Can we talk about local elections?

[jeaniebueller]

School board, county commission, township supervisor, judges, prosecutors/DAs, dog catcher 🤪, etc.

Are you all seeing GOP incumbents being primaried from the right? My small community is solid red and it feels like the front lines of the GOP civil war are right here. Incumbent GOP office holders who are Trump supporters and had terrible views on Covid are facing primary challengers who are somehow further right and much worse :/

Anytging like this in your community?

[mala]

@@@@i touched on it in the MD specific thread, but one of the men running for the school board is blatantly anti-GBLTQ+. "We shouldn't teach gender identity in school" type. I see a lot of vocal support for him locally and it makes me VERY concerned. And not want to patronize the businesses who are supporting him. I'm also in a very red area and all the people running locally are listed as Republican, there's not really any variation in platform.

[starlily]

My choices for county supervisor are between varying levels of conservative. I'm choosing the one who appears less conservative.

There are two open judicial seats, with two candidates for each seat. I know everyone who is running, which makes one choice very clear for me and the other one very complicated because neither of those two has a good temperament for the bench. 😬

[nsl]

Our nominating conventions (which happen pre-primary for some archaic reason) were a week ago, and the rhetoric reported from the Republican one was horrifying. So much open racism, anti-LGBTQ+ hatred, and vitriol for educators and libraries. At least one conservative non-crazy state senator is losing his seat because he couldn't come up with the support to even make it onto the primary ballot.

The state Democratic convention decided not to run a Senate candidate this year. The only goal for 35+% of our state that is registered D is to defeat Mike Lee in whatever way we can. I'm not sure how I'm going to feel about voting for Evan McMullin, but I'm going to do it.

[Deleted]

I see political adds for NW FL and for AL, and it’s honestly sickening watching the Republicans fight over who is the most racist, bigoted, Trump-loving piece of garbage.

[formerlyak]

Los Angeles Mayor is the big one here. I can’t vote because I’m not in LA City, but I’m in La County and there are a few unincorporated areas near me that are included in LA City where government and services are concerned. The race appears to be between Karen Bass and Rick Caruso. Caruso keeps talking about all these things “he” did when he was on a city committee - but he didn’t even attend 70% of the meetings. He’s a big real estate developer who says he’s got a plan to fix the homeless problem. But … with the amount of real estate he’s developed he’s done zero thus far to help the homeless. Karen Bass is a fantastic choice. She was on Biden’s short list for VP at one point. Even my more conservative than me, too old to even be a Boomer dad thinks she’s really a great p candidate, and he pretty much hates all career politicians. I so hope she wins.

[pugz]

Yes for state secretary of state. Whacko says there were stolen elections and the REPUBLICAN secretary of state is like "no there were no issues in our elections, STFU". We'll see what happens.

[wawa]

@@@@political/school related @ mention.

Our county exec is up. I'm in a county that goes DARK blue for national elections, but our prior county exec was a classic central MD republican (i.e. generally would call themselves fiscally conservative socially liberal) and he's fucking running to come back again.

Our current county exec (D) seems to have done a perfectly adequate job. This county is a great place to live and I think he's doing good stuff. Funding the shit out of schools and parks and community centers, under his admin the cops and a local crisis center have set up a formal partnership where 911 mental health calls can get diverted directly to the crisis center, they've built affordable housing, covid response was adequate.

He's been wishy washy on some other shit, and hasn't pushed hard enough on DOT to actually make progress on road safety, honestly hasn't been very strong generally (like comes across as sort of a marshmallow) but all in all, I'm ok with him.

The old guy who's trying to come back again just annoys the shit out of me because it's so much coded bullshit.
In an ad that felt like something personally designed to piss me the fuck off, he tried to tie rising numbers of traffic crashes (which is a national pattern) to cuts to police budgets as an overall "safety" issue since he can't point to any rise in crime rates. FUCK ALL THE WAY OFF DUDE.

@@@@@@@
My county council rep (who I align with 10000000000% - she's never made a statement or vote I disagreed with, and we're connected in the community) is also up for reelection. The republican running against her is apparently running with the first plank on his platform being "our schools shouldn't have portable classrooms." Because they're not safe during school shootings. Which is a fascinating hill to die on. I mean, I don't love the portables either, but that's something. But otherwise he's a typical republican who thinks we spend too much money. He was a CFO of two federal agencies before he retired and seems really obsessed with making sure we're budgeting carefully, but at least he actually knows things about budgeting. And he seems a wee bit problematic on racial issues, but in a teachable way. (like I know where he lives and his neighborhood and street is legit diverse, and he's talked about how if everywhere could be more like his neighborhood we'd all be better off. But he's also implied that he thinks people talking about racial injustice are just "creating divisiveness." But he doesn't seem on purpose hateful, so there's that. That's a low bar, but he clears it unlike many others) But all in all, dont' want him. thinking about reaching out to my current rep to do some light volunteering....

