The Election on November 4 is a LOCAL Election, Not a National Election.

[MineralMan]

Wherever you are, you'll be voting for local candidates. Aside from statewide races, every other ballot issue involves your own local area, from congressional districts to local elected offices.

A lot of complaining words are being posted about fundraising emails from national Democratic organizations. I'm not seeing those emails, because I sent them to the spam folder long ago. I donate only to local campaigns, because those are the ones that affect me most. When I go to the polling place in less than two weeks, I'll be voting for local candidates. Since I'm active in my area in DFL politics, I have met every single one of the people who will be on the ballot. Every one.

I'll be following a lot of election results from around the country on November 4, but I'll only be voting locally. The same is true for every election across the country. It's your local candidates, along with a few statewide candidates who will be on your ballot. If you don't care who gets elected in your local area, you can listen to the people complaining about fundraising emails from national organization and stay away from the polling place. Personally, I think that's a crappy idea.

Instead, think about how many others besides yourself you can convince to go and vote. Your local election results really do matter. Midterm elections determine how you'll be represented in every office. You really need to vote and bring as many like-thinking people out to vote as you can.

Beware of people telling you that this election doesn't really matter. They're dead wrong. Some of them are deliberately trying to get you to skip voting this year.

Voting matters! Voting always matters!

GOTV 2014 and Beyond!

[pscot]

1. All politics is local

but local races are even more local. Be a voter. You owe it to your your country.

[MineralMan]

2. Thank you. You are absolutely right.

I'm tired of hearing people discourage voting and GOTV efforts. It's counter-productive.

[katmondoo]

3. It may be local but the trickle down effect is national

2010 was local and we got a House of Representatives that put a strangle hold on everything the president and the country needed and wanted to come back from a depression.

[MineralMan]

8. Yes. Every election matters. The people you vote for in your own

districts will have an impact statewide and nationally. It's really important.

[KittyWampus]

4. That was my response to WillyT's Op as well. But when your intentional is to make snotty

remarks about Democrats, reality doesn't matter.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. Big Old Rec!

My town council and mayor are extremely important to my daily life . . . everything from streets I can navigate to how our main street will look and feel in three years.

BTW - I haven't received a SINGLE email from the 'national' committees. They all went into the auto trash inbox last year after unsubscribed.

I give directly to candidates I support and that's that.

[1StrongBlackMan]

21. +1 ...

BTW - I haven't received a SINGLE email from the 'national' committees. They all went into the auto trash inbox last year after unsubscribed.

That has been my experience, as well.

[tabbycat31]

6. Kickety

I voted yesterday and the most local was school board (everyone running unopposed). None of the council (or mayor) was up this year.

Next local was the county level races.

And remember local offices are the minor leagues of politics.

[tkmorris]

7. You are making a false assumption

Which is that those who are commenting on the fundraising emails are not going to vote, are trying to convince others not to vote, and/or don't care who gets elected.

It's simply not true. If anything those people care MORE about elections, local and otherwise, than most. That's the reason for the criticism actually; it is disappointing to see the Democratic Party engaging in behaviors which make them seem desperate, ludicrous, and out of touch. It is disappointing precisely BECAUSE we want them to win, not because we don't care.

I think it's unseemly for you to claim that those who criticize the Dems fundraising tactics are in effect "telling you this election doesn't matter", or that they want you to "stay away from the polling place". Talk about putting words in people's mouths!

[MineralMan]

9. Unseemly? Really.

I have a very simple message. It is: GOTV!

That is a positive message. People who are sending negative messages about voting in this election are the ones who are unseemly, in my humble opinion.

[FSogol]

10. Maybe, but do those folks ever talk about their state or local elections?

<crickets>

[jeff47]

12. As are you

Which is that those who are commenting on the fundraising emails are not going to vote, are trying to convince others not to vote, and/or don't care who gets elected.

And you're assuming he's only talking about those people.

"Both parties are the same" and "elections don't matter" is a constant refrain on DU. It is not a new thing about fundraising emails.

it is disappointing to see the Democratic Party engaging in behaviors which make them seem desperate, ludicrous, and out of touch. It is disappointing precisely BECAUSE we want them to win, not because we don't care.

It raises the most money. That's why they do it. And that's why Fox News constantly screams doom. And why conservative groups constantly scream about gay married black men coming to abort your babies and tax all your money away before sending you to a death panel.

While it would be nice if positive messages worked better, fact is they don't raise as much money.

[1StrongBlackMan]

26. +1 ...

