Today's primary turned out as good as any progressive could have possibly hoped for. According to Bay Windows, Carl Sciortino defeated his challenger. Sonia Chang Diaz pulled out the nail biter and managed to overcome the tremendous institutional support Wilkerson pulled together in a 51-49% vote. Jon Hecht, of Watertown, claimed victory in his tough sticker campaign. These are all strong, progressive voices who will make a difference in Beacon Hill. They won tough and heavily contested primaries and will now be able to work, or continue to work in Carl's case, for the progressive causes that will make a difference in the lives of those who need it most, most especially the average voter.
The only failure of the night was the seriously uphill battle in unseating Paul Donato, one of the state's most entrenched and powerful incumbents - he's a DINO that's lived to see another day, but he certainly was sent a message loud and clear. Even when we fail, we win - just consider the fact that Donato voted for ending the 1913 discriminatory bill that prevented out of staters from marrying here, when in years past he was unforgiving in his anti-equality stances.
The work is not over, though. Among the five state candidates I've endorsed, progressives facing tough challenges who could make a tremendous difference in this state, one has yet to actually face her big election day. Sara Orozco didn't have a primary challenge, but she's facing a tough anti-equality, fringe-right incumbent as an out, proud latino woman. She still has some time before the election, but this is now the race in which progressives must rally around because winning this seat is big. We have a chance to truly change the dynamic in the senate - sending in Jamie Eldridge, Sonia and Ken Donnelly will all make a difference in the tenor and ability for progressives to build coalitions from within that body. The importance of adding another bonafide, energetic and hardworking progressive to the mix - and subtracting one of the state's worst politicians - can not be overstated. We've been changing Beacon Hill one politician at a time - and the results are starting to bear fruit. Soon, we'll have the numbers and coalitions to bring the kind of change that will truly impact the lives of the people of this state.
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7 comments:
why did the governor endorse diane w
I don't know. Maybe you should ask him?
Speaking of the Senate, we'll also be cashing in Bob Creedon for Thomas Kennedy, which is quite an upgrade.
Anon: maybe you're not a big fan of getting as many minorities into office as possible, but I think it's a good idea. For the record, should Sara Orozco win, she'd be the first latina ever elected to the State Senate (tied with Sonia Chang-Diaz). I think that's a very big deal. All the better (and ironic) considering the anti-immigrant Republican voting pattern - such as preventing undocumented Americans from attending state school at in state rates, when it would actually earn hundreds of thousands for the cash-strapped UMASS system.
Sab: Good to hear there's more 'upgrades.' We need as many as possible. Know anything on his casino stance? I'd love to see the Senate become anti-casino, but we're not quite there yet.
Ryan, just want to keep up on the jargon. Is undocumented American the same as illegal alien? Wouldn't want to offend their sensibilities. I suppose if they are from this hemisphere, but can we still call the people from Eastern Europe, Africa etc illegal?
Undocumented American = Americans who have lived here for years, decades even, and just don't happen to have a piece of paper saying they're citizens. They contribute to our economy, work hard and do the jobs you aren't willing to do.
You don't know the kinds of jobs I've been willing to do. But in the same tone aren't you always talking about big bad business not paying people a living wage? Maybe if the illegals weren't here they'd have to pay more to the lower tier to get the jobs done. And why didn't these people follow the rules to get in the country, if they are ambitious enough to come here those are the kind of people I want working here and voting because they'll vote their pocketbook since they know the value of a dollar. They haven't been handed their allowance from mommy and daddy.
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