[starburst604]

@@@
Well, I live in blue area but saw a post on the local FB bulletin board this morning that there's a gathering at the library tonight hosted by two school committee candidates. It's a viewing of a documentary called "Whose Children Are They?", which turns out to be 2 hours of "encouraging parents and other Amerians to oppose the leftist movement in American public schools trying to promote a radical, perverted communist agenda to indoctrinate children and destroy America's culture, religious, political, and social heritage." Fortunately all of the comments were along the lines of "thanks for letting me know who not to vote for!"

[bronxgirl]

JD Vance won the Ohio Republican primary for Senate. He's such a bastard and Trump endorsed him (although doesn't actually know his name LOL) so it would be really scary if he won. However, I can't stop laughing that Josh Mandel got defeated. Maybe now he'll finally go away. I hope Tim Ryan (Democratic nominee) can pull this off.

[gardengal]

May 4, 2022 14:44:41 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

JD Vance won the Ohio Republican primary for Senate. He's such a bastard and Trump endorsed him (although doesn't actually know his name LOL) so it would be really scary if he won. However, I can't stop laughing that Josh Mandel got defeated. Maybe now he'll finally go away. I hope Tim Ryan (Democratic nominee) can pull this off.

Is that the guy that wrote Hillbilly Elegy? He’s the worst

[bronxgirl]

May 4, 2022 15:33:53 GMT -5 gardengal said:

May 4, 2022 14:44:41 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

JD Vance won the Ohio Republican primary for Senate. He's such a bastard and Trump endorsed him (although doesn't actually know his name LOL) so it would be really scary if he won. However, I can't stop laughing that Josh Mandel got defeated. Maybe now he'll finally go away. I hope Tim Ryan (Democratic nominee) can pull this off.

Is that the guy that wrote Hillbilly Elegy? He’s the worst

Yes.  He's awful.

[ny96]

May 2, 2022 8:12:14 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

Los Angeles Mayor is the big one here. I can’t vote because I’m not in LA City, but I’m in La County and there are a few unincorporated areas near me that are included in LA City where government and services are concerned. The race appears to be between Karen Bass and Rick Caruso. Caruso keeps talking about all these things “he” did when he was on a city committee - but he didn’t even attend 70% of the meetings. He’s a big real estate developer who says he’s got a plan to fix the homeless problem. But … with the amount of real estate he’s developed he’s done zero thus far to help the homeless. Karen Bass is a fantastic choice. She was on Biden’s short list for VP at one point. Even my more conservative than me, too old to even be a Boomer dad thinks she’s really a great p candidate, and he pretty much hates all career politicians. I so hope she wins.

I got a “can I count on your vote” text this morning from the Rick Caruso campaign. I replied “No, Karen Bass can count on my vote”. I really hate Rick Caruso even though I’m at The Grove and Americana all the time.

[Michelle]

Yes. www.texastribune.org/2022/03/02/critical-race-theory-state-board-education/

@@@
Julie Pickren is listed. In my school district we have 3 FB parent pages. 1 is for all parents. A second is for the left-leaning, pro-vax, pro-mask, inclusive parents. There is another one called something like Parents for Freedom of Choice and she frequents that one and posts the most disgusting stuff that is poster-child Trump-worshipping-hate. It was founded on the anti-mask, anti-vax stance. It has grown to anti-CRT, anti-trans girls in girls' sports, don't-say-gay crap, and basically they all seem to worship at the alter of Ron Desantos. They've been saying, "Don't California My Texas" and I want to counter, "Don't Florida my Texas... it's bad enough already."

The parents that are on there are either bigots, totally uninformed, or both. One of them cross-posted a tweet to the common page saying Desantos just required personal financial literacy as a HS class and we should do the same in our district. I copied the class out of our current course selection guide and pasted it as a reply... we already have it. So then she followed up, "Oh that must be new. But it's an ELECTIVE - it should be REQUIRED." ::eyeroll::

[allabtthat]

May 4, 2022 17:04:44 GMT -5 Michelle said:

Yes. www.texastribune.org/2022/03/02/critical-race-theory-state-board-education/

@@@
Julie Pickren is listed. In my school district we have 3 FB parent pages. 1 is for all parents. A second is for the left-leaning, pro-vax, pro-mask, inclusive parents. There is another one called something like Parents for Freedom of Choice and she frequents that one and posts the most disgusting stuff that is poster-child Trump-worshipping-hate. It was founded on the anti-mask, anti-vax stance. It has grown to anti-CRT, anti-trans girls in girls' sports, don't-say-gay crap, and basically they all seem to worship at the alter of Ron Desantos. They've been saying, "Don't California My Texas" and I want to counter, "Don't Florida my Texas... it's bad enough already."

