The Other Most Important Congressional Race In The Country

Sick of poisonous garbage like Wasserman Schultz? Here's an antidote

Getting rid of powerful Republican policy-makers is something the DCCC doesn't ever even try to do. Even though the NRCC ruthlessly-- and sometimes successfully-- targets Democratic leaders and committee chairs, the DCCC virtually never targets GOP leaders or committee chairs. A few years ago they had two opportunities to nip Paul Ryan's career in the bud and they steadfastly refused to get involved. That's the DCCC. This year their stinking Red-to-Blue program targets 43 seats. Not a single one is held by a Republican leader or committee chair. The closest they've come is when they were dragged into backing progressive Marine Colonel Doug Applegate running against former chairman Doug Issa. Other than that, their targets are all empty seats or faceless back-benchers.

Blue America and other progressive grassroots groups are targeting Republican Party arch-villains like Peter King (NY), Lamar Smith (TX), Sean Duffy (WI), and Fred Upton (MI), while the DCCC wastes tens of millions of dollars shadowboxing with inconsequential nonentities like Elise Stefanik, Mike Coffman, Mia Love, Carlos Curbelo, Steve Knight and Will Hurd. Don't get me wrong-- I'm glad the DCCC is targeting creeps like Coffman Curbelo, Hurd and the rest, but it would be nice to see them make a move against someone as dangerous-- and suddenly vulnerable-- as House Science Committee chairman Lamar Smith or House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Fred Upton, two people who are causing irreparable damage to the country every single day they show up for work.



That said, there's another factor to consider than just bad Republicans. How about some Democratic leaders worth the title "leader"-- like Pelosi once was (many years ago) and Hoyer never was and never will be. The House Democrats are headed straight towards a self-inflicted garbage dump headed by either of the two worst corrupt careerists in the entire Congress, Joe Crowley or Debbie Wasserman Schultz, each an absolute ultimate in the worst sewer politics. Sure, there are decent Democrats in the House-- but not many and not in positions of power. People like Barbara Lee, Raul Grijalva, Ted Lieu, Mark Pocan, Matt Cartwright aren't being groomed for leadership positions. Corrupt right-wing psychopath Kirsten Sinema is. Like Crowley. Like Wasserman Schultz. Three New Dem monstrosities who are just as bad as the worst Republicans.

Meanwhile the DCCC works hard to get rid of potential challengers to their status quo by supporting weak, corruptible, easy-to-control candidates in primaries. This year Blue America has a whole slate of extraordinary men and women who won their primaries and have a shot to win a week from today. Two especially have the kind of independent minds and the experience and records that indicate they could move up the leadership ladder rapidly and effectively: Zephyr Teachout (NY) and Pramila Jayapal. We talked about Zephyr's race yesterday and we've mentioned Pramila in terms of her proven leadership abilities several times over the course of the cycle. In neither case are we looking for merely well-behaved progressives who will vote right. Both of these women have far loftier futures ahead of them-- hopefully before slime like Wasserman Schultz, Crowley and Sinema can obliterate whatsever left of the Democratic Party that's worthwhile. Over the weekend, Joel Connelly, writing for the Seattle P.I., made the case for Pramila and went right for the leadership thing. "Jayapal," he wrote, "talks radical. But she acts practical. She is an immigrant who dreams big dreams. And she believes achieving those dreams requires a presence on the national stage."

Jayapal took the stage last year at a rally boosting reelection of socialist Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant, decrying "the 1 percent' and fearing that Seattle is "increasingly becoming a white city."

"This is about the movement for justice in a system that is stacked against working people," she argued. In the initial money appeal in her run for Congress, Jayapal declared: "What Congress needs is a progressive voice who is unafraid to take on these powerful interests-- who is willing to fight for all Americans, not just the wealthiest 1 percent."

Yet, while backing Sawant, Jayapal also supported reelecting then-Seattle City Council president Tim Burgess. She delivered an exquisitely timed endorsement of Ed Murray in the 2013 Seattle Mayor's race, and was picked by Murray to help him pick a new Seattle police chief.

