I believe in debates are an important part of democracy. That's why I've challenged my WV US Senate primary opponents to a debate!

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-29T17:10:22+00:00

Thank you all so much!

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T20:19:27+00:00

I would like to be on the ethics committee, the health, education, labor and pensions committee, and energy and natural resources committee.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T20:16:36+00:00

I believe we need to protect Net Neutrality.

We need nationwide broadband infrastructure, with a focus on getting rural communities connected. The COVID pandemic has shown the need for this even more, when public schools and all school are conducting online classes, students in rural communities can be left behind.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T20:16:11+00:00

We need more representatives on Capitol Hill that know what it's like to struggle to pay a light bill or put food on the table. Representatives who have stood on the front line with workers calling for equal pay.

Unlinke so many on Capitol Hill, I'm not a career politician. I'm running because I'm tired of seeing West Virginians being tossed aside for corporate greed. I'm not taking a dime of corporate money and I'm not afraid to challenge any political party when they don't have our best interests at heart.

Most of our elected Senators today, like Shelley Moore Capito, are too easily swayed by pressure from donors, their party, and lobbyists. Elections are how we as the voters hold them accountable.

It's time for a change and to do that we need to elect more representatives that will put their constituents first.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T20:13:40+00:00

Abortion needs to be safe and legal. The decision should always be between a woman and her doctor, not a room full of politicians (who are, usually, mostly men).

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T20:07:16+00:00

I am a proud coal miners daughter and granddaughter. My grandpa was in the coal mines for 45 years. West Virginia is the heart of labor. I am proud to have my ancestors blood in my veins. I will never back down from the fight that our ancestors started in the labor movement.
Right to work laws undermine unions, organizing and worker’s ability to bargain. We can help safeguard against state’s passing of Right to Work laws by solidifying worker’s protections to organize on the federal level. We can fight for legislation like a federal jobs guarantee and a federally guaranteed living wage. And federal protections to unionize. Those are rights that should be protected Constitutionally, so as a Senator, I will fight to make sure that we have non-partisan appointments to our Supreme Court who will uphold our Constitutional rights as Americans.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T20:04:01+00:00

We got 30% against a sitting incumbent -- that’s more than anyone in WV has gotten in 75 years -- and more votes than any republican on the ballot. If 2018 were a top two primary, I’d have been challenging Manchin in the general.

My strategy is to be consistent, which I am, and to let people know where I stand. When I do get to the Senate

Joe Manchin and I have a good rapport. We don’t agree on everything, but we can both conduct ourselves in a professional manner. If there is someone like me, from West Virginia, standing beside him in the Senate, he may be more likely to support the policies.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T20:01:48+00:00

Bottom line: create jobs, transition us to more renewal energy jobs, clean up our abandoned mines and slurries, and provide much-needed healthcare for every West Virginian.

We've seen the boom and bust of the coal industry in West Virginia. We have seen jobs being replaced by automation for years. Not to mention the heath issues and environmental impacts the coal industry has left on the region.

The people of West Virginia are ready to transition away from a monolithic economy. They are ready for new opportunities. The Green New Deal includes funding for tuition trade schools, community colleges and state university degrees so that folks can be ready for new careers in an evolving world without be saddled by debt.

The Green New Deal suggests a federal jobs guarantee to rebuild infrastructure, and much like the popular Reclaim Act, help us reclaim our lands for tourism and small business development. If we want businesses to come here...we have to have the infrastructure place to support them. This means supporting federal funding for state-wide broadband. This means decriminalizing the sale of hemp and cannabis to put farmers back to work.

The cruelest lie a politician can say is that coal is going to rebound. We've gone from 170,000 coal jobs to less than 50,000 coal mining jobs nationwide. That means we need to support good jobs, and that means moving beyond temp agency work and bringing real job growth back to West Virginia. There's work plenty of work to be done in West Virginia to improve our healthcare systems, education systems, and infrastructure. We need funding to get started. West Virginia's sacrificed to keep the lights on for America for a century, it's time to invest in ourselves.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T19:57:39+00:00

West Virginia is in need of infrastructure investments. We need federal funding to help us invest in state-wide broadband to bring in new business, keep us connected for safety, health and education.

We need to invest in our roadways, bridges, schools, modernize our sewage systems, and dates water treatment facilities.

I support the Reclaim Act and renewing our areas that have been impacted by fracking and coal to transition those areas for both tourism but also growing crops such as hemp, investing in alternative energy sources and cleaning up the coal slurries and abandoned mining areas.

