IN-05 Is Very Similar To NC-09-- But Jennifer Christie Isn't Much Like Dan McCready

Last night, Team Blue was disappointed that their candidate in NC-09 was defeated by Team Red's candidate. In a gerrymandered R+8 suburban/rural district-- where Trump had beaten Hillary 54.4% to 42.8%-- Republican Dan beat Democratic Dan by less than 2 points. Democratic Dan outspent Republican Dan $5,810,131 to $1,471,452. So how-- and why-- did Democratic Dan get so close to winning but still fall short?

Democratic Dan is a Blue Dog who campaigned on a defensive, fairly uninspiring DCCC platform that opposed the Green New Deal, opposed Medicare-for-All and promised to not ban the sale of assault weapons. It was a Republican-lite strategy that was meant to take progressives for granted while luring moderate Republicans to vote for a right-of-center Democrat. The strategy worked in 2018-- almost entirely in less red districts-- but it usually flops the same way it came up short last night in North Carolina.

I want to introduce you to a very similar congressional district, in Indiana, the 5th. A big plurality of the votes in the congressional elections there come from Hamilton County, basically the affluent suburbs north of Indianapolis. The second largest number of votes come from northern Indianapolis itself (Marion County), a Democratic stronghold. All or part of 6 other counties make up the district-- which is almost 40% rural. in 2016, Trump beat Hillary 53.1% to 41.3%-- about the same 12 points Trump won by in NC-09. The progressive Democrat competing for the nomination in IN-05 has two advantages over Dan McCready. In 2020, this will be an open seat because Susan Brooks-- like so many of her constituents-- is sick of Trump, and retiring. And, perhaps more important, the Democrat with the best chance to win the open-seat race is running on a full-fledged progressive platform: Green New Deal, Medicare-for-All, rural investment, gun safety, consumer protection, equal pay for equal work, workers' rights, LGBTQ equality, Choice...

Meet Jennifer Christie, a mom of four young children, a scientist (environmental chemist), a science educator, a person of faith. Jennifer lost her mom, a nurse, to cancer. When she got sick, she lost her insurance coverage and before she died nearly lost her home due to medical expenses. Too many Americans know that story first-hand. Today, Blue America endorsed Jennifer Christie. She's a natural leader and we were impressed with her abilities and with the aspirations for her community that are behind her decision to run for Congress. Please take a look at what she had to say in the guest post below and consider contributing to her campaign by clicking on the 2020 Blue America congressional thermometer on the right. Remember, Dan McCready would only talk about abstract "access" to healthcare, the way the GOP and DCCC do. On her website, Jennifer wrote that "It’s time we simplify the process to allow for single-payer healthcare that guarantees health care for every American without exception. We have already proven that the Medicare system works. Guaranteeing health care as a human right is simply the right thing to do." Dan McCready said he was for universal background checks but against banning the sale of assault weapons. On her website, Jennifer writes "High-capacity magazines and military-style assault weapons have no place in the civilian world and should be banned." Clear as a bell!

Do you remember Dan Canon from the 2018 election cycle? It was Dan who introduced us to Jennifer and who recommends her highly. This morning he told us that "Jennifer is a unique blend that you rarely see in congressional candidates. She's got the courage to talk about the issues that really matter to progressives, and the small-town, Midwestern kindness that helps her connect with the undecided and win them over to our side."

Leadership
by Jennifer Christie

Someone recently asked me about leadership and what kind of leader I would be in Congress. I have been a leader in many areas of my life.  I’ve chaired committees for nonprofits, corporations, and community organizations. I’ve managed projects and people in multiple countries, taught students, and built a profitable business from the ground up while coaching many other women to do the same. By all traditional measures, I have been a leader most of my life. But position doesn’t really define a leader because we see people in high level positions who fail to lead every day.

A leader possess the universally respected qualities of honesty, integrity, and courage. Perhaps the most important characteristic, however, is kindness. When kindness is coupled with courage and honesty, real change can happen because a person who is both courageous and kind will travel the good path and bring many people with them.

I have watched for years as greed and corruption have driven decisions in Washington, and simply cannot sit by and watch any longer. My only motivation is to leave a better country and planet for our children. I am clear about who I serve and our purpose, and my votes are not for sale.

Many will look at a midwestern mom of four children and under-estimate her. However, kindness and courage are weapons of change in an army of people equipped with faith and a greater purpose. Our campaign is full of people who are highly skilled, contagiously optimistic, and simply unstoppable.

So what kind of leader would I be? Simply put: I will fight for you like a mom fights for her kids. And I don’t know anything more powerful than a mother acting on behalf of her children. I will do it with kindness, courage, and an unwavering dedication to solving the Climate Crisis, Health Care for All, and claiming our democracy for the People.