Ex-Gov., ex-U.S. Commerce Secretary, ex-U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke is a Democratic establishment pillar, yet he delivered a powerful pre-primary boost to Jayapal.

"As Governor, I saw firsthand how Pramila stood up for what is right when after the September 11th attacks, she founded Hate Free Zone, now OneAmerica, the largest immigrant rights group in the state," wrote Locke.

The Democratic Party is divided-- not with blood on the floor, like the Republicans-- but on how to bring about change in America.

In 2008, Barack Obama's rallies featured mass chants of "Fired up, ready to go!" After his election, however, the Obama message seemed to be, "Thanks, but you can now go home." Obama launched into a cerebral presidency that put mobilizing on the back burner.

Bernie Sanders, in his 2016 campaign, argued that a grass "movement" is needed to move America, and not just at election time. As a fiery warmup act at Sanders' rallies, Jayapal used Seattle's $15-an-hour minimum wage campaign as Exhibit A for keeping the heat on, from City Hall to Congress.

"I am a movement builder, a coalition builder," Jayapal declared in one of the first 7th District debates.

In one early U.S. House debate, featuring "Seattle nice" talk, Jayapal made listeners sit up and take note when she said:  "I think the best thing that's happened is Black Lives Matter, which was started by three queer women of color."

Hell-raisers are often dismissed or put down.

...The thousands of all-age supporters who turned out for Bernie Sanders rallies across the state have undeniably exerted more influence on campaign '16 than wealthy donors who footed the five-figure admission price to break bread with Hillary Clinton.

The 2016 Sanders insurgency has pushed the Democratic Party and Clinton to address income disparity in America, and make restoring the middle class a centerpiece of its fall campaign.

...She helped design the majority-minority 9th District, although she's running in the 7th.  She blew by multiple opponents in 2014 to win an open State Senate seat in central Seattle. She took 42 percent of the total vote in the August primary for the seat being vacated by "Congressman-for-life" Jim McDermott.

The House Progressive Caucus has endorsed Jayapal. A photo from her website shows two of its leaders, U.S. Reps. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, and Keith Ellison, D-Minnesota. Both are known for step winding speeches at, say, NetRoots Nation, the annual gathering of America's progressive bloggers.

But they don't get much done.  The Progressive Caucus needs Jayapal's presence more than she needs its endorsement.

She is a skilled close-quarters negotiator who helped create the city's Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, and tried to talk State Senate Republicans out of their obdurate stupidity to pass the bipartisan Washington Voting Rights Act.

Jayapal argues that she has already been a player who "helped negotiate parts" of an immigration reform bill that passed the U.S. Senate in 2013. "I worked with Lindsey Graham and John McCain to get that bill passed," she told one forum.

So, Jayapal does not fit the traditional mold. She elevates non-traditional causes, of the rights of transgender women and sex workers. She is blistering on the absence of women of color in the corridors of power.

She is a presence, a force, a mobilizer-- look at Jayapal's volunteer organization-- and promises to work on stuff like free college tuition, college debt relief, and a stable presence in America for immigrant families pursuing the American dream.

And, when she enters the "peoples' House," nobody-- I mean nobody-- is going to keep Pramila Jayapal out of the corridors of power.

That's what we're counting on. She's defending his candidacy right up until Nov. 8 with TV ads responding to a massive last minute SuperPAC attack against her. Please help her respond by tapping on the thermometer below:

Establishment Democrats Finally Join Progressives And Swing Away From GOP Plans To Cut Social Security