The parents that are on there are either bigots, totally uninformed, or both. One of them cross-posted a tweet to the common page saying Desantos just required personal financial literacy as a HS class and we should do the same in our district. I copied the class out of our current course selection guide and pasted it as a reply... we already have it. So then she followed up, "Oh that must be new. But it's an ELECTIVE - it should be REQUIRED." ::eyeroll::

You’ve probably figured this out on your own because I think you live in the general Htown area, but there are a few people from the Magnolia/Conroe/Tomball area (and spread that around the greater Houston districts) starting fb pages that are similar to “Concerned Parents of XYZ District”. None of them live in the districts (maybe this is astroturfing?) and several aren’t actually parents but they’re affiliated with Moms for Liberty. It’s easy to figure out who funds them.

[Pom]

May 4, 2022 22:34:23 GMT -5 allabtthat said:

May 4, 2022 17:04:44 GMT -5 Michelle said:

Yes. www.texastribune.org/2022/03/02/critical-race-theory-state-board-education/

@@@
Julie Pickren is listed. In my school district we have 3 FB parent pages. 1 is for all parents. A second is for the left-leaning, pro-vax, pro-mask, inclusive parents. There is another one called something like Parents for Freedom of Choice and she frequents that one and posts the most disgusting stuff that is poster-child Trump-worshipping-hate. It was founded on the anti-mask, anti-vax stance. It has grown to anti-CRT, anti-trans girls in girls' sports, don't-say-gay crap, and basically they all seem to worship at the alter of Ron Desantos. They've been saying, "Don't California My Texas" and I want to counter, "Don't Florida my Texas... it's bad enough already."

The parents that are on there are either bigots, totally uninformed, or both. One of them cross-posted a tweet to the common page saying Desantos just required personal financial literacy as a HS class and we should do the same in our district. I copied the class out of our current course selection guide and pasted it as a reply... we already have it. So then she followed up, "Oh that must be new. But it's an ELECTIVE - it should be REQUIRED." ::eyeroll::

You’ve probably figured this out on your own because I think you live in the general Htown area, but there are a few people from the Magnolia/Conroe/Tomball area (and spread that around the greater Houston districts) starting fb pages that are similar to “Concerned Parents of XYZ District”. None of them live in the districts (maybe this is astroturfing?) and several aren’t actually parents but they’re affiliated with Moms for Liberty. It’s easy to figure out who funds them.

We just moved out of Montgomery County last year and had lived between Conroe and Willis and I can say that based on ND posts (I quit FB) that they are locked and loaded to spread their particular brands of bigotry, hate and general horseshit all over and get out their MAGA votes. It kills me that MoCo was once solidly blue.

[mrsukyankee]

We are having our local elections in England today. I really, really hope that some typically Tory areas turn to Labour or Lib Dem. Especially, in London, which should be and can be more conservative. I'd be gleeful. We can vote between 7am and 10pm (and if you are in the line by 10pm, you get to vote). I have already voted.

[msmerymac]

None of my local seats are competitive (our primary is 5/17). No one running in the primary against my congressional rep (Madeleine Dean, PA-4) or state reps. Oddly, no one running against our state AG for the gubernatorial nomination either. As you may have heard, PA has a wide-open gubernatorial race because our current governor (D) is termed out, and a wide-open senate race because Pat Toomey is retiring (thank god).

The two really competitive races in the Dem primary are senate and lt. governor. I'm still not decided on either.

Senate:
John Fetterman, our current Lt. Gov., is the favorite. He's from western PA, so he would have appeal throughout the state. His wife is amazing and a former undocumented immigrant who does a lot of community work. One issue is that about 10 years ago, when he was mayor of Braddock, PA, he thought he heard gunshots and ended up running down a black man and holding him at gunpoint until the cops arrived and a lot of people don't think he sufficiently apologized for this. Certainly concerning.

Conor Lamb is that guy who won the special election for the US House in 2017. Young, veteran, somewhat moderate. Probably banking on also winning a lot of independents/moderates. He was randomly walking around at a farmer's market I was at last weekend, lol, so I got to shake his hand.

