It’s Day 2 of Operation Blue Arizona, and we have some new Balloon Juice Angels!
Angel Summary for Day 2
We have angels for 3 of our thermometers today!
lurker – Worker Power
silvery – Four Directions (+ external match!) so 4x matching
anonymous – Arizona Candidates
Since you guys are already familiar with Worker Power and Four Directions, I’ll include details about the candidates in this post, but just include the thermometers for the rest. But if you have any questions, or you would like more information, let me know in the comments and I’ll include that in tomorrow’s post.
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U.S. Congress
Amish Shah. Shah is an emergency room physician and State Representative who is taking on perpetually vulnerable Republican Congressman David Schweikert. Schweikert retained his seat by only 3,000 votes in 2022. Shah is running on protecting Medicare, border security and reproductive freedom. Shah had to survive a primary in August, and needs the cash.
Kirsten Engel. This is a rematch between first term Republican Congressman Juan Ciscomani and challenger Kirsten Engel. In 2022, he won by only 1.5% in an off-year election. Engel is currently ahead in fundraising, but insiders in AZ warn of an upcoming Republican money bomb.
Arizona State Legislature
- Republicans control the state Senate 16-14
- Republicans control the House 31-29.
- A Democratic flip will protect voting rights.
- The state Republican party is batshit crazy and in total disarray.
While there are any number of potential candidates to support, we’re targeting four candidates in Legislative Districts 16 and 17 (Tucson and Casa Grande), where the Worker Power team we’re helping support is canvassing.
Keith Seaman: Keith was a retired teacher and Legislator who was so outraged by Dobbs that he ran for a Republican state seat in 2022 and won. Barely. This is our only retention play.
Stacy Seaman: Stacy is Keith’s daughter, a school teacher running to flip a House Republican seat. The Seaman family is well known and respected in Pinal County (Casa Grande).
Kevin Volk: Kevin is a young Tucson native, former intern for Gabby Giffords and started a small business owner focused on building affordable housing. Another potential flip.
John Mclean: John is a retired CEO, running for Senate on reproductive rights and fiscal responsibility, against a dangerous Republican.
Maricopa County Recorder
Tim Stringham (former JAG officer)
The office of Maricopa County Recorder is arguably Arizona’s second most important election protection official. The Recorder oversees elections in Arizona’s most populous County, with over 60% of the state’s population. The Republican is a notorious election denier who refuses to debate the Democratic candidate we’re supporting.
lowtechcyclist
Just gave $250 to the candidates, split equally among the four state legislature candidates and the Maricopa County Recorder candidate.
WaterGirl
@lowtechcyclist: You did your math! :-) $250 divides nicely by 5!
Thank you!
divF
I gave $250 each to the Candidates and Worker Power accounts. I’ll get to the other two later today.
Thanks for making it easy for us BJers.
H.E.Wolf
Thank you to the 3 angels for funding, and to WaterGirl for organizing!
WaterGirl
@divF: Thank you! Please add another comment or send me email if you get to the others later.
RaflW
I did $125 to the AZ candidates.
(If it matters, $10 to Engle, $15 to Shah & 4 x $20 for the remainder. I’d given previously to the first two from non-BJ asks)
eta: And yes, I keep a detailed ledger. About 200 candidates per cycle. 🙄
Sharon
$25 to worker power, $25 to Four Directions, and $35 to the Arizona candidates
Jim Appleton
In for $50 each to all four.
Thank you WG and matchers!
Wolvesvalley
$50 each to Four Directions, Worker Power, and AZ candidates.
TxTiger
@WaterGirl: Donated $50 to Four Directions!
divF
$250 each to Operation Blue Arizona and Four Directions.
Erin in Flagstaff
I donated $25 to the candidates and $25 to the SC and Abortion Rights.
surfk9
Just dropped $50 to the candidates
One of the Many Jens
Thanks WaterGirl! Just did $500 to the candidates.
ewrunning
I just did $25 each to Worker Power and Four Directions, $35 split to the seven candidates and $25 to SC & Abortion Rights.
Cheryl from Maryland
Donated $50.00 to Operation Blue Arizona.
Jesse
$10 each to Four Directions and Worker Power.
Stacy
I gave $350 to the AZ candidates.
WaterGirl
Thanks to everyone who is donating!!
Matt McIrvin
$50 for the candidates, $50 for Four Directions.
WaterGirl
@Matt McIrvin: Got it, thank you!
JustALurker
I’m in for $25 for each of the 4 campaigns ($100 total).
KayInMD (formerly Kay (not the front-pager))
I just picked up the mail & got a $155 settlement check out of the blue, so I divided it up & put $40 in each thermometer (I rounded up a little).
Big vet appointment on Monday. If everything’s OK I’ll be able to donate more next week.
Emily B.
Kicking in $25 each to Worker Power and Four Directions.
LNNVA
I just gave $25 to Four Directions and $25 to Worker Power. Thanks to all the angels out there.
Ukai
Chipped in $25 to all four.
WaterGirl
@KayInMD (formerly Kay (not the front-pager)): Fingers crossed for you at the vet!
WaterGirl
I’ve got all the these donations here! Thank you all.
I’m not putting up a new post today, but I will move this post up the ladder a bit so it’s still on the front page in case anyone still wants to donate to the matches.
WaterGirl
No longer checking this thread for matching donations.
Until the next fundraising post goes up: If you would like to be matched, please send email to WaterGirl
watergirl at balloon-juice.com