MikePAC is not really a PAC (Political Action Committee) at all. Rather than collecting money and distributing it to candidates, I provide information about some of the most important Senate races in the country (sometimes House races too) and urge people to contribute directly to the Democratic candidates in those races.
I also post voting recommendations for elections in California.
MikePAC grew out of my frustration with conventional PACs. As a fairly liberal Democrat, I belong to a number of environmental, peace and civil rights organizations, many of which have their own PACs. I used to contribute to some of them until I realized:
I figured others might respond to my research. So, two years later I typed out the first extremely low-tech edition of the Progressive Election Alert, and distributed it to like-minded friends, relatives and acquaintances. I've published it every two years since then, helping to raise money for many worthy candidates.
I hope you'll check out this year's candidates, and contribute as generously as you can to as many of them as you can. Clicking on CANDIDATES up above will take you directly to my ActBlue page, where you can contribute to as many or as few of the candidates as you want in whatever amount(s) you'd like, all in one easy transaction.
I also post voting recommendations for elections in California.
MikePAC grew out of my frustration with conventional PACs. As a fairly liberal Democrat, I belong to a number of environmental, peace and civil rights organizations, many of which have their own PACs. I used to contribute to some of them until I realized:
- The PACs often narrowly focus on one issue or area, ignoring the candidates' views on other important matters.
- They pick a lot of candidates who are virtually guaranteed election or reelection. This may give the organization boasting rights (i.e., "83% of our candidates won last year.") and it gives them someone to lobby, but it doesn't put all of the money where it's really needed.
- Worst of all, in an effort to appear bipartisan, a typical organization's PAC will endorse a few Republicans, EVEN WHEN THE DEMOCRATS OPPOSING THEM MIGHT BE BETTER ON THAT ORGANIZATION'S ISSUES!
- I wanted my meager contributions to be used as strategically as possible. I began researching candidates myself, and, in 1982, I picked two Senate races in which the candidates appeared to be very close in the polls but very far apart in ideology. One of the candidates I supported, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, scored an upset victory over a very conservative incumbent. Not that my twenty five dollars made the difference, but this was more like it!
I figured others might respond to my research. So, two years later I typed out the first extremely low-tech edition of the Progressive Election Alert, and distributed it to like-minded friends, relatives and acquaintances. I've published it every two years since then, helping to raise money for many worthy candidates.
I hope you'll check out this year's candidates, and contribute as generously as you can to as many of them as you can. Clicking on CANDIDATES up above will take you directly to my ActBlue page, where you can contribute to as many or as few of the candidates as you want in whatever amount(s) you'd like, all in one easy transaction.
