live blog

Looks like Emanuel showed up early so we are live now!

Emanuel will be here at Future Majority beginning at 7pm PACIFIC (10pm eastern). If you'd like to ask him questions about his campaign, the issues he supports, running as a young candidate, or anything else, leave a question in the comments now or stop back at 7. --Mike

My name is Emanuel Pleitez and I am running for Congress in California's 32nd Congressional District, which is being vacated by Labor Secretary nominee Hilda Solis.

This district is my home. I was born and raised on the Eastside of Los Angeles and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in El Sereno. Growing up in a below poverty-level, single-parent, immigrant household, and being the first in my family to graduate from college, I understand first-hand the issues facing my community and the steps we must take to move forward.

Before I was ten years old, I lived in ten different places throughout South and East L.A. I remember my mother, Isabel, a cafeteria worker, explaining to my sister and I when it was time to go live with a different family. Often times we would end up taking a back room or garage. My mother always explained these moves with enthusiasm, like they were new adventures. Obstacles were challenges to overcome and setbacks became tests of character. More importantly, mother taught me that education is the gateway to opportunity and despite our economic hardships, I was able to gain admittance, attend and graduate from Stanford University. I want to bring that optimistic attitude and resiliency to our district, especially during this economic crisis.

I have used my education to rise out of poverty and enter public service--giving back to the community that afforded me such opportunity. Most recently, I served on the Obama-Biden Transition Team for the Treasury Department. I previously worked for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa during his tenure on the Los Angeles City Council and had a short stint in the offices of U.S. Senators Tom Daschle and Hillary Clinton on the Senate Democratic Steering and Coordination Committee.

I am running for Congress to be a true representative for my community, a fighter for the working-class, and to pursue progressive ideals that ensures economic justice, civil rights, and affordable healthcare for everyone. These are the issues that I value.

I am the son of a union member who will make workers and labor issues a priority. Every day more and more people are losing their homes and jobs. I have not forgotten what it's like to worry about having a roof over your head or whether or not you can afford to visit the doctor. Having served President Obama on the Transition Team for the Treasury Department, I believe I am the best prepared to offer new ideas and innovative solutions in dealing with our current economic crisis.

This is a new era in American politics, a time where progressive ideas and a commitment to public service is encouraged and supported.

If elected, at 26 years old, I would be the youngest serving Latino member of Congress. But I cannot do this without your support. Please join me in my campaign for new leadership and a new direction.

Together, we can make history.

For more information about me and my campaign, you can visit my website at PleitezforCongress.com

Tonight, at 7pm PACIFIC, 10pm eastern, we're going to have our first live-blogging session in at least 3 or 4 months. Our guest will be Emanuel Pleitez, a 26 year-old candidate who is vying to win the seat left vacant by Hilda Solis.

More event details here on Facebook. We hope you'll drop by and/or spread the word.

Tomorrow at 1pm CENTRAL, 2pm EASTERN, we'll be hosting a live blog with 35 year old Andrew Rice of Oklahoma. Andrew recently won the Democratic primary in Oklahoma, carrying 60% of the vote. He is now going on to challenge Republican incumbent James Inhofe, one of the most notorious global warming deniers in the Senate.

You can RSVP on Facebook, and please invite others to join us. Here's a video from Andrew's site:

It is good to be back to be blogging with you. I enjoyed our last session together and I look forward to answering questions you may have, but before I do I would like to give you an update. Since I've last blogged, the campaign has been picking up everyday. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, came down to Wichita, to present a $5000.00 endorsement from the CBC. Governor Kathleen Sebelius was a special guest at a fundraiser for me, where she endorsed my campaign. I have been on the phone everyday raising money, and meeting with future constituents all over the fourth congressional district. Things are getting very exciting around here, I have even worn out my first set of walking shoes.

Update: Senator Betts is typing up his blog post now. We should begin shortly.

Hey everyone. Just a heads up. Tomorrow (Thursday) at 3pm EASTERN, 2pm CENTRAL, we will be holding a live blog with Donald Betts Jr., who is running in Kansas's 4th Congressional District against a Republican incumbent.

We have a Facebook event set up here for you to RSVP and pass along to your friends. Hope you'll join us in welcoming back State Senator Betts, who was our first live blogger ever here on Future Majority.

Fun Fact: Senator Betts is the youngest State Senator in Kansas history.

My name is Josh Segall and I'm running for Congress in Alabama's 3rd Congressional District.

My family has lived in Alabama for four generations. I’ve always been proud to call Alabama my home.

Now I am honored to be running to represent the Third District of Alabama in Congress.

Representing my fellow citizens in Congress is a privilege and a responsibility, and I intend to earn it. Every candidate owes the voters a clear explanation of his values and priorities.

As the new congressman for Alabama's 3rd District, I will lead according to my guiding principles:

• A congressman should wake up every day thinking of one thing: how to make your district more prosperous and more secure.

I will work every day to bring new jobs and economic opportunity to our district. My top priority will be serving the people who make this district great – our veterans, teachers, farmers, workers, and families.

