Just voted and it was pointless

[chalmers]

Rural USA here. Republican incumbent ran unopposed in both State Senate and House districts. You got that correct, Democrats couldn't get anybody to run. Nobody. Thanks DNC for abandoning rural America yet again.

[KamaAina]

1. Guess they couldn't get you to run, either

Just sayin'.

[chalmers]

2. They did actually

Wrote my name in.

[Hortensis]

8. Sounds like it's extremely easy to run there, then. Maybe start

gathering any signatures and filing fees now, then? Another election comes along every 2 years, after all. If you'd like to run someone else, now's probably the time to talk that person into it and start planning the campaign.

[MADem]

9. That's not running. Running is gathering signatures, getting your name on the ballot, and

persuading people to vote for you.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

[chalmers]

11. LOL, yeah, I'm going to run a major campaign

against people who have Big Money donors. LOL yeah, I'm sorry, laughing my fucking ass off over here.

[MADem]

17. Get on the ballot--you don't have to run a "major" campaign.

Run a small one. Go on the radio, the piddling TV shows, maximize your "free" exposure via the media interview process. Even an article in a newspaper can produce votes.

Become a presence to provide an alternative. People who show up to the polls who don't like the other guy will vote for you. If you even make a showing, you'll encourage state and local party members to invest in that race next time around.

Don't be so proud that you're "laughing your ass off over here" -- you're showing us all exactly what you're all about. All talk, no walk. Proud of it, too. Dismissive. Always waiting for "someone else" to do the job.

You really should be sorry! That's about the only thing you got right.

[Auggie]

56. Besides not wanting to run,

the poster may not be qualified or able to run. I find your comments laughable myself.

[treestar]

77. Who do they expect the DNC to run?

It's all talk unless there is something viable going on.

We have that power, quit being victims of the DNC - how are they supposed to create Democrats when the person there isn't willing to lift a finger?

[Chan790]

111. Technically, the state Democratic party...not the DNC...

but your point stands. The DNC isn't running anybody for state legislative seats, that's the state Democratic party's job.

It could be worse still...there was a race in my town today for which there was only one candidate, a Democrat, and we (town Democratic committee) had to bully him into running. If it wasn't for him, a seat on the town Board of Finance would have gone unfilled. But, yet...yet, people still feel entitled to complain about how the Board of Selectmen spends money and how out-of-touch the town's spending priorities are.

(For 19 open seats in town on various boards and offices...the GOP ran 5 people and the Democrats ran 17. There were two ballot-lines today on which I had a choice between GOP and write-in...and write-in votes in CT are discarded, not counted, unless the write-in candidate registers with the town/state as an unendorsed/unpetitioned candidate...it's done so people can't be forcibly-elected. That's happened before too.)

[treestar]

138. Wow a seat that would have gone unfilled

Tends to show how little people care. Or how happy they are to let the oligarchs rule, I guess.

[MADem]

126. Those that can, do. Those that can't-or won't-gripe on the internet

about how "no one" is doing anything.

That's what's laughable, here.

[tabasco]

134. Get off your high horse

You have no idea what situation the poster is in. You have no right to demand that he/she run for office.

I wish I found your comments laughable. They're just kind of lame.

[MADem]

137. I'm not the one complaining about the ballot choices.

The poster's "situation" is immaterial, as well. He's got time to gripe on the internet.

I have every right to demand he/she run for office, after he/she spent some effort here crabbing about the ballot. He/she has every right to ignore that demand.

He/she doesn't need you to fight his/her battles.

Who are you to dictate to anyone what they are "allowed" to say? No one died and left you boss.



I really don't care what you think of my comments, and I don't care enough about yours to bother to characterize them.

I certainly wasn't addressing you, specifically. If my remarks bother you overmuch, you have the tools to avoid them.

[Facility Inspector]

139. If you have time to gripe on the internuts

you have time to run a political campaign?

Disconnect much?

lmao

[MADem]

141. There are no shortages of candidates in the Commonwealth where I reside.

In fact, often as not, candidates have to be dissuaded from running, or encouraged to run for another office, in order to not overcrowd a field.

Not sure what your point was there--what, you want I should move to some state where people don't give a crap sufficiently to field local candidates? I think you're the one with the DISCONNECT, there--apres vous, eh?

FWIW, local legislator positions are not full-time jobs in many, if not most, states.

