The bad news: last year the MAGA leadership in the House blocked Senate bills, kicked funding the government down the road three times, and pursued vindictive show trials. The good news: we only need to flip 5 seats and defend the seats we won in 2022 to regain the majority. Much attention is on the Unrepresentatives, also called the Biden 18. These are potentially flippable seats where Republicans won in 2022 in a district that Biden won, and often by a very slim margin.
For February, let’s narrow the focus with early primaries and a “nesting” strategy. Such a strategy concentrates on states with both House and Senate seats we care about. The idea is that increasing turnout for the Senate seat will help get votes for the House seats (and for President Biden). Arizona works well with our nesting strategy and California is our next primary opportunity.
Arizona
Arizona has two of the “Biden 18,” David Schweikert (AZ-01), co-founder of the Republican “Freedom” Caucus and Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), an anti-choice and anti LGBTQ crusader.
Force Multiplier has identified an emerging candidate to support for AZ-06, Democrat Kristen Engel. Previously elected to the Arizona State Senate, she has good qualifications and name recognition. Engel ran against Ciscomani in 2022. That election was so close; she fell short by only 5,232 votes or 1.5%. The Arizona primary is very late, August 6, and she needs support now to combat Republican attacks. Donate
Unrepresentative David Schweikert (AZ-01) also had a very slim victory, 3,195 votes or 0.8%. The Democratic primary in AZ-01 is very crowded, and we are watching for an emerging candidate here. In the meantime, we can help with donations to our excellent Arizona grassroot groups, LUCHA, NEAZ Dems and RAZA, and by sending messaging postcards for the Senate race.
California
California is home to five UnRepresentative districts (CA 13, 22, 27, 40 and 45). We can make an early difference here because of their voter-nominated primary, which takes place March 5, 2024.
All candidates, regardless of party, are listed on one ballot and the top two candidates, regardless of party, advance to the general election. We are working for turnout in these primaries because people who vote in the primary are much more likely to vote in November. Support for Democrats in the primary also strengthens candidates for November. Find Postcard opportunities here.
In addition, Force Multiplier has identified an emerging candidate to support for CA-13, Democrat Adam Gray. Previously elected to the California State Assembly, he has good qualifications and name recognition. Gray ran against Jon Duarte in 2022, and lost by a mere 564 votes or 0.4%. Let’s get him early support to fight Republican attacks. Donate