I’d also add Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota to that list given that she has repeatedly voted for various NDAA despite them being loaded with anti trans provisions. She claims to support trans folks and then votes against them in instances where no one will notice. She has shown that discrimination is not deterrent to receive her vote.
‘Many, myself included, have argued against voting for the worst offenders on this list even where it means a Republican takes the seat. A Republican victory costs the community one seat for one term. A worst-offender victory teaches the party’s consultant class, the Searchlights and Third Ways, that throwing transgender people under the bus is a winning strategy, and that lesson would be applied everywhere until the Democratic Party goes the way of Labour. One seat can be won back. A party cannot.’
Say it louder! oh my God, it is so refreshing to see actual political analysis in this country. Thank you for having a spine and a voice, Erin. We all owe you much.
To label someone anti-trans because they do not support trans athletes is fair and accurate but to not include the things they have done to support the trans community while in office feels unfair. Aaron Ford in Nevada, for example, has brought forth and signed on to a LOT of lawsuits as Attorney General that support and protect the trans community. He didn’t give all the right answers when he met with trans youth and their families last year, including his stance on trans girls in sports, but I do believe he has done more good than harm and will continue to support the community. Note: I am NOT his biggest fan for a variety of reasons so don’t come at me. I’m simply asking for a bigger picture here because if this piece helps gets Joe Lombardo reelected… just please don’t do that to us.
It is unfortunate that these Dems are not in full support of Trans rights. But they are all still much better choices than the Republicans they are running against.
Teaching this party that some constituents are less than others and that those people’s rights can be bargained or simply given away is not better. We know the GQP is evil, what is less understood is that corporate dems taking billionaire money are the same thing in sheep’s clothing.
They pretend to care, pretend to have a big tent, but when people running for office start actually advocating for policies that would help the middle and lower class then all of a sudden the knives come out.
The weaponization against the DSA candidates is appalling. Somehow dem orgs have money and voice to fight our own people, but not a peep about oligarchs and fascists? No opposition, no fight against the current admin or their anti human policies but plenty of ammo to keep actual change from happening. And yet, we’re supposed to vote blue no matter who? Ffs 🤦♀️, no!
They keep fundraising, telling us they’ll fight once they win…I find that to be completely disrespectful and disingenuous. What baseline does anyone have to believe that could be true? They haven’t fought any of this and have voted to give Ice more funding at every turn while clawing back rights against trans people and women.
Corporate / AIPAC Dems are arguably worse than republicans bc of this. Vote smart and realize who these candidates are connected to for money and influence.
If you'll settle for nothing now, you'll settle for nothing later.
If we don't take action now, we won't take action later.
If we are willing to vote for Dems who do not respect the universality of human rights, where is the line where we will stop supporting the ‘lesser evil’?
PLEASE, EVERYONE, REMEMBER THIS: Pulling your support from a candidate has very little impact unless you communicate with their offices/campaigns to tell them WHY they are not getting your support. This is a critical thing you must do to be understood loud and clear. The only way we will not be taken for granted in the future is if they hear our angry voices over the telephone. And if you have volunteered or made campaign contributions in the past, make clear that you're not doing it for them this year. Let them know the costs.
Also, if you find yourself conflicted about a GOTV campaign for a state whose slate of Democratic candidates is peppered with these sell-out imposters, you should call the good folks to express your regrets that you can't participate in GOTV for the entire state, because you would be supporting some candidates (name them) who don't support you. That will increase pressure on the politicians who have gone rogue on us.
I think we need to do more as a state to talk about how Amy Klobuchar is potentially an active danger to all the trans people currently inhabiting Minnesota.
A note on Tom Suozzi: he’s always been a DINO sellout punk. His stance on our lives and livelihoods are consistent with his rancid ideology.
It’s just extremely disappointing to see former so-called “progressives” like Sherrod Brown and Xavier Becerra throw us under the bus and run us over and over.
Please for the love of Flying Spaghetti Monster stop trying to peel off Republican voters. They're never going to vote for you. Most Americans don't care about trans people one way or the other. Especially when they can barely pay rent and food keeps getting more expensive. Focus on those issues and you'll win in a landslide. And if your corporate overlords don't like it, tell them to get fucked.
Absolutely. You can’t negotiate with people who want to murder you and your family. Bipartisanship is furthering fascism at this point. Wake tf up people
In New Hampshire, there is Jonah wheeler, from Peterborough. He has made several anti-trans posts on social media, and openly spoke out against trans people from the floor of the state house. He is so bad that they recruited a write in candidate to primary him.