Gas money here

Obama came close to sealing a Grand Bargain with Boehner that would have made significant cuts to Social Security and Medicare, my raising age eligibilities and by slowing cost of living allowances. It wasn't harsh enough for the Tea Party so most conservative Republicans voted against it and it failed. Plenty of conservative Democrats-- basically nearly all of the Blue Dogs and New Dems-- backed it... and still do. Oregon Blue Dog Kurt Schrader introduced an amendment to pass it, which failed spectacularly, but there were 54 Democrats who thought it was a good idea, including party leaders Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer, one who's now in the Senate-- Gary Peters (New Dem-MI)-- 2 now running for the Senate-- Loretta Sanchez (Blue Dog-CA) and Chris Van Hollen (MD)-- 3 corporate whores running for seats they lost in 2014-- Joe Garcia (New Dem-FL), Pete Gallego (Blue Dog-TX) and Colleen Hanabusa (New Dem-HI)-- and all the worst garbage the New Dems have to offer, from Ami Bera (CA), Ron Kind (WI), Jim Himes (CT), Cheri Bustos (IL), John Delaney (MD) and Joe Crowley (NY) to Jim Cooper (TN), Scott Peters (CA), Gregory Meeks (NY) and Denny Heck (WA). And 6 bums who lost their seats the next time they faced the voters.

By now you've heard that after over 7 years in office President Obama has had a complete change of heart and now says he favors expanding Social Security instead of expanding it. Ironic? Whatever. Someone who's been fighting for expanding Social Security all along-- the guy who came up with the idea, is SocialSecurityWorks founder Eric Kingson. And he's running for Congress up in Syracuse in Central New York. The truck above is the one Blue America has driving all over the district right up until June 28th primary. And Social Security is the topic. Right after Obama's announcement that he's switched his position in Social Security, Kingson sent us a note celebrating it. "President Obama," he wrote, "announced that it’s time to make 'Social Security more generous so today’s retirees and future generations get the dignified retirement that they have earned.'" He said he applauds him "for joining the growing movement in the Democratic Party to expand Social Security-- for today’s seniors, workers, persons with severe disabilities, and for generations to come. With two-thirds of today’s working persons, especially those in their late 40s and 50s, facing a personal retirement income crisis, yes, it’s time to expand benefits. With the Social Security benefits for today’s seniors averaging just $14,000, today’s older Americans need benefit increases, and they need fairer cost-of-living adjustments. With the United States being one of only three nations that do not provide paid maternity benefits at birth or adoption, it’s long past time to add up to 12 weeks paid family and sick leave to our Social Security." His Republican opponent John Katko doesn't agree.

Hopefully, Representative John Katko and the Republican Party will also come to the realization that Americans-- Democrats, Independents and Republicans alike--  want to see benefits increased, not cut, not privatized as Speaker Paul Ryan has long advocated.

I am proud to play a leadership role in this movement. Social Security Works and the Strengthen Social Security Coalition of 300 organizations that Nancy Altman and I co-founded in 2009 is widely recognized as playing a central role in stopping cuts, and putting the goal of expanding Social Security on the map. I am proud of my colleagues at Social Security Works and the many organizations who worked side by side to change our nation’s discussion about the future of Social Security.

One of Kingson's campaign managers, Lauren Livingston, added that  he's "the only candidate for Congress in New York’s 24th District who, without being in Congress, has actually made a difference in the lives of everyone in the district. In Congress, Eric will keep fighting for everyone’s Social Security, and he will apply his knowledge of how to make change to many other concerns of Central New Yorkers-- job development, infrastructure investment, renewable energy, education, debt reduction for college graduates and free college education.”

Eric isn't just battling a Republican crackpot, he has two garden variety establishment Democrats he's facing in the primary, Colleen Deacon (the Chuck Schumer puppet who used to be a low level staffer for Kirsten Gillibrand) and some rich guy named Steve Wiliams who Steve Israel dug up. With the 2 establishment Democrats competing for the Republican-lite lane, this is the perfect opportunity to elect one of the country's foremost Social Security experts to Congress-- which is why I included the Blue America contribution thermometer on the right.

Last month, Eric debated the 2 conservative Democrats on WRVO radio. When the host asked them the standard question-- at least in progressive circles-- about whether or not to remove the Social Security cap so that millionaires and billionaires make payroll contributions on all their earnings, just like everyone else who earns less than $118,500, Deacon and Williams were flummoxed and didn't understand the concept. After Deacon stated we should, "put all options on the table...we need to look at the cap" (which, whether she knew it or not, is Beltway-speak for putting benefit cuts on the table), Williams got all worked up and challenged her babbling, "I don’t know what 'we need to look at something’ means.'" Williams, the closest to a Republican of the candidates and the one who's most like the unpopular Katko, does not favor removing the cap but felt there "needs to be an economic study."

