In the past twelve months, the Green Party of the US has awarded more than $10,000 in direct financial assistance to 2023 and 2024 Green Party candidates who are fighting the duopoly and growing the party. School board candidates in Kansas and Florida, city/town council and mayoral candidates in Washington, Iowa, Indiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, state legislature and gubernatorial candidates, and congressional candidates have received grants ranging from $300 to $1800.

One recent recipient of a $1500 grant is Jason Call, a former public high school teacher and union leader, and a lifelong anti-war and climate activist.

Jason is running for Congress in Washington’s 2nd congressional district with the Green Party. This is a very competitive district for the Greens, and we are excited to support his campaign.

Are you ready to make history?

I’ve lived in Washington’s 2nd district for nearly half my life. Over the years, local progressives have tried repeatedly to engage our Congressman on the issues that matter to our community. I was one of them.

As a lifelong antiwar and climate activist, an organizer, a former elected union leader, and a public school teacher, I’ve had a frontline view of the challenges working families are up against.

I tried to bring those challenges to Rep. Rick Larsen, both as a constituent and as a member of the state Democratic Party leadership.

Like so many others, I couldn’t get him to listen – so I ran against him.

I primaried Rick Larsen in 2020, to give my community the opportunity to vote for someone who does listen to them – instead of lobbyists and corporate PACs.

Despite the struggles of campaigning during a once-in-a-century pandemic, our scrappy grassroots campaign came within 1% of the Top Two of the nonpartisan primary.

So, I ran again in 2022. We TRIPLED our 2020 fundraising, made headlines as Larsen’s “best-funded” opponent, and earned broad support among local Democratic clubs. Again, we fell just shy of winning the primary.

Rick Larsen won both elections, NOT because he was the best candidate to represent WA-02 but because he had the backing of the aviation conglomerates, fossil fuel executives, and defense contractors he’s buddied up with these past TWO DECADES in Congress.

The years that my fellow progressives and I tried engaging with the Congressman, we just kept hitting a brick wall. It turns out, that wall was made of money – and the Democratic Party BUILT the damned thing.

Since 2022, I’ve come to accept that Rick Larsen is not just a corrupt Democrat – he’s a typical one. His inaction and unwillingness to listen are trademarks of today’s corporate-backed Democratic Party.

Had I been in office these past few years, I would have done everything possible to bring universal healthcare to the table, make the child tax credit permanent, end corporate price-gouging, stop Biden from issuing more drilling permits to Big Oil, and end the genocide in Gaza.

Democrats didn’t just fail to act on these issues – they didn’t even try.

Like Larsen, Congress will not listen to us, no matter which party is steering the ship. Their deaf ears are a symptom of the corporate greed that fuels both parties.

At the urging of my community and my party, I am once again running for Congress. But this time, I’m a registered member of the Green Party of Washington State – a party that will work WITH ME to bring real working class representation to Washington D.C.

This campaign is already off the ground, with the full support of the Green Party’s infrastructure, volunteer base, and strategic advisors – none of which were options for me as a Democratic challenger.

In 2020 and 2022 we came so close to winning the primary despite everything we were up against. This time, we’ve got the wind at our backs and a clear, viable path to victory.

WA-02 is the most competitive district for Greens. This community is solidly aligned with Green Party priorities, and there is zero chance that a Republican can win here.

With Washington’s “top two” primary system, we have a clear shot of making it into the general election to take on Rick Larsen head-to-head.

Bottom line: There are only two people who can possibly win this seat in November of 2024 – and it’s either going to be me, or the corporate Democrat and former lobbyist who’s held this seat for 24 years.

I am running to pass Medicare for All, to fight for urgent climate action, and to oversee the fundamental transformation of our economy with a REAL Green New Deal. And unlike my opponent, I’ve never taken a dime of corporate PAC money – and I never will.

WHEN (not if) we win this seat, we are going to make history. I will be the first member of the Green Party elected to federal office, and a genuine independent, unbought, working class voice in Congress.

The past two cycles, my district proved that a real insurgent base of voters in Northwest Washington is ready for fundamental political change.

I hope you are, too, David, because this campaign won’t just mark the end of Rick Larsen’s time in Congress. The entire two-party system is about to get a wakeup call.

In solidarity,
Jason

P.S. We would love for you to join us as a volunteer. You don’t have to live in Washington – we already have volunteers from all over the country! Click below to sign up and my team will be in touch right away.

Jason Call is a former public school teacher and lifelong climate activist running for Congress in WA-02. If elected, he will be the first member of the Green Party to serve in federal office. Learn more at callforcongress.com, and donate today to help us make history.

Cash awards, like the two $1500 awards given to Jason Call in the last 12 months, are granted by the GPUS Coordinated Campaign Committee. The grants are possible because of grass roots donors like you. The funds come either from Green Party US budget allocations or from direct contributions to the Coordinated Campaign Committee. None of these funds come from corporate or establishment interests.

Green Party candidates make applications for these grants to us,  GPUS’ Coordinated Campaign Committee.  There are eight of us on the committee.  We each have campaign experience and are elected by the GPUS National Committee to provide support to candidates.   We vet the applications and when we find them worthy we strive to be as generous as possible within our financial means.

Your contribution to either the general funds of the Green Party of the United States or directly to the Coordinated Campaign Committee allows us to support more great candidates like Jason, whose activism and campaigns make positive contributions to change US politics.

Thank you for your support!
GPUS Coordinated Campaign Committee

Green Party US CCC
https://www.gp.org/
https://gp.org/run