I've been a local delegate to my state convention, I've worked on a few campaigns in my very distant past. I've done phone work and precinct walking in my earlier years, but now I'm just a GOTVer, and by that, I mean I drive people to the polls who don't drive anymore, or have a tough time dealing with public transportation or who can't really afford a couple of cab rides.

What do you do, Mister LMAO?

[Facility Inspector]

142. I do hispanic vote outreach for our local democratic party

and fundraising.

Not everyone is cut out for running for political office.

I've worked with campaigns for more than a decade.

There is a tremendous amount of effort, time, and treasure that is involved for running for ANY office.

It is insulting to tell someone who is upset with election results to run for office.

As if there weren't tons of other things a person can do at the local level between getting involved and running for office.

In fact, I think your comments do a disservice. As someone who has been involved with Democratic Party politics at the county level for quite some time, we wouldn't want your kind of advice going out to potential voters. It could persuade someone to jump ship and vote Republican.

[MADem]

143. Oh wow....and that would be a "danger" in a place where

ONLY REPUBLICANS were on the doggone ballot, eh?



Pull the string--at least pretend to follow the thread.

[totodeinhere]

140. +1

[zeemike]

47. Rule of thumb is it's always your fault.

And never the party's fault...pull yourself up by your boot straps they say. The party is not their for you...but you must be their for them when the voting comes.

[treestar]

80. What in the world do people think a political party is?

This is absurd. It's us. It is built up from the grass roots where the people are who start something. The DNC will of course focus on where they can win seats. If your district is that full of Republicans, how is that the DNC's fault and not the local Democrats there, who know about it and can do something?

[zeemike]

92. That is the idealistic explanation of what it is.

But money in politics has changed all of that...now the party is about power and control...and it is not about us.

And I would like to see it return to grass roots control but you and I know that will be difficult to pull off...only a political revolution will make it happen, and as long as there are people who are satisfied with the status quo it will never happen.
We will continue to have Kabuki theater and a rightward drifting party and a more powerful and controlling oligarchy.

[1StrongBlackMan]

54. Isn't that what DU:Bernie is convinced Bernie can accomplish against HRC ...

let alone against the gop?

[Xipe Totec]

99. Thanks chalmers for abandoning rural America. nt

[zentrum]

96. Oh, that's rich.

Blame Chalmers, whose life circumstances you know nothing about, instead of the DNC, which has in fact abandoned local communities, precinct walking between elections, training for block captains, recruiting of candidates and all the things the Democratic party used to do.

The absence of a Democratic candidate is such areas comes from DNC indifference to any place that is not a power base for machine politics. But it's very short sighted and one the Republicans don't make.

[Xipe Totec]

100. What sock puppetry is this? nt

[zentrum]

110. The sock is

…in your own eye.

I made substantive points. Suggest you read up on how methodically the Republicans have put efforts into all the small races in the last 30 years before you snark good Democrats.

The fact remains, the Democrats did not put up a candidate in this election—and you're not interested in looking at the systemic implications.

[MADem]

113. I blame anyone who waltzes in here and gripes about what his community hasn't

done, and then, when people tell him he's part of the problem, he starts spinning and excuse-making and blaming "The DNC."

It's not The DNC's "job" to rile up local and state entities, particularly in long-shot communities. That's what local and state party officials do. The DNC may jump in every four years to coordinate with local entities with regard to presidential contests, and every two years for federal legislative contests IF the state asks for it AND looks like it's competitive.

There's no "abandoning" -- it is not their ROLE to interfere in state party politics, particularly contests at the level of a state legislature.

smh.

If you can't see it, I'm not going to point it out to you. It doesn't take a weatherman, though.

[zentrum]

121. Thanks for

…..the information, delivered without too much insult. More or less.

However, I still think that if Dean and the 50 State Strategy had been instituted, with input and support in the form of training, network lists and even money from the top, the locals would be happening. That was a DNC decision or at least a decision made at that level. I think leaving the states and local entities entirely to themselves produces exactly this kind of vacuum. Dean understood that.

My dad was a precinct worker and walked blocks all year in the 70's just as his dad did in the 50's, but he didn't do it alone just because of his individual initiative. There was a local Democratic office in close communication with the top. It matters that the Republicans understand this and have been implementing bottom-up/top-down coordination since the Silent Majority.