Not voting is how we ended up in this mess! I think there can be more success putting pressure on elected Dems than any possibility with Republicans. Withholding campaign dollars etc
The country's lack of quality candidates is how we ended up with a lack of voting. We should pressure them before the election (and at reelections) when we have the most leverage. Stop settling for nothing.
I don't agree. I don't personally know a trans person who doesn't vote. The way we got here was by being loyal team players and being willing to "take one for the team" - over and over and over. We've made door mats of ourselves. Time to get up off of the floor and demand our due.
I live in Nevada, and am very sad to see Aaron Ford on this list! I didn't vote for him in the primary, but I have been pretty happy with him as Attorney General, so I was excited about him potentially ousting Lombardo... Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we have any valid not anti-trans options...
If their platform doesn't earn your vote, don't vote. Simple as that. Abstaining is political activity the same as voting is. Just make sure everyone knows why you didn't vote for him.
I am going to reach out and see if he responds with his actual plans in regards to trans people in our state. I think he could really improve things for a lot of Nevadans. I don't want that to happen on the backs of sacrificed trans people, but a lot of things are really not great here… I do recognize though that there has to be a line… This isn't California- he isn't going to win without every possible vote…
At the end of the day it costs him and the state nothing to support trans rights (because we're harmless), so if he doesn't support us then he's compromised and willing to undermine everything else he allegedly stands for.
I am hopeful that some statement about his personal feelings does not translate to how he plans to govern... As attorney general, he was pretty good about sticking to the fact that our laws are mostly there to protect volnurable groups... Best case, he may have even learned some things and not feel like that anymore...
The worst part is this is just people in the election. This doesn't even include people like Elissa Slotkin that voted for the NDAA with anti-trans riders.
I’d also add Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota to that list given that she has repeatedly voted for various NDAA despite them being loaded with anti trans provisions. She claims to support trans folks and then votes against them in instances where no one will notice. She has shown that discrimination is not deterrent to receive her vote.
But now she can put Bipartisan on her campaign website! 🤡
Being bipartisan in this environment does fuck all to help anyone except the Epstein class.
right next to her award for most staplers thrown at staff members.
Glad we have this list. Thank you for putting it together for us!
‘Many, myself included, have argued against voting for the worst offenders on this list even where it means a Republican takes the seat. A Republican victory costs the community one seat for one term. A worst-offender victory teaches the party’s consultant class, the Searchlights and Third Ways, that throwing transgender people under the bus is a winning strategy, and that lesson would be applied everywhere until the Democratic Party goes the way of Labour. One seat can be won back. A party cannot.’
Say it louder! oh my God, it is so refreshing to see actual political analysis in this country. Thank you for having a spine and a voice, Erin. We all owe you much.
To label someone anti-trans because they do not support trans athletes is fair and accurate but to not include the things they have done to support the trans community while in office feels unfair. Aaron Ford in Nevada, for example, has brought forth and signed on to a LOT of lawsuits as Attorney General that support and protect the trans community. He didn’t give all the right answers when he met with trans youth and their families last year, including his stance on trans girls in sports, but I do believe he has done more good than harm and will continue to support the community. Note: I am NOT his biggest fan for a variety of reasons so don’t come at me. I’m simply asking for a bigger picture here because if this piece helps gets Joe Lombardo reelected… just please don’t do that to us.
Maybe you should tell him he needs to publicly change his stance or he'll lose votes rather than giving him a pass?
It is unfortunate that these Dems are not in full support of Trans rights. But they are all still much better choices than the Republicans they are running against.
Except for when they’re not.
Teaching this party that some constituents are less than others and that those people’s rights can be bargained or simply given away is not better. We know the GQP is evil, what is less understood is that corporate dems taking billionaire money are the same thing in sheep’s clothing.
They pretend to care, pretend to have a big tent, but when people running for office start actually advocating for policies that would help the middle and lower class then all of a sudden the knives come out.
The weaponization against the DSA candidates is appalling. Somehow dem orgs have money and voice to fight our own people, but not a peep about oligarchs and fascists? No opposition, no fight against the current admin or their anti human policies but plenty of ammo to keep actual change from happening. And yet, we’re supposed to vote blue no matter who? Ffs 🤦♀️, no!
They keep fundraising, telling us they’ll fight once they win…I find that to be completely disrespectful and disingenuous. What baseline does anyone have to believe that could be true? They haven’t fought any of this and have voted to give Ice more funding at every turn while clawing back rights against trans people and women.
