In 2022, we collectively made the decision to be more strategic with our Balloon Juice fundraising, targeting key swing states and key races that are close, where there is a real chance of winning, where our funds can make an impact.
The Balloon Juice candidate fundraising strategy tracks with the basics of our targeted fundraising for “boots on the ground” organizations. First and foremost, we recognize that “close races,” “toss-ups” and “Republican incumbents in Biden districts” are not the same thing as “needs money.”
To that effect:
- we generally start our candidate fundraising efforts in late September,
- when we have a clearer idea of which key races will be close, and
- when fundraising disparities become more pronounced
We target candidates:
- with the greatest need
- with a realistic chance of victory
- whose elections have national implications
- where our money can make a difference
Candidates like Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes – who we supported and who won by 280 votes in 2022.
So while all local races are important locally, they are not all important nationally. So for local races we focus on those with national implications, such as:
- flipping a state legislature
- breaking a Republican state legislative super-majority
- supporting state Supreme Court races where the outcome can have a national impact.
- electing **swing state officials who oversee elections
**Secretaries of State, Attorneys General, Registrars in large Counties, etc.
For the first time, in 2024 we will be using Balloon Juice angels to match donations in certain candidate fundraisers.
Arizona Candidates: US House + AZ House and Senate + Maricopa County Recorder
Balloon Juice is supporting a slate of Arizona candidates:
Two US House elections:
AZ-01 Amish Shaw
AZ-06 Kirsten Engel
Two AZ House elections:
AZ HD-16 Keith Seaman
AZ HD-17 John McLean
Two AZ Senate elections:
AZ SD-16 Stacey Seaman
AZ SD-17 Kevin Volk
Maricopa County Recorder
Timothy Stringham
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.
Nebraska House & Senate Race (and the CD 2 electoral college vote is at stake)
Tony Vargas (NE-02) and Senate Challenger Dan Osborn are both in close races. Right now, Tony Vargas has a fundraising advantage, but we can expect that to change and Republican money floods the zone. Nebraska CD 2 could decide the election – and Republicans want CD 2 as much as Democrats do.
THE NEBRASKA EFFORT IS AN INVESTMENT
- This is an investment in regaining the house.
- This is an investment in possibly (although perhaps unlikely) picking up an unexpected Senate seat.
- This is an investment in helping to drive turnout in CD2 to help secure its potentially tie-breaking electoral vote.