By Emily on 10/30/2009 @ 04:45 PM
Tags: GOP Opponents, US House, 2010 Elections, Julie Hamos, Gabrielle Giffords, Betsy Markey, Carol Shea-Porter, Mary Jo Kilroy, Loretta Sanchez, Debbie Halvorson, Colleen Hanabusa
The GOP sure is trigger happy lately.
We told you earlier about the NRCC's Young Guns program, which helps recruit and train GOPers in targeted open-seat and challenger races. And now we have news that the Young Guns are taking aim and increasing their numbers, adding 32 new GOP candidates to the program -- and using more gun analogies and references than ever!
Five EMILY's List incumbents were already matched up against Young Guns program participants -- and now, they're adding another. EMILY's List alum Cong. Gabrielle Giffords's (AZ-08) potential opponent, Jesse Kelly, has been added to the list. Recently endorsed candidate Julie Hamos (IL-10) now faces not just one, but three potential opponents enrolled in the program -- Beth Coulson, Bob Dold, and Dick Green.
We also learned that nine candidates have been elevated from the Young Guns' first step -- "on the radar" -- to the second "contender" level of the three-part program. New "contenders" include Cory Gardner, looking to run in CO-04 against Cong. Betsy Markey; Frank Guinta, a potential challenger for Cong. Carol Shea-Porter in NH-01; and Steve Stivers, who is hoping for a rematch against Cong. Mary Jo Kilroy in OH-15.
Other Young Guns facing EMILY's List incumbents include Van Tran in Cong. Loretta Sanchez's CA-47 district and Adam Kinzinger in recently endorsed Cong. Debbie Halvorson's IL-11 district. And in HI-01, EMILY’s List endorsed candidate Colleen Hanabusa's potential GOP opponent, Charles Djou, is also enrolled in the program.
Although the NRCC is certainly pulling out all the stops for these GOPers, there's no doubt this is far from the Republican'' complete list of targets for 2010 -- just one more reminder that we have to prepare now to protect and build on our majorities in Congress.
By Jonathan Parker on 09/03/2009 @ 04:00 PM
Tags: Health Care, US House, Betsy Markey, Gabrielle Giffords, Suzanne Kosmas, Carol Shea-Porter
A lot of media attention has been given to the outrageous — and dangerous — run-ins with protestors at health care town halls. I can’t think of one of our incumbent women considered vulnerable by the GOP who has escaped their summer antics.
But despite the outbursts and disruptions, our women are still going out and talking to their constituents (see our post about Maryland Rep. Donna Edwards's recent town hall). They want to hear their district’s concerns, but the GOP has so politicized the climate it’s become very challenging. Some members had to hold town halls in federal buildings for security reasons; others had to ask attendees to RSVP prior to their meetings. I’ve been hearing from many of our women incumbents who are most concerned that protestors from outside their districts may have prevented their constituents from having a chance to speak.
Here’s a sampling of what our women in Congress did over summer recess:
In CO-04, Rep. Betsy Markey held firm despite being questioned about whether she had actually read the health care bill (she had) and a number of attendees insisting that the bill contained provisions that it does not, in fact, contain. Markey has managed to hold such productive meetings she even received a standing ovation from constituents.
In AZ-08, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’s town hall meeting last weekend drew 1,300 attendees — many of whom were following the RNC talking points. Giffords did an impressive job handling the crowd, and constituents got a chance to be heard.
In FL-24, Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, who intended to talk with constituents about health care reform, was questioned by an attendee about the president’s birth certificate instead. She deftly got the meeting back on track nonetheless.
In NH-01, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter’s Republican opponent decided to host a town hall of his own, claiming that Shea-Porter was not holding any, which, in fact, she was. Her opponent used his town halls as a forum to attack Shea-Porter, while, at hers, she talked with constituents about the importance of enacting health care reform.
And while a lot of attention has been given to the tea party and town hall protests, the RNC is also hitting the airwaves, running radio and TV ads in many of our incumbent women’s districts.
After recess, returning to the health care debate in Washington might feel like a vacation for some of our incumbents. And for us here at EMILY’s List, these attacks and obstructive strategies all mean one thing: we can’t waste any time gearing up for essential 2010 battles.
