Message From Lee Rogers

Lou Vince

Dr. Lee Rogers was the Blue America-backed candidate for Congress twice in the Antelope Valley, Simi Valley, Santa Clarita area. He scared Buck McKeon so deeply that McKeon retired from Congress and is now working as a lobbyist. Even after McKeon raised the white flag, Steve Israel and the dysfunctional operation he's turned the DCCC into still managed to screw up the race, leaving Democrats without a candidate. So people have been stuck with a right-wing ideologue, Steve Knight, who has been making a terrible impression with his constituents and is likely to be a one-termer. Lee feels confident that 2016 will be the year the district flips from red to blue, but he's worried that a DINO could grab the seat instead of a real Democrat.

Blue America has endorsed Lou Vince. Lee penned the letter below to the other progressive organizations that endorsed him, which he is urging to back Lou.

I was the nominee for CA-25 in 2012 and 2014. I am a champion of the progressive cause and I was endorsed by PCCC, MoveOn, DFA, PDA, BlueAmerica, PFAW, and the Stonewall Democrats among others. CA-25 is a changing district. It is D+1 and becoming more Democratic. The district went for Obama slightly in 2008 and Romney slightly in 2012. It is the last remaining district in Los Angeles County not represented by a Democrat. Unfortunately, there has not been a strong Democratic organization active in the district.

Progressive groups should be involved in CA-25 for a couple reasons. First, CA-25 will eventually be a Democratic district. But whether or not CA-25 sends a progressive to Washington, depends on us. There are other Democrats running, but they are conservative Dems.

Please consider these points:

• This district is now winnable by Democrats more so than it has ever been. The 25th is now D+1 and we are very close to expelling the last Republican Congressman from Ventura and Los Angeles counties from Congress.

• With competitive CA State Senate races on each wing of the district (SD27 – Simi Valley/Porter Ranch/Stevenson Ranch and SD21 – Santa Clarita/Palmdale), there will be a very strong effort to further increase voter turnout for these races, thus strengthening our turnout as well.

• Maria Gutziet is conservative Blue Dog Democrat that does not stand for real progressive values like Lou Vince. As a member of the Newhall Water Board, Gutzeit has proven to be a reliable vote for the developers and business interests, rather than standing up for progressive ideals and residents of the 25th District.

• Rather than allow a DINO to go to Congress, progressive organizations need to stand up and give Lou a fighting chance to give the progressives one more voice in Congress.

• In 2015 Q2, all Democrats had pitiful fundraising, Maria Gutzeit $36,000, Lou Vince $14,000, and Evan Thomas didn’t report. If Lou doesn’t have the support he needs and Maria advances to the general election, voters in the 25th will have a choice between Republican and Republican lite.

CA-25 is an opportunity. Let’s not waste it!

Sincerely,

Dr. Lee Rogers