I want to start by reiterating that we should not feed the negative attention seeking behavior of the President of Exploitation by Ruthless Villainy (PERV). Every time we post, like, share, or comment, we give the PERV power. We also encourage the media to keep focusing on the chaos, since their revenue depends on public reaction, whether positive or negative. Of course observe and learn, but save your energy and action for constructive measures.
There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.
Rural Americans United have long written about and led a campaign discouraging the promotion of the PERV. Put no wind behind his sails, be the impassable headwind.
So what can we do?
Now more than ever, we must continue to stand up and keep the pressure on. But to truly guarantee a change in direction, we must put barriers in place within the system to stymie the PERV. We must win local elections and take back the House of Representatives.
The budget resolution that recently passed the House on a 217 to 215 vote (NPR) demonstrates how precarious the Republican majority is. But as long as they hold on to those two votes, it might as well be two hundred. They have a majority and that is all it takes.
Take back the House
In Florida, there are two special elections in April: U.S. House Districts 1 and 6. In District 1, Democrat Gay Valimont faces Republican Jimmy Patronis, and in District 6, Democrat Josh Weil is taking on Republican Randy Fine. This is an enormous challenge for a Democrat to overcome since Republican to Democrat voter turnout is two to one, but there is time. With sufficient support from across the country, this could shift.
With an opportunity to take back the House and put the largest roadblock possible in front of the PERV, where are the Democrats?! These should be the loudest and best funded campaigns with money and media flooding in. But they do not fit the national Democratic Party’s profile for a race of interest. They are not deep pocket headline grabbing races, so they go ignored.
For Senators Warnock, Kelly and Fetterman’s last races, hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars were raised and far less was at stake (Rural Americans United). To date, according to FEC filings, Weil and Valimont have raised 225,470 dollars and 103,639 dollars respectively. Their opponents are also in the low dollar range, meaning this race could be won and our nation saved!
But again, the national Democratic Party fiddles as Rome burns.
Central and Eastern Washington
We have much local power. The upcoming House race in Washington’s Congressional District 4 has a clear path to victory. But to see this, we must shake off the 2022 debacle when our own party sabotaged good candidates. Looking at the facts, there is great optimism.
Do Nothing Dan Newhouse has been on the verge of retirement for a cycle or two, and this next one could very well be his last. He has never been considered a good representative. The best comment I’ve heard about him is that “he isn’t that bad.” Not exactly a ringing endorsement.
He still carries a stigma among Republicans for voting to impeach Trump, and that won’t go away. More critical to his future is the needle he must thread between the PERV’s administration, his party in Congress, and his constituents. Do Nothing Dan will never vote against his party again, which means he will fully support some of the most devastating policies that directly harm the people of Central and Eastern Washington, rich and poor, young and old alike.
While he votes to inflict harm, he tries to play a middle-ground game. These positions cannot be reconciled. His words fall even flatter when his voting record contradicts them.
Central Washington depends on immigrants, and in Yakima County, one in ten residents are at risk of deportation under the PERV’s administration. Farmers are losing their foreign markets, subsidies, grants, insurance, labor, and purchase agreements. The loss of goodwill with allies puts our agriculture industry at risk. In many counties in Central and Eastern Washington the average family income is half the state average. In Yakima county there are over 130,000 people on Medicaid, and yet, we are seeing attacks on Medicaid, SNAP, education, and soon, Social Security and Medicare. Rural communities are being hit hard.
Agricultural interests have kept Do Nothing Dan in office, but this support is now tenuous. Even if he runs again, he has slipped in the polls the last two cycles, and his support is waning.
As Democrats, we’ve been given two once-in-a-generation opportunities to win Congressional District 4. The first was when I, Doug White, ran in 2022, when Loren Culp made a Democratic victory possible. A similar scenario played out in Congressional District 3, where Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez captured the “not so crazy” vote against Joe Kent and won.
A path to victory is becoming clearer for 2026, and I will write more on this because my vision forward is stronger than ever and I hope yours is too.
P.S. There are some potential candidates emerging already. This is encouraging.
Much success,
Doug
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