Thanks, Simon! I think James Talarico is, like Jon Ossoff, doing a good job linking corruption to affordability. We can walk and chew gum!
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to say the president is not in touch with reality and must be removed. I'm writing postcards to Ohio voters.
Corruption, corruption, corruption. Talarico and Ossoff (Epstein class!) have it down. Repeat as necessary. It was a key issue that led Hungary to throw out Orban. And it is so blatant and in our faces that even (some) Republicans are reacting in horror at the Insurrectionist Slush Fund.
Agree! Corruption leads to higher prices and taxes and lower wages for the vast majority of Americans. Talarico and Ossoff are both making that argument very effectively.
Margaret I understand that Randy has lots of grassroots support but the GOP are attacking her and trying to knock her out. What do you think that means?
Since Bains is the DCCC endorsed candidate, Repubs must think she's the most likely to win. On a side note, it took multiple tries with multiple access codes to send this reply even though I'm a paid subscriber. One of the frustrations grassroots organizations have with the DCCC and DSCC is they don't seem to be reading the room as far as Democrats favoring progressive not corporate candidates when progressives are running.
Margaret, this is not correct. The Rs would only make the call based on their internal polling and assessment of the race. The DCCC endorsement would be of secondary consideration.
I want to push back on this - "One of the frustrations grassroots organizations have with the DCCC and DSCC is they don't seem to be reading the room as far as Democrats favoring progressive not corporate candidates when progressives are running" - what in the world are "corporate" candidates? Every one who is not a progressive? This stuff has become far too flippant, too easy off the tongue.....
The party has a responsibility to push the candidates they think are most likely to win. That's literally their job. I encourage everyone to treat this process respectfully, and read my comments to Kate below....
Indivisible HQ is strongly behind Villegas and highly critical of the DCCC in this race. AIPAC has also alegedly contributed six figures to Bains. This post was from a couple weeks ago and I saved the clip. In the interest of informed decisions I encourage folks to watch and come to there own conclusuons. 2 out of 3 will be going to the finals in November between Valadao, Bains and Villegas.
Simon's interview with Will Van Nuys of the DCCC explains the strategy well. In addition, here is an article that further explains the situation. It's entitled "Why a GOP PAC appears to be boosting a Democrat in California’s Central Valley." It discusses the "attempt by Republicans to elevate Villegas, whom they view as the easier candidate to beat [in the general election], according to multiple political experts. The PAC is dedicated to electing Republicans to the House, per its website."
This article also refers to the NYT article "Mysterious Meddling in Democratic Primaries Has G.O.P. Fingerprints." It's about how the Congressional Leadership Fund, the official super PAC of House Republicans, is trying to knock out the stronger Democratic candidates to boost the chance of a Republican being elected. Simon has discussed this strategy in TX (and elsewhere), and that's why we supported Johnny Garcia. Hopium is fighting against this repub cognitive warfare.
In the first hour of voting in Charleston Cty 1,400 people voted. There was a long line at my polling place at 8:45 and a total of 45,000 voters. Also, We had Bill Webster who is running for governor speak at our retirement community to a large group of democrats and republicans. There is wind at our backs.
Today's Hopium has such a wonderful, celebratory vibe. The new name "Not-So-Audacious-Any-Longer Expansion Fund" is both uplifting and well deserved. Looking forward to our discussion with Kendall Scudder.
Right now I'm busy with the ongoing Democratic primary election in NM with phone banks and sharing information about candidate qualifications and platforms, and making sure everyone writes-in the name of our Bernalillo County Chair, Jacob Trujillo, for Public Education Commission District 3. The position is vacant, and it's the only way we will get a Democrat on the ballot. I love seeing how Young Democrats are supporting our 26-year-old leader in this race since voters may skip this one if they don't know we have a declared write-in candidate.
Regarding CA 22 - I hope this community will not rush headlong into that race in favor of the DCCC candidate. It’s terrible that the Republicans are trying to poison that race. It is also important to know that Randy Villegas has been running in that district since mid 2025 with strong support from the grassroots community, is endorsed by La Raza Indivisible and recently clearing the bar to be endorsed by Indivisible National who presented him on a national call. https://indivisible.org/candidates/randy-villegas-ca-22/
Kate, I hear you and want to ask you the same question I've asked others - why would they be attacking Bains if they were not scared of her, and want Villegas?
For to be clear they are only spending here if they see internal polling showing her as a stronger candidate, more likely to win. It's the only reason they would engage here.