Another Blue America-endorsed candidate (who you will find at the same thermometer) is Seattle's Pramila Jayapal and she also noted-- happily-- Obama's change of heart on Social Security. "As recently as 2012," she wrote, "Democrats were expending time and energy playing defense on Social Security-- trying to prevent drastic cuts to this critical program, but never thinking big or bold about the kind of new vision it needed. But this week for the first time, President Obama publicly announced his support for expanding Social Security benefits. This huge development came after years of strong progressive advocacy and growing support from leaders like Senator Elizabeth Warren. Expanding Social Security is now the mainstream position of the Democratic Party."

Pramila wants to make certain the Democratic Drafting Committee makes it official and includes it in the official Democratic Party platform. I'm sure she was as shocked as most of us were when it came out that New Dem Debbie Wasserman Schultz, in her capacity as head of the DNC vetoed Bernie's selection of RoseAnn DeMoro, of National Nurses United, for the committee. Wassermann Schultz, who has been stuffing the committees with sleazy corporate lobbyists told Bernie he isn't allowed to put any union representatives on the committee. It's a very different Democratic Party, especially with a monster like Wasserman Schultz as DNC chair. One of Wasserman Schultz's spokespersons confirmed Bernie's account and pointed out that the DNC already had a union rep, one from a tame, sell-out union, AFSCME, that does whatever the party establishment tells it to do. DeMoro: "The most insidious thing, frankly, is that only one of 15 people on this drafting committee is for labor. It shows you how insidious the DNC has become. Labor built this party. Labor built this country. One person is enough to represent all of that? If you look at the composition of who they chose, besides Bernie’s choices, K Street’s far better represented than the labor movement."

Pramila is still hopeful and told her supporters that "Two weeks from now, 15 Democratic leaders will convene to start drafting the official Democratic Party platform for 2016. With Donald Trump at the top of the Republican ticket, it's more critical than ever before that we have a party platform that reflects the kind of bold, progressive ideas Americans support-- things like expanding Social Security, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and equal pay for equal work... Social Security is one of the most successful and vital programs our country has ever seen, but we haven't expanded it as needed to meet the new demands of our families. In the State Senate, I worked to make identifying long-term care solutions for Washington’s growing senior population a top priority, and in Congress, I will take on this fight to expand and protect Social Security for generations to come, because programs like Social Security represent the best of American values, the belief that we're all better off when we're all better off."

Can Anyone Fill Grayson's And Edwards' Shoes In The House? Meet Pramila Jayapal

Two of our very first Blue America candidates, a decade ago, were Alan Grayson and Donna Edwards, who have been inspirations from the moments they ran, won and started pushing their strong progressive agendas in the House. These are two admirable people who have made a substantive difference in a screwed up, largely dysfunctional Congress. Grayson, in fact, passed more legislation than any other member of Congress, even with the House under GOP control! Now both Donna Edwards and Alan Grayson are leaving the House and running for the Senate. (You can contribute to either or both of them here on the Blue America Senate page.)

But our concern this week is about who will replace their powerful, brilliant leadership in the House. And we think we found her: Washington state Senator Pramila Jayapal. She's running for the seat her political ally, Jim McDermott, is retiring from in Seattle. It's a deep blue district and the winner of the Democratic primary is virtually guaranteed the congressional seat. (Obama won the district with 80% in 2008 and 79% in 2012.)

Senator Jayapal has been a lot like Grayson, in fact, strongly progressive and reform-minded and known as a serious legislator who works across the aisle to pass sensible legislation, even in a state Senate controlled by the GOP. "I'm running for Congress," she told us Friday, "because our system is rigged for corporations and the wealthy, but we can fight back. The time has come to tackle this inequality: we need to raise the minimum wage, expand Social Security and Medicare, and ensure debt-free college for young people across America."

