How About A Bigger Squad?

Nate McMurray is running to represent the working families of western New York in Congress

Yesterday, Kara Voght, a reporter for Mother Jones, noted that There’s a Wave of Democratic Insurgents Hoping to Join the Squad and asked if the Squad can become bigger-- and a bigger force in Congress. Alex Morse, the 30-year-old mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts-- running for the congressional seat held by powerful Pelosi ally Richard Neal-- told her that he'd "be thrilled to be welcomed into the squad."

In the year since AOC and Pressley knocked off Reps. Joe Crowley and Mike Capuano—a pair of 10-term Congress members from deep-blue districts-- they’ve made good on their promises to shake things up. Floating in their wake is a fleet of progressive organizers and activists who are convinced that disruption could amount to legislative change if only there were more lawmakers who could be reliably counted on to take aggressive positions-- in other words, if the squad became a herd. The idea, says Waleed Shahid of Justice Democrats, which helped elect Ocasio-Cortez, is to create a “mission-driven caucus” that can “move the window of political possibility.” An expanded squad, the theory goes, could pass bold initiatives under a new Democratic president. And if President Donald Trump is reelected, a reenergized left flank could check his worst impulses.

Activists like Shahid are targeting incumbents who, they say, are not as liberal as their heavily Democratic districts.

The theory that a slate of candidates can accomplish this is... dubious-- at least at this time. I have a feeling that a few candidates as smart, talented, organized and lucky as AOC, may replicate what she was able to do-- the nearly impossible task of beating an entrenched incumbent-- and then go on to stand up to the weight of corrupting House leadership the way AOC, Rashida, Ilhan and Ayanna have. But not many. The system isn't built for that-- and neither are most candidates.

This morning I spoke with an idealistic super-progressive whose campaign hasn't taken off and is leaving her life in a shambles. She's not going to beat the incumbent; she's not even going to be able to beat the other idealistic super-progressive in the race who is also not going to beat the incumbent. A few days ago, I tweeted something about a Blue America page called Congress Needs More Progressive Women. There were a lot of supportive retweets, although not a single contribution. But there were a lot of comments about other progressive women who belong on the list. Some are actually already on the list-- but, you know, it's twitter-- and some we are in the middle of vetting. One, in fact, Lauren Ashcraft, who's running in a district that spans parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, was added this week. And others I had already spoken to and, for one reason or another, had determined were probably not candidates Blue America could help.

We're looking for potential great members of Congress and, believe it or not, that takes more than just being on the right side of a list of issues. We don't don't endorse someone who isn't pro-Choice or who doesn't enthusiastically and whole-heartedly back Medicare-for-All and the Green New Deal. But those are just the beginning of the process. If someone can't follow through on a simple agreement or is too disorganized to accomplish a baby step goal... there's a good chance we would be asking our members to waste their money, money that could be spent to get competent candidates like Marie Newman, Jamaal Bowman, Morgan Harper and our Chicagoland contingent or Take Back Texas squad or Bluer California candidates over the line.

Morgan Harper didn't have to mention The Squad to hit the essence of what it means to be a squad-like candidate and not just another establishment shill, like the garden variety Democratic incumbent she's opposing in Columbus, Ohio. "I look forward to joining others in Congress who are there to fight everyday, unapologetically to fight for an economy that works for everyone. We are part of a generation of leaders that don't view Congress as a career, but rather, a necessary step to get the resources so many people in our districts and across this country need."

Rachel Ventura, who is running to represent IL-11, is up against another "business-oriented" New Dem, Bill Foster, who isn't a Republican but isn't the kind of Democrat who ever moves the ball down the field either. "Winning races like mine sends a message that AOC is not the anomaly but the beginning of a pattern," she said. "A pattern that Americans are tired of bought and paid for politicians and want people to represent them instead. I would work well with the squad on getting the Green New Deal passes, on Medicare for All, and so many reforms which are needed to fix our broken systems. Like the Squad I am well known for speaking out against injustice and unfairness. I also bring my own unique asset. As a mathematician, I will do the hard work of adequately answering the question, 'how will we pay for it?'" These are candidates who are worthy of support, whether there was a squad or not.

