We got an unfortunate call the other day.
New Mexico Secretary of State, Maggie Toulouse Oliver wanted to give us a little advance warning that she was going to end her campaign for the open U.S. Senate seat. It’s a shame; she would have made an extraordinary senator and her departure from the race leaves the field to a values-free, go-along-to-get-along careerist. She said the weight of the establishment against her race was making it too difficult to raise the money she needed to compete effectively. Schumer may be a terrible party leader, but he certainly knows how to quash progressives running for Senate seats.
Maggie’s withdrawal makes it all the more crucial that Andrew Romanoff beats the two conservatives running in Colorado; John Hickenlooper in the primary and then Cory Gardner in the general. Gardner should be relatively easy. The primary will be a challenge because Hickenlooper has the full weight of the Schumer Establishment behind him.
Speaking with Andrew a few days ago, he reiterated that “we”– presumably Coloradans, but all of us– “deserve leaders willing to defy the president– and even their own party– when their conscience demands it. Leaders who will put our lives first.”
Look, after his dismal and thankfully short-lived run for president, we’ve all come to know John Hickenlooper and how he feels about the environmental crisis. He didn’t wind up with the name “Frackenlooper” because it rhymes with Hickenlooper. His brand of incrementalism isn’t working– except for the wealthy special interests.
If we want to move forward as a nation, we need senators like Andrew Romanoff, not John Frackenlooper.
Frackenlooper is a direct threat to society when it comes to protecting our environment, “Fracking is good for the country’s energy supply, our national security, our economy, and our environment” he said just 36 months ago, as he was sitting governor of Colorado.
As you know, fracking destroys water supplies, pollutes the air, triggers earthquakes, and contributes to greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Fracking isn’t good for our country or economy when people are dying.
On that same phone call with Andrew, he told me that “We’re running out of time to rescue our planet, repair our democracy, and restore the American Dream.” He said it’s why he decided to run for the Senate seat Cory Gardner was occupying– and at a time when Hickenlooper told Colorado voters that he had no interest in the job and would be terrible at it. “We face a crisis unlike any in human history,” Andrew continued. “It is a crisis of our own making– and one that poses an enormous threat to life on Earth.”
Colorado deserves a senator who understands the urgency of the climate crisis and who is willing to take action to combat climate change by supporting the Green New Deal. “As Colorado’s next senator, I will lead the fight for bold transformative change– a Green New Deal that matches the urgency of this moment. Ensuring that our planet is habitable for future generations can only be done if we, together, take action now.” Do I have to tell you that was Andrew, speaking, not Frackenlooper?
To prove it, Andrew has signed a ‘No Fossil Fuel Money’ Pledge, unlike either of his opponents. This means that no money will be taken from special-interest groups. His is a campaign powered by the people, people just like you. Your contribution is the one step closer in the right direction, supporting someone who won’t be bought off by big corporations; instead, stands up to them and holds them accountable.
That’s why this 2020 Blue America Senate thermometer is up on the right. Andrew knows that tackling the climate crisis has to be a priority NOW, and incrementalism has no place in the discussion. And that is the kind of leadership we need right now.
Will you contribute to the fight for a better future?
Thanks for always doing what you can to make a better world,
Howie, for the entire Blue America team
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