It raises the most money. That's why they do it. And that's why Fox News constantly screams doom. And why conservative groups constantly scream about gay married black men coming to abort your babies and tax all your money away, while taking your guns, before sending you to a death panel.

[WillyT]

15. Exactly...

Maybe DU should just shut down until election night...

Wouldn't want any discouraging words...

"Oh give ma a home..."

[MineralMan]

18. How about some encouraging words, then?

How hard is that?

For example, it's pretty certain that Al Franken is going to be re-elected. Campaigning has been strong by his opponent, but it's not working. Franken has a strong polling lead, and has maintained it throughout the campaign. Also, our Democratic Governor looks like a shoe-in, too.

In my own districts, the progressive incumbents who represent us will win re-election, too, including Betty McCollum, our congressional representative.

Statewide, there's still a fair chance to pick up at least one congressional seat. That will depend on the turnout, and I'll be holding my breath on those.

Still, we need a good turnout, which is why GOTV efforts are going strong here right up until the election.

So, what's the news from your state? Let's hear how Democrats are doing there.

[mountain grammy]

29. Really, how hard is that?

There are many good candidates running in this election, I prefer to work for and donate directly to those campaigns. We have a chance to replace our teabagger Sec of State and State Treasurer with good Dems running for those offices.
Locally, all candidates are Republican, but the Dems in my area are loud enough to make our voices heard too. We're campaigning to not retain a right wing district judge who has ruined too many lives around here, and I think we'll succeed.
It does appear our Senate seat will go to a climate denying, woman controlling, religious nut Republican, but I'm not giving up until the votes are counted.

[MineralMan]

30. It's not hard at all, is it?

Good luck with your election results. Every Democratic win is a victory for progress, even if it is a small victory.

[WillyT]

32. Oh... And California Is Looking True Blue...

[MineralMan]

33. My old home state will come through again.

So will Minnesota.

There is good news out there and I'm hoping for more good news on Nov. 4.

[JI7]

44. because of Local/State Demographics/Issues, do you think Jerry Brown would win in Kentucky ?

or Texas ?

[WillyT]

50. I Don't Know... Would KY Or TX Like To Get Things Done, And Have A Better Standard Of Living ???

Do NOT vote... against your own self interests.

[JI7]

51. most of them voted for fucking Ted Cruz

[mountain grammy]

34. You bet, and good luck to you too.

[WillyT]

31. Encouraging Words...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025673906

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025675751

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025659206

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025647926

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025637994

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025629949

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025640753

BTW... IF... the Republicans manage to take the Senate...

THAT... has NATIONAL implications...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025695830

Sorry... that was discouraging again...

[Voice for Peace]

37. ahaha there .. a whole bunch of encouraging articles.

I'll skip the last one. I know dire straits.

[Jenoch]

42. I think it's highly unlikely that the Republicans

will lose the 6th.

[MineralMan]

47. I think you're right.

Sad.

[Jenoch]

49. The DNC is apparently a little worried

about Nolan. I think he would have been a shoe in if he had not made the comment about guns.

[Voice for Peace]

22. Discouraging words aren't going to keep me from voting.

But I don't like the way discouragement feels; so I'm
not going there. And prefer to avoid those who want
others to feel angry and/or discouraged.

There has never been anything false about hope.

Hope itself, in 2014

GOTV <--- reminder to me

[MineralMan]

28. They might keep some from doing GOTV, though.

Encouraging words work the opposite way. Near election day, we need all the encouragement we can get to help bring voters to the polls. Discouragement never helps with that.

[Voice for Peace]

35. you're right, I'm in complete agreement with your OP here.

no time for bummers

[Bohunk68]

11. Just a slight disagreement as to national vs local.

Congresscritters serve a national office from a local district, ergo, yes, it is a national election. Some states are even electing national Senators. Just because we are not electing a national President does not mean that the election is not national.

[MineralMan]

13. Actually every House member is a candidate in a small local area.

They run in local elections. Of course those elections have an influence on national direction. But the elections are local. I can only vote for the congressperson from my district. That's it. I can't even vote on the other 7 from my state. Just the one who represents my district. That's a local election, by definition.

[Bohunk68]

14. Small local area?

Let's see, North Dakota, small local area. South Dakota, small local area. Are you changing the definition of small local areas to include whole states?

[MineralMan]

16. House members represent only a small number of people.

Depending on whether you live in an urban area or a rural area determines how large the district is. Senators, on the other hand, represent the entire state, and there are exactly two of them for each state. Yes, all Congressional elections are local. I don't know about you, but I've met both Senators from Minnesota, and have had conversations with each of them. In election years, I get a chance to talk to all of my candidates. I take that opportunity to make my case about some issue and to ask how they plan to act on that issue.