I appreciate the complexity here Simon, I really do, and certainly respect your years of experience. I deeply support cohesion in the family and speak to the importance of that at every opportunity. I was just defending Ken Martin a few days ago using what I have learned from you. I also have some discomfort with the out-of-state based consultant class that I have seen ride into town somewhat late in the game in my district. I’m going to a meeting of active life long Democrats this afternoon and will be alerting them to this new dirty trick that the Republicans are playing. We’ll get through this together.
I want to use this opportunity to air out a few things, and appreciate everyone's patience as we work through this. But folks have to remember that the Senate and House party committees only have one job - win. That's it. No emotional ties, no he's a good guy, no he took this vote or that vote, just win. That's all they care about. And they use data and analysis to win, and years of experience of doing this stuff all over the country. And some times they get things right and some times they don't. But in a time like ours, where so much is on the line, we need people to draw lines and make hard calls. The DCCC has endorsed in very few primaries this cycle and only made hard calls when they felt it necessary, like in CA-22. My advice to you Kate, and Margaret, is to not dismiss what the DCCC is doing, or what the Rs are doing, but understand it. The denigration of the national party infrastructure has become too flippant and juvenile in grassroots circles. Look at the great candidates we've been meeting, the remarkable electoral success we've had all across the country. I haven't made the call on CA-22 yet but am grateful for the opportunity to have a respectful dialogue about it.
Finally, I also want to make clear that the position that grassroots groups can endorse in primaries but the national party cannot is on its face absurd. I understand the sentiment behind it but just as a matter of politics it just cannot be that it's ok for certain groups to endorse and not others, particularly the ones who have the sole responsibility of flipping the House this cycle. As you heard from Will Van Nuys the party doesn't like to go into primaries but just claiming that it is something that can never happen is just not real world stuff.
One fun data nugget from last night - Cornholio got more votes in the first round than Ken got in the second round, 910k vs 885k. But Cornholio couldn’t turn them out for round two, managing a pathetic 501k (98% reporting). Is this malaise and discontent from the traditional, “moderate” GOP voter?
I'm curiuous about the TX senate R turnout - my inexpert perusal of the interwebs says it was a low R turnout, but inexpert is the operative word here. Any expert thoughts anyone?
Simon, thank you for mobilizing our Hopium Community to help defeat Maureen Galindo, one of the most vile antisemites to ever run as a Democrat! I am so relieved that Johnny Garcia defeated her in the runoff. He’ll be a great Democratic candidate for Texas’ 35th Congressional district!
Looking forward to the gathering tonight. Tomorrow I will go the the David Jolly Townhall event and figure out what's going on with canvassing, which, I was told before, was supposed to happen on May 30. The campaign has been great but I would say sometimes their communication with volunteers is a bit disorganized and spotty. I suggested maybe we could have a free version of Slack (or something like that) to organize stuff locally, but no one took it up. At least the core volunteers might communicate that way. I might just do it myself and see who will join it.
I'll take these wins for sure. Talarico is I think going to be a nightmare opponent for Paxton, judging by his campaign's response out of the gate. Maybe enough Cornyn voters will sit home in the general. And I was very happy and relieved to see Johnny Garcia win his primary convincingly against the horrible antisemite Galindo. I hope the GOP dirty tricks committee keeps losing, and appreciate Hopium's bringing that effort to light.
I canvassed Sunday for local state legislature candidates Amy Slavensky (state assembly) and Sean Frame (state senate). In Hopium fashion they are working together to campaign. The Davis college democrats club turned out and it was great to see so many young people involved. Best knock was a guy who has a youtube channel called rock for democracy and plays at local rallies -- he said he goes by following when deciding who to vote for: "A vote is not a valentine. You aren't professing your love, you are making a chess move for your future."
So now it's time for me to vote. I'm glad we are going to be OK in the Governor's race, and will be happy with whichever Dem candidate comes out of the primary (and maybe two will). I do think it's time for CA to rethink this "jungle primary" method of the top two vote-getters going to the general, regardless of party. It seems to encourage sort of "King of the Mountain" races among Dems where people stay in until the end, and it's a dynamic and a risk I'd like to avoid Could potentially cost us in some House primaries in CA, like Darrell Issa's, where two GOP candidates could get through due to Dem vote dilution. I've been following a commentator named Ariella Elm on this matter (her vibe is very compatible with Hopiums).
I think it's called an all-candidate primary. I'm a political party person, so I agree with your concern. However, our decentralized election system is a huge strength of Our County, providing resilience.