[zentrum]

124. And PS

See DU today:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027314332

[MADem]

125. I still fail to understand how that article by some Kos

contributor has ANYTHING to do with the election in an off-year that this thread starting poster is referencing, though. These are OFF YEAR, low-turnout, state legislature/local elections this guy is griping about.

I certainly take the Kos poster's point--but this is apples and oranges, here.

Why would "the DNC" get involved in sending some schmuck to a state legislature or city council? The only time I might see them make it rain, even slightly, is for a key gubernatorial contest. I think a few states hold off-year gubernatorial elections, but those are the EXCEPTION, not the rule.

I'm still not feeling all this "Waaah-the-DNC" stuff. My sense is that's the Meme of The Year, rolled out by people who don't like the Democratic Party, and picked up by professional gripers who love a good internet fisticuffs.


As for the Kos poster, he's developed what looks like an inclusive list. I just can't speak to the organizational talents of the local leaders in those states, and/or if they are already doing the very things he expresses concern about.

We've gotten so used to interminable POTUS campaigns that we have this idea that the legislative elections need to have that same extended framing. I don't think they do, necessarily. Sometimes, less is more (particularly in a POTUS election year, where you can count on a fair number of party line voters). The less early exposure you give a prospective 'fresh faced' candidate, the less time the enemy has to do vicious oppo research.

[Xyzse]

19. Good on you.

[Fearless]

88. Gotta love the shoot the messenger response

As though it's your fault that a Democrat didn't run.

[Backwoodsrider]

3. boom!

nice comeback KamaAina. I voted via mail in this state all we are doing is voting on a measure that would keep the 2nd amendment and prevent our legislature from making any new laws that might limit gun ownership and also a measure adding another motel tax in my county. Not seen any polls yet am curious.

[Photographer]

42. There was a measure in your state to revoke the 2nd amendment?

I would think that would have made national news.

" all we are doing is voting on a measure that would keep the 2nd amendment."

[Backwoodsrider]

98. the measure was to prevent medling

Many people here are convinced the gov...er.. the Liberals want to take their guns and those liberals are going to do that by medling with the 2nd amendment so this measure is to prevent that. I suspect it will get 75% approval

[Photographer]

105. IMHO, it needs to be "medled" with

as the current love affair with guns and the random violence coupled with mass shootings needs to be addressed on all levels.

[Backwoodsrider]

122. i am hoping

the next potential serial shooter remembers before they shoot that if they do it will energize the gun control movement. Ok I am grabbing at straws but need to to put this in a positive light.

[drm604]

49. Why would you need a measure to keep the 2nd amendment?

It's not in any danger of going anywhere.

[blackspade]

93. Red meat for the rethugs and gun nuts.

[Codeine]

94. Just FYI, you don't "vote" on an existing Constitutional amendment.

That's silly pandering nonsense.

[n2doc]

21. Why don't you?

Just saying' Haven't seen you asking for contributions of votes here, like Rep Grayson and a few others. Are you personally running for office?

Filp answers like yours aren't the solution. So one cannot complain about the lack of democracy without personally sacrificing to try and fix a problem that is not of their own making? It is the state and local party's job to have candidates running, to recruit people who are willing to give up their time and energy to do so. How many of us here at DU would be willing to do this, to perhaps go unemployed if they lose? Few employers are going to just let you go off and campaign. And the OP wasn't complaining about dogcatcher, they were complaining about state level offices, so don't act like campaigning could be done part time.

The Democratic party has seen a decline nationwide in elected officials. That needs to change and the people with experience need to lead the charge.

[chalmers]

22. Thank you

My frustration wouldn't allow me to muster a response as eloquent as your's, but you summed it up very nicely.

[KamaAina]

43. Because I live in the oh-so-blue Bay Area, where if anyone is unopposed, it's the Dem.

I was not being flip, but trying to convince the poster to go for it!

[merrily]

91. I love you, Kama Aina, but you were being flip.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. I am often flip.

[aquamarina]

46. Very nicely stated.

[treestar]

75. Ultimately it is self government

It's not Not of Our Own Making. we are just part of it. Blaming the DNC is pointless. Like they can grow Democrats out in some rural area?

It does not have to be a full time job in those local offices. You can go door to door. At least that would be doing something and if something got started up, the DNC could start helping.

And the evil DNC needs money and has those limits, so it is good they spend it where it will have effect.

