If you were trying to figure out where to spend your limited political donation dollars this year, one way you can't go wrong is to support the Democratic candidates in crucial races for the U.S. Senate who have a proven record of repeatedly performing much better than the average Democrat. That way, you know your donation dollars are going to candidates who know how to win voters that most other Democrats cannot.
Looking at the crucial races that will determine control of the U.S. Senate, there are three candidates who fit this bill:
Sherrod Brown in Ohio. In his four races for Senate, Sherrod Brown outperformed the average Democrat share by 4.3 points in 2006, 3.0 points in 2012, 10.0 in 2018, and 7.5 points in 2024. For decades, Brown has proven that his populist, down-to-earth, working class style is far more effective than the average Democrat.
Mary Peltola in Alaska. In both of her runs for Congress in Alaska–she won in 2022 and narrowly lost in 2024–Pelolta outperformed national Democratic ticket by about ten points. Peltola, a native Alaska whose motto is "family, fish and freedom," appeals to Alaskans in a way that few, if any, other Democrats could ever match.
Josh Turek in Iowa. Turek, who survived 21 surgeries by the age of 12 to go on and win two gold medals in wheelchair basketball for Team USA, represents the reddest seat in Iowa currently held by a Democrat. This is a seat that hasn't voted for a Democrat since 1968, but Turek won it, twice, and in bad years for Democrats at that (2022 and 2024).
Brown, Peltola and Turek have all repeatedly proven they can get people to vote for Democrats that very few others can. As such, you know that any donation you make to them is not being wasted on ineffective messaging or consultants, or on unproven strategic theories.
Please, split a donation of $10 between Sherrod Brown, Mary Peltola, Josh Turek and Bowers Kerbel Media. Instead of just guessing which candidates will use your donation dollars more effectively, support three candidates who have repeatedly proven they perform much better than the average Democrat on Election Day.
Note: The amounts you give to each entity can be adjusted. Bowers Kerbel Media is the two-person, reader-supported, pro-democracy and pro-Democratic organization that runs both the Bowers News Media news and activism email list and the Wolves and Sheep informed political analysis and practical life advice Substack. We aim to help you make a difference without driving you crazy.