DUer duhneece campaign update

[duhneece]

Better late than never…but better never late…well, I’m late. Sorry.

Update: One of the Democratic candidates in my combined campaign won; he was announced winner just last night after a recount, winning by a 36 vote margin. 36 votes.

https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/2020/12/15/new-mexico-election-results-willie-madrid-reelected-house-district-53/3909432001/

The rest of us lost out races but won 30-34% of the vote in our very red county. The fact we had a full Democratic ticket is a win. And we’ll do it again. Of the 3 candidates I recruited, two said they would definitely run again in 2022 for whichever offices we need candidates for. There are no state senate races in two years, so I’m committing to you here on DU that I’ll run again.

One big difference will be that we can canvass again in 2022! We Democrats did little canvassing across the nation because of Covid. I will begin canvassing before filing date in March 2022. I make that commitment to DU, too.

I couldn’t have done it without Omaha Steve and all of the DUers who cheered me on, supported my campaign financially and gave me great advice. I am indebted to you all. Many of you urged me to run again and committed to supporting me however you could. You make it possible to imagine a better world.

Thank you. Those two words feel so tepid, so weak for the immense gratitude I feel. DU is the best.

[ananda]

1. Beautiful!

Thank you for staying the course!

[duhneece]

3. You made it so much easier

I appreciate your appreciation!

[CottonBear]

2. Thank you! You made a great effort!

Jon Ossoff lost his first campaign in Georgia before he decided to run against David Perdue for the US Senate. As James Carville recently said: “You’re a loser until your’re not.” Good luck in 2022!

[duhneece]

5. Thank you for your kind words

We Duers don't quit easily.

[UpInArms]

4. Thank you

You are so courageous ...

[duhneece]

8. You probably don't realize how much of my courage comes from DU

...but it's a lot.

[Gilbert Moore]

6. Congrats !

Having a full ticket is indeed a win !

See ya in 2 years ! ! !

[duhneece]

9. I'm so glad you recognize that

I definitely feel it.

[rurallib]

7. Takes a lot of guts to do what you did

Thanks and best of circumstances next time!

[duhneece]

14. Thank you. nt

[Cadfael]

10. What you're doing is fantastic!

And just think of the momentum you’ve got going in to the next cycle! Thank you for all your hard work!

[duhneece]

15. We're building name recognition and gaining experience

We are ready to go!

[peacebuzzard]

11. duhneece, you make us so proud. You are our own hero.

To fight in a state that has been forgotten for too long, and riddled with poverty, lack of infrastructure, and the injustices that accompany those issues. I know the state and admire it, and you, and Omaha Steve, for bringing this to our attention. But especially you, for wanting New Mexico to be a better place.

You are a hero and a patriot. It is I who thank you for your dedication, responsibility and hard work.
Glad I saw this post. It has been hectic in my world.

[duhneece]

17. You made me cry...in such a good way.

Hectic, here, too.

My husband and I put his house up for sale July 2019. A poor market here, we got few folks looking, no offers in spite of our reducing the cost. By August this year I was expressing our frustration to a friend who suggested burying a St. Joseph statue...apparently it's 'real thing' that (desperate) folks do...I ordered one but by the time it got here, I told everyone I now hoped the house wouldn't sell until after the election. No problem there since no one even looked for two months...until the Saturday after the election (when Biden was first declared winner) and a couple looked and we signed at 5 pm that Saturday night.

I'm so glad to know you.

[peacebuzzard]

53. I am so glad you are in this world, duhneece.

And about St Joseph, I don't think it is desperate at all. I think its more like an internalized mix of hope, prayers or wishes to be freed from a situation and a desire to move on. The day I sell my house, I will have buried many religious medals, rosaries, ashes from the many pets I have had here. I have them in little metal urns waiting for my memorial garden I will be cultivating soon, maybe this spring. The day I sell, the only thing left will be a parting longing for good times that once was. I might have a few pieces of luggage and a few boxes, but not much will be moving on from this old place.