[leftstreet]

76. +1

Seems no matter what...Democrats ALWAYS find a way to blame their own base

[TBF]

97. That is because the Dems are now controlled by the Third Way

which is really just a center/right-ish group who are more concerned about civil rights than economics.

We need a serious opposition party.

[sdfernando]

34. That is a rather snarky response.

Are you on the ballot in your district? If not, then why not?...guess they couldn't get you to run either.

[KamaAina]

45. See above. I am fortunate enough to live in the deep-blue Bay Area,

where there are never any unopposed repukes, so I don't have to.

[sdfernando]

95. well good for you...but you missed my point.

...and your response borders on the typical repug attitude of "I got mine, now you go get yours"

[hedgehog]

51. To be fair - how many of us can afford to quit our jobs for

one or two years to go into town or state government? There's no guarantee of re-election, and it's generally hard to find a job in a rural area.

[KamaAina]

55. Maybe someone who's retired? Or has a disability?

Just a thought.

[LittleBlue]

63. Yeah attack the OP to deflect

Deflection tactic #1: attack the messenger

Awful post

[KamaAina]

69. Deflect?

I was trying to encourage him/her, and maybe others reading this, to run! Sheesh.

[Logical]

64. What a rude reply, wow, self delete. nt

[WinkyDink]

79. Why assume the poster is able to hold political office? We're not all Spring chickens here.

[Hortensis]

4. Yes, Chalmers. Why didn't you run? And what does the DNC

have to do with it? That's the NATIONAL committee. Did you speak with people at your local Democratic headquarters about running? Why is this "no one ran" any other person's fault more than your own?

Please go to the next Democratic Party meeting in your area, blame the people there face to face for the empty place on the ballot, then come back and tell us what you learned.

[chalmers]

5. Oh please.

The DNC decides things on a state level and they decided not to invest in my district.

[MADem]

10. No, the DNC does NOT "decide things on a state level."

They'll help with House/Senate races through their leadership pacs, but they aren't in the business of managing the party activities of fifty separate states.

smh--no wonder we have trouble...no one knows how the system works.

Oh please, indeed.

[chalmers]

13. You can't be that naive

[MADem]

14. Say that to yourself until it sinks in. nt

[Hortensis]

106. Chalmers, you're right - the DNC can kick in money where it would be well invested

in a potential win. Unfortunately, many rural areas are very bad investments for...frankly, MY money, the money my husband and I donate to the DNC. Most conservatives live rural areas and most liberals in urban. On the whole, they tend to like living among people comfortably like them, less traffic and noise, and we tend to prefer the diversity and amenities of cities.

We live in a rural area, too, though, one of the 5 to 10 most conservative districts in the nation, and we don't get DNC money here for obvious reasons. Nor do other Democratic candidates for any office come speak here. Neither party airs political ads here. This is an extremely safe district for the GOP, with no outside help needed to keep it that way.

BTW, even though it's a sure loss, unlike yours, our local organization does always have a candidate on the ballot. I understand you may not actually intend to win yourself, but why NOT get involved in what is probably a district crying out for even minor commitment from its residents? Even one meeting a month would hardly be a major sacrifice, would it, and you'd meet other people like yourself. The requirements can be more onerous in some areas, but I think it costs about $400-500 to get on the ballot here, NO signatures needed. AND one need not apply under the mantra of a party one resents. It costs maybe $10-20 more here to form your own party. You could invite people to dinner and the loser in some game gets to run in 2018. Why not?

[bvar22]

36. I have witnessed the DCCC and the DSCC decide local Democratic Primaries...

...by throwing truck loads of Party Money to the conservative, "Business Friendly", centrist candidate.
The DNC has now decided that they should be involved in local Democratic Primaries too!!!!


the DNC, the DSCC the DCCC have NO BUSINESS disrupting local Democratic Primaries with their MILLIONS.
Whenever they do so, it is to deny the will of the people.

[MADem]

38. Well gee, why was no money -- or a 'centrist candidate' -- thrown into this OP race?

You're busily moving the goalposts from the original premise of this thread, which was that there was NO Dem candidate on the ballot.

When the state party asks for DNC help, that's usually because the race is winnable with one of those centrist candidates you hate. With a fringe candidate, there's no hope.

It's not a crime to understand what the traffic will bear in a city or state.

Pissing in the wind/tilting at windmills isn't a viable election strategy.

