Bootstrappin’ Broads
Hey Resisters! My name’s Sara, but you probably just know me by my work: This website! That’s right – I designed and built this site and serve as ShowerCap’s resident web-hero. I also happened to run a podcast called Broads You Should Know; We tell the stories of the most incredible and badass women to ever walk the face of this planet. Well, my good pal ShowerCap asked me if I’d like to apply my BROAD knowledge and put together a six-pack of some of my favorite Broads running for office right now, so I give you: BOOTSTRAPPIN’ BROADS.
These are the candidates who weren’t born with a silver spoon and grandpappy’s trust fund. They came from HUMBLE-ASS beginnings and worked hard their whole lives in the face of some insane odds. Some of them are single moms or grew up in single-parent households, some are first or second generation immigrants, they put themselves through school, and they fucking PERSISTED and now they are running for office so they can make a difference in their constituents’ lives. These are the Broads I want to see in office, and fighting my fights. Let’s get them to Washington (or KEEP them there) so they can do what they do best: Persist!
MORE Broads Six-Packs you can check out -> BIPOC BROADS & BADASS FIGHTING BROADS
Dana Balter
Dana Balter understands from experience the challenges everyday Americans face; she’s lived paycheck to paycheck and navigated the health care system with a pre-existing condition. That’s why she’s always talking about helping folks get a “fair shot,” and fighting against economic inequality. An educator, an advocate, and an organizer, Balter has spent her life to date hustling to create positive change.
- Visit the official website
- On Twitter as @dana_balter
- Visit Facebook page
New York
NY-24
Incumbent
Ratings
Cook: Lean Rep
Inside Elections: Tilt Rep
Roll Call: Tilt Rep
Sabato: Toss-Up
The Bad Guy
John Katko
John Katko was supposed to be one of those sane, rational conservatives who would stand up to Hairplug Himmler, but then it turned out the word “courage” had been entirely excised from the GOP dictionary. There are no moderate Republicans, only fascists and their doormats; John Katko is the proof. Additionally, on issues from taxes to health care, he regularly votes against his constituents’ interests. Fire him. Fire him right now.
Sharice Davids
One of the first Native women in Congress, Sharice Davids brought her devotion to service to this longtime Republican bastion. A strong team player, Davids has an especially impressive record on health care, including her anti-surprise medical billing legislation. Plus, down the stretch in our battle to save American democracy, she’s been a leader in the fight to save the Post Office from Turd Reich sabotage. Well worth rehiring.
- Visit the official website
- On Twitter as @sharicedavids
- Visit Facebook page
Kansas
KS-03
Incumbent
Ratings
Cook: Likely Dem
Inside Elections: Likely Dem
Roll Call: Likely Dem
Sabato: Likely Dem
The Bad Gal
Amanda Adkins
Amanda Adkins frankly has a lot of fucking nerve even running, after her role in transforming my beloved Kansas into Brownbackistan. After her batshit wingnut policies crotch-punted the state’s education system, Adkins now says, “also I want to take away your health care, vote for me!” Amanda needed her rich father’s money to bail her out of a nasty little primary, likely because her reckless, anti-science coronavirus jabber proves her judgement remains extremely shitty.
Theresa Greenfield
Theresa Greenfield fights to preserve the social safety net because she knows what it’s like to need it. When her husband died on the job, Greenfield found herself a young widow with a second child on the way; union benefits and Social Security helped her get back on her feet. Now she’s a successful urban planner, real estate developer, and Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate.
While her opponent serves only wealthy Republicans donors, Theresa Greenfield fights for public education, access to health care, Social Security…all kinds of good shit.
Senator Ernst blindly parroted the party line on COVID-19, emphasizing reopening before it was safe, and opposing mask mandates. In contrast, Greenfield suggests actually listening to scientists, what a bold fucking idea.
Even her dog Ringo is chipping in to turn the Senate blue. Surely you’re not so heartless that you’d disappoint Ringo. Or, y’know, thousands of Iowans crying out for real leadership for a change.
With her deep roots among Iowa’s farmers and unions, Theresa Greenfield can bring that change…if we help her out.
