Always enlightening to chat with Shane D’Aprile of Campaigns & Elections. We talk about campaigning in a pandemic and the AAPC’s lawsuit against the federal government over the Paycheck Protection Program. Check it out.
We must always take sides.
This is one of my favorite Elie Wiesel quotes, excerpted from his speech accepting the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to remember the Holocaust and fight indifference to suffering. The entire speech is here: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1986/wiesel/acceptance-speech/
Capitol Weekly
Capitol Weekly is full of insight and analysis on everything related to Sacramento. John Howard is a veteran journalist – I first met him on Barbara Boxer’s first Senate campaign in 1992, when John was with AP and I was Boxer’s campaign manager. It was fun to “sit down” virtually with John and Tim Foster for their weekly podcast on May 15.
The Trailer
Shared a few thoughts with Dave Weigel about how hard it is to become known in California – a state with 58 counties, 13 media markets and 19 million voters. The Trailer is one of my favorite 2020 newsletters because of its on-the-ground reporting. https://wapo.st/2VTcxYE
An election with no research, mail or ads
I’ve been elected President of the American Association of Political Consultants, my first election that required no research, mail or ads. AAPC is a bipartisan organization committed to helping our members “learn, connect, and change the world.”
One of my favorite things about being on the AAPC board is the opportunity to encourage and mentor young consultants, particularly women. In my first campaign, there were very few women in positions of power. That’s gradually changing, but women are still a small percentage of political consultants today.
And I’m a deep blue Democrat so I wouldn’t normally hang out with Republican consultants. I’ve learned that the best on the GOP side think about politics just like the best of the Democrats – that the way to victory is research-based, strategic and disciplined.
The Central Valley
One of the smartest things Barbara Boxer did was establishing a Senate office in Fresno with savvy local staff (like Tom Bohigian, Ana Melendez, Ameen Khan, William Oliver.) It deepened our understanding of the Valley and helped find a surprising amount of common ground with business and elected leaders there. Now the Valley is attracting Democratic presidential candidates as the LA Times reports.