While condemning billionaires and dark money, Nate Powell's campaign has benefited from more than $1.1 million in direct contributions and independent expenditures.
Hi Jane. I am a Democrat. The founder of this blog, Jerry LeClaire, was a Democrat. We both looked carefully at the field, and there wasn't much debate between us about which candidate we felt had the most experience and support to take on Baumgartner. We agreed that it is an uphill battle for any candidate without an R next to their name to win in this district, but we have forged ahead because not to do so would be negligent.
I will not be voting for Nate Powell. When I spoke with him, I found him to be a nice man. But having outside money to elevate a campaign on agendas from wealthy dark money networks doesn't suddenly give him the experience required of a member of Congress. Nor does it give him a seat at the table in Washington if he were to win.
The House Rules (Rule X) govern committee assignments and how power is shared. An Independent is cut out of that process and will have no support, no caucus, and no voice to represent us. That is why, in the last 20 years, and out of more than 4,000 congressional races, no Independent has been elected to the House of Representatives.
Even Bernie Sanders, who spent 16 years in the House (1991 to 2007), was only able to introduce one bill that became law: H.R. 5245 (109th Congress, 2006), which renamed a post office in his home district.
I will be voting for the strongest Democratic candidate, Carmela Conroy. With her experience as a prosecutor and a career diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service, she will have her pick of committee assignments and the power and support to introduce legislation that will positively impact our district.
Bernie Sanders earned the title "amendment king" because he passed more roll call amendments than any other member of Congress during his tenure in the House from 1995 to 2007.
Nate Powell has said in public on at least three occasions, that he is not opposed to ice detention centers in eastern Washington. He is also wishy-washy on LGBTQ rights. Sorry I can’t get behind this guy.
Yes, I was not supprised to hear him say that he would welcome an ICE detention center here in the district. When I met him in December, his views were clearly not progressive.
I looked up Novogratz. He's a Democrat, a rich one, but still a Democrat. He has a long history of contributing to the campaigns of Democrats (and liberal independents). There's dark money and then there's "dark" money. I think sometimes these PACs are the only way to put together enough money to be competitive, especially if you're not well known. I don't know how effective this outside money will be, but if it gets rid of Baumgartner, it's fine with me. It turns out that liberals and Democrats also have access to dark money resources. What matters is what strings may be attached and who they are attached to. If a Labor PAC wants Powell to vote for pro-Labor legislation if elected, I don't have a problem with that. If Novogratz expects Powell to vote against regulating the crypto industry, I would have a problem with that. I would rather deal with that problem than the one the re-electing Baumgartner presents.
Did you happen to get the mailer this week saying Powell is the only candidate who can beat Baumgartner? They cite the same percentages that Fuse is promoting. The fine print says Powell, not any candidate approved the message. So much for transparency and being the “independent”.
Hi Joan .. yes, that is one of the fliers paid for by FUSE’s PAC (Together for Working People PAC). The poll they are citing is the poll that was commissioned by the dark money PAC discussed in this article today. I outlined how the poll manipulated the data to favor Powell in an article I published a few weeks ago.
Yes-I read that article as well, and shared that information with a person who has been influencing a lot of people to vote for Powell because they have the belief that a Democrat can’t win. They claim this was based on past canvassing experience for Democratic candidates. Have you heard this argument about this race?
Yes, and I wrote about this as well. the belief isn’t based on past canvassing experience though. It is a campaign message created to reduce democratic voter participation. Republicans have been pusing this theory for years. They have been winning because Democrats often do not participate in federal races in WA-5. Given Baumgartner’s unpopularity, we hope this year will be different.
Thanks for the perspective and the excellent article Jeff. Well done. I hope people read it. Nate told me back in December that he was promised financial support from dark money groups and he mentioned the goal of $2 million. I think that had he not positioned his candidacy on his anti ‘money in politics’ stance, denagrating democrats for relying on campaign funding from the wealthy, and being beholden to rich donors, his candacy would be more understandable.
Grant-thanks for detailing the money trail.
Not voting for Mate Powell. Who’s the best alternative candidate?