- Visit the official website
- On Twitter as @GreenfieldIowa
- Visit Facebook page
Iowa
Iowa
Incumbent
Ratings
Cook: Toss-Up
Inside Elections: Toss-Up
Roll Call: Toss-Up
Sabato: Toss-Up
The Bad Gal
Joni Ernst
Friend to Steve King.
Joni Ernst is fucking awful all on her own, but on top of her bargain-basement wingnut failures, she’s also one of Donald Trump’s most loyal foot soldiers.
Ernst could have stood up for the rule of law at any point, but she’s failed every single test, up to and including impeachment. In the end, she’s just one more power-crazed Republican hypocrite.
Joni thought Iowa was safely red and only getting redder, but Donnie Dotard’s idiot trade war and disastrous pandemic response (which she thinks has been just great) have her constituents desperately seeking sanity.
Christina Hale
Christina Hale has a seat waiting for her in the Get Shit Done Caucus; she got more than 60 bills passed in the Indiana state legislature, all with bipartisan support. And despite her tremendous success, she’s never forgotten her experiences as a young single mom, struggling to provide health insurance for her son, which is probably why she’s been such a reliable fighter for working people.
- Visit the official website
- On Twitter as @HaleIndy
- Visit Facebook page
Indiana
IN-05
Ratings
Cook: Toss-Up
Inside Elections: Toss-Up
Roll Call: Toss-Up
Sabato: Toss-Up
The Bad Gal
Victoria Spartz
Victoria Spartz was probably the shittiest candidate in a crowded primary to succeed retiring Susan Brooks, and her shittiness puts the seat in play, huzzah! Victoria is hoping that screaming Socialism Socialism Socialism will distract Indiana voters from her shady self-dealing and lunatic wingnut platform. The good news is, this Club for Growth stooge can’t seem to raise money, and this is one of those suburban districts we’ve been picking off, so I like our chances here.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, the first South American immigrant to serve in Congress, is about two things: hard work and service. She brings valuable experience from the nonprofit sector to the struggle against climate change (crucial for her South Florida district), and a passion born of personal tragedy to the fight for gun control. And lord knows Debbie’s steady leadership on the Congressional Coronavirus Task Force stands in sharp contrast to her opponent’s deadly incompetence.
- Visit the official website
- On Twitter as @debbieforfl
- Visit Facebook page
Florida
FL-26
Incumbent
Ratings
Cook: Toss-Up
Inside Elections: Toss-Up
Roll Call: Toss-Up
Sabato: Toss-Up
The Bad Guy
Carlos Giménez
Carlos Giménez, as Mayor of Miami-Dade County, followed the disastrous Trump/DeSantis/Grim Reaper coronavirus playbook, perhaps assuming voters would elevate him to higher office if only to get him to stop killing them. Also, since Giménez is so corrupt he has a legit monorail scandal on his record, it shouldn’t surprise you to learn he’s waving fistfuls of CARES Act funding around under a GET YER BRIBES HERE sign. Just another servile Trump sellout lookin’ to crawl into the swamp.
Candace Valenzuela
Candace Valenzuela overcame childhood homelessness to become the first member of her family to graduate college, going on to fight for her community on her local school board. She understands the needs of working Texans from lived experience, while her opponent wallows in the right-wing fever swamps. Valenzuela knows what America needs in 2020 is less Donald Trump and more John Lewis.
- Visit the official website
- On Twitter as @candacefor24
- Visit Facebook page
Texas
TX-24
Ratings
Cook: Toss-Up
Inside Elections: Toss-Up
Roll Call: Toss-Up
Sabato: Lean Dem
The Bad Gal
Beth Van Duyne
Celebrity hate-monger Beth Van Duyne rocketed to wingnut superstardom when, as Mayor of Irving, Texas, she said a bunch of hellaciously racist shit to Glenn Beck following the Ahmed Mohamed clock incident, and she’s been vomiting up insane, hateful lies about “Sharia law” ever since. That’s pretty much the whole argument here, “Look how much I hate Muslims, please send me to Congress to hurt them.” Shitty person, shitty mayor…she’d be a super-shitty Congresswoman.