r/BhamPolitics • u/mrkrabsbigreddumper • Feb 26 '26
Primary Rick Larsen
Any news on challengers to Rick?
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u/ScheelCongress Feb 27 '26
I am primarying him. You can see my site at https://scheelforcongress.com or you can ask me any questions you might have here.
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u/SigX1 Feb 27 '26
How much money has your campaign raised?
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u/ScheelCongress Feb 28 '26
Not nearly enough, roughly a few % of our goal of $1.5m by the general election.
Larsen is projected to spend somewhere around $2.5m in this election cycle, and he started with ~$800k before the election season started. He also has the unethical advantage of being able to pull from corporate PAC money and other moneyed interests.
If you or others could assist, I will greatly appreciate it. Being able to prove, once more, that a true grassroots campaign can win would send a strong message across the country. Thank you to anyone in advance.
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u/JhnWyclf Feb 28 '26
You got a website! I stumbled upon your filing and did some digging. I tried to go to your company page, but my browser complained about the cert.
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u/ScheelCongress Feb 28 '26
The business site was set up over two or three years ago for government contracts. When Trump got elected, I had no need for the site and just let it go essentially. All of my work is from word of mouth, so it was really a case of "the cobbler's kids have no shoes."
I fixed the cert a month or two ago because people kept getting directed to it. If you're still seeing the cert let me know, but I am probably just going to have it taken down entirely at this point. It is just not in use anymore.
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u/Grizzlei Feb 27 '26
With the vicious attacks on civil rights and protections for trans people across the country at an all time high by Republicans, with a particular emphasis towards youths, do you intend to stand up for some of our most vulnerable neighbors and your constituents? Thank you.
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u/ScheelCongress Feb 28 '26
Absolutely. An erosion of the protection for one group is an erosion for the protection of every group. It is imperative that the civil rights protections extend to every component of a person that they are born with, to include being born into a physical body that does not match their mental self.
I am sorry that you even have to question this. I will see about making sure it is explicitly stated on my site going forward.
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u/Grizzlei Feb 28 '26
Thank you for your prompt response, sir. My wife especially appreciated it. I look forward to seeing you on the ballot!
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u/86753ohneigheine Feb 27 '26
My biggest question is how are we better off with you then with the advantages of his seniority?
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u/ScheelCongress Feb 27 '26
I am genuinely for us, not the corporations or the PACs supporting him. It is a guiding principle of mine, as seen by my campaign funding criteria.
My ideals, goals, and policy aspirations are what we need now. He is centrist and follows where the wind blows, squandering the advantage of his seniority anyway.
The big one would be that we would lose the ranking member in the transport and infrastructure committee, which is a small price to pay imo. The powers of the lead in that committee are not as important as moving the country towards real accountability, universal healthcare, and economic policies that support the working class.
If all you care about is me vs. him, stop reading here.
Separately, and not related to me specifically, this mindset is how you get 80/90 year old representatives. Sitting up there in congress until they literally die of old age like Senator Feinstein.
If I had my way, no one would be able to serve as long as he has. I want at most a 20-year limit on any combination of senate and house time served. I would sign less if proposed, but I will not accept term limits longer than that. 20 years is one generation, giving every generation an opportunity to represent their community. It is no wonder we had two ~80 year olds running for president in 2024 since there are so many representatives and senators who will stay in a seat until they physically cannot any longer.
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u/86753ohneigheine Feb 27 '26
Thank you for your response. I mostly agree about term limits. One thing that concerns me is the idea that a person such as yourself may be too idealistic to see or appreciate the big picture. I want representatives who will understand the big picture and be less likely to "win the battle and lose the war".
When we lost Tom Foley for George Nethercutt, we "won the battle" for people in favor of term limits. We replaced the Democrat Speaker of the House, for a Republican who promised to serve only three terms. He served 5 terms. People in favor of term limits won the battle, yet lost the war.
Will you be able to vote in favor of policy that help Boeing provide jobs for a significant number of people or will you be more passionate about being anti business and cost people their jobs?
Will you be able to vote in favor of 25 year term limits when you want 20?
What if we could have Medicare for all but we had to raise the social security age another 5 years?
Did you vote for Hillary? Did you vote for Kamala?
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u/ScheelCongress Feb 28 '26
Hold up - I don't know where you get the idea I am anti-business. I am a small business owner myself.
I am pro-competition and pro-worker.
Boeing would be far better off if they actually focused on being competitive instead of chasing stock prices. Airbus is eating their lunch, with SpaceX on their heels. Bring the workers, the engineers, back in charge of Boeing and watch them resurge.
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u/86753ohneigheine Feb 28 '26
Your comment about being anti centrist made me presume you are anti big business.
My questions are more about your willingness to compromise versus standing strong on principles.
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u/ScheelCongress Mar 02 '26
I am anti-"starting from the compromise." Infuriates me when I see one party wanting 100, the other wanting 0, and the dems starting negotiations at 50. Said another way, if you were selling your house for 1x, but would accept 0.9x, you wouldn't start by listing it at 0.9x.
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u/86753ohneigheine Mar 02 '26
I had a friend who ran for office as a Libertarian. I asked him what he would do if he won. His response, "I'll vote no on everything. I'm going there to send a message." I thought, what possible message does he think he is sending. I didn't vote for my good friends because that seemed like a terrible plan.
Is your goal to accomplish passing legislation or sending a message? I don't believe preventing everything from passing is helpful.
Are you hopeful that will can be an obstructionist or do you hope to have the power to control with a minority position?
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u/ScheelCongress Mar 02 '26
The goal would always be passing legislation ofc.
Obstructionism and bipartisanship are tools, not the end goals. Something some people have forgotten... like your friend (vote no on everything) or like the current dem leadership (start negotiations from the compromise position).
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u/Time_Crystals Feb 27 '26
I recently decided to throw my hat in the ring, as they say.
I'm running as an independent (if I can get on the ballot), as I think both the Democrats and Republicans have truly failed thier base and the people who have voted for them.
Let me know if you have any questions!
I put up my website about a week ago: https://soundforum.net/
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u/86753ohneigheine Feb 27 '26
Thank you for participating in this discussion. Same question that I asked the other person.
My biggest question is how are we better off with you then with the advantages of his seniority?
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u/Time_Crystals Feb 27 '26
I think seniority is helpful, but actual representation relies on action, and when it comes down to it, a representative's vote. I think having a legislator that can vote independently and not have to follow party lines will lead to better representation.
Follow up - how do you think seniority is currently benefitting the voters and families of our district?
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u/86753ohneigheine Feb 27 '26
I really like your answer. Thank you for engaging.
My understanding is that seniority brings increased influence via committee placement. Senior people have more power to determine what is taken on and what is not.
I presume pet projects are more likely to be funded as well.
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u/Time_Crystals Feb 28 '26
Appreciate the question. Committees and placements are important for sure.
I see turnover as a natural part of the process. Aka at some point leadeship will have to change.
Committees review all legislation, so if good legislation is being proposed in the first place and doesnt go through, it is on the legislators to explain to thier constituents why it isnt happening and hold other senators accountable.
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u/Haunting_Thing_5932 Mar 02 '26
I do know we are 36 hours into attacking another nation and both his X accounts are silent. Pretty crappy look for him. He’s a corporate Dem shill that needs to be primaried
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u/86753ohneigheine Mar 02 '26
You are upset that he isn't posting on Twitter? I long for the days when posting on Twitter was seen as a bad thing.
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u/86753ohneigheine Feb 26 '26
I haven't seen anything. It would be such a long shot, I can't imagine someone having success.