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  • From the Desk of Al Franken

a big announcement

My friend and former Senate counsel Josh Riley just made a BIG announcement.

Josh is running for Congress in New York’s 19th District — a key district to taking back the House in 2024. 

He ran for the seat last cycle in his first political race, nearly defeating a 30-year career politician and Republican Marcus Molinaro — losing 50.8% to 49.2% in a district where some Democrats at the top of the ticket lost by more than 6 points.

Josh will win this time! And I will give you five reasons why 2024 promises to be better than 2022.

But first, let’s help Josh’s 2024 campaign get off to a great start. Will you join me right now by chipping in $20 or more right now? He’s not taking corporate PAC money and he’s counting on individual supporters like you and me.

Here are five reasons why 2022 was a seriously hard year to win in New York as a Democrat, and why it’s so impressive Josh came as close to winning as he did:

  1. Redistricting. Last cycle, the New York State Legislature drew a congressional map that the New York state courts deemed too partisan — so they threw it out and redrew it. Unfortunately, for five months Josh had been running in the wrong damn district! The only good part is that the working-class town Josh grew up in remained in the newly formed 19th District. But Josh had a whole bunch of new territory in which to make himself known.

  2. Primaries. Josh had to win an expensive primary challenge in late August against a strong opponent. Still, Josh won the primary by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. By working his butt off, not that he had much of a butt to start with — have you seen this guy? Beanpole! 

  3. Marc Molinaro. Josh’s Republican opponent in the general election had already been a State Assembly Member, County Executive and GOP candidate for governor in 2018, losing to then-Governor Cuomo. Molinaro gained wide name recognition and had no challengers in his 2022 primary. But now he has a record to run on — and it’s not a good one. He’s voting 95% of the time with Marjorie Taylor Greene!

  4. Crazy GOP Attack Ads. Republicans had momentum statewide, and they ran tons of deeply dishonest dark-money ads that said crap like, “Josh Riley’s allies want to defund the police.” I don’t know who Josh’s “allies” are but Josh and I funded the police — getting crisis intervention training and bulletproof vests for local police departments across the country. It was completely false, and it was sickening.

  5. Midterm vs. Presidential. 2024 will not be a midterm! Ultimately, too many New York Democrats didn’t show up in a number of races this past cycle. But this time, not only is the presidency on the line — so is the Supreme Court. You can bet Democrats will turn out! 

So now that you know how tough 2022 was — and how CLOSE Josh came to pulling it off — are you ready to join me in supporting Josh for 2024? 

Donate here to support Josh’s campaign — he’s going to win one of the most important races in America for 2024 and I want you to be a part of it. >>

Thanks,

Al

P.S. I always add a P.S. because it gives me one more opportunity to ask for a donation. So donate now!

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Somehow, it’s been 20 years since I started Midwest Values PAC to help Democrats win elections — from progressive organizations to state legislatures to Congress to the White House — who share the values I grew up with in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Since 2006, Midwest Values PAC has invested more than $4 million in 341 candidates and organizations — and counting. 

Of course, none of this happens without you (or supporters like you) who care enough to pitch in.

As we mark our 20th anniversary, the work is more urgent than ever. This year, we have a big job: flip the House, take the Senate, and win up and down the ballot at the state and local level.

To mark our 20th year, we’ve set an ambitious goal: 26,000 contributions by Election Day 2026.

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Thanks for being part of this fight, and for sticking with us for 20 years (or for just joining — welcome!).

Al

P.S. Over the years, okay, decades, we’ve helped Democrats win tough races all across the country by investing early, intelligently, and strategically. That’s how you flip seats. That’s how you protect democracy. And that’s how you stop the worst impulses of a president who never should have been president in the first place.

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