
Going to Mary Seattle’s candidate Katie Wilson I learned very few people at the election party. All major democratic carriers were missing. In their place was a crowd of 20, 30- and 40-year-old children, all excited and inspired by the candidate who spoke his language and lived his life. Throughout the night, it has become greater and greater practice of power, a new progressive pragmatic force.
Six months ago the current Mayor Seattle Bruce Harrellwas on the way to slip before re -election. He recorded the support of trade unions, the approval of the Democrats through board from the governor to the representative of Jaapal, as well as business support. Bruce was and is a transactional, compromised and “arranged” by the Democrats – exceeding Amazon and the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, as for actual voters. But two events made him stumble: Donald Trump’s inauguration and Bulletin Initiative in Seattle In February, for social housing, which is funded by an excessive tax on corporation compensation. Bruce traded Microsoft and Amazon and campaigned against social housing initiative and his face on all opposition leaflets. The result? Voters seem to be angry with Trump, oligarchs and Harrell for being standing with them.
In this election, Katie Wilson thinks that someone should dispute Bruce Harrell, and why not? Katie lives in a one-room apartment with her husband and a 2-year-old daughter. She has no car. For several years, her salary was so low that she received qualifications for Medicaid. And in those unstable years of economic security for others, while she had little, Katie was responsible for organizing the minimum wage in the big Seattle. It founded the Union of Transit Riders and received free transit for K-12 students and low-income residents. She is the author of the corporation jump, calculated by the percentage of the total salary of more than $ 200,000.
Thus, Katie launched her campaign as a social movement. She counted on unique vouchers in Seattle Democracy, through which every adult resident could make up to $ 100 from the city fund to the candidates they support. Since Vouchers of democracyKatie remained even with the mayor. And even Although Harrell enjoyed by the PAC costsKatie received more than 50 percent of the vote, leaving Harrell behind 42 percent. Just like the big apple, it has not over yet, and Katie and Bruce Harrell switched to the general election, thanks to the Washington’s main election system, which made the two major votes, regardless of the party.
This election has sent more signals to and from the junior, dissatisfied and financially intense voters. Lonely progressive member of the city council, Alexis Mercedes MarketA 30-year-old waitress (a familiar one?) Won with 78 percent. The current president of the city council that just lasts Year tried to reject the minimum wage for concert workerslost 22 percent on A progressive policy leader. The Republican City Prosecutor also lost 22 percent of the progressive former federal prosecutor Eric Evve, who refused to work at the Ministry of Justice Trump. Even a member of the Council at a school, who is the principal for commercial commerce policy in Seattle, was beaten by a young young mother.
Precariat showed his attention around PUGET Sound. In the mayor’s race, Anders Ibsen, an early supporter of paid days of patients and minimal wages, easily overcome-20 percent-candidate in second place, supported by realtors and apartments. In Belva, the progressive senator of the democratic state won two -to -one business democrat. A four -year republican leads a progressive senator in the battle area.
In the Great Seattle, Girma ZahishHe is a leading candidate for King County Executive Director with 44 percent of the vote. Girma was born in a refugee camp in Sudan and came to Washington as 3 years of age. Girmay wants to create social housing for workers throughout King. His common opponent of the election will be Klavcha Balducci, the centralist -democrat, who received 30 percent.
Voters in Seattle and the surrounding Pond -Huku are angry and rebelled against Donald Trump and his allied oligarchs and corporations. These voters stand against capitalism. They are afraid of closing the fist of fascism. They also dismiss the transactional policy of the democratic institution and the disguised (or not) Trump supporters and those who look the other way. These workers do not expect to climb and save our democracy.
At this point, the crisis we need the only, progressive opposition to Donald Trump.
We begin to see how we start to develop on the streets and ballots all over the country: from the Candide company in Mary’s New York Mammani, focused on accessibility, community that protect their neighbors from ice, to senators who oppose weapons.
The Democratic Party has an urgent choice: will it accept a policy that is fundamental and popular, or will continue to insist on the loss of elections with the elites and consultants who brought us here?
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Thank you for helping us take Trump and create a fair society we know.
With respect
Bhaskar Sunkara
President, Nation