Hi Jane. I am a Democrat. The founder of this blog, Jerry LeClaire, was a Democrat. We both looked carefully at the field, and there wasn't much debate between us about which candidate we felt had the most experience and support to take on Baumgartner. We agreed that it is an uphill battle for any candidate without an R next to their name to win in this district, but we have forged ahead because not to do so would be negligent.
I will not be voting for Nate Powell. When I spoke with him, I found him to be a nice man. But having outside money to elevate a campaign on agendas from wealthy dark money networks doesn't suddenly give him the experience required of a member of Congress. Nor does it give him a seat at the table in Washington if he were to win.
The House Rules (Rule X) govern committee assignments and how power is shared. An Independent is cut out of that process and will have no support, no caucus, and no voice to represent us. That is why, in the last 20 years, and out of more than 4,000 congressional races, no Independent has been elected to the House of Representatives.
Even Bernie Sanders, who spent 16 years in the House (1991 to 2007), was only able to introduce one bill that became law: H.R. 5245 (109th Congress, 2006), which renamed a post office in his home district.
I will be voting for the strongest Democratic candidate, Carmela Conroy. With her experience as a prosecutor and a career diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service, she will have her pick of committee assignments and the power and support to introduce legislation that will positively impact our district.
Thank you for your question and for subscribing.
Grant
Bernie Sanders earned the title "amendment king" because he passed more roll call amendments than any other member of Congress during his tenure in the House from 1995 to 2007.
We created a video relying so heavily on your reporting that we mentioned you as a source and gave you a shout out.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Dn1FNxVUen4
Well done. Thank you.
Nate Powell has said in public on at least three occasions, that he is not opposed to ice detention centers in eastern Washington. He is also wishy-washy on LGBTQ rights. Sorry I can’t get behind this guy.
Yes, I was not supprised to hear him say that he would welcome an ICE detention center here in the district. When I met him in December, his views were clearly not progressive.
I looked up Novogratz. He's a Democrat, a rich one, but still a Democrat. He has a long history of contributing to the campaigns of Democrats (and liberal independents). There's dark money and then there's "dark" money. I think sometimes these PACs are the only way to put together enough money to be competitive, especially if you're not well known. I don't know how effective this outside money will be, but if it gets rid of Baumgartner, it's fine with me. It turns out that liberals and Democrats also have access to dark money resources. What matters is what strings may be attached and who they are attached to. If a Labor PAC wants Powell to vote for pro-Labor legislation if elected, I don't have a problem with that. If Novogratz expects Powell to vote against regulating the crypto industry, I would have a problem with that. I would rather deal with that problem than the one the re-electing Baumgartner presents.
Did you happen to get the mailer this week saying Powell is the only candidate who can beat Baumgartner? They cite the same percentages that Fuse is promoting. The fine print says Powell, not any candidate approved the message. So much for transparency and being the “independent”.
Hi Joan .. yes, that is one of the fliers paid for by FUSE’s PAC (Together for Working People PAC). The poll they are citing is the poll that was commissioned by the dark money PAC discussed in this article today. I outlined how the poll manipulated the data to favor Powell in an article I published a few weeks ago.
Yes-I read that article as well, and shared that information with a person who has been influencing a lot of people to vote for Powell because they have the belief that a Democrat can’t win. They claim this was based on past canvassing experience for Democratic candidates. Have you heard this argument about this race?
Yes, and I wrote about this as well. the belief isn’t based on past canvassing experience though. It is a campaign message created to reduce democratic voter participation. Republicans have been pusing this theory for years. They have been winning because Democrats often do not participate in federal races in WA-5. Given Baumgartner’s unpopularity, we hope this year will be different.
Hope you send this to Ben Stuckart who’s FB post endorsed Powell!!
I respect your right to speak your own truth but I feel this angle will only help Baumgartner, who bathes in dark money, win in the end. My rationale here: https://mergstm.substack.com/p/purity-tests-and-circular-firing
Thanks for the perspective and the excellent article Jeff. Well done. I hope people read it. Nate told me back in December that he was promised financial support from dark money groups and he mentioned the goal of $2 million. I think that had he not positioned his candidacy on his anti ‘money in politics’ stance, denagrating democrats for relying on campaign funding from the wealthy, and being beholden to rich donors, his candacy would be more understandable.
.*nor instead of not