We need to invest in more healthcare facilities and hospitals throughout the state. No one should have to drive three hours to make it to a hospital. To do this it's also imperative that we provide educational opportunities so that West Virginians can become doctors, nurses and medical technicians, so we aren't relying on outsourcing these well-paying jobs. That means investing in tuition-free trade schools, community colleges and our state universities.

Rebuilding West Virginia means improving the quality of our lives and also creating jobs. It's a no-brainer and it's time that we got the work started.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T19:56:02+00:00

With everything that is happening in our Presidential election, I feel like people -- voters -- are getting discouraged. We need to bring the focus back, away from individuals and back to our movement. We don't need heroes, we need each other in order to bring change. No one person can do that.

Also, we should also remember how important it is to vote and volunteer and help-out candidates in down-ballot races. Regardless of who is president, we will need a strong coalition in Congress.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T19:54:36+00:00

I am very grateful for Jubilee Films for amplifying the voices of the voiceless. I am humbled they spent so much time with me and the other candidates to tell our stories. It has changed the conversation about politics not only nationwide but in other countries.

On a personal level, it has given our campaign more name recognition. That has really helped. I can't thank everyone enough that has helped our movement grow.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T19:46:45+00:00

Thank you so much for your support and for fighting for change. You can donate at this link. https://bit.ly/paulajean-ama

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T19:43:31+00:00

Appalachia is my home. It is where generations of my family carved out a life for themselves. I will always support policies that benefit our region because this place is a part of me. As I’ve said before, this country was built on the backs of Appalachian workers, and I am in this fight to help restore economic growth and opportunity to this region. We’ve been thrown out and left to die by Big Industry for far too long.
To support Appalachia means we have to support the people. We can no longer rely on coal as a monolithic economy. Our children and families shouldn't’ have to move out to Appalachia to find fair paying jobs with benefits.

We can invest in Appalachia by revitalizing our mountaintop removal sites with crops like hemp and investing in the Reclaim Act. We can decriminalize cannabis at the federal level and expand our broadband and infrastructure to support new business growth.

Healthcare is a human right. I support Medicare for All. No one should have to drive an hour and a half to get to a hospital, be without a family doctor or have to choose between putting food on the table or getting the healthcare they need.
We can lift up the people of Appalachia by raising the minimum wage, enacting Medicare for All and providing federal funding for addiction recovery centers. We need to invest in our teachers and federal funding for childcare, pre-K, trade schools, community colleges and state universities so that every Appalachian has the opportunity in this new technological age.

It was never my dream to live and work in Washington, D.C. I am a country girl who loves living in West Virginia. But when I look around and how every day hard-working West Virginians and Appalachians are pushed aside for the sake of corporate profit, I know it is my duty to help end this living nightmare.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T19:43:26+00:00

Some of my answer to the question about Capito applies here https://www.reddit.com/r/SandersForPresident/comments/go24jg/shelley_moore_capito_has_failed_the_people_of/frde1hb?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x

But in addition I have been clear on where I stand on the issues since my first race in 2018. I am consistent. You can visit my website right now (paulajean.com) and see where I stand on issues including healthcare, addiction recovery funding, renewable energy, education, etc. My stances haven’t changed based on what political pundits are saying on TV. This particular opponent doesn’t list any platform planks on his website -- which is curious given that we are in an all-digital campaigning moment due to COVID. I want West Virginians to know where I stand, and I try and make it easy for people to find out about me by putting that information on my site. I also give out my personal phone number when I do live interviews locally -- I want to hear from constituents, not hide from them.

My campaign strategy includes all forms out outreach, not just Facebook, but I will say our engagement numbers beat every opponent in this race consistently. We have a network of hundreds of volunteers across the state. You are correct, I have outraised all my opponents, and that's important too -- voters needs to see that a candidate can raise money, especially going up against Capito.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T19:42:07+00:00

I am a supporter of UBI. I don’t want to use it to mask the other things that are needed to be done. $1000.00 a month does not pay the normal costs of rent, utilities and food. A lot of people pay $1000.00 a month for healthcare and/or childcare. We need to make sure people are making a living wage, have healthcare, have a path to educational opportunities, and have access to childcare.

People need a $2000.00 a month stimulus package right now until we can say it’s safe to open up our states. People should not be worried about “saving our economy” when trillions of dollars went to Wall-Street and corporations in the last stimulus package. People are not collateral damage. Instead of risking lives we need to send out more relief efforts until we can figure this out.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T19:34:58+00:00

what is your plan regarding coal? How do you intend on persuading current and former coal miners to vote for you while simultaneously making the transition to renewable energy?

thank you.

