Welcome to the Friday, Sept. 13, Brew.
By: Mercedes Yanora
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Three marquee races have 100% Candidate Connection survey response rates
- Incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez (D) and Joe Kent (R) are running in a rematch for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District
- Did you know there have been 52 state legislative special elections scheduled this year in 22 states?
Three marquee races have 100% Candidate Connection survey response rates
From now until Election Day, we’ll bring you coverage of marquee races where all candidates completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. Our survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey provides voters a way to compare and contrast candidates’ responses to questions about themselves and their policies.
All the candidates running in the Nov. 5 marquee elections for North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction, North Carolina Treasurer, and Virginia’s 7th Congressional District completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey.
Below are notable responses from candidates in each race. Responses have been edited for length. You can read the candidates’ full responses by clicking the link before each quote.
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
Mo Green (D) and Michele Morrow (R) are running in the general election. In June 2024, Education Week‘s Libby Stanford described voters’ choice between Green and Morrow as one between “a person [Green] with experience teaching in and leading K-12 schools or an outsider [Morrow] with a potentially new take on education policy.” Here’s how they answered the question, “What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?”
“My vision of excellence for the NC public school system can be realized through commitments … to the following pillars:
● Investing fully in public education ● Revering educators (teachers as well as other educators such as custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, counselors, etc.) and paying them more ● Providing appropriate and differentiated resources for each student according to their needs ● Enhancing parent and community engagement ● Ensuring safe and secure learning environments ● Celebrating the good in public education.”
“Safety in our schools must be a top priority. We must ensure that our most vulnerable citizens are protected from outside threats as well as ensure our classrooms are places of peace, civility and respect. … I will end CRT and DEI programs and ideology that are dividing our students and judging them based on their skin color. … North Carolina’s educational system must be fueled by a fiscally conservative, free-market, and competitive environment. … I will work with financial experts and legislators to streamline our spending to focus on teacher recruitment and training, student resources, and infrastructure.”
North Carolina Treasurer
Wesley Harris (D) and Brad Briner (R) are running in the general election. Incumbent Dale Folwell (R) ran unsuccessfully for the Republican gubernatorial nomination on March 5. Here’s how they answered the question, “What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?”
“I’m the only candidate in this race with any experience in State Government. … I have the support and endorsement of the two groups most impacted by the Treasurer’s office: The State Employees Association and the North Carolina Association of Educators. … I’m the only candidate in this race who has experience living in rural, suburban, and urban North Carolina. I’m going to go into every corner of our state and fight for the investments needed in order to make sure all 100 of our counties can thrive.”
“The first key responsibility of the State Treasurer of North Carolina is to steward the State’s AAA credit rating. As a Conservative … I am ideally positioned to continue protecting the State’s financial position. … With my deep experience in managing large pools of capital, I can and will improve performance of the pension plans, which will free up billions for the State Legislature to return to taxpayers or to spend on essential services like education or infrastructure. … The State Health Plan represents the largest future cost for the state as a ~$26 billion unfunded liability … We must … [consider] new models to reduce costs [and build] a larger fund to support future expenditures.”
Virginia’s 7th Congressional District
Eugene Vindman (D) and Derrick Anderson (R) are running in the general election. Incumbent Abigail Spanberger (D) is running for Governor of Virginia.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is supporting Vindman as part of its Red to Blue program that targets Republican incumbents and open districts. The National Republican Congressional Committee is targeting the district as part of a list that “represent[s] prime pick-up opportunities for Republicans.”
Here’s how they answered the question, “What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?”
“I am passionate about protecting our Democracy and freedoms in all of its forms. This means building safeguards into our voting systems so that our Democracy cannot be held hostage by MAGA extremism. Passing laws that build an economy that allows everyone to prosper, and restores a collective faith in the American Dream. Protect reproductive freedom by stopping any attempts to enact a national abortion ban, and pass legislation to restore abortion access so that no matter what state they live in, women can make their own healthcare decisions.”
