A brief D.C. report for all from MN-02 and from Arizona (and anyone interested in the House or the Senate)
My brother and I had the pleasure of meeting today in Washington with Rep. (and future Senator, we hope!) Rubén Gallego from Arizona and Rep. Angie Craig from Minnesota.
First, meeting with Gallego. Rubén is a nice, personable guy, who, as an ex-marine, knows plenty about military matters, but about foreign relations as well. A realist, he knows that if he wins, there is probably no chance the Senate Armed Services Committee would seat TWO Senators from Arizona, but he is eying Finance and Foreign Relations, in which case, your truly might be playing an unofficial (or not?) role as a boots-on-the-ground advisor for Europe. He knows how to listen, and I think he would grow in the role. Not that Kari Lake should even be considered a serious alternative, but Republican/Russian money will pour into that race, so his Senate seat will need to be fought for. The good news is that he is taking nothing for granted. He asked when I would next be in the States with some free time, and I August. He said he'd have to campaigning then, but I was welcome to come have dinner with him in Arizona if I wanted to. Arizona in August doesn't seem like my idea of the way to spend a free day, but for him, I might do it, especially if Mark and Gabby are around, although I'd expect them to be in Tucson, where Rubén would be in or near Phoenix.
What to say about Angie Craig? I adore this woman! I am already married to a woman I adore, and Angie is also married to a woman she adores, but for her, I think I'd make an exception! Fear not, no chance of that. But she is REALLY smart, like Obama-level smart. She thinks quickly on her feet, is really personable, and I'm betting looks good when on camera. She is well-versed on a good number of subjects, and wants to learn more. She had some discouraging words about Al Franken in 2017, before she saw what a scam it was that was done to him, and regrets them (not like a certain Vice-President I know). I'm sure she'd like to keep her seat in the House for a while (unless Smith or Klobuchar retires from the Senate), although if we have a really solid-looking nominee for President in 2028, a really sly search committee could do much worse than to consider her for VP.
As Angie's district contains some conservative rural areas, Angie knew from the beginning that she'd have to find a way to break the ice with them if she were to be elected from such a district. Originally from small-town Arkansas, she went right up to those conservative farmers and small town people and asked them what was on their minds. When some of the men told her they were having a hard time of it, and frankly with their family lives because of it, she showed them sympathy, and said she knew how hard it was sometimes being married to a woman, since she was married to a woman as well. What a great line! She said it worked every time, and it got some of these people to see beyond sexual orientation as a "them-us" barrier. A journalism student originally, she has also lived in England for a few years. My brother, usually more reserved than I am, called her a "firecracker," and he usually reserves such judgments only for things that have fuses and go bang when you light them.
The House was very busy with all the budget wrangling today, so I knew that both Reps were doing me a favor to take the time to meet up. Both meetings with my brother and me were jangled around, time-wise, at the last minute. Angie even invited us to join her at the National Democratic Club on Ivy Street. We didn't have time to stay for dinner, but when I saw the menu afterward, I regretted it mightily!! Do NOT accept invitations to go there unless you are either staying for a meal, or else just had one!
Rubén is 44, and Angie is 52. These are the people we need to look to for the next generation of leaders. I don't know if Rubén has his sights set higher than the Senate, but the DNC would be doing itself a disservice if it overlooked Angie Craig for higher office.