By Emily on 09/02/2009 @ 06:07 PM
Tags: Reproductive Rights, U.S. House, Suzanne Kosmas, Carol Shea-Porter, Debbie Halvorson, Betsy Markey, GOP Opponents
Usually, it's a good thing when I say someone is "on the List." But there's always an exception.
A number of EMILY's List elected women are being targeted by the Susan B. Anthony List, a PAC dedicated to electing anti-choice women candidates. The so-called "Votes Have Consequences" campaign is an organized attack on 12 members of Congress, including three EMILY's List women. Freshman Congresswomen Suzanne Kosmas and Debbie Halvorson, along with two-term Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, are among those on the group's targeted list.
Already, they're up with ads in Nevada against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and there's more to come. According to POLITICO, there will be more attack ads, along with likely robocalls and online campaigns against the targeted members.
Unsurprisingly, there's a familiar face behind the group's political actions, former GOP Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, who was defeated by EMILY's List candidate Rep. Betsy Markey last year. Seems like Musgrave has a bit of a bone to pick with progressives in Congress -- and with a $2 million budget for this current campaign, these candidates will need our continued support to hold their seats.
By Jonathan Parker on 08/04/2009 @ 05:25 PM
Tags: GOP Opponents, 2010 Elections, US House, Ann Kirkpatrick, Betsy Markey, Suzanne Kosmas, Debbie Halvorson, Carol Shea-Porter, Dina Titus, Mary Jo Kilroy, Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, Loretta Sanchez
Only days ago we told you that the NRCC was picking their top races for 2010, and yesterday's POLITICO report sheds more light on exactly whom Republicans will target.
Nine of the seats in Republicans' sights are currently held by EMILY's List incumbents, including six freshman members we helped elect last year: Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01), Betsy Markey (CO-04), Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24), Debbie Halvorson (IL-11), Dina Titus (NV-03), and Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15). Three longer serving EMILY's List candidates, Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (SD-AL), and Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), are also being targeted.
According to an NRCC release, GOPers are hoping to pick up a total of 70 districts across the country, ranging from vulnerable new members who were elected in the 2006 or 2008 cycles to more experienced representatives who haven't had competitive races in recent years.
And there's no doubt Republicans are putting politics before progress when it comes to making a name for themselves in 2010:
House Republicans also appear confident that difficult votes on health care and energy legislation will put battle-tested members from conservative districts in trouble.
For EMILY's List candidates, Republican attacks are going to make voter outreach and supporter efforts more crucial than ever.
See the full list
here.
By Jonathan Parker on 07/31/2009 @ 10:40 AM
Tags: GOP Opponents, US House, Loretta Sanchez, Betsy Markey, Debbie Halvorson, Carol Shea-Porter, Mary Jo Kilroy
The GOP is gearing up for showdowns in 2010, and they're already picking their top races.
The NRCC's "Young Guns" program -- designed to help GOPers in open-seat and challenger races -- debuted yesterday featuring 13 candidates. Seven of those races will likely pit "On the Radar" candidates (those in the first stage of the "Young Gun" program) against women candidates, including five incumbent EMILY's List candidates: Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Betsy Markey (CO-04), Debbie Halvorson (IL-11), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), and Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15). The committee plans to train 80 candidates this cycle to compete in top races.
In addition to unveiling the "Young Guns" initiative, NRCC Chairman Rep. Pete Sessions (TX-32) announced committee endorsements for two of the program's current candidates. In one of those races, challenger Adam Kinzinger will take on Rep. Debbie Halvorson, a freshman EMILY's List helped elect last cycle.
By Emily on 07/28/2009 @ 01:07 PM
Tags: US House, 2010 Elections, GOP Opponents, Debbie Halvorson, Mary Jo Kilroy, Ann Kirkpatrick, Suzanne Kosmas, Betsy Markey, Dina Titus, Gabrielle Giffords, Carol Shea-Porter, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
The GOP isn't wasting any time plotting for 2010 -- and top on their list of priorities is taking down freshman members of Congress in moderate or conservative-leaning districts, including women we've helped elect.
Six of the women EMILY's List helped elect last year are being targeted in RNC ads that call White House health care reform plans a "dangerous experiment" -- Debbie Halvorson (IL-11), Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01), Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24), Betsy Markey (CO-04), and Dina Titus (NV-03). Also under attack are more senior EMILY's List members of Congress, Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-08), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL).
The so-called "ad blitz" will be aired in 33 states nationwide.
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