I live in a tiny red town and while there's a lot of NY that is blue; that fades into purple and red the further North you go towards Upstate. We put two candidates in this last race, one town council, one town justice. We didn't win, but we made them nervous, they had to do a "little" something so their base would go vote in an off election. Our blue candidates made themselves visible in the community and let others know that we ARE here and we WILL keep challenging them. Visibility lets others know that they're not alone and we can do something. Wash, rinse, repeat.
I live in the suburbs of a blue city in a blue county. We did flip one of the two GOP-held city council district races. (The other GOP member ran un-opposed). We also got all 6 school board candidates endorsed by our county Democratic party elected.
But I spent much of my time writing postcards for VA House of Delegates races including a bunch of rural ones. A grassroots activist, Fergie Reid Jr, spearheaded the plan to get a candidate to run in every VA house district including the most rural districts. Then he convinced Charles Gaba, the founder of what is now Blue26.org, to set up a second ActBlue fundraising page for the 27 candidates running in the reddest VA house districts. The goal was to raise $5000 for each of the these candidates ($135K in total) so that they didn't have to dip into their own pockets to print up literature or yard signs.
I just checked and the page is still up (https://secure.actblue.com/donate/vavaluepack27) and they ended up raising over $146K - beating their goal by over $11K. The page is very transparent - all of the 27 candidates are listed with the partisan rating for their district. (And donors have the option to redistribute their donation - the default is an even split).
The "value Pack" candidates ranged from R+16 to R+68! Needless to say, many of the GOP incumbents had been running unopposed for a long time. I don't think any of these "Value" candidates won their races but they all contributed to the fact that every single district in VA was bluer. It was also the highest turnout election in VA history for a non-presidential race.
Check out the icicle chart showing the delta for the vote margin in the 2025 governor's race vs. 2021 - it is about midway through this article on Grassroots Connector:
I was wondering generally but since I’m NY voter do rural districts in our state have the same absence of challengers as MO- with just nobody bothering and/or funded to run against entrenched Republicans? I haven’t been attentive enough since moving to NY from NJ, where this was never really an issue.
This is a wonderful piece. Nothing to add except a tangent: don’t get rid of extra insurance if your daughter is doing cheer. It is one of the more likely to get injured sports according to trainers. All my kids did the top injury ones (soccer and wrestling) but cheer was up there with them and football.
The page is turning Jess. And people need to be ready to step in. I applaud these thoughts. AND attn: DEMOCRATS! The most important players for real progress and change are the Blue dots in red states. PLEASE SUPPORT these much needed friends!
I love this! The simile/metaphor? is right on. Just a note: Blue Tennessee said that MISSISSIPPI flipped 2 seats in their legislature in last week's elections, breaking the GOP supermajority!
When I grow up I want to be just like you. Fire, spirit, faith, and a voice that inspires even the most pessimistic. Don’t give up, Jess. We’re here. We hear you. We’re just not used to having to fight. Speaking for myself, I’m just now finding courage and anger enough to shout my own voice. First 3 protests of my 65 year old life this summer and fall, and counting. We’re learning.
What a great way to call out the DNC. Where are they? Why don't they pay attention to rural races? Your voice is so important, because it's one that really needs to be heard by the national party. I wonder if anyone at the DNC even had a passing thought about doing what the GOP has done in rural counties? Keep up the good work, Jess. We appreciate you!!
I almost have to wonder why the DNC is not courting potential candidates in rural areas. Many people work remotely these days, so almost anyone could run in those areas under those circumstances, if they are willing to move to a rural area and get the ball rolling.
They've forgotten how to run an exciting all-hands-on-deck campaign! The corporatocracy commandeered and destroyed enthusiasm and innovation. Go, Mamdani!!!
Along with other rural Democratic heroines and heroes (I put heroines first because they make up the majority of the team), we are fighting in that same game here in Texas. The team is Blue Horizon Texas recruiting, training, and supporting Democratic candidates for local and state offices across Texas. We can’t win if we don’t compete. And when and where we compete sometimes, and with increasing frequency, we win. In solidarity, 💙
Welcome to the vast majority of us who MUST have SNAP, WIC, ACA, Medicaid, Housing Vouchers and Medicare in order to raise our children and care for our parents and grandparents.
Why can’t the freaking GOP see how fine a financial line we walk EVERY day?
How can the GOP not see how cutting these programs has harmed so many Americans? Is it because they really don’t care?
Let’s give them all a Jean Jacket with the following embroidered on the back: “Do you think I care?”
I think a lost of the "can't see" is because the leadership of the GOP at this time doesn't live, hasn't grown up, like what most of us would call "we." "They" might as well be in another world, similar to the Star Trek episode titled "The Cloud Minders." They live in a cloud above the planet, have no idea what really goes on there, but make the rules for the planet.
Do you think anyone in the current White House resident's cabinet has been though a security check at the airport like the rest of us? Or worries about medical care? Much less food.