Malcolm Kenyatta is probably my favorite of the candidates. Essentially he suffers from what all other people who aren't straight white men suffer from - everyone LOVES him when they talk to him and thinks he has the best ideas, but they don't think a gay black man from Philly is "electable."

Lt. Gov:

Brian Simms is currently in the PA house, representing part of Philly. He's the first openly gay elected state legislator in PA history. Some assholes from very conservative parts of Western PA have gotten into fights with him about LGBT rights, which has made national news. He's good. Would he bring in votes from other areas of the state? Not sure.

Austin Davis is endorsed by Josh Shapiro, our current AG who is running unopposed for the Dem gubernatorial nomination. He's a state rep from suburban Pittsburgh. Shapiro is from suburban Philly, so that might be strategic.

Another guy, Ray Sosa, is running, but I don't know his background.

[DotAndBuzz]

INCREDIBLE news out of a tiny rural spot in Northern MI. This woman has tried 3x against this guy, and finally unseated him in a recall election - meaning for the first time in history, the county board is majority D. She tied in the rural area of the county (a feat unto itself if you are familiar with the area), and soundly defeated him in the more progressive area.

glenarborsun.com/bahle-beats-bunek-in-recall-election-democrats-take-control-of-leelanau-county-commission-for-first-time/

"Democrat Lois Bahle beat Republican Will Bunek today in a District 3 recall election that will swing the majority on the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners to the Democrats for the first time in county history."

The GOP nominated a full on GOP cut members for the AG and SOS election this fall, so this win is giving me hope (for today)

Keep fighting folks. Every little bit counts.

[Pom]

TW TW TW...Rape mentioned.

In the name of all that's fresh and good, at the very least, this dirtbag was defeated here in Michigan.

www.newsweek.com/robert-regan-gop-candidate-told-women-enjoy-rape-loses-race-michigan-1703331

[zelda25]

Oregon's governor is apparently the most unpopular governor in the country right now, and she's termed out, so it's a wide-open shitshow. Statewide races in OR have been reliably blue for decades, but that's only because the population of Portland-metro edges out (and not by a ton) the population of the rest of the largely very-red state. Right now, everyone is pissed about everything, and a longtime state senator who has been a Dem forever--at least in name--is running for gov as an independent. I don't think she'll win, but she could absolutely Ross Perot the whole thing (I'm verbing Ross Perot here  ).

And this isn't exactly "local," but OR has a new congressional district; Nancy Pelosi's PAC and a California crypto-gazillionaire have thrown a boatload of money at some dude no one has ever heard of, has never held an office, didn't even live in OR after college until the pandemic hit, and has a nearly-flawless record of not voting. Meanwhile, other candidates who actually have longtime ties to the district and track records working for said district are being ignored. Someone make it make sense!

[Michelle]

May 4, 2022 22:34:23 GMT -5 allabtthat said:

May 4, 2022 17:04:44 GMT -5 Michelle said:

Yes. www.texastribune.org/2022/03/02/critical-race-theory-state-board-education/

@@@
Julie Pickren is listed. In my school district we have 3 FB parent pages. 1 is for all parents. A second is for the left-leaning, pro-vax, pro-mask, inclusive parents. There is another one called something like Parents for Freedom of Choice and she frequents that one and posts the most disgusting stuff that is poster-child Trump-worshipping-hate. It was founded on the anti-mask, anti-vax stance. It has grown to anti-CRT, anti-trans girls in girls' sports, don't-say-gay crap, and basically they all seem to worship at the alter of Ron Desantos. They've been saying, "Don't California My Texas" and I want to counter, "Don't Florida my Texas... it's bad enough already."

The parents that are on there are either bigots, totally uninformed, or both. One of them cross-posted a tweet to the common page saying Desantos just required personal financial literacy as a HS class and we should do the same in our district. I copied the class out of our current course selection guide and pasted it as a reply... we already have it. So then she followed up, "Oh that must be new. But it's an ELECTIVE - it should be REQUIRED." ::eyeroll::

You’ve probably figured this out on your own because I think you live in the general Htown area, but there are a few people from the Magnolia/Conroe/Tomball area (and spread that around the greater Houston districts) starting fb pages that are similar to “Concerned Parents of XYZ District”. None of them live in the districts (maybe this is astroturfing?) and several aren’t actually parents but they’re affiliated with Moms for Liberty. It’s easy to figure out who funds them.

It's funny you say that. In my community, which is south of Houston, the FB page for the liberal parents is "[town name] ISD Community Concerns." It used to be "concerned parents..." but I guess the founders probably realized the association with moms of liberty so they renamed it. The founders are activists who have ran for office but they do live within walking distance of me.

