Blue wave to blue ocean, part 3: 5 key state and local candidates

State and local candidates get a lot less media attention than candidates for Federal races.  But these races have a direct effect on your day-to-day life more than Congressional or Presidential races do. 

Governors and state legislatures control key government functions like state taxes, minimum wages, regulations on businesses, and rules for joint federal-state benefit programs like Medicaid and SNAP.   They also control how elections are conducted where you live, including the redistricting process that defines your election districts. 

County, city or municipal governments can sometimes go their own way on those key functions.   They typically also control local and property taxes, land use and local schools.

The GOP made a concerted effort to take over state governments starting in 2010. Currently they control 28 statehouses, and Democrats control 19.

Arizona and Wisconsin are very important state battlegrounds this year.  In Arizona, the GOP, which has controlled the statehouse for decades, now has just a 17-13 Senate majority and 33-27 House majority.  In Wisconsin, Dems haven’t held either house for 15 years. But new maps improve their chances.  Currently the GOP there controls the Assembly by 54-45 and the Senate by 18-15.

There are thousands of these races and I can’t claim to be an expert on them all.  But I have found a few that I believe could be significant in moving progressives forward. So with that in mind, here are the candidates I like best, ranked by the date of their next election.

Tom Steyer

CA - Gov

Primary:  June 2

Close Race  Hot Issue  Non-Traditional

 There is a great deal of money sloshing around this race in our largest, most powerful, and arguably most progressive state.  Much of it is going to the deeply corrupt former AG Xavier Becerra. Right now, the GOP’s Steve Hilton - a British-born former Fox News commentator - Becerra, and Steyer are leading. It’s not clear which two of the three will survive the jungle primary and make it to the general.

Tom Steyer is, according to Wikipedia, “a billionaire businessman, philanthropist, environmental advocate, and Democratic political activist.”  Normally I consider being a billionaire to be disqualifying for a candidate.  But the other Democrats are really weak.  And Steyer is a smart guy who is committed to climate action. He’s long been deeply involved in raising big money to help Democratic and progressive causes though groups like the Democracy Alliance.

He’s the only leading candidate to support the proposed CA billionaire tax and getting money out of politics.  He’s the best in the race.

Our Revolution has endorsed Steyer, saying he has “stepped forward with a platform that is clearly aligned with the priorities of our movement — single-payer healthcare, taxing extreme wealth, bold climate action, and getting money out of politics. He didn’t just seek our endorsement — he engaged directly with our organizers and demonstrated a real commitment to a people-first agenda.”  Hopefully he will get more progressive endorsers like AOC and Bernie.

Troy Jackson

Gov - Maine

Primary:  June 9

Non-Traditional   Great Communicator  Close Race

Troy Jackson is a logger and union leader who grew up in Maine’s North Woods.  He’s been endorsed by Bernie Sanders, Ro Khanna, Dan Osborn, Graham Platner, Maine DSA and Maine AFL-CIO, many local unions, and many state elected officials.

When corporations started replacing Maine loggers with cheap foreign labor, Troy did not just complain about it. Troy helped lead the 1998 logging blockade at the Canadian border that forced the state to pay attention.

Troy spent more than 20 years in the state legislature. As Senate President, he fought to lower prescription drug costs, pass universal school meals, deliver property tax relief, protect rural health care, defend the environment, and make sure Maine workers get fair wages, decent benefits, and a voice on the job.

Susan Mills, the current governor, is termed out.  Many Democrats and Republicans are vying for the seat in highly contested primaries, which will be done with ranked choice voting. 

According to Spectrum News on May 28, “a new poll shows a tie between Troy Jackson [who is surging] and former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Nirav Shah.  Both are polling at 28% in the five-way race.”  The other candidates are well behind these two. The state is rated “likely blue” in the governor’s race.

Emilia Cortez

Leg. Dist. 23 - AZ

Primary: July 21

Non-Traditional

Emilia Cortez, 41, is a Yuma County native, bilingual public affairs professional, and community leader running for Arizona House in Legislative District 23. Her career has spanned education, nonprofit leadership, tribal governance, and economic development. 

The district includes Tucson and Yuma, along with rural and tribal areas across southern and western Arizona.  Cortez is one of six candidates endorsed by Run For Something for this critical state legislature.  She is also endorsed by Arizona List, which supports Democratic women for office, and Moms Fed Up, “supporting and empowering moms to seek and hold political office, advocating for policies that enhance the lives of families across the nation.”

Armando Montero

LD 12 - AZ

Primary: July 21

Non-Traditional

 Armando Montero is a bit of a child prodigy. In 2020, when he was 19, he was the youngest person ever elected to the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board. In just his first year, he led a committee to write and adopt a first-of-its-kind mental health policy.  Armando was later elected as the Vice President and President of the Board, leading it through a re-structure to be more accountable, transparent, and focused on what matters most—student outcomes. 

During this time, Tempe Union received all “As” from the Arizona Department of Education for the first time.  Montero is currently pursuing a law degree.

His key issues include a livable economy, affordable housing, solving the dwindling water supply to supporting our veterans and elderly.

He is endorsed by Leaders We Deserve, Moms Demand Action, and several major labor unions.

Trevor Jung

State Senate Dist. 21 - WI

Primary:  Aug 11

Non-Traditional  Close Race

Trevor Jung was adopted as a toddler from a Russian orphanage by a small business owner and fourth-generation resident of Racine, a southeastern city near the Illinois border.  District 2 is considered a key target for Democrats to flip. It has become more Democrat-friendly and now includes southern Milwaukee County as well as part of Racine County.

Now 30, Jung has served on Racine’s City Council, and currently serves as Director of RYDE Racine, the city’s public transit system. Under his leadership, transit services have become better connected to important locations like the Social Security office, hospitals, and jobs.  He is perhaps better known for his appearance on reality dating show Farmer Wants a Wife — he's married to Season 2 contestant Grace Girard.

Jung said the state needs new energy and leadership that rejects “austerity” in favor of “investment.”  He supports State Senate Democrats’ “Affordable Wisconsin” legislative package, which addresses healthcare, utility bills, grocery bills, the cost of housing, and rent.

The GOP incumbent is not running for re-election, and the party found a replacement for him just last month.