[geardaddy]

40. +1

Here in the Twin Cities, that is sometimes the case.

[bvar22]

48. One of the WORST abuses of the DSCC in intefering with local elections..

...happened in Minneapolis.
In fact, I witnessed 2 local elections CONTROLLED by the DCCC and DSCC with their MILLIONS.

Here is one I was personally involved in.
Did you know that Rahm has actual, real life "Henchmen"?

DCCC King Making
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=160&topic_id=14207


I believe that the DSCC did the same thing during Klobuchar's Senate race, but I had already left Minnesota, so everything I know is from 3rd hand from friends Minneapolis.
They were not happy.

[Hortensis]

130. Bvar, helping a preferred Democrat win a local election is entirely

within the legitimate realm of a political organization. The people who win offices go on to join others representing their party and advancing its interests at various levels of government. Developing effective representation is very much the duty of party leaderships.

Like intervening when a narcissistic nut job with orange hair decided he'd like to buy himself an office he's entirely incompetent to fill and would almost certainly lose to the other party in the general (the RNC has failed to handle that one). Or perhaps when the GOP is trying to foist a stealth conservative on Democrat voters (like that ever happens!).

It's beyond your ability to keep the Democratic Party from involving itself in Democratic Party candidacies for local, state and national elections, but you could refuse to support that by leaving the party. Perhaps you'd be able to approve the actions of the leadership of another party? If not, not belonging to any party is also always an option for all of us, and many do choose that.

[Hortensis]

128. Please provide specifics on lots of money to conservative candidates.

[bvar22]

58. No.....not 50 states,

...but three or four every election?
especially if they can keep Liberals (ugh) from winning seats in our government.


Howard Dean had a 50 state Strategy that WORKED....and that is why they had to banish him to the Pointless Forest.

[treestar]

83. It would be so much easier to meet up with the local Democrats!

The DNC is supposed to create local Democrats I guess. SMH.

[Logical]

67. FFS, lighten the fuck up. nt

[WinkyDink]

82. I can't believe this attitude.

[jwirr]

6. I don't know where you live but when I grew up in NW IA

many of us Democrats registered R because in order to vote for local officials we had to vote in the R side of the primary who had not opposition on the Democrat side.

However, I do not remember a race that didn't even have a opposition for the higher state offices. That is bad.

[LiberalArkie]

7. The Republicans here in Arkansas legislature are all financed by the Kochs. So no Democrat

really ever has the funds to defeat them without outside help. Even if a person could raise 100,000 the R would be able to double it. There are some good ones running in the elections here, but they will not be able to do radio and TV ads. But their names will be on the ballot and hope whoever the presidential candidates are in the general have some good coat tails.

[Art_from_Ark]

131. Who are some of the people on the D side?

The 3rd district is always a lost cause, but what about the other districts?

[LiberalArkie]

132. Over in the Arkansas section of DU I am keeping a list of those signing up for the primary

[Art_from_Ark]

136. Thank you for your effort

[gratuitous]

12. Action is your duty

The results aren't your concern. Thank you for voting.

[47of74]

15. I think even if you have to write someone in...

...it's a way of saying to these people that no they do not have everyone's support. Especially now when it comes to politics silence is consent.

[Eleanors38]

28. I wrote in my cat, once. And she's dead.

[treestar]

85. +1

Exactly, let the Republicans think they have unanimous support.

[kelliekat44]

16. That's a dman shame. There should be no unchallenged elections...anywhere! Damn! nt

[FlatBaroque]

18. Ironically, if we could get the money out of politics

there would be far fewer uncontested races because average people would feel less disadvantaged economically.

[47of74]

35. Aside from the money I think truly mean people are a turnoff

Dealing with constituents is a big part of elective office. But I think it's a total disincentive to serve when teabag idiots call you nasty names and ascribe evil motives to everything you do non stop. Some people probably don't want to put themselves through all that.

For example we got one teabagger who calls the city manager a "socialist dicktator" (sic) and the mayor a "self-serving narcissist" on a fairly regular basis. He's on this kick that the current city council members are evil and everything they do are evil. To their credit they don't dignify his horseshit with a response. I don't know that I could keep my mouth shut long enough or I could last long before throwing my hands up and saying hell with this.

