My argument for Voting Adams for Congress on June 5th

My argument for voting for Susan Adams:

In the race for the 2nd Congressional District we have a unique situation with several interesting candidates and all four of the front runners in agreement on their key policy positions.

Voters should keep in mind that, for the first time, we have an open primary. This means two Democrats in this very “blue” district may well go to the run-off in November.

Polls show Jared Huffman will get close to half the total vote and the eleven remaining candidates will split the rest. In other words, Jared will definitely be on the November ballot —he does not need your vote. Voting for him will have no affect on the outcome of the June 5th primary. So if you want your vote to make a difference, use it to choose who should get the second slot on the November ballot.

I believe the best use of your vote would be Susan Adams.

Here’s why: she’s the candidate who would present the biggest challenge to Jared in a run off and you’ll have from June to November to further vet both candidates and decide the best choice in November.

Among the three contenders for that second slot you have Stacy Lawson, a successful business woman, but as Norm Solomon has made clear in his mailers, she is a flawed candidate. Whether you agree with Norman’s arguments or not, the issues he raises would be used by Jared to destroy Stacy in a run off. She can not win in November. 

Norman is unelectable for all the same reasons liberals like me love him. His activism and fiery rhetoric make him unappealing to moderate and independent voters that one would need to win over in order to win a general election run off.

While Susan Adams shares most all of Norm’s liberal positions, she appeals to moderate and independent voters in spite of, not because of her liberal positions. In part, that’s due to the difference in their styles. While Norm delivers his ideals with conviction, it can come off as lecturing to those not in agreement. Susan listens and involves all viewpoints in the conversation as she works to build consensus.

Susan is a life long Democrat, but she would be preferred by many non-Democrats in a November run off with Jared being backed by the “Democratic Party Machine”. 

Susan also has the closest ties to the entire North Coast, with family still living on their Mendocino Ranch as well a brother who lives way up in Humboldt County.

Adams also has a compelling life story: working class roots with 33 years as a registered nurse (and CNA member); smarts, with a PhD being a professor of nursing; and political experiance, now having served three terms as a county supervisor. 

I believed this when I first joined her campaign back in October and having talked to hundreds of voters since then, I believe it even more so now.