Several of the leading voices of the left-leaning blogosphere, along with the chair of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean, are pushing for a 50-state strategy in 2006. The basic idea is to have every single race, in every district and state, have at least one Democratic challenger.
To that end, Chris Bowers over at MyDD has put together a list of every House district that still needs to find someone to run on the Democratic ticket. Sadly, at least one district will not have a Democratic candidate; the 11th Congressional District of Texas. No one filed there before the deadline. But there’s still a chance to have someone challenge the incumbent Republicans in 27 districts.
That being said, one of those districts is in my home state: the 2nd district of Oregon, currently represented by Greg Walden, a Republican. OR-02 covers a huge amount of geography, known to us Portlanders as “Eastern Oregon”, basically, although Josephine, Jackson and Klamath counties are more Southern Oregon, and Hood River county is only barely east.
The filing deadline for the Oregon primary election is 7 March 2006; the primary will be held 16 May 2006.
I would like to do my part in trying to find someone to run on the Democratic ticket against Rep. Walden. Unfortunately, I don’t live in that district or I would just sign up myself (not that I’d have a chance of winning, mind you; but just to have someone on the ballot).
The reason I’m posting this is: if there’s anyone out there that lives in OR-02, or could move there by the filing deadline, and is even remotely interested in getting involved in national politics, now is your chance. Don’t contact me; I’m just a messenger. Get yourself the forms and paperwork and get involved now. The Republicans are the party of corruption and bad governance; we need opposition if we want American democracy to survive and recover.
Thanks for listening.