Need your help, if you know

[coalition_unwilling]

I live in California, in U.S. Representative Jane Harman's district. She has distinguished herself by voting to go to war in Iraq (the Gebhardt entente) and by continuing to support the occupation. Here's my question:

How would I find out whether any local Dem plans to challenge her in the primary for next year's mid-terms?

I'm not sure whom I should contact, as the Democratic party probably would not be willing to support an "insurgent" campaign. But Harman is really a disgrace to the working-class voters in her district and I'm looking to volunteer for anyone anti-war willing to challenge her in the next primary. (Her district is a Dem pocket borough.)

[Punkingal]

1. I can't offer any help, but I just have to say...

I can't stand her. I wish someone would run against her.

[coalition_unwilling]

2. I'd do it myself, but my wife won't let me b/c

too many skeletons in my closet can't take scrutiny she and her corporate friends would bring to bear on my past. (It's not that sordid, but would involve a lot of discomfort\embarassment for my friends and family.)

[displacedtexan]

3. Only your county or state party orgs will have that info.

If a bona fide challenger emerges, s/he will need the endorsement of the party to be taken seriously.

That's not to say that a maverick might not toss his/her hat into the ring, though.

Call your county party and ask.

[coalition_unwilling]

7. I will try that, but have gotten used to being given the run-around

I'm so sick of Harman I voted Peace and Freedom in Nov. '04 (Dr. Alice Stek). If Harman doesn't have a primary challenger, I do not plan to vote for her in the general election.

Thank you for your suggestion. I really appreciate it, as I'm something of a neophyte in the practice of politics.

[Nite Owl]

4. If you have a DFA group in your

area maybe they would know. Democracy for America has a pledge to not vote for anyone who does not admit that we were mislead and we should have a plan to bring the troops home.

http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/petition/iraqpledg... /

[crispini]

5. First,

call your local party office and just ASK them. Depending on what stage the prospective candidate's campaign is in, they may or may not know. If the campaign has progressed as far as filing paperwork, the party office will know.

If the campaign is still in the "thinking about it" stage, it will be a bit harder to find out. The best way to do this is to find some Democratic clubs or organizations such as Young Dems in your area and start attending them. Preferably a meeting in a bar, where all of the Dems will hang out afterwards and drink and chat. Start talking about politics and you can bring it up pretty easily in the flow of the conversation.

Now, if they don't know, that still might not mean that there is a candidate. Try different clubs. Is there a DFA chapter in your area? They are most likely to be the "mavericks" in your area.

Another good question to ask is "Who is the most influential organization in county party politics?" Anybody who has spent any time at all involved in local party politics will be able to answer this. For example, in Dallas, county party politics is dominated by the Stonewall Democrats and the 23rd Senatorial District group.

Anyway, find out who are the "local heavies" are. Any campaign worth getting involved in will have gotten these organizations on their side early.

[coalition_unwilling]

8. Wow, thank you so much. I'm really impressed with your advice

(and that of other responders to this question) and promise I will follow up in the next week or two.

Thanks again for the wonderful ideas.

[LA lady]

6. Harman

I heard Pelosi was going to replace her as ranking Dem on the Intelligence Com. with Alcee Hastings of Florida (supposing all of them are reelected). How long has she been in?

[SheilaT]

9. You really need to start

with the local Democratic Party. Not at the state level, but at a much lower lever of organization, possibly the county.

Are you a precinct committee chair? Does your precinct have a chair yet? And keep in mind that there will be both a chairman and chairwoman. Find out how to be appointed to that position if its not already filled. Contact other precinct committee chairs in your Congressional District.

The precinct committee chairs are the absolute bottom level of party organization, and often those people, who are usually complete unknowns to most people, do a lot of the heavy lifting for the party.

Keep in mind that to run for U.S. Congress takes a heap of money, which means whoever might do so next year should be fund raising now.

[coalition_unwilling]

10. Yes, I sort of figured that preliminary steps would be happening now

but had no way of knowing even where to start investigating. Harman has a personal net worth estimated at some $7 million (with funds from her super-rich husband included, I'm guessing the total is much, much higher). Thus, only popular anger with her stand on Iraq could counter that hefty war-chest.

Trust me, though, she's a good reason for any voter to be suspicious of Democratic party . . . mealy-mouthed waffling that tries to have it both ways constantly, even on monumnetal issues of war and peace. Just like Gebhardt the loser

[SheilaT]

11. Does the local Democrat Party,

or the State Democrat Party back her 100%? If they do, no one else stands a chance.

And keep in mind, she did not set herself apart from the Democratic Party when she voted in favor of the war. So did most of the rest of them, including my Congressman, Dennis Moore, of Kansas. And let's not forget Hilary or John Kerry, either.

Taking back the party starting at the grass roots level is our only hope, and it's going to be a very long process.