But yes i've seen the FB pages going all around town. It's really gross. It's a new type of "community organizing" but for horrible reasons. Julie Pickren is right in the middle of it all on our side of town.

[edwardo123]

May 5, 2022 19:15:33 GMT -5 Michelle said:

May 4, 2022 22:34:23 GMT -5 allabtthat said:

You’ve probably figured this out on your own because I think you live in the general Htown area, but there are a few people from the Magnolia/Conroe/Tomball area (and spread that around the greater Houston districts) starting fb pages that are similar to “Concerned Parents of XYZ District”. None of them live in the districts (maybe this is astroturfing?) and several aren’t actually parents but they’re affiliated with Moms for Liberty. It’s easy to figure out who funds them.

It's funny you say that. In my community, which is south of Houston, the FB page for the liberal parents is "[town name] ISD Community Concerns." It used to be "concerned parents..." but I guess the founders probably realized the association with moms of liberty so they renamed it. The founders are activists who have ran for office but they do live within walking distance of me.

But yes i've seen the FB pages going all around town. It's really gross. It's a new type of "community organizing" but for horrible reasons. Julie Pickren is right in the middle of it all on our side of town.

I’m in Ohio. Our suburb has a page called , Cityname, the children need us. It’s gross. They delete and block any differing opinion to keep it an echo chamber for their hate.

[maudefindlay]

TW

I mean I would think he would be disqualified. Maybe too late to take his name off the ballot, but don't count his votes and report he won.

www.wthr.com/article/news/crime/lebanon-man-charged-with-wifes-murder-wins-republican-primary-for-town-board-andrew-wilhoite-nikki/531-5771d0a7-23e0-48f9-800c-29c9f92ad583

[kiminky]

apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-pennsylvania-congress-30e7c32969c6a72a968247f7141ee68c?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP

[erbear]

May 15, 2022 16:07:57 GMT -5 kiminky said:

apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-pennsylvania-congress-30e7c32969c6a72a968247f7141ee68c?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP

Yikes.

I still don’t know who I am voting for in the senate primary.

[wawa]

May 15, 2022 16:32:42 GMT -5 erbear said:

May 15, 2022 16:07:57 GMT -5 kiminky said:

apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-pennsylvania-congress-30e7c32969c6a72a968247f7141ee68c?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP

Yikes.

I still don’t know who I am voting for in the senate primary.

Oh no! I know my mom was really torn because she felt like he has the best shot by far, but isn't her favorite. She was planning to vote for him though last time I talked to her.

[erbear]

May 16, 2022 7:32:48 GMT -5 wawa said:

May 15, 2022 16:32:42 GMT -5 erbear said:

Yikes.

I still don’t know who I am voting for in the senate primary.

Oh no! I know my mom was really torn because she felt like he has the best shot by far, but isn't her favorite. She was planning to vote for him though last time I talked to her.

That’s where I am. The candidate I think has the best chance of winning the general (Lamb) is not my choice. He’s too moderate and I don’t think that’s the direction of the party. I think Fetterman will probably win but I’m not a huge fan. My choice (Kenyatta) doesn’t really have a shot but a strong showing could be really important in moving the party to a more progressive place. I’ll probably vote my choice and support the democrat who wins in the general. I guess that’s the point of primaries.

[mouse]

May 5, 2022 12:51:13 GMT -5 zelda25 said:

Oregon's governor is apparently the most unpopular governor in the country right now, and she's termed out, so it's a wide-open shitshow. Statewide races in OR have been reliably blue for decades, but that's only because the population of Portland-metro edges out (and not by a ton) the population of the rest of the largely very-red state. Right now, everyone is pissed about everything, and a longtime state senator who has been a Dem forever--at least in name--is running for gov as an independent. I don't think she'll win, but she could absolutely Ross Perot the whole thing (I'm verbing Ross Perot here  ).

And this isn't exactly "local," but OR has a new congressional district; Nancy Pelosi's PAC and a California crypto-gazillionaire have thrown a boatload of money at some dude no one has ever heard of, has never held an office, didn't even live in OR after college until the pandemic hit, and has a nearly-flawless record of not voting. Meanwhile, other candidates who actually have longtime ties to the district and track records working for said district are being ignored. Someone make it make sense!

District 6? Yeah, that’s a total shitshow.

Meanwhile here in District 5, I think Shrader might finally go down. In flames, I hope.

[curbsideprophet]

Not my district but Madison Cawthorn lost his primary. Good riddance.