Only five states use that all-candidate primary system for federal or state offices. Most local elections do too, such as major, city council, school board. In an open, all-candidate primary everyone competes on the same ballot, and all registered voters can participate.
I thought the same about the “most corrupt,” but then I thought that attacking T**** wouldn’t accomplish anything for Talarico, and would dilute the message.
If voters think to themselves, “wait, no, T**** is worse,” that seems fine. And what are Rs gonna do? Argue that they could come up with someone more corrupt? They would probably name Hunter Biden. 🤣
At this point in my mind, Texas is already a loss for the Republicans no matter what the final vote tally is. The price they will pay for a win there will be absolutely astronomical, and losing a non-controversial, prolific fundraiser, team player, consensus builder, Republican whip in exchange for this shit bag of a human being, is no victory, even if it somehow helped them hold onto the majority. I think we’re gonna win the state, but it’s gonna be a brutal dog fight. And if we don’t, we’re gonna make them wish that we had one because of what it cost them to come out on top.
Or absolute ignorance. We’ve all been here for the Republican action in the Middle East in recent weeks, now months. No obvious senatorial squeamishness w their President. Are they each being paid for deafening silence?
As Texas goes so goes the nation…….
Young people wake up!
Thanks, Simon! I think James Talarico is, like Jon Ossoff, doing a good job linking corruption to affordability. We can walk and chew gum!
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to say the president is not in touch with reality and must be removed. I'm writing postcards to Ohio voters.
Corruption, corruption, corruption. Talarico and Ossoff (Epstein class!) have it down. Repeat as necessary. It was a key issue that led Hungary to throw out Orban. And it is so blatant and in our faces that even (some) Republicans are reacting in horror at the Insurrectionist Slush Fund.
Yes, and I love how Talarico in his video ties corruption to pocketbook issues.
And even to higher taxes!
Yes, Ossoff does that too. I'd like to see ALL Dems using that framing.
Agree! Corruption leads to higher prices and taxes and lower wages for the vast majority of Americans. Talarico and Ossoff are both making that argument very effectively.
I normally agree with all of Hopium's endorsed candidates. But Jasmeet Bains is not the best Democratic candidate for CA-22, it's Randy Villegas.
Margaret I understand that Randy has lots of grassroots support but the GOP are attacking her and trying to knock her out. What do you think that means?
Since Bains is the DCCC endorsed candidate, Repubs must think she's the most likely to win. On a side note, it took multiple tries with multiple access codes to send this reply even though I'm a paid subscriber. One of the frustrations grassroots organizations have with the DCCC and DSCC is they don't seem to be reading the room as far as Democrats favoring progressive not corporate candidates when progressives are running.
Margaret, this is not correct. The Rs would only make the call based on their internal polling and assessment of the race. The DCCC endorsement would be of secondary consideration.
I want to push back on this - "One of the frustrations grassroots organizations have with the DCCC and DSCC is they don't seem to be reading the room as far as Democrats favoring progressive not corporate candidates when progressives are running" - what in the world are "corporate" candidates? Every one who is not a progressive? This stuff has become far too flippant, too easy off the tongue.....
The party has a responsibility to push the candidates they think are most likely to win. That's literally their job. I encourage everyone to treat this process respectfully, and read my comments to Kate below....
Indivisible HQ is strongly behind Villegas and highly critical of the DCCC in this race. AIPAC has also alegedly contributed six figures to Bains. This post was from a couple weeks ago and I saved the clip. In the interest of informed decisions I encourage folks to watch and come to there own conclusuons. 2 out of 3 will be going to the finals in November between Valadao, Bains and Villegas.
https://youtu.be/PRZ6KjN_4WA?si=9e-jFnqmvg0EA5AL
In a cycle with dozens of top races there are going to be disagreements in the family.
Yup... its the nature of the beast...💪💪
Simon's interview with Will Van Nuys of the DCCC explains the strategy well. In addition, here is an article that further explains the situation. It's entitled "Why a GOP PAC appears to be boosting a Democrat in California’s Central Valley." It discusses the "attempt by Republicans to elevate Villegas, whom they view as the easier candidate to beat [in the general election], according to multiple political experts. The PAC is dedicated to electing Republicans to the House, per its website."