And if you think that sounds familiar... yes, she has officially endorsed Sanders. "The vision has to be to fundamentally change the system." And when it come to the divisive issue of immigration her thinking is values-based and she pointed out that "we're stronger because of our diversity; being American is defined by common beliefs, not common blood; by faith in each other, not in any one faith-- that are at stake in this election. The choice before us is whether to continue to be a pluralistic society, where new ideas and varying perspective allow our cultural, economic and civic life to prosper as it has for 250 years-- or to cower and retreat.  

America is strong because we continually rise above the hate-- not always in time, not always gracefully, and we will certainly continue to be tested. But still, we recognize that one of the truly defining factors of America-- different than any other country in the world-- is that we are a nation that has built its identity on the contribution of immigrants from all over the world, many who have escaped the worst terrors in order to gain freedom.

This week John Nichols pointed out for readers of The Nation that "Jayapal came to prominence more than a decade ago, when she founded the group Hate Free Zone to battle intolerance in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 'When September 11 happened, I just thought to myself that everything is going to change for people who look like me,' said Jayapal, an immigrant from India. The group evolved into OneAmerica, an activist organization that focuses on advancing 'the fundamental principles of democracy and justice at the local, state, and national levels by building power within immigrant commu­nities in collaboration with key allies.' ... She won’t be pulling any punches, as was obvious at an announcement event where she ripped into 'people like Donald Trump [who] are whipping up hate and fear across the country, resulting in a rise of anti-Muslim violence.' [She] is amplifying messages that have been taken national by Sanders... 'The vision has to be to fundamentally change the system,' says Jayapal, who argues that 'corporations and special interests have their voice in Congress, and they have too many members scared of their power. What Congress needs is a progressive voice who is unafraid to take on these powerful interests-- who is willing to fight for all Americans, not just the wealthiest 1 percent.'"

We're proud of all the Blue America candidates and we feel certain that Pramila Jayapal will stand strong like our favorite incumbents from Grayson, Edwards and McDermott, who are leaving, to Barbara Lee, Raul Grijalva, Mark Pocan, Ted Lieu, who will need courageous allies. Please consider contributing to her campaign here on the Blue America main page.

Can Idealists Accomplish Stuff? Their Progress Is The History Of America's Success-- Meet Pramila Jayapal From Seattle

The last Republican presidential candidate to win Washington was Reagan in 1984. Although Washington is basically a blue state-- Obama beat McCain 58-40 and beat Romney 56-41, both U.S.senators are Democrats and every governor for over 30 years has been a Democrat-- the state Senate is narrowly controlled by the Republicans + one renegade conservaDem, Tim Sheldon from a district across the Puget Sound from Seattle. Sheldon's idea of "bipartisan" is to hand the majority role to the Republicans and to join them in voting against marriage equality and backing their toxic agenda.

But there's a very different kind of bipartisanship, often practiced by some of the most progressive legislators in the country. We touched on it last week with a look at Mike Lux's book, The Progressive Revolution-- How The Best in America Came To Be, and the claims by conservative Democrats that Bernie's aspirations for single payer would cause political gridlock and were not feasible. American history is filled with good progressive ideas opposed by conservatives that, through hard work and determination, eventually become part of the fabric of our country, Social Security, universal suffrage, Medicare, public education, being just a few of them.

In the U.S. Senate, Bernie Sanders' bills for veterans affairs usually have massive support across the aisle. In the U.S. House, Alan Grayson has passed more legislation than any other member of Congress, even with the GOP in control. That's because they focus on items of common interest that are popular with the backers of both political parties. In Olympia, the most progressive member of the Washington state Senate, Pramila Jayapal, currently running for Congress, has been working the same kind of bipartisanship-- bringing up bills to lift the statute of limitations on rape and sexual assault sand for free community college education. There is plenty of common ground on issues like that with members of both parties.

