Democrat Maria Jukic is challenging Republican Congressman Dave Joyce in Ohio’s newly redrawn 14th Congressional District. But can any Democrat overcome the district’s enormous Republican advantage?

Matt Diemer examines the candidates, the new congressional map, campaign finances, policy positions, and the political reality facing Jukic in November.

Dave Joyce has served in Congress since 2013 and reportedly holds approximately $3.1 million in campaign cash. Jukic, a former Euclid City Council member, has approximately $33,000 available. The financial difference is substantial, but the district’s Republican lean may be an even greater obstacle.

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Ohio counties can sell delinquent property-tax debt to private investors, giving counties immediate revenue while leaving struggling homeowners to deal with interest, fees, and the possibility of foreclosure. I sat down with Jasson Farrier, the Ohio Housing Nerd, to break down how Ohio’s tax-certificate system works, why a relatively small delinquency can become a much larger debt, and what this means for homeowners across the state. 

We also discuss the scale of Ohio’s property-tax problem, the Supreme Court’s recent Pung v. Isabella County decision, and Ohio House Bill 493, which could restrict future tax-certificate sales involving owner-occupied homes. The bigger question: should counties be able to turn a homeowner’s financial hardship into an investment opportunity for a private company? 

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Did Congressman Max Miller try to enter the Cuyahoga County Fair with two other people without paying admission?

Matt Diemer and Laura discuss an allegation sent to Matt by someone claiming to have direct knowledge of what happened at the fair. According to the tip, Miller allegedly expected free admission because he is a member of Congress.

The allegation has not been independently verified. We did not contact Miller, his campaign or the Cuyahoga County Fair for confirmation. We are discussing what was reported to Matt and why the incident, if accurate, creates terrible public perception for an elected official.

Matt also received an allegation involving Ohio State Representative David Morgan. By contrast, Democratic State Representative Sean Brennan reportedly paid the general admission price without an issue. Brian Poindexter, who is running against Miller, was also said to have paid for admission.

The entire situation seems unnecessary. Miller reportedly has more than $1.2 million in his campaign account, and admission connected to campaign activity may potentially qualify as a campaign expense if handled in accordance with campaign-finance rules.

Matt and Laura discuss whether this was entitlement, a misunderstanding, concern about campaign expenses or simply an unverified political story designed to embarrass Miller.

Even if the allegation is true, this is not a major scandal. It is stupid, petty and completely avoidable.

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Ohio Congressman Max Miller publicly released hundreds of private messages, recordings, photographs, and court-related documents while attempting to defend himself against allegations made by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno.

The Dropbox folder included private information about their two-year-old daughter and an unredacted image showing her undressed. Moreno’s lawsuit alleges that the image showed the child’s genitalia. Miller and his attorney dispute that characterization, but attorney Aaron Minc acknowledged that the image should never have been released and accepted responsibility for the error.

Matt Diemer and Laura Rodriguez-Carbone examine how such sensitive material reached the internet, whether Miller adequately reviewed what he released, and why he has not taken more personal responsibility as the child’s father.

They also discuss the important distinction between an irresponsible disclosure and an intentional effort to exploit a child. The release was reckless and avoidable, but that does not establish that Miller intentionally distributed sexual material involving his daughter.

Emily Moreno is now suing Miller and Minc, seeking damages for the alleged disclosure. Miller denies the underlying abuse allegations and says the photograph has been taken out of context.

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How did Francesca Hong lose Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor after leading David Crowley by 31 points in the final Marquette poll?

Matt Diemer and Laura Rodriguez-Carbone examine Crowley’s extraordinary campaign comeback, his endorsement from outgoing Gov. Tony Evers, the financial collapse of Sara Rodriguez’s campaign, millions in outside spending, and the absence of endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

But Democratic establishment involvement is only part of the explanation. Matt and Laura debate Hong’s campaign decisions, her past comments about Thanksgiving and policing, and whether progressive candidates sometimes weaken popular economic policies with language that alienates voters they need to win.

The discussion then turns to the larger challenge facing Democrats: how to fight for universal healthcare, working people, public education, and economic reform while building a broad coalition that is comfortable with patriotism and proud to carry the American flag.

