Internet Fundraising Showing Signs of Life for Democratic Candidates

Harvey Kronberg, Quorum Report, 12/7/07

In perhaps another signal of the maturation of the netroots, QR notes that 24 Democratic candidates for the Texas House have already reported raising money through ActBlue, a national Web-based clearinghouse for Democratic campaign donations.

The fundraising leader so far is Brian Thompson, the all-but-declared challenger for Rep. Dawnna Dukes (D-Austin) seat in the House. He reports $4,800 in donations. While that’s not exactly a Bob Perryesque figure, it’s almost as much as the incumbent has in cash on hand on her last Ethics Commission report.

Dukes will obviously have the resources to vigorously defend her seat, but Thompson’s popularity fits an initial trend of challengers getting support from the netroots. After Thompson, the next three most successful online fundraisers are Sandra Rodriguez ($2,000), Dan Barrett ($1,674) and Sherrie Matula ($1,575).

What is most surprising is the speed with which the netroots fundraising power has begun to assert itself, said Matt Glazer, founder of TexBlog PAC, the first political action committee established by bloggers. He points, for instance, to the $253,256 in online donations funneled through ActBlue to U.S. Senate candidate Rick Noriega.

He cautions, though, against oversimplifying the diverse nature of the netroots community or overemphasizing the money part of what the netroots are accomplishing.

TexBlog takes a more tactical approach, identifying a candidate and then selling him to the netroots community. Glazer said that early on, TexBlog was actively raising money for Barrett. The PAC is the group responsible for the nearly $1,700 in online donations reported on ActBlue. The PAC has set out as its goal the election of seven more Democrats to the Texas House which would give the D¹s a majority in the chamber.

Liberal Texas bloggers mustering political power

Karen Brooks, Dallas Morning News, 11/26/07

The decidedly liberal Texas blogosphere, once content with its role as outsider critic, is finally putting its money where its mouse is.

Earlier this year, bloggers formed a loose coalition, the Texas Progressive Alliance, and soon began raising money for Democratic candidates through the state’s first blogger-created political action committee, TexBlog PAC.

But the biggest coup of all is the recent announcement that the daddy of all blogger meet-ups – Netroots Nation – is bringing its third annual conference to Austin.

It shows that the Texas blogosphere has arrived, members say. And they’re confident their groundbreaking activism in Texas and efforts to raise the national profiles of their favored candidates – such as Democrat Rick Noriega, who is trying to unseat GOP Sen. John Cornyn – have begun to pay off.

“What started as just a way for Democrats to vent in a Republican-controlled state has turned into a way for us to organize,” said Matt Glazer, 25, the editor in chief of the Burnt Orange Report and a director of the TexBlog PAC, which has raised more than $10,000.

Working Towards A House Majority

Matt Glazer, The Texas Blue, 10/15/07

The Texas Democratic Party and House Democratic Campaign Committee have done their part at curbing the tide of Republican domination in Texas, but it is time to help our friends across the state. That is why bloggers and activists across the state have created TexBlog PAC.

What is TexBlog PAC? It is a collective of bloggers working to directly fund, support, and help win a majority in the Texas House. TexBlog PAC is ready to take blogging beyond real-time reporting, commentary, and message delivery and transform the energy and resources of the online community into election-day victories. Corrupt Republicans are taking our state in the wrong direction.

The idea came from a sudden realization that we as bloggers and activists can do more. There are masses of untapped resources across Texas. There are exciting technological advancements that we can utilize to help get more good Democrats elected. And there are questions that surround when and how to use the new technology. Rather than sit on the sideline and Monday-morning quarterback, TexBlog PAC will actively engage our readers and supporters to help take back Texas.

We are ready to do more than complain about the Republican era of corruption and cronyism – we want to end it! We are prepared to elect a Democratic majority to the Texas House of Representatives, and forever put an end to the Tom Craddick reign of “absolute” power.