Democratic Politics

Welcome to Running in the Red.  A New Balloon-Juice Series to Help Save Democracy

Nothing can shift our nation faster, and more permanently, than electing Democrats in Red States. That’s why Balloon-Juice is launching a new series called Running in the Red.  Where we will support brave Dems stepping up in hostile territory.

The series will bring reports, diaries, behind-the-scenes videos, and check-ins from our Running in the Red candidates working to save the nation.

It gets lonely out there surrounded by GOP, especially way down ballot where true change happens. Balloon-Juice can form an on-line army of support. Make phone calls, write PostCards, donate, or just cheer for as many Running in the Red candidates as you choose. If you live close enough, you can even knock on doors.

There is also a new, special Balloon-Juice opportunity for involvement which we will announce at the end of this post.

Our first “Running in the Red” Candidate is Grace Van Cleave. She’s running for State Senate in Iowa’s 17th.

Grace Van Cleave has worked for big, important organizations ranging from EMILY’s list to the DNC.

Her senior campaign jobs have included being Finance Director for Governor Chet Culver in Iowa, and Chief of Staff to Governor Ned Lamont’s campaign in Connecticut

Longtime advocate for equality, Grace ran, four years ago, for Iowa House on a Reproductive Rights platform. And, like Barack Obama before her, lost her first race.

She concentrated on her successful fashion business advising women on how to dress beautifully without spending a fortune. But as the world sank into GOP-ness, she felt the call to public service again.

In our BJ Interview, Grace was no-nonsense, staunchly focussed on her goal of being a “results-oriented legislator”.

She is a shining example of the nationwide trend for Dems to be all about affordability and improving people’s daily lives.

As she says, “When government works well, it helps families thrive, supports small businesses, and protects democratic institutions.”.

But in Iowa, concern for public welfare has taken a back-seat to performative politics.

The Iowa Legislature “has spent more energy on privatization, restrictions, and tax ideology than on solving real problems for families.”

Grace continues,”Instead of strengthening public schools, expanding health care access, and investing in opportunity, too many policies shift risk onto ordinary people.”

For Grace,  “Public education is the foundation of opportunity.”. Which means keeping “public money for public schools”.  Because “Every child deserves a well-funded school with great teachers and strong programs.”.

It is clear many Iowans are done with legislative neglect of their real interests, as endorsements for Grace have flowed in. Including from Iowa’s Iron Workers Local 67.

You can read 24 rousing endorsements from prominent Iowans, here GraceforIowa.com/Endorsements

Relevant to BJ interests, Grace is a staunch supporter of animal rescue. She and her husband have a 15-year-old rescue dachshund named Molly.

When Molly’s doxie bonded sister, Maggie, passed away, they were worried Molly would be inconsolable,  But Grace reports that, after some mourning, Molly is enjoying her reign as “Senior Dog” and is “still full of determination and curiosity.”

We look forward to hearing from Grace early and often out on the trail.

Grace’s website is GraceforIowa  / You can volunteer here: GraceforIowa/Volunteer   / Donate at ActBlue

All local races are always desperate for every dollar.

Or if you are in driving distance, sign up to knock on doors with Grace any and every weekend.

The Future is Up to You

Who’s next? That is up to you.

Running in the Red will be hosted by TaMara and MazeDancer.

However, the candidates will be coming from you. Among the reasons we wanted to launch Running in the Red was to offer increased opportunity for real involvement to everyone at Balloon-Juice.

This is a sign for you to get involved. Bring us your candidates. And by “bring”, we need you to do more than just type a name in the comments. In fact, please don’t do that.

We need you to become Campaign Contact.  That means you set up a communication channel between Balloon-Juice and your candidate.  You find out if the candidate is interested in being featured. Show them the post on Grace. Tell them they can have one, too.

And, then, after their interview and launch post, we would like them to update with pics and vids from the campaign trail, whenever they please. If they say yes, you set up an email, phone, or text channel where Balloon-Juice can be in contact with your candidate.

And, here’s the active participation part – if the candidate does not reply to Balloon-Juice, you have to run interference.

If you do not understand how often campaigns don’t reply – even when you are offering them national exposure – you have never been in politics.

That’s why candidates who are friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers, anyone you know personally, are more than welcome.

Grace Van Cleave is MazeDancer’s niece. Which is how we got such a great candidate to agree to launch the series.

(Aunt MazeDancer can be very persuasive. In all fairness, Grace once got Aunt MazeDancer to produce over a dozen portraits for Animal Rescue League of Iowa’s annual Poorly Drawn Pets fundraiser.)

 

Any and all Democratic candidates running for any office in a red district or state is worthy of BJ support. Doesn’t matter if it is a Blue Dot district in a sea of red. Doesn’t matter how teeny or huge the office. Anyone running in a red state deserves our attention.

You do not have to write anything.

TaMara and MazeDancer will handle that. You “just” have to get the candidates to stay in touch.

Note: You do NOT have to seize this opportunity to be involved. You can be an armchair warrior for all our upcoming Running in the Red candidates by supporting and donating at home.

But if you can be a Campaign Contact, we all thank you.

Blue Victory here we come!

(This is not an Open Thread)