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article315729181.html
This article also refers to the NYT article "Mysterious Meddling in Democratic Primaries Has G.O.P. Fingerprints." It's about how the Congressional Leadership Fund, the official super PAC of House Republicans, is trying to knock out the stronger Democratic candidates to boost the chance of a Republican being elected. Simon has discussed this strategy in TX (and elsewhere), and that's why we supported Johnny Garcia. Hopium is fighting against this repub cognitive warfare.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/us/politics/gop-mystery-pac-midterms.html?unlocked_article_code=1.llA.dm8u.VF0mlFjE0RQP&smid=url-share
"…trying to knock out the weaker Democratic candidates"
Deborah, I suspect you mean that the GOP is trying to knock out the *stronger* Democratic candidates?
Yes. I fixed the wording. Thanks.
The Bee article is very good. Thanks, Deborah, for posting it.
In the first hour of voting in Charleston Cty 1,400 people voted. There was a long line at my polling place at 8:45 and a total of 45,000 voters. Also, We had Bill Webster who is running for governor speak at our retirement community to a large group of democrats and republicans. There is wind at our backs.
The sight of those early voters yesterday did my heart so much good. You go, SC!
I think James Talarico's calling his race "The People V Ken Paxton" is brilliant!
Priceless! What a brilliant way to underscore Paxton’s impeachment and utter corruption!
Not sure if I should share this but virtual rally for Talarico and our governor candidate tonight!
I signed up for notifications from his campaign and received this last night. Plan to register and attend.
https://talarico4tx.com/pKtWBb
Today's Hopium has such a wonderful, celebratory vibe. The new name "Not-So-Audacious-Any-Longer Expansion Fund" is both uplifting and well deserved. Looking forward to our discussion with Kendall Scudder.
Right now I'm busy with the ongoing Democratic primary election in NM with phone banks and sharing information about candidate qualifications and platforms, and making sure everyone writes-in the name of our Bernalillo County Chair, Jacob Trujillo, for Public Education Commission District 3. The position is vacant, and it's the only way we will get a Democrat on the ballot. I love seeing how Young Democrats are supporting our 26-year-old leader in this race since voters may skip this one if they don't know we have a declared write-in candidate.
Regarding CA 22 - I hope this community will not rush headlong into that race in favor of the DCCC candidate. It’s terrible that the Republicans are trying to poison that race. It is also important to know that Randy Villegas has been running in that district since mid 2025 with strong support from the grassroots community, is endorsed by La Raza Indivisible and recently clearing the bar to be endorsed by Indivisible National who presented him on a national call. https://indivisible.org/candidates/randy-villegas-ca-22/
Kate, I hear you and want to ask you the same question I've asked others - why would they be attacking Bains if they were not scared of her, and want Villegas?
I think this is a reality we have to discuss.
For to be clear they are only spending here if they see internal polling showing her as a stronger candidate, more likely to win. It's the only reason they would engage here.
I appreciate the complexity here Simon, I really do, and certainly respect your years of experience. I deeply support cohesion in the family and speak to the importance of that at every opportunity. I was just defending Ken Martin a few days ago using what I have learned from you. I also have some discomfort with the out-of-state based consultant class that I have seen ride into town somewhat late in the game in my district. I’m going to a meeting of active life long Democrats this afternoon and will be alerting them to this new dirty trick that the Republicans are playing. We’ll get through this together.
I want to use this opportunity to air out a few things, and appreciate everyone's patience as we work through this. But folks have to remember that the Senate and House party committees only have one job - win. That's it. No emotional ties, no he's a good guy, no he took this vote or that vote, just win. That's all they care about. And they use data and analysis to win, and years of experience of doing this stuff all over the country. And some times they get things right and some times they don't. But in a time like ours, where so much is on the line, we need people to draw lines and make hard calls. The DCCC has endorsed in very few primaries this cycle and only made hard calls when they felt it necessary, like in CA-22. My advice to you Kate, and Margaret, is to not dismiss what the DCCC is doing, or what the Rs are doing, but understand it. The denigration of the national party infrastructure has become too flippant and juvenile in grassroots circles. Look at the great candidates we've been meeting, the remarkable electoral success we've had all across the country. I haven't made the call on CA-22 yet but am grateful for the opportunity to have a respectful dialogue about it.
Finally, I also want to make clear that the position that grassroots groups can endorse in primaries but the national party cannot is on its face absurd. I understand the sentiment behind it but just as a matter of politics it just cannot be that it's ok for certain groups to endorse and not others, particularly the ones who have the sole responsibility of flipping the House this cycle. As you heard from Will Van Nuys the party doesn't like to go into primaries but just claiming that it is something that can never happen is just not real world stuff.
One fun data nugget from last night - Cornholio got more votes in the first round than Ken got in the second round, 910k vs 885k. But Cornholio couldn’t turn them out for round two, managing a pathetic 501k (98% reporting). Is this malaise and discontent from the traditional, “moderate” GOP voter?