Monday she testified at a hearing in the Senate Governmental Operations committee on her bill to expand democracy through automatic voter registration (SB 6379). She worked on the bill with Washington's Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman. When the bill passes and is signed by the governor it will automatically register eligible voters who sign up for programs that already require citizenship verification, including enhanced driver’s licenses, commercial driver’s licenses, as well as certain programs through the Department of Social and Health Services or the state Health Benefits Exchange. The bill provides an opt-out opportunity for those who decline to be registered. The bill also would update addresses for those who are automatically registered. The idea was to design a bill that responds to the specific circumstances of a state that grants driver’s licenses to residence regardless of citizenship. She had to craft the bill so as to not inadvertently grant voting rights to any non-citizens.

"The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy," she explained when she introduced it. "Yet while our state is a leader in so many things, we are struggling to get Washingtonians to cast ballots and have their voices heard. It is the duty of elected officials, regardless of party, to ensure everyone has the opportunity to be heard. That is the goal of this bill. There should be no barriers between the people and voting, and with this bill one more barrier has been removed. We have worked very hard over the past several months to develop a bipartisan piece of legislation that fits Washington’s particular needs."

Secretary Wyman concurred: "I am pleased to join Senator Jayapal and a bipartisan group of legislators in proposing this welcome expansion of access to the voter rolls. We have a sizable group of people who have not chosen to register through the normal routes of online, motor-voter, mail or in-person registration. We know that some of these potential voters have already given proof of citizenship to the DOL or to health exchange, and so automatic registration should be allowed for them. Our goal in the election community is to register every eligible voter, to remove any barriers to voting, and to promote robust turnout."

Analysis shows that automatic voter registration boosts numbers of registered voters as well as turnout at elections. In addition to increasing voter rolls, SB 6379 reduces paperwork and streamlines the registration process, allowing agencies to integrate voter registration services into existing forms and online prompts. "Passing a bill like this with support from both sides of the aisle helps rebuild trust that we can break political gridlock," said Jayapal. "While voting issues can be divisive at times, we have a bipartisan mandate with this bill. Let’s get it passed through the Legislature and onto the governor’s desk for signature."

If you'd like to help bring this kind of approach to Congress, please consider contributing to Jayapal's grassroots campaign here at the Blue America page for candidates who have endorsed Bernie and are running on the same issues as he is. WA-07, by the way, is the most progressive district in Washington and has a PVI of D+29. Neither McCain nor Romney were able to get even 20% of the vote against Obama and Jim McDermott was reelected in 2014 203,954 (81%) to 47,921 (19%) against Republican Craig Keller. This is exactly the kind of district that is perfect for an innovative, stalwart, values-driven progressive like Pramila Jayapal.

Unrigging The System-- Meet Pramila Jayapal

In his NY Times column yesterday, Nick Kristof talked about the feeling of fundamental unfairness that has been sweeping the country and roiling the election season. The feeling is devastating to the campaigns of establishment hacks like Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton.

Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders don’t agree on much. Nor do the Black Lives Matter movement, the Occupy Wall Street protests and the armed ranchers who seized public lands in Oregon. But in the insurgent presidential campaigns and in social activism across the spectrum, a common thread is people angry at the way this country is no longer working for many ordinary citizens.

And they’re right: The system is often fundamentally unfair, and ordinary voices are often unheard.

It’s easy (and appropriate!) to roll one’s eyes at Trump, for a demagogic tycoon is not the natural leader of a revolution of the disenfranchised. But the populist frustration is understandable.

Has this feeling of frustration trickled down into congressional races yet? The stalwart progressives backing Bernie's campaign while running for Congress themselves all hope so. And every day we are getting more and more candidates coming forward. This week Wendy Reed, a Bernie organizer in Bakersfield announced she is taking on GOP Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who the DCCC traditionally gives a free pass to reelection. We knew Garden Grove mayor Bao Nguyen, one of the Blue America candidates in Orange County agreed with Bernie on all the issues, but a couple of days ago he endorsed him. West Virginia's most progressive former state legislator, Mike Manpenny, is campaigning as much for Bernie as he is for a congressional seat for himself. Tim Canova (FL-23), Diana Hird (NY-18) and Alex Law (NJ-01) are taking on corrupt conservative Democrats who are as much a part of the problem as any Republican. But I want to turn to one race in particular today, the race to replace retiring progressive icon Jim McDermott in Seattle (WA-07). There are several excellent progressives saying they will run but the progressive dream candidate, state Senator Pramila Jayapal, jumped in Thursday. She's best known as an effective advocate for increasing the minimum wage, strengthening voting rights and providing all Washingtonians with the opportunity to go to community college free of charge.