We play 8 man in my town of Yarmouth ME - not totally rural but with 125 kids per class and soccer being king in this area - that's what we do. I share your words of wisdom with people all the time because I think there is alot that's the same between our state. We're at the point of wondering if we throw our support behind Graham Plattner (yes the oyster farmer). He's gotten a couple of black eyes lately but so many are still supporting him, including alot of the youth which we absolutely have to beat Susan Collins. Our tough as nails governor (Mills) is also running. A long time until next fall so we'll see.
I voted for you when you ran, and the guy that won is completely useless. My little area missed out on a great representative because you were on the “wrong” team.
I hope you have it in you to run again someday, I would gladly vote for you again. Thank you, thank you for not giving up!!!!💙💙💙💙
Thank you, friend. He has been quite useless. He did stand up to school vouchers once and I sent him an email to thank him. But other than that, it’s been a complete failure. Thank you for voting for me. You don’t know how much that means.
I always get a rush whenever I see one of your pieces pop up in my inbox, Jess. I love your writing style and your varied subject matter. It's true that politics (mainly rural) is always beneath the surface of each piece, but you tell compelling stories in order to relay that underlying message, and the quality is consistent! 8-Man Football was no exception. Thank you.
I agree, Dan, especially about the rush from any new 'Jess' piece. As for 8-man ball, it's a sport all its own, with some really dedicated players/coaches/parents who come out to cheer on their team. Now, what is the cross-over to our own Democrat voters? Right! dedication, grit, determination, local contacts without end, and the ability to 'be public' with good options for that public. Keep on, folks; Jess is y/our inspiration; make her work your work.
I live in a tiny red town and while there's a lot of NY that is blue; that fades into purple and red the further North you go towards Upstate. We put two candidates in this last race, one town council, one town justice. We didn't win, but we made them nervous, they had to do a "little" something so their base would go vote in an off election. Our blue candidates made themselves visible in the community and let others know that we ARE here and we WILL keep challenging them. Visibility lets others know that they're not alone and we can do something. Wash, rinse, repeat.
I live in the suburbs of a blue city in a blue county. We did flip one of the two GOP-held city council district races. (The other GOP member ran un-opposed). We also got all 6 school board candidates endorsed by our county Democratic party elected.
But I spent much of my time writing postcards for VA House of Delegates races including a bunch of rural ones. A grassroots activist, Fergie Reid Jr, spearheaded the plan to get a candidate to run in every VA house district including the most rural districts. Then he convinced Charles Gaba, the founder of what is now Blue26.org, to set up a second ActBlue fundraising page for the 27 candidates running in the reddest VA house districts. The goal was to raise $5000 for each of the these candidates ($135K in total) so that they didn't have to dip into their own pockets to print up literature or yard signs.
I just checked and the page is still up (https://secure.actblue.com/donate/vavaluepack27) and they ended up raising over $146K - beating their goal by over $11K. The page is very transparent - all of the 27 candidates are listed with the partisan rating for their district. (And donors have the option to redistribute their donation - the default is an even split).
The "value Pack" candidates ranged from R+16 to R+68! Needless to say, many of the GOP incumbents had been running unopposed for a long time. I don't think any of these "Value" candidates won their races but they all contributed to the fact that every single district in VA was bluer. It was also the highest turnout election in VA history for a non-presidential race.
Check out the icicle chart showing the delta for the vote margin in the 2025 governor's race vs. 2021 - it is about midway through this article on Grassroots Connector:
https://grassrootsconnector.substack.com/p/how-virginia-won-big-a-story-of-the .
⭐️💙⭐️
I was wondering generally but since I’m NY voter do rural districts in our state have the same absence of challengers as MO- with just nobody bothering and/or funded to run against entrenched Republicans? I haven’t been attentive enough since moving to NY from NJ, where this was never really an issue.
Yes, generally they aren't challenged but I do see that changing recently.
Interesting I’m going to see if I can put some numbers to that around the state and look for the districts that really aren’t participating
Impressive Jess. If they give you the ball you run with it. If they don’t, you take it and run with it just the same. Go team!
This is a wonderful piece. Nothing to add except a tangent: don’t get rid of extra insurance if your daughter is doing cheer. It is one of the more likely to get injured sports according to trainers. All my kids did the top injury ones (soccer and wrestling) but cheer was up there with them and football.
You’re right!
Love the metaphor. Easy to apply.
I echo that. My Florida granddaughter had two concussions as a cheerleader.
The page is turning Jess. And people need to be ready to step in. I applaud these thoughts. AND attn: DEMOCRATS! The most important players for real progress and change are the Blue dots in red states. PLEASE SUPPORT these much needed friends!
I love this! The simile/metaphor? is right on. Just a note: Blue Tennessee said that MISSISSIPPI flipped 2 seats in their legislature in last week's elections, breaking the GOP supermajority!
Yuuuup!!! They fielded a team!
Right!!!