• A congressman must put his district above everything else—including his political party.

For too long, Mike Rogers has sided with his political party and his biggest donors over the needs of our district.

The people of Alabama deserve a different approach to governing. Our challenges are too serious and our potential is too great to let politics stand in our way.

Neither Democrats nor Republicans have a monopoly on good ideas.

Pragmatism is more important than partisanship.

I will be an independent congressman, who will always put the needs and people of my district before anything else.

• A congressman’s first job is to listen to you.

It seems simple, but some folks get to Washington and can’t seem to remember what they were sent there to do—serve as the voice of their constituents back home.

I’ll listen to what my constituents have to say about their needs, and their ideas. Instead of believing that I have all the answers, I'll trust the people of the district to tell me what has worked for them, and what hasn’t—and what I can do to bring smart, helpful changes to their lives.

I pledge to hold two town hall meetings in every county, every year, as long as I serve the people of East Alabama.

The people of east Alabama deserve a congressman who works hard for them—not for his political party, his biggest donors, or himself.

They deserve a congressman who listens to what they have to say, instead of telling them what’s best for them. They deserve a congressman who will create new jobs and invest in Alabama’s future.

That’s the kind of congressman you deserve. And that’s the congressman I’ll be for you.

Later today Josh Segall, a 29 year old Democrat running for Congress in deep red Alabama will be here at Future Majority to live blog about his race. We've set up a Facebook event, so please help spread the word.

In the State of Connecticut, the first chapter in the future of how campaigns will be run and how they will be won is being written as we speak.

2008 brings the first election cycle where candidates have the option of filing for state financing for campaigns. The need to level the playing field in elections and to put the power in the hands of the individual voter and away from PACS, lobbyist and special interests groups has created this program.

This “Clean Elections Program” was instrumental in giving me the confidence to take this step. I am running against an incumbent who has been in office for 8 terms. However, in the last election cycle, he raised only $11,000 from individuals with close to $55,000 coming from PACS, Lobbyists or his state party. The program requires a candidate to meet two thresholds:
1) You must receive a minimum of 300 donations from individuals within the towns in your district. These donations are between $5-$100. No individual lobbyists or state contractors are allowed to contribute.
2) The candidate must then raise a total of $15,000. These contributions can come from in or outside the district, however each donation cannot exceed $100.
3) Once the candidate reaches these two thresholds, the state gives a grant of $85,000 for the general election. This money does not come directly from tax payer dollars but from the revenue from unclaimed property in Connecticut

It is a program that is revolutionizing the political process in Connecticut and I believe will be a model in the future for how other states deal with campaign election reform. It is a program I think many of you will get excited about.
While there are many issues facing my district, I have been focusing on issues surrounding energy, the housing crisis and, what I feel is most important to young people in my state – youth flight.

In Connecticut, there is an alarming amount of young people who go away for college and never come back. The list of reasons for this long, but in my area they revolve around declining job growth, a lack of public transportation and the high cost of living. This is an issue that the Connecticut Young Democrats have been trying to tackle and we are working on getting the state legislature to respond to.

Thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to taking your questions.

Update II: We're Live!

Update: Scott is posting now and we should get started momentarily.

Quick announcement. Tomorrow This morning we're continuing our Thursday live-blog series. We'll be joined by Nebraska Senate candidate and Netroots favorite Scott Kleeb.

Scott will be here at 11:30 Eastern, 10:30 Central time, and he'll be here for 45 minutes to an hour.

You can read previous live-blogs in this series here:

• Darcy Burner
• Jared Polis
• Mike and Jim Slattery
• Donald Betts Jr.

Jim:
Hi, my name’s Jim Slattery and I’m running for the United States Senate in Kansas and with me today is my son Mike who is running Kansas Legislature.

Mike:
We’re excited to be here today talking with you about important issues.

Jim:
I first ran for the Kansas Legislature when I was 24 and I’m so proud to see Mike now running at the age of 26.

Mike:
My father has taught me that public service is one of the best ways to serve our community and I think it’s time for members of my generation to get involved in shaping our state’s future.

I believe Kansas and our nation for that matter needs fresh ideas and new direction. There’s been a lot of partisan bickering in and I think it’s time we elect politicians who are able to put aside their differences and work on issues important to everyone like improving our struggling economy, building strong public schools, providing affordable health care, and finding alternative sources of energy.”

Jim:
It disappoints me that the issues I first talked about when I ran for office 35 years go are still problems today- the economy, health care, education, energy etc. The incompetence of the political leadership in Washington is breathtaking. Government just isn’t getting the job done.

One of my biggest concerns is the rising deficit. Politicians in my generation are charging up bills that will have to be paid by Mike and the next generation. I call it intergenerational robbery and I believe it’s morally wrong and should be stopped.

Mike:

Somewhat along the same lines, I think it’s really important that we protect our environment for future generations. I’m excited about the potential of “green collar jobs.” By investing in the research and development of alternative energy technologies I think we have the opportunity to create new jobs for our generation and protect our environment at the same time.

I think we’d be happy to take questions at this point in time.