With a new forum comes this month's 2012 Progressive Congress List

November is less than a year away from now, and many of these primary elections are within months. Financial and volunteer support will be crucial in taking back the House, and maintaining the senate with better Democrats.

(I've avoided listing candidates where there are competitive primaries, between two Progressives.)

Senate:

MA:

Elizabeth Warren - No explanation necessary, perhaps this quote should suffice. "There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own. Nobody."

http://elizabethwarren.com

WI:

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin is running to replace retiring Democratic Senator Herb Kohl, and would be the first ever openly gay senator.

http://www.tammybaldwin.com

House:

AR-3:

Army veteran Ken Aden, a founder of a non-profit, is taking on GOP Rep. Steve Womack. This speech from him represents a fighting Democrat: "Now, more than ever, we as citizens must educate ourselves when it comes to the corporate prostitutes who claim to represent us and our families. We will be able to identify them by their works and voting record. Whether you have a D or R before your name... if you back attempts to cut Medicare and Social Security, you are nothing but a criminal."

http://aden4arkansas.com

CA-2:

Policy-wonk and political activist Norman Solomon is running against incumbent Republican Wally Herger.

http://www.solomonforcongress.com

CA-3:

Ami Bera, a medical doctor, ran for this seat against Dan Lundgren in 2010, and came up short. With the increased turnout generated by the presidential election, this race could be winnable this time.

http://www.beraforcongress.com

CT-5:

State house speaker Chris Donovan is running to replace Democratic Senate candidate Chris Murphy.

http://www.donovanforcongress.com

CO-6:

Joe Miklosi is challenging right-wing incumbent, Mike Coffman. He is the son of a public-school teacher, non-profit manager, and also staff Director for Progressive Speaker of the House in CO, Andrew Romanoff. He has an excellent education platform, focused on small class-sizes, critical thinking, arts and civics, not standardized high-stakes tests.

http://www.joemiklosi.com/

FL- 8:

No explanation necessary - he's back baby!

http://congressmanwithguts.com

FL-24:

Self-proclaimed "New Deal" Democrat Nicholas Ruiz III is running against tea-party Republican incumbent Sandy Adams.

http://intertheory.org/nriiiforcongress2010.html

Il-10:

Ilya Sheyman is a 25 year old community organizer running against incumbent GOP fresh-man Bob Dold.

http://www.ilyasheyman.com

MD-4:
I have to put one incumbent on this list, the progressive fighter for the 99%, Rep. Donna Edwards, because she is being challenged by a corporatist "Democrat", Glenn Ivey, with plenty of establishment backing and money. In addition, due to re-districting the district's makeup has become slightly more conservative.

http://www.donnaedwardsforcongress.com

MI-6:

John Waltz, an Iraq war-veteran, who founded Severus Worldwide an organization that seeks to revitilize medical facilities in Iraq, is challenging Republican incumbent congressman Fred Upton.

http://www.waltz2012.com

MI-8:

Lance Enderle ran as a write-in after another Democrat dropped out against long-time incumbent Mike Rogers. With re-districting possibly shaking up many of these districts, and the unpopularity of Gov. Rick Snyder and buyer-remorse setting in, this people-powered Democrat has a great chance this cycle.

http://lanceenderleforcongress.com

MT-AL:

State Rep. Franke Wilmer is taking the fight of the 99% in her campaign against long-time right-wing incument Congressman Rehberg. A professor of political science, and NEA member she is a strong advocate for public education.

http://frankewilmer.com/

NH-1:

Carol Shea-Porter represented this district from 2006 to 2010, when she lost to Congressman Frank Guinta. However, the dynamics will be completely different with 2012 being a presidential election, and the significant over-reaching by the GOP house, (Guinta like all but four Republicans has voted to privatize Medicare.)

http://www.sheaporter.com

NH-2:

Ann Mclane Kuster came up just short against Congressman Charlie Bass in 2010 during a bad year all-around. Kuster ran a progressive campaign last-time and beat Katrina Swett in the primary election, who attacked Kuster for being too liberal for the district.

http://www.kusterforcongress.com

NJ-7:

Ed Potosnak is a public school science teacher and small-business owner who is running against Republican incumbent Leonard Lance.

http://edpotosnak.com

NM-1:

Eric Griego is the first candidate this cycle to be endorsed by the Progressive Campaign Change Committee, due to his support for investments in infrastructure to create jobs. He is running to replace current representative Martin Heinrich who is running for Senate.

http://griegoforcongress.org

PA-6:

Iraq war veteran Manan Trivedi will seek a rematch of his 2010 fight to oust Republican incumbent Jim Gerlach.

http://www.trivediforcongress.com

WA-1:

Darcy Burner, narrowly came up short in 2006/2008 against Rep. Reichert, and will be running in a more solidly Blue district, due to re-redistricting.

http://darcyburner.com

WI-1:

Kenosha County Supervisor Rob Zerban has the potential to give Congressman Paul Ryan a serious challenge. Ryan's medicare gutting budget proposal, and his votes to continue oil company subsidies, will not play to well there.

http://www.robzerban.com

WI-7:

Former State Senator Pat Kreitlow will be running against, Paul Ryan and Scott Walker's lap-dog, Sean Duffy, one of the 2010 freshman. This is a prime pickup opportunity, with the ongoing progressive uprising in Wisconsin.

http://www.kreitlowforcongress.com