Yay!!!
When I grow up I want to be just like you. Fire, spirit, faith, and a voice that inspires even the most pessimistic. Don’t give up, Jess. We’re here. We hear you. We’re just not used to having to fight. Speaking for myself, I’m just now finding courage and anger enough to shout my own voice. First 3 protests of my 65 year old life this summer and fall, and counting. We’re learning.
Ahhhh❤️❤️❤️
What a great way to call out the DNC. Where are they? Why don't they pay attention to rural races? Your voice is so important, because it's one that really needs to be heard by the national party. I wonder if anyone at the DNC even had a passing thought about doing what the GOP has done in rural counties? Keep up the good work, Jess. We appreciate you!!
I almost have to wonder why the DNC is not courting potential candidates in rural areas. Many people work remotely these days, so almost anyone could run in those areas under those circumstances, if they are willing to move to a rural area and get the ball rolling.
They've forgotten how to run an exciting all-hands-on-deck campaign! The corporatocracy commandeered and destroyed enthusiasm and innovation. Go, Mamdani!!!
Jess,
Along with other rural Democratic heroines and heroes (I put heroines first because they make up the majority of the team), we are fighting in that same game here in Texas. The team is Blue Horizon Texas recruiting, training, and supporting Democratic candidates for local and state offices across Texas. We can’t win if we don’t compete. And when and where we compete sometimes, and with increasing frequency, we win. In solidarity, 💙
What you describe is most of America, not just ignored by the wealthy, but now being overtly attacked.
All of us, men included, are getting a taste of being poor, Black and female.
Welcome to the vast majority of us who MUST have SNAP, WIC, ACA, Medicaid, Housing Vouchers and Medicare in order to raise our children and care for our parents and grandparents.
Why can’t the freaking GOP see how fine a financial line we walk EVERY day?
How can the GOP not see how cutting these programs has harmed so many Americans? Is it because they really don’t care?
Let’s give them all a Jean Jacket with the following embroidered on the back: “Do you think I care?”
No, they do NOT care. This is all curated failure on the Repubs part. Skim the contents page in the Mandate 2025.
I think a lost of the "can't see" is because the leadership of the GOP at this time doesn't live, hasn't grown up, like what most of us would call "we." "They" might as well be in another world, similar to the Star Trek episode titled "The Cloud Minders." They live in a cloud above the planet, have no idea what really goes on there, but make the rules for the planet.
Do you think anyone in the current White House resident's cabinet has been though a security check at the airport like the rest of us? Or worries about medical care? Much less food.
Most of America IS now being OVERTLY ATTACKED!.
RUN. THE . BALL!
We play 8 man in my town of Yarmouth ME - not totally rural but with 125 kids per class and soccer being king in this area - that's what we do. I share your words of wisdom with people all the time because I think there is alot that's the same between our state. We're at the point of wondering if we throw our support behind Graham Plattner (yes the oyster farmer). He's gotten a couple of black eyes lately but so many are still supporting him, including alot of the youth which we absolutely have to beat Susan Collins. Our tough as nails governor (Mills) is also running. A long time until next fall so we'll see.
I would love your input on the votes in Yarmouth on Q1. why was it so many voted yes? I didn't expect that!
That was reported in error. It was 80/20 voting NO. Some of the sources corrected it - some did not.
Eliz, people perhaps are waking up now. How about that!? They are becoming woke. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!! Good for them!!!
Bravo for creating sturdy souls and good people.
As someone from rural Northwest Missouri, I enjoy your posts and admire your stamina for fighting for progressive values.
Thank you!!!
If I lived in Missouri or you ran for president, I would vote for you!
If she ran for President, you could vote for her wherever you lived in the U.S.
❤️ 👍 🇺🇸
I voted for you when you ran, and the guy that won is completely useless. My little area missed out on a great representative because you were on the “wrong” team.
I hope you have it in you to run again someday, I would gladly vote for you again. Thank you, thank you for not giving up!!!!💙💙💙💙
Thank you, friend. He has been quite useless. He did stand up to school vouchers once and I sent him an email to thank him. But other than that, it’s been a complete failure. Thank you for voting for me. You don’t know how much that means.
Bravo! 💙🇺🇸💙 🏈 🌟
I always get a rush whenever I see one of your pieces pop up in my inbox, Jess. I love your writing style and your varied subject matter. It's true that politics (mainly rural) is always beneath the surface of each piece, but you tell compelling stories in order to relay that underlying message, and the quality is consistent! 8-Man Football was no exception. Thank you.
Thank you!!!
I agree, Dan, especially about the rush from any new 'Jess' piece. As for 8-man ball, it's a sport all its own, with some really dedicated players/coaches/parents who come out to cheer on their team. Now, what is the cross-over to our own Democrat voters? Right! dedication, grit, determination, local contacts without end, and the ability to 'be public' with good options for that public. Keep on, folks; Jess is y/our inspiration; make her work your work.