Corporate / AIPAC Dems are arguably worse than republicans bc of this. Vote smart and realize who these candidates are connected to for money and influence.
I love compromises that involve me being actively hurt and gaining little else, no slippery slope here nope.
If you'll settle for nothing now, you'll settle for nothing later.
If we don't take action now, we won't take action later.
If we are willing to vote for Dems who do not respect the universality of human rights, where is the line where we will stop supporting the ‘lesser evil’?
Nope. See the UK for why you’re wrong
PLEASE, EVERYONE, REMEMBER THIS: Pulling your support from a candidate has very little impact unless you communicate with their offices/campaigns to tell them WHY they are not getting your support. This is a critical thing you must do to be understood loud and clear. The only way we will not be taken for granted in the future is if they hear our angry voices over the telephone. And if you have volunteered or made campaign contributions in the past, make clear that you're not doing it for them this year. Let them know the costs.
Also, if you find yourself conflicted about a GOTV campaign for a state whose slate of Democratic candidates is peppered with these sell-out imposters, you should call the good folks to express your regrets that you can't participate in GOTV for the entire state, because you would be supporting some candidates (name them) who don't support you. That will increase pressure on the politicians who have gone rogue on us.
I think we need to do more as a state to talk about how Amy Klobuchar is potentially an active danger to all the trans people currently inhabiting Minnesota.
Thank you for sharing - it’s hard to keep track of all these creeps!
A note on Tom Suozzi: he’s always been a DINO sellout punk. His stance on our lives and livelihoods are consistent with his rancid ideology.
It’s just extremely disappointing to see former so-called “progressives” like Sherrod Brown and Xavier Becerra throw us under the bus and run us over and over.
Dear Dems,
Please for the love of Flying Spaghetti Monster stop trying to peel off Republican voters. They're never going to vote for you. Most Americans don't care about trans people one way or the other. Especially when they can barely pay rent and food keeps getting more expensive. Focus on those issues and you'll win in a landslide. And if your corporate overlords don't like it, tell them to get fucked.
Absolutely. You can’t negotiate with people who want to murder you and your family. Bipartisanship is furthering fascism at this point. Wake tf up people
While it is important for Democrats to take back the house and possibly the senate this list is very imporatnt for us to have - Thank You
That's not sufficient. Once they have power they need to actually do something.
In New Hampshire, there is Jonah wheeler, from Peterborough. He has made several anti-trans posts on social media, and openly spoke out against trans people from the floor of the state house. He is so bad that they recruited a write in candidate to primary him.
Not voting is how we ended up in this mess! I think there can be more success putting pressure on elected Dems than any possibility with Republicans. Withholding campaign dollars etc
The country's lack of quality candidates is how we ended up with a lack of voting. We should pressure them before the election (and at reelections) when we have the most leverage. Stop settling for nothing.
I don't agree. I don't personally know a trans person who doesn't vote. The way we got here was by being loyal team players and being willing to "take one for the team" - over and over and over. We've made door mats of ourselves. Time to get up off of the floor and demand our due.
The suggestion is not to vote. That is the party I didn't agree with. I definitely agree with demanding more
Gotcha! I misread.
I live in Nevada, and am very sad to see Aaron Ford on this list! I didn't vote for him in the primary, but I have been pretty happy with him as Attorney General, so I was excited about him potentially ousting Lombardo... Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we have any valid not anti-trans options...
If their platform doesn't earn your vote, don't vote. Simple as that. Abstaining is political activity the same as voting is. Just make sure everyone knows why you didn't vote for him.
I am going to reach out and see if he responds with his actual plans in regards to trans people in our state. I think he could really improve things for a lot of Nevadans. I don't want that to happen on the backs of sacrificed trans people, but a lot of things are really not great here… I do recognize though that there has to be a line… This isn't California- he isn't going to win without every possible vote…
At the end of the day it costs him and the state nothing to support trans rights (because we're harmless), so if he doesn't support us then he's compromised and willing to undermine everything else he allegedly stands for.
I am hopeful that some statement about his personal feelings does not translate to how he plans to govern... As attorney general, he was pretty good about sticking to the fact that our laws are mostly there to protect volnurable groups... Best case, he may have even learned some things and not feel like that anymore...
Thank you Mrs. Reed. It's going into immediate use.
The worst part is this is just people in the election. This doesn't even include people like Elissa Slotkin that voted for the NDAA with anti-trans riders.