It is you, the individual citizen, who stays informed, attends meetings, makes financial contributions, votes, canvasses, demonstrates, phone banks, volunteers and does all you can to make a difference. And it does. On the local, state and national level.

This political blog was created as a civic response to the current presidential administration’s policies and legislation. Past posts included information and actions in preparation for the 2018 Congressional, State and Local elections. Today we start to prepare for the 2020 Presidential and Congressional elections.

The House of Representatives

The past
For Democrats to flip the House, they needed to gain 23 seats in 2018.  Any fewer and Republicans would maintain control.

2018 Midterm Election Results: Democrats gained 41 seats and won control of the House.

The present
There are 234 Democrats, 197 Republicans and 1 Independent in the House of Representatives. The Democrats hold the majority. In addition, there are 3 vacancies as of September 30 2019: Representative Duffy (R) resigned, Representative Chris Collins (R) resigned and Representative Cummings (D) passed away. A total of 435 seats.

The future
The 2020 House Race: All 435 U.S. House seats will be up for election.

The Senate

The past
For Democrats to flip the Senate, they needed to gain two seats. Any fewer and Republicans would maintain control.

2018 Midterm Election Results: Five incumbents—four Democrats and one Republican—lost their seats in 2018. The Republican Party expanded their majority by two and controlled 53 seats in the chamber. Democrats controlled 45 seats, and Independents in Maine and Vermont held two seats.

The present
There are 45 Democrats, 53 Republicans and 2 Independents (both caucus with the Democrats) for a total of 100 seats. 

The future
The 2020 Senate Race: Republicans will be defending 23 seats (including the special elections in Arizona and Georgia), while the Democratic Party will be defending 12 seats.

The 2020 Democratic Presidential Primaries

“……may (God’s) care still be extended to the United States; that the virtue and happiness of the People, may be preserved; and that the Government, which they have instituted, for the protection of their liberties, may be perpetual.”
President George Washington….8th Address to Congress 1796

Today, 223 years later, this democracy and its promised liberties have never been so tested. We are in the midst of the most crowded Democratic candidates field in history.  How will you decide who is the best candidate to support?

Inform

Updated July 9: 

The primaries were rescheduled in some states once the pandemic began. Updated information  on the dates they were originally scheduled for.

February 3

Iowa
(There is a lot at stake in terms of momentum and attention from donors and the news media as these are the first votes cast.)

February 11

New Hampshire
(Don’t be surprised if only a few candidates are still standing after the votes are counted here)

February 22

Nevada
(Another key early state with a high-turnout caucus, and the first one with a significant Hispanic population)

February 29

South Carolina
(This state will offer the first real indication of the candidates’ strengths
with black voters.)

March 3 Super Tuesday

(This day accounts for about 40 percent of total delegate allocation)
Alabama, American Samoa, Arkansas
California
(Because it has the largest delegate trove in the country, California is key )
Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina,
Oklahoma, Tennessee
Texas
(Texas has the second-largest delegate trove of the primary)
Utah*, Vermont*, Virginia, Democrats Abroad

March 10

Idaho 
Michigan
(Midwestern powerhouses like Michigan and Ohio will test the candidates’ appeal among suburbanites, African-Americans and working-class white voters. If the race is not decided on Super Tuesday, this could be a line of demarcation.)
Mississipi, Missouri, North Dakota, Washington

March 14

Northern Marianas Islands

March 17

Arizona
(If one candidate sweeps Arizona, Florida and Illinois, there will be immense pressure on the other candidates to exit the race.)
Florida, Illinois, Ohio

March 24

Georgia postponed its presidential primary until June 2.

March 29

Puerto Rico postponed its presidential primary until July 12. 

April 4

Alaska canceled in-person voting and extended its deadline for mail-in ballots until April 10.

  Wyoming canceled in-person caucuses, and extended its deadline for mail-in ballots until April 17 .

Hawaii canceled in-person voting, and extended its deadline for mail-in ballots until May 22. 

Louisiana postponed its primary until  July 11.

April 7

Wisconsin’s Supreme Court ruled on Monday, April 6  that the governor could not postpone the state’s primary over concerns about the coronavirus. Consequently it remained as originally scheduled.

April 28

(This may be last big delegate day of the race. If one candidate dominates every state this late in the primary, party leaders will likely move to get behind that person and seek to bring the race to an end. )

Connecticut postponed its presidential primary until August 11.

Delaware postponed its presidential primary until  July 7. 

Maryland postponed its presidential primary until June 2.  Most voters must cast their ballot by mail.

Pennsylvania postponed its presidential primary until June 2.

Rhode Island postponed its presidential primary until June 2.

New York canceled its already-postponed presidential primary after the Democratic presidential race was settled, but a federal judge ordered that the election go forward on June 23. 

May

 Guam, Kansas, Nebraska,  Oregon remained as originally scheduled. 

Indiana postponed its presidential primary until June 2.

West Virginia postponed its presidential primary until June 9

Kentucky postponed its presidential primary until June 23

June 2

 DC, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico,  South Dakota, and Virgin Islands
remained as originally scheduled.

July 11 & 12

Louisiana and Puerto Rico (see above)

August 11

Connecticut (see above)

Democratic National Convention
August 17-20

Democratic officials postponed the convention, originally planned for mid-July.  It will still be held in Milwaukee, placing a spotlight on a key Midwestern battleground state.

Republican National Convention
August 24-27

The Republicans are scheduled to hold their convention in Charlotte, N.C. Mr. Trump will deliver his convention speech in Jacksonville, Fla., on Aug. 27.

Respond

• Watch the debates

Primary Debates

The upcoming Democratic primary debate will be November 20 in Georgia. In order to qualify for this debate, candidates will need at least 165,000 donors (up from 130,000) and at least 3 percent support in four approved polls (up from 2 percent). Ten candidates;  Elizabeth Warren, Andrew Yang,  Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttegieg, Amy Klobucher , Joseph Biden, Cory Booker, Tulsi Gabbard and Tom Steyer  have qualified before the Nov 13 deadline (as of November 11).

The December debate date will be December 19 and cohosted by Politico and PBS. To qualify for the Dec. 19 debate, White House hopefuls must meet 4 percent support in at least four approved polls. In addition, candidates must receive contributions from at least 200,000 unique donors.

• Link to the presidential candidate sites above and learn more about those you are leaning toward.
• Attend Presidential candidates and your own Congressional member rallies and public events. Each presidential candidate will list activities and dates under the “Events” link. Your Congressional member o will post town hall meetings and fundraising events.  Ask questions.
• Volunteer and Donate to Presidential primary and Congressional candidates.  Your Democratic House Representatives  are already beginning their campaigns for re-election in 2020, along with 12 Democratic Senators.
• Follow the candidate(s) on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
• Become informed about policy issues such as Health Care & Medicare For All, the Climate Crisis & The Green Deal,  Closing the Wealth Gap, Criminal Justice Reform, Immigration,  Foreign Policy, College Debt, Guns, and Housing.  

It’s important to understand the complexity and details of each  proposal before deciding whether you’re for, against, or would support a modified version of.  Future posts will focus on these issues and the candidates’ positions.  

Upcoming Post

Health Care & Medicare For All