Meet Jess Spear, the Socialist and Climate Scientist Running for Washington’s State House

[marmar]

(In These Times) The popular thinking in Seattle is that Jess Spear is not going to win in her run as a socialist for Washington’s state house.

Spear disagrees. “He’s totally beatable,” she says.

While her colleague in Socialist Alternative, Kshama Sawant, was successful last year in her third-party insurgent campaign for Seattle’s city council, 33-year-old climate scientist Jess Spear will likely lose her bid to unseat the state's 10-term House Speaker Frank Chopp, a liberal Democrat. In a party whose center is drifting steadily rightward, Chopp is an undeniable progressive who holds the support of Washington liberals who fear the conservative political forces from the eastern part of the state—not a neoliberal Democrat.

Still, Spear and Chopp contrast sharply. He’s an earnest, tie-and-slacks professional. The fresh-faced Spear, often interviewed in a t-shirt and sunglasses, would just as much fit in drinking beer at an indie rock show. A career legislator, Chopp boasts of bills he’s supported over the years, although Spear believes much of his time hasn’t led to substantive change. Spear has gained recognition for facing arrest during an anti-foreclosure action.

In debates with Chopp, Spear has challenged the incumbent’s liberal credentials—in particular highlighting the corporate welfare measures that have passed under his watch, such as the $8.7 billion subsidy package for Boeing that came with no guarantee to keep new production jobs in the state. She noted that it was easy for him to make that giveaway, yet Chopp “could not come up with money for public schools.” ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/17304/jess_spear_washington_state_house_socialist

[brooklynite]

1. Out of curiosity, what Socialist policy has either Speer or Sawant proposed?

[suffragette]

2. Thoughtful article in Real Change about that

This part especially speaks to your question.

http://realchangenews.org/index.php/site/archives/9533


It ’s politically smart for the Socialist Alternative Party to run more progressive candidates, even in challenging races against popular legislators such as Chopp, said Matt Barreto, a Univerisity of Washington political science professor. A candidate can push established politicians further to the left.

He noted that Sawant forced the city to consider a $15-an-hour minimum wage with her campaign. It became an issue that mayoral candidates Ed Murray and Mike McGinn jumped on before the 2013 election was over.

“Even if Sawant lost, that issue would have been on the table,” Barreto said.

Win or lose, Spear is able to change the conversation. Chopp has said on the campaign trail that he’s in favor of rent control, though he does not think it is likely to change with a split legislature.



The $15 minimum wage was a major issue in Sawant's city council campaign and she helped push it from an issue being given lip service to one on the table that was passed. She had to make some concessions, but she was a key part in moving it from talk to action.

Chopp has been taking the challenge from Spear seriously, which is good for the reasons noted in the article above. I think he'll win again and hope he works to change the current anti- rent control law.

That said, the state Senate races are the big ones here this year, since we had a Republican coup of the Senate aided by two conservative 'Democrats' who changed sides and turned the Democratic victory into a Republican takeover.

It's going to be a close call to turn that back around and regain the majority.

[brooklynite]

5. Doesn't answer my question...

...the policies referred to in the article are certainly progressive, but I see nothing I would understand as promoting socialism.

[socialist_n_TN]

7. They're Socialist Alternative candidates........

They're don't believe in promoting socialist programs. They claim to be Trotskyist, but Trotsky was a revolutionary, NOT running for Congress, ANY Congress. They're SINOs.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. As a member of Socialist Alternative, and a Democrat, I'd vote for her.

Alas, I don't live in her district.

[MineralMan]

4. Oh, Yay! Let's fight progressive Democrats.

I'm sorry, but this seems way off the charts. Running against a progressive Democrat is the worst sort of way to make change. Instead, the more successful you are in taking votes from a progressive, the more effective you are in helping the Republican running against that progressive Democrat to win.

Instead, why not run against lousy Democrats who are not progressives? What possible good is done by causing a Progressive to lose to a Republican by siphoning off votes?

I'm sure this young woman would make an excellent state representative. She will lose, of course, but so might the progressive Democrat she's running against.

Don't cut off your nose to spite your face. That's a loser's game.

[suffragette]

6. We have a top two process here. Those are the two candidates running.

So there is no chance of a Republican winning that seat.

If I were in that district, I'd vote for Chopp, but for the reasons our alternate weekly The Stranger makes:
http://slog.thestranger.com/seattle/our-endorsements-for-the-november-general-election-plus-cheat-sheet/Content?oid=20809703

(Warning. Since it's an alternate paper, it has ads and content that are NSFW)

And, as I noted above, there are benefits to her running such as pushing Chopp harder to follow through on some issues, such as changing the rent control law.

Also, as I stated above, the real threat here in this election is from conservative Democrats who have caucused with Republicans, which led to Republicans taking over the state Senate.

[KoKo]

8. Nice! Eventually.....one by one by one.. n't