Tomorrow night
here's to hoping you're free
Friends -
What a wild couple of weeks it has been for our national politics. I am super excited to host a zoom tomorrow night with my friend and former student, Joshua Polacheck. I hope you can join us tomorrow (Wednesday, July 31) at 7pm ET for a conversation via zoom - RSVP here.
Joshua and I once ran a Spartan race together — but now he is running for a seat on the Arizona Corporation Commission. You’ve probably never heard of it, but it is important — more on that below. On our zoom, I’ll interview him and take your questions. We’ll talk about water, climate change policy, Arizona’s state-wide politics, and … of course … the presidential race and Arizona’s place in that campaign. In addition to being the presumptive Democratic nominee for the only statewide, non-federal race in this crucial swing state, Joshua is also an elected delegate to the Convention in Chicago. If you can’t join us tomorrow at 7pm, please consider a political contribution to Joshua - you can give here.
The Arizona Corporation Commission directly regulates the power companies in the state that currently produce a third of a percent of all global carbon emissions. In 2004, the Commission passed a bi-partisan, utility-agreed transition plan for Arizona to have a 100% carbon-free, clean-energy grid by 2050. Over the last 14 months, since a MAGA-majority took control, they have systematically dismantled the plan and are even floating the idea of banning corporations with any ESG policies from doing business in the state. They are using their power to provide regulatory subsidies to lock Arizona utilities into using fossil fuels for generations to come. This will be the most impactful climate change election in the world this year that you've never heard of.
This is a political fundraiser for Joshua - you can give here. He has a plan to work with a dozen unions that endorsed him to get 36,000-63,000 high-affinity, low-propensity Democratic voters to the polls. These voters have dropped out of the electorate in the last 2-3 cycles due to voter fatigue. The Commission directly regulates utility rates: he can present these voters with a pocketbook issue to persuade them to vote again. To execute our plan, he needs ~$2 million. He is committed to relational organizing; his campaign will spend zero money on broadcast or cable ads. Those kinds of ads won’t make a difference given the advertising spend in the presidential and senate race in Arizona. But his relational campaigning will help keep Arizona blue for the Presidential, Senate and House races.
Giving to Joshua is almost like giving to three candidates: There are three Democrats running for three statewide seats on the Commission. His two teammates are tapping the publicly financed Clean Elections funding which comes with ~$400k/each. They cannot accept large sums. Because he is running traditionally, he needs to raise the remaining $1.2 million. He can accept up to $5,400 from individuals, partnerships, and PACs. His ActBlue is here and I can send wire/mailing instructions if that helps. If you can give more than that, his team can direct you to the local Democratic party where your donation can be legally coordinated with his campaign.
I hope to see you on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 7pm ET.
Thanks — nicco