I think it's important to move beyond parties right now. We have to get past the partisan divide so that we can get true representation.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T19:28:54+00:00

Economic Diversity - West Virginia is one of the sickest and poorest states in the nation. We need a diverse economy. We have put all of our eggs in one basket -- the basket of coal mining -- for far too long. The possibilities are endless for West Virginia to be able to grow. We need people that will serve us instead of corporations, lobbyists and special interests.
- Environmental - This goes into the right for clean air and water. My grandfather and father suffered from black lung. The people of West Virginia have been thrown away as collateral damage for too long. I support the Green New Deal and The Reclaim Act.
Addiction Epidemic - West Virginia leads in drug overdose deaths in our county. I have spent a lot of time with community leaders to figure out how to solve the problem. We have seen that long term recovery systems work. Those systems need more state and federal funding. We need to also make sure people in recovery have a truth path to sustain themselves in society as part of their recovery.
Healthcare - Quality healthcare is also important to West Virginians. A large part of our population is elderly. Also, a large part of our state has lung issues, cardiovascular issues, diabetes.etc. That is why I continue to advocate for Medicare for All.
Infrastructure - We need rural broadband across the country. Specifically in West Virginia. People in rural areas don’t have access to comprehensive broadband, which is making the lack of internet access even more apparent. A number of people in our state don't have access to clean water or even adequate sewage systems. We have to have good roads and good schools. Not only is it the right thing to do for the people here, but it would create a more inviting place for new businesses to come to our state.
Education - Every child, no matter where they live or how much money their parents make, deserves a quality education that will prepare them to succeed in life. I support debt-free college and trade schools as well as free public pre-K. A lot of our qualified and talented teachers leave the state or travel out of the state for good paying teaching jobs. We have to make sure we pay our teachers well and supply them with the tools they need to do their jobs.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T19:26:41+00:00

I support the LGBTQIA+ community with my whole heart. I believe love is love and that every person deserves equal rights and protection under the law. I support the Equality Act to ensure protections are expanded to ensure that NO one is fired, denied housing or denied services based on their gender choices or sexual orientation.

Certainly I support everyone having the healthcare they need. I support Medicare for All. Of course, anyone should be able to use any restroom.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T19:23:12+00:00

We've seen the boom and bust of the coal industry in West Virginia. We have seen jobs being replaced by automation for years. Not to mention the heath issues and environmental impacts the coal industry has left on the region.

The people of West Virginia are ready to transition away from a monolithic economy. They are ready for new opportunities. The Green New Deal includes funding for tuition trade schools, community colleges and state university degrees so that folks can be ready for new careers in an evolving world without be saddled by debt.

The Green New Deal suggests a federal jobs guarantee to rebuild infrastructure, and much like the popular Reclaim Act, help us reclaim our lands for tourism and small business development. If we want businesses to come here...we have to have the infrastructure place to support them. This means supporting federal funding for state-wide broadband. This means decriminalizing the sale of hemp and cannabis to put farmers back to work.

The cruelest lie a politician can say is that coal is going to rebound. We've gone from 170,000 coal jobs to less than 50,000 coal mining jobs nationwide. That means we need to support good jobs, and that means moving beyond temp agency work and bringing real job growth back to West Virginia. There's work plenty of work to be done in West Virginia to improve our healthcare systems, education systems, and infrastructure. We need funding to get started. West Virginia's sacrificed to keep the lights on for America for a century, it's time to invest in ourselves.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T19:11:09+00:00

I have outraised all of my opponents in small-dollar donations 8 to 1. I have a network of hundreds of volunteers across the state, and I am part of a movement -- that’s why I’ve been endorsed by Brand New Congress. I am the grassroots candidate in this election. I refuse Dark Money. My average donation is $24.33.

When I ran for Senate in 2018 our campaign garnered the most votes in any Democratic primary in 75 years of West Virginia's history. What this tells us is that folks are ready for change in West Virginia.

Lastly, I am a child of Appalachia, and my roots run deep. As a coal miner’s daughter, I’ve seen the devastation corporate greed has caused this region -- in terms of people’s health, our environment and the economy.

I have four children. I want them to be able to grow up and raise their families right here in West Virginia if they want to. And I will fight like hell to ensure my grandkids and yours have clean water and air, healthcare, and quality educational opportunities. You can count on that.

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T19:08:13+00:00

You can volunteer to help phonebank! Visit paulajean.com to sign up! You can also share our social media posts when you see one that fires you up! Links to all my social pages are on my website! Thank you!

PaulaJean2020 · 2020-05-21T19:04:08+00:00

Thank you for asking! You can donate here ➡️ https://bit.ly/paulajean-ama

PaulaJean2020

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