Eva Putzova is running in a vast, "out of the way," rural Arizona district, one of the largest in the country. The incumbent, Tom O'Halleran, is a conservative Blue Dog who votes against nearly every single progressive proposal that comes up in Congress. O'Halleran was a former Republican state legislator recruited by a craven, anti-progressive DCCC. I asked Eva yesterday what she thought about the whole idea of expanding the Squad. Within minutes she had responded with this snapshot and note:

"Last Sunday, I walked into my local grocery store and ran into a friend who just lost her father. From her trip to say her final goodbye she brought me a little gift-- a bracelet with beads spelling out 'squad.' She told me: 'We need a bigger squad.' There's no question in my mind that the future of this planet depends on this country getting a bigger squad and that's why I'm running for Congress." And why she's running for Congress is outlined on her issues page, unique to her district and for the people she wants to represent in Congress, not identical to anyone else's or any groups'.

Liam O'Mara is running in one of the last southern California districts that was once the heart of Reagan-Country. His opponent, Republican Ken Calvert, is ignored by the DCCC, which has allowed a dedicated progressive reformer like O'Mara to wind up with the endorsement of the California Democratic Party. He's a contemplative guy, a historian with a bold vision for reform. "To tackle the big problems facing this country," he wrote, "Democrats need to expand their majority, and that means running hard in red districts. A progressive message can resonate across the country, not just in reliably-liberal bastions, if we pay attention to framing and focus on economic issues that affect the entire working class. The shift towards neoliberalism cut Democrats off from a foundation in class-conscious populism, and if we do not start fighting to recover lost ground among the working class, that ground will remain fertile territory for demagogues and reactionary neofascism." That sounds more like the Squad than someone bleating that they want to join it. Doesn't it?

Mark Gamba is running against one of the most conservative Democrats in the House, Blue Dog corruptionist Kurt Schrader. Mark told me that he thinks "it's long past time for many people in Congress to be replaced. We have a whole raft of major issues facing America that should have been solved some time ago. If the current people in Congress were going to accomplish it, it would already be done. I'm afraid for most of them, the easy corporate cash weakens their resolve to step on the toes necessary to solve the problems. Climate Chaos, is already here and going to get exponentially worse, we really can't wait around for these folks to retire, we need new blood and in particular we need new people who are not feeding at the corporate trough. I intend to beat Blue Dog Kurt Schrader and join the strong progressive voices in the fight to solve the biggest problems. As a Mayor I've proven I can solve issues deemed impossible by the local status quo, there is no reason that I can't do the same in Congress."

And then there's Mike Siegel, who is very likely going to be a member of Congress in 2021-- giving Texas what it hasn't had in a long time: an effective, indefatigable and staunch fighter for working families. "I can't wait to join the Squad in 2021," he told me yesterday. "We need more voices who are willing to lead on the issues that make the biggest impact on people's lives. These folks are changing the national debate: Rep. Ocasio-Cortez on climate change, Rep. Pressley on criminal justice reform, Rep. Omar on public housing-- and it goes on and on. Our biggest challenge, as Democrats, is to show the nation we have a comprehensive vision to strengthen the safety net and restore common decency to our government. The Squad and other progressives are leading the way, and I'm in the fight with them."

Brianna Wu is a progressive up against an entrenched establishment New Dem in the Boston area. He represents the status quo. She represents the change working families need to improve their opportunities. She'd like the Squad to be a Brigade:

Massachusetts was the birthplace of the American Revolution, so it's only fitting that it continues to be a key player in the revolution of American politics. I am taking on Stephen Lynch, one of the most conservative establishment Democrats in Congress. Mayor Alex Morse is challenging Rep. Richard Neal. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, an original member of The Squad, is carrying the progressive torch every day. So it's clear that Massachusetts continues to be a leader in a progressive revolution.

What the establishment of the Democratic Party won't accept is that Americans want a real political revolution-- one that TRULY benefits the working class over the rich. There are progressive candidates running all over the country to make this a reality. It's what the majority of Americans demand. It's LONG overdue.

A squad is defined as 'a small group of people having a particular task.' In 2020, we need to build on The Squad by sending a Brigade to Congress. A brigade of working class advocates who will make one thing clear to the establishment-- if you don't fight along side us, you will lose.

Let's build The Brigade together!