Monthly Archives: February 2020

2020 Presidential Election, Democratic Party, Endorsements, National Politics

Warren Tops in Local Club’s Democratic Candidate Poll

Club vote was highly competitive – no candidate achieved 51% for endorsement

Senator Elizabeth Warren was the top vote-getter in a recent poll of Democratic presidential candidates taken by the Progressive Democrats of Benicia (PDB), a local political club. Warren received 36.8% of the votes cast, with Sen. Bernie Sanders placing second at 28.9%. Also receiving votes were Amy Klobuchar with 21.1% and Pete Buttigieg with 13.2%. Candidates Joe Biden, Mike Bloomberg, and Tulsi Gabbard each received no votes.

The poll was the culmination of a panel discussion held on February 12 in Benicia by PDB in which representatives of six Democratic candidates for President had a lively exchange of ideas with an overflow audience at the Benicia Library. Members of PDB were eligible to cast votes through Feb. 19.

Ralph Dennis, chair of PDB, was pleased with voting and said “that’s a pretty strong showing by Warren among our members” but explained that it wasn’t enough to receive the Club’s endorsement which required 50% plus one of all votes cast. “This was the first time we allowed voting through our web site, and a lot of the votes were cast online after the meeting,” Dennis added. He believes the club will use the online voting option in future endorsements or polls conducted.

Well over one-half of the votes cast in the club’s poll were for one of the two progressive candidates in the race – Warren and Sanders. Dennis said that “this shows there is a strong progressive sentiment in this community which wants to see substantive change in Washington.” Dennis also recognized that the combined votes for Klobuchar and Buttigieg were 35.3%, reflecting, he said, “the current quandary among Democratic party analysts between progressive and moderate political positions within the national party and how it should best represent itself to defeat President Trump in November.”

A recent poll released on February 18 by the Public Policy Institute of California shows Sanders leading in California’s Presidential primary with 32% of likely voters. Biden, Buttigieg, Bloomberg, and Warren were in a statistical tie at 14%, with Klobuchar at 5%. California’s primary is March 3 and voting by mail-in ballot is already underway.  Details on the Solano County website, solanocounty.com/depts/rov/.

2020 California Primary Election, Democratic Party, Presidential election, Progressive Democrats of Benicia

RESULTS – Benicia Progressive Dem Poll: Presidential Candidate in March 3 Primary

If we were to vote TODAY…
Who would we choose as
Democratic candidate for President?

On March 3, California will join other states in our first Super Tuesday primary election.  Some have already voted by mail – others will vote on March 3.  Details at Solano County Registrar of Voters.

At our February 12 Candidate forum, we asked Progressive Democrats of Benicia MEMBERS to vote for their candidate to beat Trump.  Our PDB vote remained open until February 19 for members who missed the Feb 12 vote.

THE RESULTS ARE IN – LOTS OF FAVS, BUT NO ENDORSEMENT!

A candidate needed 50% plus one to get the coveted PDB endorsement.  No candidate got to 50%.  Here’s the breakdown.
Joe Biden 0%
Michael Bloomberg 0%
Pete Buttigieg 13.2%
Tulsi Gabbard 0%
Amy Klobuchar 21.1%
Bernie Sanders 28.9%
Tom Steyer 0%
Elizabeth Warren 36.8%
One of these great candidates will be our next President…
Mail in your ballot or vote on Tuesday, March 3!
Anyone but Trump!

2020 election, California Politics, Local elections, Progressive Democrats of Benicia, Women's Caucus PDB, Youth Caucus PDB

Progressive Dems of Benicia – Women’s Empowerment Panel

What will it take to get a woman on the 2020 ballot and beyond?

The women’s and youth caucus of the Progressive Democrats of Benicia held a Women’s Empowerment Panel on Wednesday, February 19, 7pm at the Benicia library.

The Women’s Empowerment Panel speakers included:

    • Ana Petero, a past Fairfield-Suisun school board candidate and currently secretary of the Solano Commission for women and girls
    • Susannah Delano,  Executive Director of Close the Gap California
    • Monica Brown, Solano County who is Supervisor District 2, and up for re-election on March 3rd

The panel was asked to address:

    • How  can we get more women elected to government offices?
    • How can we  empower more women take the leap, to run, to get on the ballot?

The featured speakers have all been involved in election campaigns, and offer unique and inspiring perspectives.

We had an engaging evening of conversation about getting women on the 2020 ballot.  All were inspired and empowered!

Sponsored by the Women’s and Youth Caucus of the Progressive Democrats of Benicia.