Voices of candidates: The fight for government of, by and for the people

On this page are voices of candidates and activists about some of the vital issues raised in the mid-term elections. Regardless of party affiliation, each brings a vision of a realizable American dream, where everyone can have peace and prosperity. – The Editors
“Today 28-year-old New York City Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke in downtown Los Angeles. She grew up cleaning toilets with her mom and was a bartender until recently. She spoke only about the movement for survival. She said, there is no race or class. Only race and class. No red, no blue. No left, no right. Only top and bottom. After visiting Skid Row, she said there are three times as many empty luxury apartments in New York as homeless people. She said the solution to homelessness there is to put the people without homes in the empty luxury apartments. She called for free medical care and education, and for freeing those imprisoned for non-violent crimes. While she said that ‘injustice is bipartisan,’ she said she believes our strategy should be to transform the Democratic Party.” — From a Los Angeles reader

“I am fighting for the new American Dream. One where all people: Have healthcare. Can get educated. Can afford homes. Can choose to have families. Can live in their communities without fear. Can enjoy a secure green future. Let’s make this new Dream a Reality.”
Sarah Smith — candidate for Congress, from Washington

“The people closest to the pain should be closest to the power.”
Ayanna Pressley — candidate for Congress, from Massachusetts

“Putting the needs of my families across the district over corporate profits will
show the nation you don’t have to sell out … in Congress. … I will fight … to
make sure every single child and family in our strong 13th District lives in a just society.”
Rashida Tlaib, candidate for Congress from Michigan

“[On ending the school to prison pipeline]: Our babies go to school, some go hungry … We have to make sure our children eat and have healthy food, that parents have job-training programs and can provide for their families. Then the youth are able to do better . . . We have removed a few billion out of education— put that money back—and stop putting it into prisons. Put more into fathers or mothers support when they come out of jail. We also need access to quality mental health service. I’m a mental health nurse. Every day we service the homeless, the underserved, people just released from prison. After 10 years of being locked away, we expect them to be productive, but they don’t have Medicaid, Medicare, and no way to get medication . . . I stood up against tanks in Ferguson, tear gas, rubber bullets, and real bullets. I was assaulted by six police officers. I won’t back down. That’s how I’ll be in Congress. “I’m different from corporate Democrats.”
Cori Bush — candidate for Congress, from St. Louis, MO

“We’re surrounded by military bases [here], spending trillions on for-profit wars while we have an affordable housing crisis. Who controls our state, who is controlling our party? . . . If my great grandparents didn’t stand up against the corporate establishment of their times, I would still be on the plantation. It’s time for us to stand up …”
Kaniela Ing — candidate for Congress, from Hawaii

“I think there will be historical things happening in 2018. There is still a huge struggle caused by the lack of federal protections, specifically in housing and jobs, that needs to be addressed . . . including homelessness, suicide, and criminal justice issues. I am a product of public education . . . and I will advocate for strong federal support and partnership on public education.” Davids is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, a Native American tribe in Wisconsin.
Sharice Davids, candidate for Congress in Kansas

“Every Democracy will slouch toward Oligarchy when its political system is *designed* to give more voice to the wealthy and powerful. To preserve our Democracy, we must rid ourselves of this flaw by reversing Citizens United, and enacting mandatory public campaign financing.”
Lissa Lucas — candidate for West Virginia House of Delegates

“Los Angeles is supposed to be the city of dreams. My mom immigrated from the Philippines . . . worked tirelessly . . . even battled cancer so we could follow our dreams. I organized for kids to have adequate school supplies, for residents to stay in their homes and for people living in the streets . . . it’s easy to be anti-Republican and anti-Trump, but it’s not enough to turn the situation around. Too few Democrats are working for the people . . . [they] take money from companies that made their profits from student debt, health insurance and private prisons. It’s time . . . for all of us to pursue our dreams, supported by Medicare for all, universal rent control, tuition-free public college, full legal status for all immigrants, criminal justice reform, and an end of the corporate stranglehold on politics. It’s not enough to be progressive, it’s time to be revolutionary; it’s time to vote for a better future.”
Kenneth Mejia — candidate for Congress – from Los Angeles
“Some corporate Democrats get very scared by this term, but if being a democratic socialist means that you believe health care, housing, education and the things we need to thrive should be a basic right, not a privilege, then count me in.”
Cynthia Nixon — candidate for governor, New York
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