned Darcy Burner (WA-8) and Jim Hansen (ID-2), and I will second those nods. Hansen is especially interesting; he isn't taking more than $100 from anyone, so his is truly a grassroots campaign, plus he has a good web presence.

But I also want to give a nod to Larry Grant,

http://larrygrant.typepad.com/blog/

who will be the Dem nominee for the OPEN Idaho-1 seat being vacated by Butch Otter. He'll face the winner of a six-way GOP primary (May 23) that features such bomb-throwers as Bill Sali and Robert Vasquez. Whoever emerges from the GOP dogfight is going to be bloodied and broke, making this an unusually good year for Dems' chances in ID-1 even before you take the national GOP's woes into account.

On top of that, Larry Grant is an unusually strong Democratic candidate in ID-1, a district that has seen its share of sacrificial lambs since the last Dem held the seat (Larry LaRocco, 1990-1994). As a vice president of Micron in the 1980s and 1990s, Larry Grant helped build a then-fledgling semiconductor company into Idaho's largest private employer (and the reason Idaho even has a tech sector in the first place)! He later worked in Silicon Valley before retiring. His business smarts and high-tech background make him a great fit for this race, this year.

Larry is a progressive (though pragmatic) candidate who has never before run for public office. His main aims are to end the corrupt atmosphere and inept bungling in Washington, to attack deficit spending by reinstating the pay-as-you-go rules in Congress, and to get U.S. troops out of Iraq by encouraging Iraqis to resume running their own country.

Full dislosure: I run Larry Grant's blog, Grassroots for Grant. I'd been active in the Dean campaign, DFA, etc. and Larry came to me last fall and asked whether he could hire me to start an online community for him. You have to appreciate someone who not only seeks netroots support but will actually pay to make it happen!

Please consider Larry Grant for Netroots support.

Coleen Rowley is a grass-roots type candidate running a self-directed and independently minded campaign in Minnesota.  Though she has just received the endorsement of the Minnesota DFL (Democrat/Farm and Labor) party, she is definitely not a woman to be led around by her nose. Her main issues are:
Fighting the middle class squeeze,
Getting out of Iraq in as quick and orderly a manner as possible,
Maintaining our drive for national security without a draconian attack on civil and human rights,
A drive for greater educational funding and policy,
Improving health care on the road to universal health care.

Coleen has gained my respect with her dedication to ethical behavior, personal integrity and independent thinking.  I believe she would be a congresswoman who would offer, support, and vote for, legislation that will benefit working families and that encourages fairness and justice.  Coleen knows what it means to earn a living and seems very well-grounded in the realities of the working class.

Mrs Rowley's opponent in the district is a one-termer who narrowly won in the last election and has done no independent work for the district during his term.  He has nearly universally voted with the party leadership and has done nothing to distinguish himself.  Minnesota voters have a lot of common sense.  They do not like extreme candidates.  I think this bodes well for Mrs Rowley, a no-nonsense, common sense candidate.

Most sincerely and earnestly,
Steve Symeonides

Chuck Pennacchio gets my vote.  He needs our support.  He is the clear grassroots, populist candidate running against a candidate who is the complete opposite of your criteria.  We need to show the Democratic Party that this IS a direct democracy and we support grassroots candidates who are responsive to the people.  Thanks.

I'd like to nominate John Pavich to the netroots page. I created a diary about him with more information at MyDD-- http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/5/9/18294 1/8221

John perfectly fits almost all of the criteria listed, but beyond this, he's a great candidate with a notable outsider resume and credentials. John was an undercover officer in the CIA--until he decided to run for congress out of extreme concern for the way things were being run in D.C. and the Agency.

Here are some basic reasons why John deserves the Netroots' support:

• The district is becoming more Democratic. Dem registration is surpassing Republican. It went 48% Kerry, and heavily for Obama and Durbin. The partisan voting index is less than +3R.
  
• Jerry Weller is tied up in both the Wilkes scandal and some of his own ethical misadventures.
  
• John's campaign has shown a willingness to engage the grassroots and netroots and get people involved.
  
• John's has gained endorsements and great support from labor, and has outpaced the incumbent in individual contributions.

Read more about John at http://www.pavichforcongress.com

Thanks!

Chuck Pennacchio!  For all the reasons already stated.  And HURRY!  Our primary is on May 16th.