Ars Política Election 2020: State Legislature
Welcome to this week’s edition of Civics 101, in the form of the State Legislature aka the House of Representatives aka the General Assembly among a few other names, depending on where you live. This half of Congress is the law making (passing or vetoing) side of things. These are also the people that approve a state’s budget and make tax related decisions. Might we also mention they have the power to impeach government officials? There are 99 state legislative chambers altogether. 86 of those chambers are holding legislative elections in 2020...
As a recap:
Ars Poetica is an intersectional language arts agency. Until March 2020, our specialty was elevating human connection through poetry and performance art at events around the world. Now, while still ready to perform at evens when it’s safe, we focus on using the power of words to cultivate empathy across these mediums: activism, content creation, digital events and communications, political campaigns, intersectional partnerships and development, and ethical brand building. (learn more and inquire here)
We have come to the conclusion that the United States has an opportunity, potentially our last opportunity, to redirect the course of our history and embark on a journey toward liberty and justice for all. That’s why we are launching the Ars Política project. Our mission with this project is to continue to fulfill the overall Ars Poetica mission of using language arts to elevate human experience, but with a heightened focus on creating, supporting, and amplifying activist and political work leading up to the 2020 election, and ensuring a peaceful transition into a new era in the United States of America.
Our guiding principles are:
RESILIENCE - IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, OUR HEALTHCARE, OUR MOVEMENTS
JUSTICE - IN OUR GOVERNANCE, OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR RELATIONSHIPS. RACIAL, REPRODUCTIVE,
EQUILIBRIUM - OF RESOURCES, ENERGY, AND CAPITAL
INTEGRATION - OF INDUSTRIES, COMMUNITIES, AND CAUSES
RECONCILIATION - OF OUR PAST, BETWEEN CITIZENS AND CIVIL SERVANTS, WITHIN OURSELVES
While deeply researched and cross-referenced, the information here has been collated by two artists who, though intelligent and with the best intent, are not academics or political scientists of a professional caliber. In creating these endorsements, we discovered a pandora’s box of information about the US political systems which was overwhelming to say the least. None of these individuals, issues, or organizations have sponsored or condoned this work in any way; We are a completely independent for-profit organization simply using the resources we have to try to educate ourselves and our community about the gravity of this political situation, and the seemingly small choices we all must make to stop the bleeding as a society, and start to heal and evolve into something much better than our founding fathers ever could have planned.
Now let’s look at these State Legislatures!
In Arizona, House of Representatives District 1: Quang Nguyen (R) vs Judy Stahl (D)
Ars Política endorses: Judy Stahl
Since all 60 seats in the Arizona House of Representatives are up for election in November AND the previously red state is newly purple - it is just a must to vote Judy into office. She’s a small business owner who works with pediatric oncology patients, an educator, a mama, a breast cancer survivor, a strong supporter of theatre and the arts, and she shows up for BLM protests. Her conservative right-leaning opponent’s ways of giving back to the community? He’s big into guns: Quang is an NRA member, sits on the board of the Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association, and teaches kids in Jr. High how to shoot rifles. Those are his only extracurriculars… that we’re aware of.
we all bleed the same
but there no awakening
when the soil is red
In North Carolina, Congressional District 8: Richard Hudson (Incumbent, R) vs Pat Timmons-Goodson (D)
Ars Política endorses: Pat Timmons-Goodson
The outcomes of the 2020 election cycle in North Carolina stand to influence the state's redistricting process following the 2020 census. Also in NC, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. All 120 seats are up for election, but several of them are pretty juicy and District 8 is now one of the most competitive congressional races…
The first African-American woman on the Supreme Court of North Carolina (she held a seat from 2006-2012), Pat Timmons-Goodson was appointed to the United States Commission on Civil Rights and nominated by President Obama in 2016 to serve as a federal judge. But she never served as one, because the nomination was blocked by Richard Burr and Mitch McConnell (sidebar: we can’t wait for Amy McGrath to slay at the polls so we can #ditchmitch once and for all). She touts her value of strong work ethic and community service. She’s a UNC alum (which may incite a yay from those who love college basketball), the eldest of five siblings, a mother to two, and is also endorsed by an impressive group of orgs, including Planned Parenthood. Her incumbent opponent Richard Hudson is seeking his fifth term. His wife, Renee, is chief of staff to Kellyanne Conway. Honestly, we don’t think we need to say more…
flipping a hot seat
becomes the gateway for a queen
righting what was wronged
In New York, Congressional District 2: Jackie Gordon (D) vs Andrew Garbarino (R)
Ars Política endorses: Jackie Gordon
Sticking with the theme of highly competitive congressional races, in New York’s backyard of Long Island, the fight for District 2’s seat is another popular one. A Democratic / Working Families / Independence party win with Jackie Gordon would make a dramatic difference in yet another swing district, making way for another Black woman to lead this mostly white, suburban area. She’s also a combat veteran, former educator in the NY public school system and community leader. Her opponent, you ask? Andrew Garbarino seems like a nice, Catholic-school raised LI native, until you hear his comments about the “disastrous bail reform package advanced by the Democrats”. He also vows to “stand up to AOC and Nancy Pelosi, and make sure the House of Representatives is truly the people’s house once again.” Does he mean a white man’s House? Or a staunchly Republican House? Either way, as much as we’d actually love to see him get clobbered by the likes of AOC, let’s save that energy for Mike Tyson’s big return to the ring and have Jackie’s voice be the leader for her constituents.
have faith in a fight
fueled by opposition
— this fate lies with her
Stay tuned for our next round of endorsements, and don’t forget to register to vote! Research your state’s rules on mail-in voting, because many states already have hindrances in place which can suppress your voice.
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