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Democracy in the Balance

Melynda Dovel Wilcox

Short profiles of downballot candidates for whom your small donation can flip a seat from red to blue.

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PricingOnly free issuesPublishesWeekly
Issues107Founded4 years agoLast Issue6 days ago
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Artwork for Democracy in the Balance

Latest Issues

Manny Rutinel

Who: Manny Rutinel

Where: CO-08

Why: Chances are good that you had never heard of Manny Rutinel before my August 6 post in which I included him as one of five U.S. House candidates where small donations could have the biggest impact. Ruti...

6 days ago
1

Katy Padilla Stout

Katy Padilla Stout is a San Antonio attorney and child welfare advocate who is running to flip the U.S. House seat in Texas’ 23rd district. Her law practice focuses on representing children in the foster care system, so she sees first-hand...

12 days ago
2

Nathan Johnson

Even though Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico is raking in the cash, other Democratic prospects in downballot races in Texas are far behind their Republican counterparts. With Trump’s favorability ratings underwater in Texas, espec...

14 days ago
1

Alisa Simmons

Anyone who thinks that Texas Republicans care about fair elections is—as they say in Texas—all hat and no cattle. As the race tightens between Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico and his opponent, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxt...

16 days ago

Quick Take on Red-to-Blue House Candidates

Composition of the U.S. House of Representatives as of August 5, 2026

A reader wrote to me recently: “I have a sum of money that I’d like to spread across five House candidates. Whom should I choose?” It’s a great question. There are so ma...

a month ago
2

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  • Melynda Dovel Wilcox

    Former journalist Melynda Dovel Wilcox identifies and profiles downballot candidates in close, consequential races where your small donation can flip seats from red to blue. She personally contributes to each candidate she profiles.

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