Darcy Burner: Could the third time be the charm?

An “Air Force brat”, Darcy Burner grew up in a suitcase. However she is fond of saying, “…Washington State was an anchor for us. My dad’s family lives in Rochester (just south of Olympia), and we came here every summer of my childhood.” After she graduated from high school in Nebraska she earned a BA in computer science with a special field of economics. Both during and after college, Darcy worked in the software industry; ultimately as a group program manager at Microsoft.

In 2006 and again in 2008, Darcy challenged incumbent Republican congressman, Dave Reichert in the 8th Congressional District. She came very close on both occasions but the 8th held firm to its record of only electing Republicans. Since 2008, Darcy has been active in Progressive politics as President and Executive Director of ProgressiveCongress.org, a non-profit based in Washington, D.C. that works with the Congressional Progressive Caucus on public health, civil rights, education, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity. She and her husband, Mike, live on the Eastside with their 8 year old son, Henry, and their dog Bruce.

I have had a couple of opportunities to meet Darcy over the years at various political events. She is very bright and knowledgeable. I recently emailed her a few questions about the race for the 1st CD.

Examiner: First I have to know why you are so confident that the new congressional district lines will place you in the 1st CD and out of the 8th. If the lines should actually place you in the new 10th CD, will you seek that seat instead?

Darcy: The key for me isn't what number they assign to the district, but the people I'm hoping to represent -- centered around my amazing neighbors on the Eastside. In the old districts, those folks were split between the 8th and the 1st. Our best guess is that they'll end up consolidated into the newly-drawn 1st district, but whatever number the commissioners assign to the district, that's who I'm running to represent.

Examiner: Obviously, with an open seat on the line there are quite a few candidates lining up for the nomination. What is it that you believe sets you apart or makes you the most qualified to fill the seat?

Darcy: If they draw the lines as we expect they will, then the 1st CD will be a pretty Democratic district. It's not going to be all that hard to send a good progressive vote from such a district -- and several of the people running are my friends and people I've supported in their races in the past. The problem is that it's not going to be enough for us to send someone who will vote the right way when our Congress is too broken to function: we need to send someone who will actually work to fix Congress -- which is a harder problem.

My work in the last couple of years was centered around fixing some of the institutional issues of Congress. At Progressive Congress, we worked to strengthen the policy expertise of Congressional staff, we provided the only news clipping service optimized for Congress, we hosted groundbreaking planning summits, and we took members of Congress around the country to meet with people struggling in this economy who have not otherwise had a real voice. We even convened the coalition that worked on Senate filibuster reform in 2010 and 2011. I got to see up close exactly *how* Congress is broken, and I've spent a lot of time working out what it will take to fix it.

Many of the reforms that are needed to fix Congress are straightforward and achievable, but they require someone who will work to actually fix the institution. That's why I decided to run.

Examiner: What will be your top 3 priorities if you are elected?

Darcy:

1) Fix Congress so that it will work for the American people again.

2) Fix our economy so that it, too, works for the American people again. In particular, I want to ensure that innovative businesses which have driven our economy here can get the investment they need to get started and to grow -- both in the early stages and through the IPO process. We have more Microsofts and Amazons and Boeings and Flukes waiting to happen here, but the broken economy is keeping them from growing in the ways they should.

3) Deal very aggressively with climate change. We need to dramatically reduce carbon emissions, and I think at the same time the magnitude of the problem requires that we figure out what mitigation strategies might work to repair some of the damage already done.

Examiner: You are certainly considered among the most progressive of the candidates seeking this seat. Your recent work with ProgressiveCongress.org and the Congressional Progressive Caucus speak clearly to this point. How do you feel a Progressive agenda will resonate with the voters in the 1st CD?

Darcy: The things I'm fighting for are things that resonate with the vast majority of the voters I'm talking to: that people who work hard and play by the rules have a chance to do well; that we should make sure that our grandchildren and great-grandchildren should get to enjoy the amazing planet we enjoy; that we should keep the promises we've made to veterans and retirees; that we should treat everyone fairly whatever their skin color, gender, or religion; that we should invest in our future just as previous generations invested to get us to this point.

Examiner: In both of your previous runs in the 8th CD you were known as the “darling of the blogosphere.” I have yet to see that same fire burning this time around. First, do you think that the perception of being an “internet candidate” helped or hurt you in the past and second, will you be courting those bloggers and other liberal pundits in this race?

Darcy: In the last decade, the nature of politics in our country has changed so that more and more people can meaningfully participate. When anyone can comment or post on a political blog, make a contribution to a candidate they like, learn what candidates stand for, and advocate for the things they believe in, our democracy is strengthened. I remain a huge believer in people-powered politics -- in the kind of small 'd' democracy Abraham Lincoln referred to as "government of the people, by the people, and for the people." I've been thrilled by the opportunities to engage more and more people in our political process, and I think that engaging people through email or blogs or in-person house parties or debates or at their doors are all good.

I'm confident we'll be engaging thousands of people in this year's race again. It's early -- I've been in the race for about 6 weeks -- but we have already had more than a thousand people pitch in to help out, people making phone calls and talking to voters and donating. The race is being discussed on local blogs, in the local press, and nationally. I think at the end of the day, opening the door and giving people a meaningful way to participate and make a difference is the key.

Examiner: Finally, you obviously know the current Democratic congressional delegation from Washington State. Many of them campaigned alongside you in your previous runs (this would include Jay Inslee). Have you spoken with any of them about your current race and, if so, have they offered you any advice or encouragement. In particular, has Jay offered you any insight to the 1st CD?

Darcy: The entire Democratic delegation has been fantastically supportive in the past. I did call them all prior to announcing and have received nothing but positive feedback. They're obviously happy to let the voters of the 1st CD choose their nominee -- as they well should -- but I feel really good about the feedback I've gotten. And I think I can safely say that (along with all of my fellow Democratic candidates in this race), I'm eager for Jay to be our next governor and I'll enthusiastically do whatever I can to help make that happen.