We have all been thrown down so low that nobody thought we’d ever get up again; but we have been long enough trodden now; we will come up again, and now I am here. Sojourner Truth

Inform

The Harris Waltz Policies

Axios ‘s presentation of Harris’ policies on the economy, health, immigration, energy and foreign policy.

Additionally, The New York Times adds onto her proposed actions on climate change, democracy, and racial justice.

Lastly, Politico explains where both Harris and Walz stand on 2024’s biggest policy issues including the economy, abortion and IVF, labor, the environment, taxes, agriculture and Israel and China. They indicate whether it would make a difference to swing voters, and/or would be a major target for Republicans.

The Battleground States

The Electoral College consists of 538 electors. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President. Most of the drama in this year’s presidential election will focus on a handful of states.

While each major U.S. political party has many states it counts on winning on November 5, a handful of states are too close to predict. These “swing states” have populations that are closely divided politically. In recent elections, outcomes have swung back and forth between Democratic and Republican wins. They are the “battleground states” that candidates target with frequent campaign visits, advertising and staffing.

The 2024 Battleground States are Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Taking the pulse in these states will happen up until November. Undecided voters could make the difference.

Republican money is being poured into the three “blue wall” states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, which were all carried by Biden in 2020 and are seen as vital to the outcome of November’s election.

Special attention is being paid to Pennsylvania, which has 19 electoral college votes, and where a new CNN poll shows Trump and Harris tied at 47% each. Resources have also been transferred to southern and south-western Sun belt states – namely North Carolina, Georgia, Nevada and Arizona – where Trump previously had healthy leads over Biden that have been whittled away since Harris replaced the US president at the top of the Democratic ticket.

Helping Democrats Regain Control of The House of Representatives

Upended by the summer shake-up that replaced President Joe Biden with Harris atop the Democratic ticket, the down-ballot campaigns enter this fall stretch at a virtual toss-up, a high-wire uncertainty where every single seat won or lost could make the difference in party control.

Democrats need to flip just four seats to take back control of the House while Republicans hope to expand their majority and make it easier to get priorities over the finish line. Resources are pouring into the few truly competitive congressional races expected to help determine the balance of power in Washington next year.

Alaska‘s sole Congressional Seat
Incumbent Democrat Mary Peltola versus Republicans Nick Begich and Trump endorsed Nancy Dahlstrom in ranked choice general election *

Arizona’s 1st Congressional District
Democrat Amish Shah versus Trump endorsed Incumbent Republican David Schweikert *

California’s 13th Congressional District
Democrat Adam Gray versus Incumbent Republican John Duarte who backs Trump *

Maine’s 2nd Congressional District
Democratic incumbent Jared Golden versus Trump endorsed Republican Austin Theriault *

New Jersey‘s 7th Congressional District
Democrat Sue Altman versus Incumbent Republican Thomas Kean Jr. who backs Trump*

New York‘s 4th Congressional District
Democrat Laura Gillen versus Trump endorsed Incumbent Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito *

Ohio‘s 9th Congressional District
Incumbent Democrat Marcy Kaptur versus Trump endorsed Republican Derek Merrin #

Pennsylvania‘s 8th Congressional District
Democrat Matt Cartwright versus Trump endorsed Republican Rob Bresnahan *

Washington‘s 3rd Congressional District
Incumbent Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez versus Trump endorsed Republican Joe Kent *

Additionally, explore who is running a tight, toss up race in your own state by using the Cook’s Political Report linked below.

Helping Democrats Keep Control of The Senate

Senate Democrats face a grueling and narrow path to maintain their slim 51-49 majority this fall, as they prepare to defend 23 seats across the United States, many of them in purple and red states.

With Sen. Joe Manchin III (I-W.Va.) retiring, Republicans are all but guaranteed to pick up at least one seat in that ruby red state, putting even more pressure on Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) to defy political gravity once again in their red states and win reelection.

Only 11 Republican-held seats are up for election in November. If Republicans win those races as expected and flip just one state, the Senate will be tied 50-50 with deciding votes made by the new vice president. If they flip two seats, Republicans will win back Senate control no matter who is in the White House.

Long gone are the days of supermajorities in the House and Senate, replaced by a new era of razor-thin margins that leave little margin for errors in political campaigns, or actual governing.

Arizona
Democrat U.S. Representative Ruben Gallego versus Trump endorsed Republican Kari Lake #

Maryland
Democrat Angela Alsobrooks versus Republican Larry Hogan +

Montana
Incumbent Democrat Senator Jon Tester versus Trump endorsed Republican Tim Sheehy *

Michigan
Democrat U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin versus Trump endorsed Republican Mike Rogers *

Nevada
Incumbent Democrat Senator Jacky Rosen versus Trump endorsed Republican Sam Brown #

Ohio
Incumbent Democrat Senator Sherrod Brown versus Trump endorsed Republican Bernie Moreno *

Pennsylvania
Incumbent Democrat Senator Bob Casey versus Trump endorsed Republican Dave McCormick #

Wisconsin
Incumbent Democrat Senator Tammy Baldwin versus Trump endorsed Republican Eric Hovde #

*Toss Up
# Leans Democrat
+ Likely Democrat
~ Leans Republican

All ratings of Toss Up or Leans Democrat or Republican are from Cooks Political Report 2024 House Races as of September 6, 2024 or Cooks Political Report Senate Race Ratings August August 15, 2024

Respond

Donate to any and all campaigns above. $5 to each campaign is more than enough. Act Blue is a portal for the Democratic Party. There are a multitude of local fundraising drives that usually involve meeting the candidate in person or by Zoom.

Volunteer in a local campaign or a campaign in another state. This includes, but not limited to, registration drives, canvassing, phone banking, text banking, post card and letter writing

Join National Networks whose focus is on getting out the vote:
League of Women Voters
Rock The Vote

The following organizations let you decide who to communicate with: battleground state voters, a particular campaign, specific congressional races, etc. You, yourself, can organize post card and letter writing “parties”. They’re a good way to work together and network at the same time.
Vote Forward
Postcard to Voters
Postcards to Swing States

Join National Networks whose focus is on electing local politicians:
Indivisible
Move On

Next Post:

The voters that will decide the 2024 Election, and the status of all races post debate.