Wow what a drop=off. The general between Talerico and Korrupt Ken will be very interesting.
I'm curiuous about the TX senate R turnout - my inexpert perusal of the interwebs says it was a low R turnout, but inexpert is the operative word here. Any expert thoughts anyone?
Simon, thank you for mobilizing our Hopium Community to help defeat Maureen Galindo, one of the most vile antisemites to ever run as a Democrat! I am so relieved that Johnny Garcia defeated her in the runoff. He’ll be a great Democratic candidate for Texas’ 35th Congressional district!
Looking forward to the gathering tonight. Tomorrow I will go the the David Jolly Townhall event and figure out what's going on with canvassing, which, I was told before, was supposed to happen on May 30. The campaign has been great but I would say sometimes their communication with volunteers is a bit disorganized and spotty. I suggested maybe we could have a free version of Slack (or something like that) to organize stuff locally, but no one took it up. At least the core volunteers might communicate that way. I might just do it myself and see who will join it.
COLBERT FOR PRESIDENT !!!
Maybe. I heard he lost his day job.
yes, the timing is perfect.
he's charismatic,
well-informed, intelligent,
knows the political process, compassionate,
owes nobody, and has wicked wit. his friends are everywhere, including some foreign leaders.
I'll take these wins for sure. Talarico is I think going to be a nightmare opponent for Paxton, judging by his campaign's response out of the gate. Maybe enough Cornyn voters will sit home in the general. And I was very happy and relieved to see Johnny Garcia win his primary convincingly against the horrible antisemite Galindo. I hope the GOP dirty tricks committee keeps losing, and appreciate Hopium's bringing that effort to light.
I canvassed Sunday for local state legislature candidates Amy Slavensky (state assembly) and Sean Frame (state senate). In Hopium fashion they are working together to campaign. The Davis college democrats club turned out and it was great to see so many young people involved. Best knock was a guy who has a youtube channel called rock for democracy and plays at local rallies -- he said he goes by following when deciding who to vote for: "A vote is not a valentine. You aren't professing your love, you are making a chess move for your future."
So now it's time for me to vote. I'm glad we are going to be OK in the Governor's race, and will be happy with whichever Dem candidate comes out of the primary (and maybe two will). I do think it's time for CA to rethink this "jungle primary" method of the top two vote-getters going to the general, regardless of party. It seems to encourage sort of "King of the Mountain" races among Dems where people stay in until the end, and it's a dynamic and a risk I'd like to avoid Could potentially cost us in some House primaries in CA, like Darrell Issa's, where two GOP candidates could get through due to Dem vote dilution. I've been following a commentator named Ariella Elm on this matter (her vibe is very compatible with Hopiums).
I think it's called an all-candidate primary. I'm a political party person, so I agree with your concern. However, our decentralized election system is a huge strength of Our County, providing resilience.
Only five states use that all-candidate primary system for federal or state offices. Most local elections do too, such as major, city council, school board. In an open, all-candidate primary everyone competes on the same ballot, and all registered voters can participate.
https://www.uniteamerica.org/articles/all-candidate-primaries-arent-new-chances-are-youve-voted-in-one
James - you can do this! BTW, I am not sure I would give him the title of the "most corrupt", DJT probably has the lead on that title.
I thought the same about the “most corrupt,” but then I thought that attacking T**** wouldn’t accomplish anything for Talarico, and would dilute the message.
If voters think to themselves, “wait, no, T**** is worse,” that seems fine. And what are Rs gonna do? Argue that they could come up with someone more corrupt? They would probably name Hunter Biden. 🤣
The people versus Ken Paxton… Let’s. Fucking. Go.
At this point in my mind, Texas is already a loss for the Republicans no matter what the final vote tally is. The price they will pay for a win there will be absolutely astronomical, and losing a non-controversial, prolific fundraiser, team player, consensus builder, Republican whip in exchange for this shit bag of a human being, is no victory, even if it somehow helped them hold onto the majority. I think we’re gonna win the state, but it’s gonna be a brutal dog fight. And if we don’t, we’re gonna make them wish that we had one because of what it cost them to come out on top.
I really think what’s left of the GOP is hell-bent on finding the absolute worst possible people to run for office just for spite.
Or absolute ignorance. We’ve all been here for the Republican action in the Middle East in recent weeks, now months. No obvious senatorial squeamishness w their President. Are they each being paid for deafening silence?