[Note: Ben Braver is a Bernie-grade progressive candidate running for a state Senate seats in a red-leaning district north and east of Tampa. Please consider contributing to his campaign here.]
Not surprisingly, it can be hard to run down-ballot as a Democrat in rural Florida. Fighting misconceptions and misinformation was hard enough without the extreme apathy I had grown accustomed to this year. However, campaigning has become much easier since Kamala Harris stepped into the top of the ticket.
I have never seen enthusiasm for a political candidate like I have right now, and it’s not just because we have a younger candidate. It’s because our voices were heard and now we have a more progressive candidate to leading our party.
The country felt like it’s been stalling… and having an 82 year old man running for president was a perfect symbol. We were stuck in the past, fighting ancient wars overseas and over failed Neo-Liberal ideas.
9 out of 10 Americans were saying that we did not want Joe Biden and Donald Trump to be the nominees again. And then, surprisingly, the majority ruled— at least among Democrats. People have been apathetic forever, disillusioned by the democratic system. But in July, even without a formal system, a little democracy happened, and it was overwhelmingly exciting.
Now we have another big decision: who will Kamala choose to be her running mate? We’re told that she has to pick a moderate white man from the Midwest. That’s the safe choice to balance her ticket in identity and ideology.
However, if we want to continue the excitement that people are feeling, then Harris needs to continue listening to the people. She should pick a vice presidential candidate who has an ideological commitment to progress.
Currently we don’t see a particular direction she wants to take the country; her VP pick will elucidate that vision. If she picks a candidate for their political value not values, she is compromising policy for politics. Many American voters will know they’re being pandered to and some— perhaps a great many— will once again become disillusioned with democracy.
We want someone who speaks out for our interests, who understands our basic problems. Most people I’ve talked to already understand that regulation is necessary for the monopolies that control our political, military, & economic systems. But most of our politicians seem not to care.
And it’s clear why— those monopolies pay them not to.
Kamala should show a Teddy Roosevelt level of energy for Anti-Trust laws, and prepare to put a Franklin Roosevelt level of energy into community investment. That’s what the people want and that’s some of her administration’s— and any administration in American history’s— most popular policy.
If Kamala picks someone like Shapiro or Kelly, who don’t promote progressive values, then it seems like she wants to win the office more than use it. She’d be sacrificing her message to the right-of-center special interests rather than convincing wary swing voters of the right policy. She might win an important state, but it will be harder to win the country.
Picking Walz or Beshear means she is truly building a progressive movement. She’s answering the call of the Democratic base thus expanding and exciting the party.
Even the farthest right people I know admire Bernie Sanders because he says what we all know; the system is designed to push the bottom down and the 1% up. Trump actually uses that message, but Kamala Harris should OWN it.
Trump’s policy further entrenches the corporate oligarchy, to win, Kamala’s policy needs to eviscerate it. Any candidate who represents the status quo, like Trump, is depressing. Change, real change, is invigorating.
The biggest difference between Kamala and Biden is that people are actually voting FOR Harris. They’re with her, not just against Trump. But they won’t stay this enthusiastic unless she continues to represent change. So I believe she should go all in.
She should change the way we think about a presidential ticket. I wouldn’t pick one of the 6 people the media and every politically active person knows she’ll pick. I wouldn’t even pick a well known Governor, Senator, or Congressman.
I would pick an experienced state legislator.
Picking a no-name candidate is outside the standard political playbook, it’s anti-establishment. One of Kamala’s big problems will be seeming like a Nepo baby directed by the party, and a move like this is not only attention grabbing, but will garner respect. She’ll be seen as her own President, not a continuation of the Biden administration.
State lawmakers are the perfect Washington outsiders; they come with decades of experience and without decades of federal enemies or massive corporate donors. It’s also easier to trust that someone who has been working close to their community will represent the interests of all our communities.
The Vice President’s job is amorphous, and one common use is as a deal maker in Congress. Harris is a prosecutor, she’ll be fantastic at leading the executive branch— the body charged with enforcing our laws. Having a partner who can focus on passing good legislation for her to enforce will strengthen her presidency.
And these progressive state level candidates can win even in deep red areas. I’m gaining votes in a district that went Republican by 10 points because I’m using a progressive message, I respect my constituents, and I present them with the solutions.
When all political decisions feel focus-grouped and lobbied into oblivion, a brave choice, a genuine surprise is welcome. We want a confident president who won’t sacrifice an ideological choice for political optics. An out of the box running mate demonstrates strength and passion.
Regardless of my political fantasies, the Presidential ticket that symbolizes positive change will win this election. Kamala Harris should build a movement around Anti-Trust laws, Anti-War rhetoric, and Community investment, the change Americans want to see. Picking a proudly progressive candidate like Tim Walz or Andy Beshear is a good start.
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