[kelliekat44]

129. It really is a complex situation out there. nt

[CTyankee]

20. I think republicans feel the same way here in New Haven.

My repub neighbor registered as a Dem so he could vote in the Dem Primaries and have some say. His wife will not do that. They are, BTW, the nicest people on the earth, IMO. So I cannot broadbrush all repubs...

[Lochloosa]

23. Rural America hell...they can't even run someone against the most useless POS in the House...

in my district. Ander Crenshaw...Jacksonville, FL. 12th largest City in the US by population and he runs unopposed.

Unbelievable.

[brooklynite]

24. How did your campaign go?

First it's not DNC's job to find you a candidate; their job is to support the State Party. Second, it's YOUR job to find a candidate. Did you talk to you local Party people? Encourage people you know to run? Offer to run yourself? Or just complain?

[chalmers]

27. LOL

please, tell you what, give me $75,000 and I'll run next cycle.

[brooklynite]

30. Tell you what; show me a serious campaign and I will...

My wife and I have invested about $50,000 this year alone, for Federal and State candidates. Probably a lot higher next year. But to get my money, I want to see a serious effort, well crafted message, strong campaign team and an ability to make the race competitive.

[bvar22]

37. Now I understand WHY you are such a strong advocate for Hillary.

You are in her club.

If I had $50K in disposable money, I might be for her too,
but I don't.
I will vote for someone who cares about all people, especially those of us who have dirty fingernails when we come home from WORK.

[brooklynite]

62. I'm in Elizabeth Warren's club too...and Sherrod Brown's...and Russ Feingold's

Yes, I'm a 1%er, and each of these folks, and Hillary know I'd be happy to have them raise my taxes. Because not every upper income person is a greedy conservative. Just like not every working class person is a Sanders liberal.

And as for work, while my fingers may not be dirty, I spend my days improving public transportation for 8 million New Yorkers. And I sleep soundly at night.

[guillaumeb]

68. Your post was the subject of an alert.

On Tue Nov 3, 2015, 04:15 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Now I understand WHY you are such a strong advocate for Hillary.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7312955

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Personally insulting a loyal Democrat and DU'er because they have money is shameful behavior, and certainly a TOS violation.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Tue Nov 3, 2015, 04:22 PM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Another frivolous alert by a HillShill. Spare me.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given


I was a "leave it alone" juror. Another alert that is, in my opinion, a waste of time.

[brooklynite]

73. Nobody ever needs to alert a criticism of me

I live in the real world; what people call me here is meaningless.

[guillaumeb]

81. Well said. I have been insulted here and in "real life".

My view is that if an argument is met with a personal insult, the person making the rude comment has obviously lost the argument.

[treestar]

87. Should have been hidden

It's a personal attack and a jealous one at that.

[guillaumeb]

89. I agree that the post is not very diplomatic, but

Nobody ever needs to alert a criticism of me
I live in the real world; what people call me here is meaningless.

this was the response of the poster. I have been insulted here also, as have many people. I do not take it personally because I (probably) do not personally know the respondent. I put harsh responses down to strong feelings and passion.

[1StrongBlackMan]

57. LOL. Yeah ... Shame on you for being wealthy ...

AND being willing to invest some of that wealth in support of a candidate ... that is willing to do the work to make his run viable.

[Bluenorthwest]

25. I also voted, for a special levy to increase libray funding. Hope it passes.

If you name your State we can link you to the State Democratic Party, which is what you want. Also your County Party. Running for those offices is about the State level, County level. You should run yourself.

[Eleanors38]

26. Yep. Just a bunch of gun-toting yahoos out there anyway.

[MineralMan]

29. State House districts can be won with nothing more

than a dedicated precinct walking campaign. The more people the actual candidate meets, the better his or her chances. Next time, run for the seat yourself and do the walking you have to do. Get your friends to help. State House districts are not huge. They're winnable with a dedicated and strong campaign.

BTW, the DNC is not involved in state legislative elections. They simply aren't. Do you not have a state Democratic Party organization. Contact them.

[chalmers]

31. Of course they are

especially when a win in key districts means a change of leadership in the Senate.

[MineralMan]

32. You're incorrect. The DNC does not fund state legislative campaigns.

They might give some money to the state Democratic organization, but they don't fund individual races.

State legislative seats can be won. They cannot be won, however, if nobody runs. There's your initial problem. Get someone to run or run yourself. File papers, get the required signatures and start knocking on doors and showing up wherever anyone will listen to you. Get your friends to do the same.