That is, if I survive until then.

[Tommymac]

58. I'm an agnostic but St. Joe has sold 3 of my houses.

The only 3 I've sold...all sold within 1 month after burying St. Joe upside down 6" deep, 3' from the NW corner of the foundation.

Don't ask.

And congrats on the full slate!

Keep us informed for the next run, if I'm here I'll make sure to send some $ your way. Or send an email - I'm sure I'm om your list since I donated via the AB page here.

[duhneece]

64. That's so funny and weird but...

it seems to work in spite of my feeling so ignorantly superstitious as I buried him upside down.

Thank you for your support ...I'll run again, if I continue to wake up on this side of the grass. I'll keep you up to date one way or another.

[mountain grammy]

12. Good for you! and thanks for the update.

I've been watching for these results.. I sure wish you had won, but we just may move to your district before the next election so that's a couple more Democrats . Been trying to get spouse to look at property in that area.

[duhneece]

19. That would be wonderful!

It would be nice to have a new 'partner in mischief.'
Let me know if I can help.

[murielm99]

13. Good for you for stepping up!

It is important that we run candidates in red counties. Make them spend money and earn their seats. Sooner or later, we will beat them.

That is about the outcome we get in our red district too - 30-34%. We have been running a full slate against them, however.

[duhneece]

20. Congrats on y'all having a full slate, too

I know it's not easy in a red county.
We WILL succeed...

[murielm99]

62. I find more Democrats in my community all the time.

They approach me now because I am open about my affiliation and visible. They want to know what they can do to help.

Knowing my community has made it easier to GOTV.

[niyad]

16. I am so very proud of you and the rest of your sister and brother Dems for this amazing

campaign. The fact that you made such a showing in that state is heartwarming, and inspirational. My deepest appreciation to all of you, my s/heroes! Whatever you need next time, you know your DU family will be there with/for you.

Huggggggs for a job well done. Now, try to recover and enjoy the holidays. We have much work to do these next years.

Brightest blessings.

[duhneece]

21. And brightest blessings back at you, my friend

You have lifted me up so often over the past years.

[Omaha Steve]

18. K&R!

[Bradshaw3]

22. You're welcome and thank you too

We need more Dems like you to run in red areas. You never know what the future holds so we have to get Democrats out there running when things do change.

[duhneece]

24. Exactly. We'll never win if we never run

It's just a matter of time and I believe that we DUer's are in for the long haul.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

23. Ah, my dear duhneece!

I am so sorry that you lost, but there is tomorrow! I will be more than happy to support you when you do run again!

[duhneece]

26. I'm grateful for your support and friendship

I'll let DU know what's going on for sure.

[ancianita]

25. We are grateful for you, duhneece! Keep up the good fight! Next time I'll donate more!

Nick in Silver City says hi!

[duhneece]

27. Thank you...I love Silver City, thought about moving there once

New Mexico is truly the Land of Enchantment, such a rich diversity, culturally and biologically.

[ancianita]

28. Agree! And the seasons up on the plateau there are so gentle. I might move there myself!

What I love about the Land of Enchantment is that in the West it's also the land of smart people. That's why it's blue!

[duhneece]

31. We could use some more smart Dems (redundant, I know!) in our county!

Check out Otero County...desert, mountains, White Sands National Park, Lincoln National Forest and canyons, where I live.

[ancianita]

34. I drove through there two years ago! Beautiful. I came in from Roswell, through the Mescalero

Reservation and over the mountain range (forgot the name). Loved all of it.

[panader0]

29. Thanks for your efforts--recommended.

[duhneece]

33. And thank you for your support and all your efforts

We belong to an amazing family, our DU family.

[Ponietz]

30. I worked in Otero county in the 90's

There, I learned about Oliver Lee, the murder of Special Prosecutor Colonel Fountain and his 6 year-old son, and how Otero county came into being in the late 19th century, in part, after reading Tularosa: Last of the Frontier West.