The episode closes with a warning about political polling. Hong finished almost exactly where Marquette’s final poll placed her. The poll’s major failure was David Crowley, who rose from 7% to nearly 40% after several candidates withdrew and Democratic leaders consolidated behind him.

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The Democratic establishment spent heavily trying to stop Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan. Democratic voters chose him anyway.

Matt Diemer and Laura Rodriguez-Carbone examine El-Sayed’s narrow victory over Haley Stevens, the outside spending that flooded Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, Chuck Schumer’s declining influence, AIPAC’s role, and what the result says about the growing power of progressives and the Democratic Socialists of America.

They also discuss Donavan McKinney and William Lawrence winning Michigan congressional primaries, Cori Bush losing her comeback campaign against Wesley Bell, and Third Way’s planned $15 million effort to counter the DSA through 2028.

Then the conversation turns to Ohio, where Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton announced her support for Issue 3, the Republican-backed constitutional voter ID amendment. Ohio already requires photo identification to vote, raising questions about why Acton supports putting those requirements into the state Constitution and whether she is repeating Tim Ryan’s failed strategy of adopting Republican positions to attract voters who may never cross party lines.

Are Democratic voters moving left, rejecting incumbents, or simply demanding candidates who accomplish something? And how much money will Democratic organizations waste trying to control the answer?

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Is the DNC already shaping the 2028 Democratic presidential primary?

The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee has proposed placing South Carolina first in the 2028 Democratic primary calendar, followed by Nevada and New Hampshire. Matt Diemer and Laura Rodriguez-Carbone examine how that decision could influence which presidential candidates gain momentum and which campaigns struggle to survive.

Laura applies five political “filters” to the potential 2028 Democratic field, including access to South Carolina’s political network, ideological positioning, appeal in states Donald Trump won, the party’s apparent candidate preferences, and growing Democratic opposition to AIPAC.

The discussion covers Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Andy Beshear, Jon Ossoff, Mark Kelly, Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, Wes Moore, Josh Shapiro, Gretchen Whitmer, Ro Khanna, Jim Clyburn, the DSA, progressive Democrats, and the divide between Democratic voters and the party establishment.

Is South Carolina going first about representing the Democratic coalition, or is the party putting its thumb on the scale? And could AOC and the progressive movement disrupt the establishment’s strategy?

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Why have Democratic donors stopped trusting the DNC?

Matt Diemer and Laura Rodriguez-Carbone examine the Democratic National Committee’s financial crisis, including its decision to use its Washington headquarters as collateral for a $15 million line of credit. As of June 30, the DNC reported approximately $18.5 million in debt and $16.3 million in cash, while the Republican National Committee reported approximately $128.5 million in cash and no debt.

But the problem is larger than one loan. Matt and Laura discuss wasteful campaign spending, the fallout from the 2024 presidential election, Democratic consultants, billionaire political spending, primary endorsements, superdelegates, donor distrust, and the party’s habit of putting its thumb on the scale.

If Democrats cannot persuade their own voters and donors to trust the party, how can they compete with Republicans and billionaires capable of spending hundreds of millions of dollars on elections?

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#DNC #DemocraticParty #CampaignFinance

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Ohio Democrats say they are fighting for democracy, constitutional rights, transparency, and accountable government. But what happens when Democratic officials, candidates, and party organizations face criticism from their own side?

In Episode 2 of The Angry Democrats Podcast, Matt Diemer and Laura Rodriguez Carbone examine two controversies exposing a larger accountability problem inside Ohio’s Democratic Party.

First, they discuss Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton’s statement opposing transgender participation in girls’ sports, the response from the newly formed Ohio Democratic Progressive Caucus, and the Ohio Democratic Party’s reaction to members publicly criticizing the nominee.

The conversation is not limited to one policy disagreement. It raises a broader question: Can Democrats claim to defend democracy while discouraging dissent, debate, and free political expression within their own party?

Matt and Laura also examine political power in Cuyahoga County, including concerns about County Executive Chris Ronayne financially supporting candidates for County Council, the body responsible for overseeing the executive branch. The spending may be legal and publicly disclosed, but transparency alone does not eliminate a potential conflict between executive power and legislative oversight.

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