Or, help whoever has the temerity to run in such a district. Same process.

In my state senate district, a Hmong immigrant named Foung Hawj won. He personally knocked on doors, and got the entire Hmong community out to do the same. He didn't even have money for yard signs. He won. He's our State Senator, in a district in the capital city of our state, St. Paul, MN.

He and his community and friends, including myself, worked our asses off to get him elected. It can be done.

No Democratic candidate in a state House district? That's shameful. If nobody runs, of course the Republican wins. Run or get someone to run.

[bvar22]

39. Its EASY in Minneapolis!

Isn't it.

[geardaddy]

41. He's in St. Paul.

It's not easy in Minneapolis. To run as a candidate for local elections in this city, you have to ingratiate yourself to a lot of organizations.

[bvar22]

50. Try Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or Florida

....and get back to me.

I have lived, voted, campaigned, canvassed, manned booths, and handed out material on street corners in both Minneapolis & St Paul. I was a volunteer for the Wellstone campaign shortly before he was killed, and helped elect Betty McCollum in 2001.

It IS easier in the Twin Cities.

[geardaddy]

52. I see your point.

Thanks.

[MineralMan]

112. This was St. Paul, not Minneapolis.

If you think it was easy to elect a Hmong state Senator, named Foung Hawj, you're way off-base. In the first place, there is a lot of prejudice against Hmong immigrants here. In the second place, the incumbent had strong ties to police and other interests. Foung won in the Primary, only because turnout was lousy and we turned out the entire Hmong community to vote. He won in the general, because he is a Democrat.

You have no idea at all what went into that election. None.

By the way, his name is pronounced Fong Her. Great guy, who has proven himself in office.

[1StrongBlackMan]

61. Sadly ... Nothing you say will be heard ...

the poster has decided that his/her excuse for NOT doing the work trumps the facts.

[Egnever]

60. Doesn't even take that

There was a story recently about a truck driver that got his name on the ballot as a joke and won.

[jeff47]

118. And when the local party won't even do that?

Lived in upstate NY for a time. Got tired of "empty" Democratic slots on the ballots. Was informed by the local Democratic party that I was not their kind of Democrat, so I would not be receiving any support, even if I was the only Democrat candidate for a position.

Oh, and I'm sure taking a few months off to "do the walking I have to do" will have no effect on my job, or ability to feed my family.

Our party is rotten to its core. Pretending it's the poster's problem to solve is just putting a clothespin on your nose so you don't have to smell the rot.

[MineralMan]

133. Sounds like running for office isn't something that's right for you.

It's not for everyone. I can't speak to the problem with your local party organization, of course. I'm far from there. However, the only remedy is to become part of that organization, along with other like-minded people and change it.

My posts are about people complaining that no Democrat runs for office where they are. There is a solution for that, but it's not one that happens by itself. It's always possible to bypass the local party organization and file whatever papers and petitions that are needed to get on the ballot.

If you don't have the time for that, then running probably isn't a good choice.

[Scurrilous]

33. Feel your pain.

I live in Florida's 21st Congressional district.

From Wikpedia:

"..the 21st has long been considered the most Republican district in the Miami area."

Also:

"Díaz-Balart was reelected unopposed in 2012 in the renumbered 25th district. Indeed, since this district's creation in 1993 (it was numbered as the 21st from 1993 to 2013), the Republican candidate has run unopposed in all but two elections."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_D%C3%ADaz-Balart

Unopposed by the Democrats that is. VoteEddie.com gave it a shot (got my vote), but alas, fell short.

Republican Hell, it isn't just a rural thing.

[dakota_democrat]

44. ND has the same problem. A majority of statewide elections in 16 won't have a D challenger.

[Agnosticsherbet]

53. Get on the ballot next time, and I will donate twenty dollrs to your campaign.

You might lose, you might win, but at least somebody will try.

[LynneSin]

59. Never pointless! Even in Rural USA - if you don't vote then you have no right to bitch

My mentality is this - 'Don't vote? Then don't bitch about the government you're stuck with'

So have fun, bitch away because at least you showed up and voted!!!