Albert Fall, of later Teapot Dome ignominy, represented Lee at the murder trials — the first two resulting in hung juries and the third, switched to a sympathetic Hillsborough, resulted in acquittal.

I even discovered Frenchie’s gravestone once in the La Luz cemetery. He had the water rights at the entrance to Dog canyon, which Lee needed for his ranching operation, but was found murdered. At least his body was found—not so for Colonel Fountain and his son.

There is a very nasty legacy there, and it lives on in a type of deep hatefulness and cruelty. At the time I lived there, the chief of police in Alamogordo was a Lee, and the sheriff was a Lee, too.

I thank you for your work, and am doubly impressed after receiving your hand-written thank you note.

[duhneece]

35. Ours is a fascinating history and I'm impressed at how much you learned while you were here.

It took me a while to learn and realize the racism here...still runs deep.

Funny you mention the Lees. One brother died, the other is a municipal judge now and is married to a woman I worked with through behavioral health; she was the head of Juvenile Probation. I 'assumed' she was a Republican, but when she retired, she became really involved in the county Dem party...now, she's our secretary. So much for assumptions!

I hope you could read my note; I know my handwriting is not always legible, resulting in some funny wondering why some DUers were getting thank you notes from....they couldn't tell who! Lol

[tavernier]

32. Sooooo proud of you!!!!!

You are a true American!!

[duhneece]

37. DUers are true Americans in the best sense

Thank you for your support.

[tavernier]

51. We just went for a boat ride

And observed the brightest star in the Pleiades.
I thought of you!

[duhneece]

65. I'll be thinking of y'all as I look west this evening

Jupiter and Saturn are loving each other.

[tavernier]

71. Pleiades is directly across from them to the east.

Yup, Jupiter was quite bright last night and Saturn closely above it, just after sunset.

Even the stars seemed happy that 2020 will soon be over.

[malaise]

36. Keep fighting sis

The longest journey begins with one step

[duhneece]

38. With your support, I can't lose

...and I'm not talking about an election. I'm loving on you as we speak.

[malaise]

39. How sweet

[Hermit-The-Prog]

40. Ok, now on to the Supreme Court!

It's not over, yet. I think maybe my KY county can be convinced to sue TN to force NM to acknowledge that New Zealand shipped in hordes and herds of Australian kangaroos who voted illegally to steal your seat!

Ok so maybe I've read too many kraken articles.

Thanks for giving it a run -- you've no doubt given some people hope there!

[duhneece]

42. No, it was the Aardvark vampires that sucked the blood out of my campaign

I like your legal mind. Yeah.

[SheltieLover]

41. Thank you!

I appreciate you staying the course, especially in a very red area. And BIG congrats to the candidate who was finally deemed the winner!

Many thanks to OmahaSteve for all his work promoting your campaign as well!

Thank you, as well, for you commitment to Democratic principles!

[duhneece]

46. I'm still amazed at his winning by so few votes. Such a long time to learn the result.

OmahaSteve is a DU jewel, DU royalty for certain.
And thank you for your support of Democratic principles...we can only do this together.

[SergeStorms]

43. Thank you for the update.

Thanks for keeping us informed, Denise. If I'm still on top of the grass the next time you run, you can count on my unwavering support. And that's my commitment to YOU, Denise. Stay well. We'll turn your area of New Mexico bright blue yet.

[duhneece]

47. I make my commitment to run thinking the same:

If I wake up on this side of the grass, I'll run again. lol
I'm so glad we connected...you can't imagine how fun it was for me to see your name in our newspaper. That still cracks me up for some weird reason.
And yes, we WILL turn this area bright, bright blue.

[SergeStorms]

61. It cracked my daughter up as well.

To think that her father, someone she's known her entire life, would be "big money" backer of a woman from New Mexico whom he'd never met. "'Big money"........that cracks me up. I look forward to your next political foray. Have a wonderful Holiday Season, Denise.