She wrote an OpEd in The Stranger explaining why she decided to run for Congress. Many of her points are the same ones that Kristof made in his column.

I chose to run for elected office after a career of organizing and advocating on the outside for change because I saw that, now more than ever, we need people of principle in power.

We need effective leaders who know both how to get things done as well as how to stand up for their constituents, rather than for corporate lobbyists.

We need movement builders who understand that our role as elected officials is not only to pass good policy or stop bad policy, but to be the bridge between government and the people, to remind people that we represent THEM, and to help inspire hope, trust, and a new generation of activism.

I’m running for Congress because our system is rigged for corporations and the wealthy, but we can fight back. The time has come to tackle this inequality: we need to raise the minimum wage, expand Social Security and Medicare, and ensure debt-free college for young people across America.

I’ll be a bold progressive fighter, someone who will not just represent you but will stand up for you and your values. If you elect me, you can be sure that I will stand up for working people, not the one percent. All the time, I’m going to continue my work on keeping our families together, not deporting them; and for criminal justice reform, not private prisons.

I come to you today tested in some of our nation’s most challenging times, having fought for some of our nation’s most challenging federal issues from immigration reform to women’s rights. I’ve built a highly effective organization, won real policy changes at the local, state, and national levels, and worked to inspire new generations of diverse leadership in everything I do.

...I went to Olympia to fight for those who don't have a voice. Last year, I passed two bills, helped fund a new Southeast Economic Opportunity Center that will bring higher education to the Rainier Valley for the first time, put $5.25 million in pre-apprenticeship support for women and people of color, and fought against payday lending. I fought to reform our gun laws, this year sponsoring one of two gun reform bills in Olympia, and to increase the minimum wage and increase equity in education. And I organized Democrats and one Republican to send a letter to Congress demanding the overturn of Citizens United.

This year, I’ve worked hard on crafting bills on automatic voter registration, tuition-free community college with Senator Frockt, and lifting the statute of limitations on rape and sexual assault and ensuring rape kits are tested. We have Republican co-sponsorship on all of them and believe we have a real shot of getting them done.

What I fought for in the legislature is what I've been fighting for, the people I've been fighting for, in and around this district for the last 25 years. That's the kind of not just experience, but perspective and persistence that I'll bring to Washington.

...I’m not afraid of big dreams, of achieving things that others say are not possible. I’m not afraid of laying out a real vision that speaks truth to power and inspires people to join us. Even disbelievers and those who may not always agree see in me an honest and effective broker who’s willing to put aside partisan politics when there are people of good faith on both sides who want to work towards real change. But if it turns to playing games with people’s lives or grandstanding, I’m unafraid to challenge the status quo.

I will fight to win things that we all deserve, because I know that we’re doing this together. It’s not enough to just believe the right things-- we need someone who has ACTED for the right things, hand in hand with every day people, and with an eye always on the future of effecting real change.

I said this during my state senate campaign and I’ll say it again now: this campaign is not about electing me, it’s about electing “WE”-- the “we” that works together for building the movement we need. We are going to need each and every one of you to have ownership in this campaign and this seat. So, I plan to build a campaign that is built on you-- powered by the grassroots, and the energy of working people. We ARE the ones we’ve been waiting for.

In the end, the powerful have their voice-- I humbly ask that I may be yours. I will be bold, I will be honest and I will demand justice. I will be your fighter in Congress for YOUR future, OUR future.

You can contribute to Pramila Jayapal's campaign here, as well as to Bernie and the other congressional candidates running on his progressive platform.