As Hopium Heads Into Vacation Mode We Have Lots Of Great Discussions To Tide You Over.....
My biggest takeaway from recent days is that the Democratic Party's embrace of a raucous pluralism has created a very vibrant alternative to Trump's rancid illiberalism, oligarchy, and white supremacy
Greetings all. Hopium is powering down a bit for the next ten days. A post or new interview may come your way but expect less than our normal fare. To tide you over I encourage you to check out the many great interviews we’ve done this cycle - from Heather Cox Richardson to Leader Hakeem Jeffries to Senator Jon Ossoff and dozens of the other battleground candidates and party committee leaders who are leaving it all out there on the playing field for us this year.
You can find our wonderful catalog of interviews on the main Hopium site under the Podcast tab and on our YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify channels. too.
Here are my latest take on things if you haven’t gotten to them yet:
Some Thoughts On The Opportunities In Front Of Us With 82 Days To Go (New Video & Written Analysis)
In yesterday’s talk I review an exciting new project this community has helped launch with the Democratic state parties to protect our elections this November and ensure a peaceful transfer of power in January. More on that in the coming days!
The one polling/political update I will share is that Fox News released a poll last night that had Mike Rogers four points ahead of Abdul El-Sayed. In every other Fox News poll of the battleground the Democratic candidate leads, and yes El-Sayed is officially the only Senate Dem who has consistently trailed in general election polling:
It’s a reminder that we can’t take anything for granted, and need to keep working as we can to elect all of our great candidates across the country……
Yes, It’s That Time - Time To Go To Work Everyone!!!!!
Winning The House and Senate In 2026
Our Winning The House Campaign - Donate | $1,081,100 raised, $1,250,000 goal (new stretch goal) | Donate to all twelve of our initial wave of House challengers with a single contribution split twelve ways | Get to know Jamie Ager (NC-11), Christina Bohannan (IA-01), Paige Cognetti (PA-08), Rebecca Cooke (WI-03), Elaine Luria (VA-02), Sean McCann (MI-04), Jo Mendoza (AZ-06), Chaz Molder (TN-05), Jonathan Nez (AZ-02), Janelle Stelson (PA-10), Shannon Taylor (VA-01), and Sarah Trone Garriott (IA-03) by watching our recently recorded Hopium interviews.
Friends, if these twelve courageous candidates win, the House will flip, even with Callais and their rancid mid-decade redistricting. So eyes on the prize here everyone!
Winning The House - The Second Wave Fund - Donate | $294,100 raised, $500,000 goal - We’ve launched a second House fund, one supporting candidates who’ve emerged from late, recent primaries and need a bit more help.
Our newly expanded list now features Rebecca Bennett (NJ-07), Bob Brooks (PA-07), Cait Conley (NY-17), Johnny Garcia (TX-35), Bob Harvie (PA-01), Dr. Richard Pan (CA-06), Denise Powell (NE-02), Bobby Pulido (TX-15), Manny Rutinel (CO-8), Dr. Amish Shah (AZ-01), Randy Villegas (CA-22), and Marni von Wilpert (CA-48).
A donation to the Second Wave Fund is split evenly among these twelve, and more as other worthy candidates emerge from their primaries. Our total above includes money we’ve raised for directly for each candidate. You can watch interviews with those who’ve interviewed so far here.
Winning The House - The Third Wave Fund - Donate | $10,300 raised, $500,000 goal | We’ve launched this new fund for candidates who have emerged even later from primaries and need a bit more help as we work to expand our map and go deeper into tough terrain. Our initial list - and it may grow - is Christina Hines (MI-10), Lindsay James (IA-02), Jake Johnson (MN-01), Jessica Killin (CO-5), Nancy Lacore (SC-01), and Brian Poindexter (OH-7).
Winning The Senate - $691,100 raised, $1,000,000 goal - Donate | This new fund splits a single donation to our six candidates must likely to flip a Senate seat this November - Sherrod Brown (OH), Roy Cooper (NC), Troy Jackson (ME), Mary Peltola (AK), James Talarico (TX), and Josh Turek (IA).
Our working total includes what we’ve raised for these six so far through direct donations to their campaigns. You can watch our interviews with each of these great candidates and/or contribute directly to any of them directly here.
Expanding The Map - Investing And Winning In Key Battleground And Expansion States
Winning Georgia - $30,500 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | This new fund splits a contribution three ways among Senator Jon Ossoff, gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms, and the Georgia Democratic Party
Winning Iowa - $32,500 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Our Winning Iowa fund splits a contribution three ways - to Josh Turek for Senate, to our gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand, and to the Iowa Democratic Party
Winning Maine - $80,500 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Our Winning Maine fund splits a contribution evenly among Troy Jackson for Senate, Hannah Pingree for Governor, and the Maine Democratic Party and its Chair Charlie Dingman
Winning Ohio - $189,100 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Our campaign splits contributions evenly among Sherrod Brown, the Acton-Pepper ticket, and the Ohio Democratic Party and its terrific Chair, Kathleen Clyde
Hopium’s Audacious Expansion Fund - $648,600 raised, $1,000,000 goal - Donate | Join our campaign that has helped expand our map by investing in the Democratic Parties of Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Maine, and Texas, all now central battlegrounds in the 2026 election | Contribute to all five state parties with one contribution split evenly among these five critical battlegrounds | Catch interviews with the five intrepid state chairs leading their troops into battle this year - will get you fired up!
A Few More Things To Do
Let’s work to make sure everyone you know is Voting Early this year. Learn more about how our political battlefield is changing and how we can best protect our elections this November and ensure a peaceful transfer of power in January. Bring our Resolutions Project to your community. Fight for Hopium’s Agenda and let’s also embrace Leader Jeffries’ new agenda, “Fighting For An Affordable America.” Become a paid subscriber to Hopium to help us grow this community of proud, plucky patriots.
In the spirit if informing and not inflaming I’ve set up a new page to help us learn more about the Democratic Socialists Of America (DSA). Additionally, my friend Halie Soifer, the very capable CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, has written a very thoughtful piece with recommendations for how Abdul El-Sayed can address the very real concerns about his candidacy in the Jewish community.
Please use the paid subscriber chat to self-report the good trouble you make each day.
Keep working hard everyone. We have a country to save, and elections to win, together! - Simon
Two quick comments. I understand and agree with the El Sayad concerns, but I have to say I have loved his recent ads. Disarming but also welcomingly joyful. And we so, so need some joy.
And quick self-report. Spending a few days with grandkids out of town keeps me from my normal VR work. Instead I have allotted an hour a day for phone banking for a state rep candidate, TX HD112, who is challenging a long time R incumbent. Phone banking is my least favorite thing to do, but frankly it’s 95% voicemail, and leaving a positive, brief VM is easy peasy.
Simon - I have a great plan for our family! Network NOVA's BIG TEN Women's Summit for All on August 21-23 - in Tysons Corner VA - we have Tom Bonier, Kate Powell, Robert Hubbell, Michele Hornish, Rachel Bitecofer, Leah Greenberg, Elyssa Feder, Emily White, and more! 3 Days - get into action - Simon will not be able to attend this year - but he is a BIG FAN. Check it out: https://networknova.org/