Here’s one we can win
When it comes to the midterm elections, there’s inevitably buzz around the challengers of some of the worst people in Congress – for obvious reasons. In 2020, the widespread national disdain for then Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell put his Democratic opponent Amy McGrath in the spotlight – as well as many of the Democratic primary challengers for that contest who weren’t able to gain the same amount of traction as McGrath.
As a result, she raked in record donations despite never having much of an advantage in that notoriously red state and easily lost to McConnell. Now we’re seeing substantial sums going to the Democratic opponents of far-right Republicans like Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene, even though both live in extremely conservative districts that will inevitably re-elect them in November.
As much as you might want to see either of those Republicans gone, the races that determine control of the House will be a handful of close ones in key swing districts. The good news is that some of the Republican candidates in these districts are far-right extremists who are already showing us who they really are. One race that pundits are closely watching is Virginia’s 7th District, represented by Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who faces a challenge from Republican Yesli Vega. Unfortunately, a leaked audio has now emerged of Vega musing on an infamous Republican chestnut – doubting whether rape victims can get pregnant.
Vega said it a month ago – before the SCOTUS ruling – but at a time when most people knew it was coming and she dismissed peoples’ real concerns as overblown with unfounded ignorance. Spanberger represents a district that leans slightly more Democratic now than it did two years ago – but far from a comfortable margin. She’s also consistently voted in Congress with President Biden and supports much of his agenda. This is a fight we can win and one worth putting the work in for. You can donate to Spanberger’s campaign here.
James Sullivan is the assistant editor of Brain World Magazine and an advocate of science-based policy making