[INdemo]

65. Indana?

That's the way it is here and has been for years

[Blue_Tires]

66. When I see unopposed repubs, I write-in my own name...

[Renew Deal]

120. I mostly write in others

There's a nice lady that lives nearby that I write in. She handles a lot of stuff for the local party. I wonder if she ever finds out.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

70. I just had an incredible idea! A "50 state" solution. Try to become competative with the truth.

[jtuck004]

71. Why didn't you run? Would have been as good as any of those. n/t

[ileus]

72. Yup I wrote myself in on every unopposed local race, all were Repukes.

For Sheriff we have 3 I's and 1 R running, so I wrote my BIL (a previous elected democrat and retired deputy)

[treestar]

74. I don't think it is pointless

It lets them know. They could see in increase in voting for the other party.

Why blame the DNC when all those rural voters are so Republican? They are the ones that made it useless to run a Democrat there.

In my state assembly district the Democrats have given up. Which is weird, it's a middle class neighborhood - I guess these people think they are the future 1% or something. I used to write in myself. Then last time they ran a Green candidate. That person got like 17%. At least the Rs know there is some percentage willing to vote against them. So I got the chance to vote for a Green candidate.

[neverforget]

78. I like how this thread became about YOU not running.

because it's YOUR fault that the Republican ran unopposed.

Where's the state and local Democratic committees on the lack of a candidate? That's where the question should be directed, not at you.

[chalmers]

101. Amazing isn't it?

you just have to sit back stare at the monitor and laugh sometimes.

[neverforget]

109. Welcome to DU. I've been here since August 2001 and I used to love coming here

and reading the threads. I learned a lot and mostly didn't engage in debate. But now, it's no fun. And this thread encapsulates why.

[Renew Deal]

117. This person could have ensured there was a candidate

Instead they chose to blame someone else.

[neverforget]

123. It's his fault? Really?

Does this person have the financial resources to run? The time? Connections? Can this person give up his job to run a campaign? It's all so fucking easy.

[WinkyDink]

84. I can't believe the number of posts expecting or challenging the OP to have run. WTH? Can we not

gripe now? Not everyone is cut out to be a professional politician, FGS.

[jmondine]

86. Bring. Back. Dean!

[blackspade]

90. That's DWS for you.

The DNC under her leadership has thrown local Democrats under the GOP bus.

[merrily]

102. I'm sorry your OP attracted so many trolling posts.

[abelenkpe]

103. It's probably pointless for me as well

In CA. Our primary is late and won't decide anything. We always vote D.

[Warpy]

104. Fucking New Democrats are throwing it away with both hands

Dean showed them the way and they couldn't wait to get rid of him and start losing both houses of Congress again.

Conservatives! No matter which party they're in, they are the problem. They can never be part of any solution.

[drray23]

107. in the rural south where I live I would be tarred and feathered

if I even attempted to run. Everybody is rabbidly conservative. Imagine their reaction to an academic with a heavy french foreign accent. everything they hate..
Never mind that I am a citizen and have lived there for the last twenty years. When you see Jeb Bushmaking stupid jokes about the 3 days work week of the french this tells you all you need to know about their frame of mind. My only saving grace is that I dont have to endure racism on top of it since I happen to be white.

Its not for lack of wanting. I am so frustrated at the idiots on the school board that I considered it more than once but never took the leap.

[scscholar]

108. At least your vote wasn't thrown away...

like so often happens here in Seattle. The county has a voting tracker:

https://info.kingcounty.gov/elections/ballottracker.aspx

And, my vote hasn't counted in over five years.

[hifiguy]

114. DWS has more important things to do than waste time

building the Democratic party. A certain someone's boots need to be licked on a regular basis. Maybe you'll find her engaged in that, as it's her overriding preoccupation. Or maybe she's out stumping for her Repig buddies in the House.

[jeff47]

115. Well, you have to keep the powder dry for when you really need it!!

When I lived in upstate NY, I had a similar ballot. Democrats couldn't manage to even get someone on the ballot for an enormous number of downticket races.

[Renew Deal]

119. Ballot access in NY is a big problem

Even if the local party is organized. You need something like 500 signatures for a local race. It takes organization, especially if you are challenging the party's preferred candidate.

[Renew Deal]

116. Why didn't you run?

[Ex Lurker]

135. It's my impression that DU is an urban and/or coastal demographic for the most part

There's not much understanding of flyover country and not much interest in learning. That's not universal, but it's far too common. And it's a shame. This country is becoming more divided, and ideological differences are becoming geographical and cultural differences as people self-select their neighbors and their information sources. It doesn't bode well for the future.