One of the biggest personal disappointments I am experiencing as the primaries unfold for the 2026 midterms is that my party, the Democratic party, does not seem to be departing from the "politics as usual" approach to the issues at hand that has cost them the White House and control of Congress more than once in recent years. The emails and texts I get appealing for contributions are taking on a tone and appearance of self-interest, not focused on the danger at hand. It makes me want to ask these people, "Do you really believe that Trump is an existential threat to American Democracy, or is this just a game you play to acquire money and keep your seat?"
Of course, I want to do everything one person, one voter, can do to help the chances of Democrats in the mid-term elections. My contribution is a sacrificial one for me, so I want it to go where it will count the most.
Election season is when eyes focus on flashy candidates, those who have elevated themselves to the higher level of recognition in party politics mainly because they have excellent PR people who get the media to cover their every move. I look past the flash, and I look at the words and actions of those who are fighting against this Presidential administration in real ways that are cutting deep and having an effect, and are, in every way possible, defeating Trump at every turn. I've lached on to several leaders in our party who are speaking the truth, fighting and resisting in effective ways, and whose words resonate with me regarding what is at the very core of what's wrong, and how to fix it.
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly
Attacked directly by this incompetent President, Senator Kelly was given a platform and he fought back, and won. He did not look to PACs or big donors to finance his legal battle, he let his campaign fund raisers do that for him. He was on solid ground, both with regard to military regulations and the Constitution, he knew it, and he used it to get the win. Beyond the issue of his warning to miitary personnel not to follow illegal orders, he has provided insights and plans as to how to keep protecting American Democracy, and to stop Trump.
Listen to this man. He knows, and desires to protect, the Constitution, and is an advocate for the people who elected him. I'm amazed that my home state that has been politically backward for so long was finally able to put two Senators in office who are provding intelligent, effective leadership like Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly, but they've finally got enough support to get it done. They are both the kind of leaders we need, and at this particular point, following his victory, Senator Kelly is speaking out, speaking the truth and providing leadership out of the miasma of chaos that we are experiencing. There is no conciliation here, no compromise, no backing down.
Hs wife, former Representative Gabby Giffords, was one of the first outspoken, intelligent, effective elected officials ever to represent Arizona in the House, which is why there was an assassination attempt on her. And her support is another reason why Senator Kelly is so effective. We really need to consider ussing party resources to put this man in position to run for President, because he needs to be in elective office, not some cabinet position. And he would ignore standard protocol and push past the cumbersome delays and dawdles of political movement to get things done.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders
Senator Sanders tells the truth about why America is in the fix that it is now in. And the reason why some Democrats turn him off or dismiss him is because they are wealthy, and he is a threat to their personal financial status which is why they are weak concilators when it comes to their politics.
We really made a mistake when we failed to nominate him for President in 2016. Hindsight has showed us clearly that America wasn't ready for a woman President, and that the equally high disapproval that Hillary shared with Trump wasn't going to be overcome enough to put her in the White House. Bernie doesn't deviate from his theme, because it rests on facts that the middle class in this country is being bankrupted by the accumulation of wealth among the one percenters. His solutions are workable and would be highly effective. His understanding of basic human rights enumerated in the Constitution can't be challenged.
I can't help but think how different things would be now if Senator Bernie Sanders had been the Democratic party's Senate leaader during most of the time Schumer has occupied that position. We would have ended a lot of the nonsense we now must endure.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
We need to take advantage of this man's leadership and put him in position to serve in elected office, and I wouldn't mind seeing him in the Presidency. Set aside his personal life, including his sexuality, like the whole Evangelical right does with Trump, and pay attention to this man's words and his plans. He's probably one of the best spokespersons for the left that we have.
He's the kind of guy who brings people with divergent opinions together and gets them to understand how to work with each other instead of against each other. He's the kind of person who can see the flaws in bad plans and can find solutions to make things work. Check out the stats about the effectiveness of his direction of the Department of Transportation, though his articulate manner of laying out the facts is the biggest favor he is doing for the opposition to Trump right now.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear
A left-leaning governor in a deep red state is a statement. Mainly it's a statement about how to use voter turnout to win elections. And it's also a statement about the difference between those who are conservative politically, and those who are Trumpers.
Being a governor involves serving the people and that's why Beshear has been so successful. He has accomplished something more Democrats need to learn how to accomplish, and that is how to stay in power and get things done on their behalf that the other party wouldn't do. The bottom line is that Beshear has managed to put in place a lot of programs and services that a Republican run state would never do because there's been a connection with a majority of the population that transcends the political labels. And he uses his high profile popularity to pressure Republicans who are afraid of losing their own seats if they cross him.
I would be very comfortable with Beshear moving into a bigger role in the national spotlight of the Democratic party, perhaps even as a Pesidential or Vice-Presidential candidate.
Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker
Illinois has resisted so many attempts by this administration to vent the President's anger over the fact that he is not only not popular here, but that he is ignored and the state does exactly the opposite of what he wants. His ICE brigade was ousted, defeated, and sent packing, along with the national guard he tried to call out based on a lie about crime rates in Chicago. He's been called out as a liar and exposed time after time by a governor who calls his bluff because he knows when Trump is confronted, he backs down.
It may be quite a contest to see, between Governors Pritzker and Newsom, who gets Trump to back down more often, but these two definitely need to get together and do some coordination of effort. This is a governor who listens to advice from experts and works for the benefit of the people. His opponents keep bringing up the tax rates in Illinois and claim Pritzker has done nothing about it and they'll never listen to the facts which prove otherwise. Taxes are down for most Illinoisans as a result of this governor's policies. Look it up.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
Pennsylvania's legislature has finally emerged from a nightmare with a Democratic majority in both houses and under the leadership of Governor Shapiro. He is an example of the kind of courage and bold risk-taking that Democrats have sorely missed in Washington since 2016.
When the people are served by their government, they tend to vote to keep it that way, and since 2024, it's become clear that Democrats, largely as a result of Shapiro's leadership, are moving ahead from an electoral perspective. Pennsylvania appears to be one of several states poised to elect a majority Democrat delegation to the House of Representatives because of Shapiro's handling of the state legislature.
Democrats Who Don't Fold
These are the best examples right now of the kind of leadership the Democratic party will need in order to repair the damage being done to this country by Trump. They draw lines and don't budge, there's no compromise. I have no doubt that, if given the chance, any of these people would have taken every step possible to make sure that Trump never had a second chance at the White House. They're the kind of politicians who would break that stupid filibuster in a second and then pack the court with judges who know, love, respect and are willing to enforce the Constitution.
Any one of these individuals is capable of serving as an effective President of the United States.
Thank you for your wise words!
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