“- Quality care and support for our veterans – Safer communities, which starts with securing the border and standing up for our law enforcement – Farmers and our agriculture industry – VA-07 is predominantly made up of farmland. Our farmers are essential to the district and to the Commonwealth and their jobs are being made more difficult everyday by over burdensome regulations and higher costs of goods and equipment – Well-maintained roads and bridges, especially I-95 which runs through the the heart of the district and is responsible for countless commuters whose livelihoods depend on the road. – Reducing overburdensome regulations that impact the everyday cost-of-living around the district.”
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If you’re a candidate or incumbent, click here to take the survey. If you’re not running, but there is an election in your community this year, share the link with the candidates and urge them to take the survey!
In the 2022 election cycle, 6,087 candidates completed the survey. As of Sept. 9, 4,087 candidates completed the survey for 2024.
The survey contains more than 30 questions. Candidates can choose the ones they feel will best represent their views to voters. For candidates who complete the survey, a box with answers will display on the candidate’s Ballotpedia profile. Responses will also appear in our sample ballot.
Incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez (D) and Joe Kent (R) are running in a rematch for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District
Throughout the year, we’ll bring you coverage of the most compelling elections—the battlegrounds we expect to have a meaningful effect on the balance of power in governments or to be particularly competitive. You can catch our previous coverage of other battleground races here.
Today, we’re looking at the general election for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District on Nov. 5.
Incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez (D) and Joe Kent (R) are running in a rematch of the 2022 contest, where Gluesenkamp Pérez defeated Kent 50.1%-49.3%, changing party control of the district. Former U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R) represented the district from 2011 to 2023. She placed third in the 2022 top-two primary and did not advance to the general election. Herrera Beutler was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump (R).
Axios Seattle‘s Melissa Santos wrote, “The toss-up race in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District is one of this year’s most competitive U.S. House races, central to Democrats’ and Republicans’ battle for control of the chamber.” Gluesenkamp Pérez is one of eight Democrats who represent districts that voted for Trump in 2020.
Before her election to Congress, Gluesenkamp Pérez ran an automotive repair business with her husband. Kent is a retired Green Beret, former CIA field operative, and former foreign policy advisor to Trump.
Gluesenkamp Pérez co-chairs the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of moderate House Democrats who often vote with Republicans. She voted against President Joe Biden’s (D) student loan forgiveness plan and voted to lift Biden’s pause on weapon shipments to Israel. Her priorities include Right to Repair legislation to help consumers repair their own items, border security, and “fighting for reproductive freedom.”
The Washington State Standard’s Jerry Cornfield said Kent is campaigning differently this election than the last, this time focusing on the economy, immigration, and crime rather than on abortion and the validity of the 2020 election results. Kent said he discovered three ways his campaign could improve: a stronger push for early voting, reaching a broader voting base, and “giving more attention to local issues … like the need for a new I-5 bridge, returning control of natural resources to local leaders, and addressing the fentanyl epidemic.”
Kent said Gluesenkamp Pérez is not a moderate Democrat, while Gluesenkamp Pérez said Kent is no different than in 2022. Kent’s campaign website states, “Marie Glusenkamp-Perez … votes in line with the Biden administration’s radical agenda to increase inflation, weaken our national defense, and open our borders.” Gluesenkamp Pérez wrote, “The only thing different about Joe Kent in 2024 is the color of his yard signs. … Oh, and Trump hasn’t endorsed him this time.”
Washington’s 3rd Congressional District is one of 37 congressional districts with a Democratic incumbent or an open seat that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is targeting in 2024. To read about NRCC targeting initiatives, click here. For a complete list of NRCC targeted districts, click here.
Did you know there have been 52 state legislative special elections scheduled this year in 22 states? Between 2011 and 2023, an average of 68 state legislative special elections took place each year.
Special elections are typically held to fill vacancies, and the process for filling vacancies varies by state. Vacancies happen for a variety of reasons. This year, 31 were scheduled because a lawmaker resigned. But special elections have also been called because lawmakers died or moved to a different office.
In six cases this year, special elections were scheduled because of redistricting.
Ballotpedia researches and publishes information on all congressional and state legislative special elections scheduled each year. Learn more here.