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While DC Democratic leadership waffles, rank-and-file Democrats are fighting & winning [1]

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Date: 2025-03-26

Washington DC

Waiting for the Democratic leadership in Washington to come up with a winning plan is an exercise in self-abuse. So, let's forget them and focus on the individual Democrats who are making a difference.

Pennsylvania

Today's poster child for this victory through local effort is James Malone. This newly minted PA State Senator just won his election in a district that had voted for Trump by 15% less than 6 months ago.

Also, in a special election for PA House District 35, the Democrat Dan Goughnour beat the Republican Charles Davis by 28%. Granted, it was a safe blue seat, but political success requires that, beyond winning new seats, you have to hold on to what you already have. Mission accomplished.

Fighting Oligarchy Tour

Although neither is up for reelection this year, large and adoring hordes greeted the old and the new of left-wing politics — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — on their recent Fighting Oligarchy Tour .

While leadership dithers, happy left-wing warriors are taking their message on the road where average Americans eager to hear it. And soon some of the citizens hungry for change, sanity, and politicians who care for the voters, will make themselves heard.

Next week, there are three key elections. A State Supreme Court judgeship in Wisconsin. And two US House seats in Florida.

Wisconsin

The race in Wisconsin pits the liberal Susan Crawford , A Dane County judge, against conservative Brad Schimel, a former state AG. (Note: In Yiddish, Schlemiel means an "inept/incompetent person" or a "fool" — close enough?)

On April 1, voters will decide whether this swing state will legally support the constitution, women's rights, minority rights, voting rights, and government on a social leash. Or whether it will enable MAGA, Project 2025, and government in the bedroom and up uteri to flourish.

Beyond the issues, the race, which polls show is neck and neck, Crawford has made the race a referendum on Elon Musk. Groups affiliated with the immigrant South African neo-apartheidist have spent at least $13 million backing Schimel in the election, as tallied by The Washington Post. Musk's America PAC alone gave more than $6 million. Why? For Musk, it is about adding to his fortune at the expense of decency and everyone else. In addition, a right-wing court could put a conservative thumb on a swing state's electoral scales in 2026 and 2028.

Crawford's message has been , "Do you want an avaricious, unelected, foreign-born plutocrat undermining the American experiment for personal gain?" Schimel's message is, "Yes, we do."

Musk has also tried to buy the election by offering $100 to everyone who signs a "Petition in Opposition to Activist Judges." The GOP used the geographical and demographic information gleaned from that bribery to get out that vote. Dirty pool? Probably. Lets see if Wisconsinites disdain that self-dealing.

Florida

In DeSantistan, the Republicans will have to defend two open red seats. Florida 1 , the erstwhile base of the alleged drug-addled statutory rapist, Matt Gaetz. And Florida 6, the previous political home of Mike Waltz, the now notorious Trump National Security Advisor who infamously shared US battle plans with a journalist on a private messaging app.

In normal times, there would be little to see here. In 2024, Gaetz won his Redneck Rivera district by 32%. And it has been 30 years since a Democrat held the seat. It is not realistic to think their 2025 candidate, Gay Valimont — who was the loser to Gaetz last November — will win. But if she can significantly narrow the margin, it will be a wake-up call to all those MAGA reps who thought they were in relatively safe GOP seats.

Those newly-awake MAGA roll-overs will change their political outlook if they realize they must do more than simply win the Republican primary to keep their snouts in the public trough.

Florida 6 was also once a lock for the GOP — Waltz won last November by 33%. However, recent polls show only a 4% lead for Republican Randy Fine over Democrat Josh Weil. A difference which falls within the 4.9% margin of error. Money also tells a significant story. Weil has raised over $10 million. Fine less than $1 million. This lack of plutocrat backing proves that Musk is not interested in electing Republicans if there is no immediate benefit to him.

The race is close enough that the Democrats dare to dream of an upset. But even a single-digit win for Fine will be another red flag for MAGA Reps who thought general elections were a formality.

Back to DC

Even in the Capital, there is life in the Democratic trenches. As the dust-dry Chuck Schumer stares impotently over his glasses and Hakeem Jeffries unleashes his inner J. Alfred Prufrock and wonders, "How should I begin?" there is a fire in the loins of Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) — and others in the Democratic House caucus.

Crockett caught incoming from performatively outraged Republicans after she referred to the wheelchair-bound Greg Abbott as "Governor Hot Wheels." Instead of apologizing, the firebrand told Republicans to stop being whiny little bitches (not her exact words). And pointed out that their boy had started it. These are her words:

"At no point did I mention or allude to his condition. So, I'm even more appalled that the very people who unequivocally support Trump — a man known for racially insensitive nicknames and mocking those with disabilities — are now outraged."

On Wednesday, she took the fight to her nemesis, MT Greene. In a hearing over DOGE's plan to defund public broadcasting, Crockett pointed out that axing PBS & NPR would harm Greene's constituents.

"In fact, Georgia Public Broadcasting serves as the official distributor of evacuation route during state evacuations, and the chairwoman is here advocating to strip their funding."

She then told the truth about Project 2025's wet dream — despite Green’s ineffectual attempt to hammer Crockett into silence.

"Look, the DOGE agenda isn't about efficiency; it's about breeding corruption at the expense of the safety of the American people, particularly rural and remote parts of the country. They don't care about public safety. They don't care about emergency management. They don't care about free speech, all of which are harming the American people."

More please.

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