Vulnerable Democrats Need Help Now
With the latest announcement of a VP pick, the Harris-Waltz campaign is thriving and breaking fundraising records, but some Democrats holding critical seats in the Senate and House are still at risk.
Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign confirmed yesterday that the Harris Walz ticket pulled in a whopping $36 million in the first 24 hours after Harris announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. This, added to the $200 million Harris raised in the seven days after President Biden withdrew from the race and Harris launched her White House bid, makes it clear that the electorate is excited about the fresh Democratic ticket and their chances of beating Trump.
But a new poll out today from Emerson College highlights the ongoing problem for Democratic races in the House and Senate, that haven’t seen a boom in fundraising or numbers since Biden left the race. This new data tells us just how close the senatorial race has turned out to be in Montana, as Democratic incumbent Senator Jon Tester now maintains only a narrow lead over his Republican challenger, Tim Sheehy.
To be fair, some of these races are in red states, where the political backlash from the recent Democratic switch up from conservative voters means that the race was always expected to be difficult to win. But the slim majority Democrats maintain in the Senate, combined with the minority they face in the House of Representatives makes these races all the more critical for the rest of the country.
The US Senate currently has 51 Democrats (including three independents) and 49 Republicans. There are 34 seats up for re-election in 2024, including one special election in Nebraska, and 23 of those seats are held by Democrats or Independents. Republicans can retake control with a net gain of two seats total or by winning the 2024 presidential election, which includes the Vice President’s vote, along with a net gain of one seat.
While it is important to fund and fuel the Harris Walz ticket to ensure that Donald Trump does not ever take control of the White House again, it is also an important time to support vulnerable Democrats, who are essential in implementing the Harris agenda once she takes office. Polls are not always accurate, but they are a great way to glimpse a shift in electorate perception during critical times leading up to the election. Below are some highlighted races, with quick links for donations, so you can get involved in protecting vulnerable Democratic races today.
Senator Sherrod Brown (Ohio) faces a strong challenge from Trump-aligned Republican Bernie Moreno. Brown was a vocal proponent for Biden stepping down after he received enormous pressure from constituents in his conservative state. Ohio's mix of urban and rural voters, along with its status as a bellwether state, makes it a key battleground in the race for control of the Senate, and this is a seat Democrats can not afford to lose. Donate to Sherrod Brown here.
Senator Jacky Rosen (Nevada) is running a close race in her home state against Sam Brown, a retired Army captain who earned a Purple Heart when he was wounded by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Brown, who unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination for Nevada’s other Senate seat in 2022, has made successful gains as Democrats move to defend another blue seat in a pivotal swing state. Republicans are aiming to reverse a decade of Democratic dominance in federal races and are looking to build on the success of their gubernatorial race in 2022. Donate to Jacky Rosen here.
Jon Tester (Montana) will make an appearance with Harris and Walz this Saturday in his home state, but like Brown and Rosen, he will be skipping the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in order to continue campaigning locally. In an attempt to seize some of the momentum from the Harris campaign, Tester has launched a “Republicans for Tester” group in order to help boost cross-over voting in a red state. Tester is gearing up for a tough reelection campaign as he takes on Republican Tim Sheehy in the November election, and recent polling has Sheehy making gains. Donate to Jon Tester here.
The following Democratic Members of Congress are also running close races and will be unable to attend the DNC due to the impending need to campaign locally, or are considering skipping the convention in order to stay in their districts. I have linked their website pages to the names so you can learn more about each candidate and consider supporting them today.
Matt Cartwright (Pennsylvania)
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Washington)
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Amee Vanderpool writes the SHERO Newsletter, is an attorney, published author, contributor to newspapers and magazines, and an analyst for BBC radio. She can be reached at avanderpool@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter @girlsreallyrule.
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We strongly need campaign reform. This strategy of constantly begging voters for money by all the various campaigns has to end. I have always pushed for ending Citizens United but that is not even enough. People's votes not money should talk. How Democratic is a system of money wins? It is time we completely reform our elections. From the federal government dictating state's processes in holding elections, uniformity, to recalculating their representation in Congress. Which leads to how to resolve the problem with the electoral college. A system that just invites corruption. We have created an electoral complex that in and of itself has become so financially successful we are losing the will to right the ship. Our elections should not be capitalist endeavors.