[duhneece]

66. I'm glad your daughter shares our sense of humor

You've become a 'Queen maker.' Lol
Here's hoping you enjoy all the season's holidays.

[SergeStorms]

73. She's a wonderful person.

I'm so proud of her. I spent (and am still paying) about $200,000 for her BS and Master's Degrees, and what does she do with it? She works for a non-profit, helping people find affordable housing, mental health treatment, running homes for abused women and children etc. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to see if I'm awake, because she's such a wonderful person who cares so much about others. She chose the path less traveled, and much less profitable, but far more charitable and soul-enriching. I like to think I had some small part in steering her that way. Her Mom (we never married) is pretty much apolitical, but our daughter is as liberal as they come, probably more-so than I. She's given me two beautiful grandchildren, a fantastic son-in-law, and so much happiness I can't believe it. And yes, she has a wicked sense of humor. I hit the jackpot.

Special wishes for you and yours during this Holiday Season, Denise. Stay healthy.

[COL Mustard]

44. I Was Born in Otero County

At Holloman AFB, many years ago. Haven't been back since we left three months later. But I'm glad to hear political news from the area.

[duhneece]

48. That's gotta be a bit fun for you

Your old home town...lol.
You never know how we connect...and then, we just do.

[COL Mustard]

57. I Have No Memories Of It

But would love to visit sometime. I understand it’s beautiful.

[duhneece]

67. It is beautiful...and you can go from mountains to desert in so few miles

Much diversity. New Mexico gives good sky.

[denbot]

45. Congrats to all.

Sorry all I could do was $25.

[duhneece]

49. Many years I've only been able to give $5

And some years, not even that....I had years when I had to wait for the next paycheck to buy emery boards. Life is better now in that way, but never apologize for giving what you can. Maybe something amazing will happen when you'll have more to give...I hope so, not for my sake but I just want something wonderfully amazing to happen in your life. Something amazing and unexpected happened in mine.

[Karadeniz]

50. YOU MAKE US PROUD!!!!

[BadgerMom]

52. This. ⬆️

[Blue Owl]

54. A real lesson in 'Every Vote Counts'!

[duhneece]

56. Amen. nt

[marble falls]

55. Every damn vote, every damn election counts!!!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

59. Thank you for the update!

Please run again.

I know what you are up against. I ran for office some years back, although in a state that was largely Republican to begin with. I was up against a popular, moderate, incumbent, and had a third party candidate to contend with. Nonetheless, I did well enough that the Democratic party saw that the seat was winnable, and two years later put money behind the candidate. I chose not to run again, and the man that did run, and who won the election, was a far better legislator than I could have been. Truly a win-win.

Please run again.

[duhneece]

68. I give you my word I'll run again and give it all I can

I'll recruit candidates, I'll canvass, I'll phone bank....just as long as I continue to wake up on this side of the grass.
Thank you for your support....and story. Good for you for running and making a path for the next candidate who won!

[BobTheSubgenius]

60. To have only the same two words to offer you seems very, very weak indeed.y

You and your compatriots have taken on a very steep mountain and flattened it, at least some.

Extremely commendable, and signs of better days to come.

[duhneece]

69. We seem to belong to a mutual admiration society

I'm glad to be in your company, BobTheSubgenius.

[BComplex]

63. Wow, Denise!! That's awesome! And I'm really glad Madrid pulled it out! 36 VOTES???

Every. Vote. Counts. !!!!!!

Thanks for doing all of this, and I hope one day we turn your district blue, just for you, if nothing else!

[duhneece]

70. I remain awed by that...36 votes

I believe our mailers and our billboard helped...

[The Roux Comes First]

72. We Are in Awe!

Thank you for your courage and energy.

[BobTheSubgenius]

74. I am reminded how inspiring and, yes, heart-warming, to hear of your efforts,

and those of your compatriots, so I thought I should tell you again. Thank you for what you've done - having taken a task away from Sisyphus and given it to Hercules instead.

Brava!