[Bohunk68]

40. I've been around long enough that you don't have to tell me about how many

Senators, etc., per state. So you want to have a pissing match on how many politicos we have met? Really? Dude, you are escalating far beyond what is appropriate. I have worked on a lot of campaigns even before I turned 21 and could vote. I still work on campaigns and I still run for office, although not succeeding the last two times. Congress is a national institution, just in case you don't know.

[MineralMan]

41. Congress members are still selected in local elections.

No matter what you say, that is the fact. Congressional elections are local elections. My congress person lives right here in my congressional district. She's a neighbor of everyone in the district. Make no mistake; she gets elected by her neighbors, not in any sort of national election. Nobody outside of the district has any say in the matter.

[Jenoch]

43. The term you are looking for ijstead of

'national' is 'federal'. The candidates for congress are federal candidates, not national.

[FailureToCommunicate]

17. A reluctant voter on a radio report gave as her excuse "Well, one guy says one thing and

one guy says another. I don't know who to believe" !!!

Well, duh! Then pick the one you (mostly) agree with...and VOTE!

GOTFV!

[riqster]

19. Kick for an important message.

Obama has nothing to do John Kasich. Pelosi has nothing to do with Josh Mandel.

The "sins" of the national party are irrelevant in this election.

[MineralMan]

20. Thanks for the kick!

You're right. This election is about individual candidates and races, not national Democratic politics. Every election is, really.

[riqster]

24. S'truth. I'm not much of a party man. But Dem candidates are always better than Repub candidates.

[bigwillq]

23. Go out and vote!

[G_j]

25. I live n NC

Last edited Thu Oct 23, 2014, 12:51 PM - Edit history (1)

and YES, it matters!

[MineralMan]

27. It certainly does, and especially in NC!

GOTV! I'll be watching results.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

36. Another point is if you call yourself a "Democrat" you should get the local voter guide....

All the local offices will have one showing how they would like you to vote. Many people on the ballot are "independent" but the local Dems will know which one isn't a fucking asshole.

Case in point: We have two guys running for Sheriff. One is described as "a likable administrator" and the other has the backing of the cops on the beat and the police union. I dug a little deeper to find the "likable administrator" was obsessed with the budget and cutting costs including pensions. Then I found out he's been hailed by a local Right Wing Talker and that was that.

[liberal N proud]

38. The United States does not have a National Election!

All elections are conducted on a local level. Each precinct, each city, each county and ultimately each state have elections. Each vote on their candidates.

In years when we elect a President, the candidates have to comply with each and every state separately in order to for their name to be placed on the ballot in that states election.

[MineralMan]

39. Absolutely correct.

We do not elect the President based on the popular vote nationally. We vote in our state for electors to represent us. All elections are local in nature. Besides, it is the local and state offices that affect us the most. Why anyone would skip an election where state legislators are chosen is completely beyond me. Those people make the laws you that affect your life daily. If you don't vote, you get what others vote for.

Democrats should turn out 100% of eligible Democratic voters in every election. If that were the case, we'd be living in a different society than we currently have. I can't believe we haven't figured that out.

[sadoldgirl]

45. Sometimes I dislike the name

Midterm elections or even local elections.
The House is very important and the Senate even more so this time especially. so why not call them Congressional elections? It may bring out more voters.

At the same time there is hardly any small elected office, which does not count. Take school boards for instance. These elected members may become the influence for what the children learn and/or what they should not know about. Present time kids will become future leaders.

Yet, those offset elections have mostly only a small group of overly interested voters showing up. I don't know how to change it, but it is truly terrible.

[jwirr]

46. Yes. One of the things I dislike here in MN is that many of our local candidates do not declare a

party. I do not know many of them and this makes it very hard to know who to vote for. Especially judges, etc. They send you a flier with their name a pic of your family and some things that want you to know but if you look at the fliers of both parties they are not specific.

Why and when did this practice start?

[MineralMan]

48. Most local elections are supposed to be non-partisan.

Candidates political parties aren't given on the ballot. The DFL Party does endorse candidates for those offices, though. If you go to the DFL website and get the sample ballot for your precinct, it will have the endorsed candidates marked. That can be a big help.

[jwirr]

52. Thank you. Even though they are supposed to be non-partisan we all know that can be misleading.

Even in our small town we have very rw people running for the school board and other offices. The last thing I want to do is vote for the rw. I will go into the site you recommend.