Politico recently declared, "The Senate is about to become a liberal lion’s den." 

In 2012, groups like the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, MoveOn.org, CREDO Action, and Democracy for America worked hard to build progressive power in Congress. This week's iconic photo of Senators-elect Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) walking together down the corridors of power is symbolic of the rising progressive tide. 

With the open seat, Dr. Taj has a more than favorable chance to win. His opponent is Kerry Bentivolio, reindeer rancher, failed business owner and part-time actor who has never held elected office. He has strong ties to libertarian financiers and Tea Party activists but has been ostracized by the Republican Party establishment, having taken large donations from Liberty for All Super PAC, affiliated with Ron Paul.

Endorsements are a funny thing. Most of them aren't worth anything at all. I have two friends running in the Democratic primary in Arizona's brand new 9th CD, Kyrsten Sinema and Andrei Cherny. Kyrsten is a progressive and Andrei is somewhere in his own world ideologically. But the third guy... well, he's the one who's been endorsed by Raúl-- and by PDA. Whomever wins the August 28th primary is, likelier than not, headed to Congress. That third guy is David Schapira, the Senate Democratic Leader.

Progressive Democrats of America have added NC 11 congressional candidate Cecil Bothwell to their national slate. Bothwell joins other PDA endorsees including candidates Norman Solomon (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Winona Benally Baldenegro (D-AZ), Wayne Powell (D-VA), Eric Griego (D-NM), and incumbents Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA). Bothwell said, "I am proud to be in such good company!"

Ronald Reagan's "welfare queen" myth has been strenuously discredited, but another counterexample never hurts - especially when she's spent 20 years on Capitol Hill. Before she ran for office, Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-California) spent years raising her three children on her own and with the support of public assistance.