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Friend, this is Kara Eastman, candidate for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd District. Last year, the Democratic establishment thought a bold progressive candidate running on Medicare For All and a Green New Deal could never win in Nebraska.
But PCCC members believed in me, donated over $300,000 to my campaign, and together we came within 1 point of taking out my opponent, Rep. Don Bacon, who votes with Donald Trump 95% of the time.
I'm back this year to finish the job, and thanks to your support, today we are one of the DCCC's highest priority races in the nation.
Last week, I joined PCCC members on a really fun Zoom call. As usual, PCCC members had great questions for me -- including about the challenges facing small businesses and the farming community in Nebraska, and about campaigning in the time of the coronavirus. (You can watch a video of the Zoom session here.)
As I told folks on the call, we started out the year strong, out-raising my opponent in the first 3 months of 2020, and knocking on every door in the district before we told staff and volunteers to stay safe at home. When the virus struck, we immediately reconfigured.
We invested in technology to make as many phone calls as possible, a digital campaign, getting ads on TV, and in direct mail. Our hard work paid off. Polls show us running neck-and-neck with Rep. Bacon, and even leading with moderates and Independents!
But now the Republicans are running scared. Recently we found out that a right-wing attack group has allocated over $1 million in TV ads this fall.
Because I've spent so much time on the phone while social distancing, I've been having lengthy discussions with voters about issues. It's been striking to me that in this crisis, some of the ideas that progressives have championed for years, now people are saying -- that doesn't sound so crazy to me anymore. Unlinking healthcare from employment. Paying people a livable wage. People are saying "Wow, that makes some sense!"
Last week I was proud to receive Elizabeth Warren's endorsement, and the timing is fitting. In this moment of crisis, we need more #WarrenDemocrats in Congress than ever before. There are going to be a vast number of huge policy changes up for consideration in the coming term, so every bold progressive voice in Congress is critical.
My district will also be key to the presidential race since Nebraska allocates its Electoral College votes by congressional district. Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight points out that my district, NE-02, could break a 269-269 Electoral College tie. Obama targeted and won here in 2008, but it's unclear whether the Biden campaign will have the resources to do the same in this strange year for campaigns.
That's why running a massive Democratic field operation is doubly important for us. Every voter my team turns out to the polls is also a vote against Donald Trump.
Click here to help us build a world-class virtual field effort.
I am incredibly grateful for PCCC having invested in me and really believed in me early when not everybody else did. We got so close last time, and with your support, I know we can seal the deal this time around.
-- Kara Eastman, Candidate For Congress, Nebraska's 2nd District
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