Ben Peck
@benpeck.bsky.social
(He/Him) transit & walkability advocate | USU and UofU Alum | Proud Union Member
Very disappointed people endorsing McAdams right after he announces and before most candidates have even declared.
When Natalie Pinkney ran the vast majority of Dem electeds had already endorsed her opponents before she announced. But she still won. And we can do that again.
When Natalie Pinkney ran the vast majority of Dem electeds had already endorsed her opponents before she announced. But she still won. And we can do that again.
November 16, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Very disappointed people endorsing McAdams right after he announces and before most candidates have even declared.
When Natalie Pinkney ran the vast majority of Dem electeds had already endorsed her opponents before she announced. But she still won. And we can do that again.
When Natalie Pinkney ran the vast majority of Dem electeds had already endorsed her opponents before she announced. But she still won. And we can do that again.
Reposted by Ben Peck
Progressive state Senator Nate Blouin strongly considering a run for new Utah Seat
November 11, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Progressive state Senator Nate Blouin strongly considering a run for new Utah Seat
Reposted by Ben Peck
Its like D+20 soo WelcomePAC very much jumped the gun
Breaking: Judge Gibson rejects the Legislature’s congressional boundaries. Chooses the plaintiffs Map 1. A solid northern SLCO district that strongly favors a Democrat.
November 11, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Its like D+20 soo WelcomePAC very much jumped the gun
Reposted by Ben Peck
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
so currently defectors are:
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Reposted by Ben Peck
Like I fucking said.
To repeat: I have studied a lot of cases of autocratization over the past 15 years. Wrote about them, taught about them, consulting about them.
I do not recall an opposition so apathetic, ignorant, and inept as the @democrats.org. They cling to their power, rather than fight for democracy. Shame.
I do not recall an opposition so apathetic, ignorant, and inept as the @democrats.org. They cling to their power, rather than fight for democracy. Shame.
November 10, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Like I fucking said.
If I had won the election to be the chair of the Utah Democratic Party I would be actively working with other members of the DNC to immediately censure the 8 Democrats who capitulated to Trump. I’d also draft a statement from the state party calling on Schumer to resign as leader. #utpol
November 10, 2025 at 4:25 AM
If I had won the election to be the chair of the Utah Democratic Party I would be actively working with other members of the DNC to immediately censure the 8 Democrats who capitulated to Trump. I’d also draft a statement from the state party calling on Schumer to resign as leader. #utpol
Reposted by Ben Peck
We got Trump 2.0 because voters didnt know how bad Trump is bad at governing because Dems intervened to help during Covid and Trump got credit.
Stop helping him.
Stop helping him.
"More than enough" Senate Democratic Caucus members to pass shutdown deal led by Shaheen, King and Hassan, source familiar with deal says
- CR through Jan. 30
- ACA bill vote on bill of Dems' choosing in December
- Minibus has RIF reversals and "protections" against them in future
- CR through Jan. 30
- ACA bill vote on bill of Dems' choosing in December
- Minibus has RIF reversals and "protections" against them in future
November 10, 2025 at 12:20 AM
We got Trump 2.0 because voters didnt know how bad Trump is bad at governing because Dems intervened to help during Covid and Trump got credit.
Stop helping him.
Stop helping him.
Reposted by Ben Peck
If you're looking for additional avenues:
- your state DNC reps
- your state Democratic party chair
If you start making it their problem, they'll start making it the electeds problem, too, because they don't want to catch strays
- your state DNC reps
- your state Democratic party chair
If you start making it their problem, they'll start making it the electeds problem, too, because they don't want to catch strays
If you’ve made your Senate calls, time to start calling Dem Congressional representatives (both D.C. & local numbers) and telling them not to accept anything the Senate sends down that doesn’t include ACA subsidies.
Personal stories help. Tell them how much caving will cost YOUR family.
Personal stories help. Tell them how much caving will cost YOUR family.
November 10, 2025 at 12:16 AM
If you're looking for additional avenues:
- your state DNC reps
- your state Democratic party chair
If you start making it their problem, they'll start making it the electeds problem, too, because they don't want to catch strays
- your state DNC reps
- your state Democratic party chair
If you start making it their problem, they'll start making it the electeds problem, too, because they don't want to catch strays
Reposted by Ben Peck
Shutting down the government is a big deal. People have been hurt in big ways as a result of the decision. To have that suffering be for nothing—to re-open the government without actually having protected people’s health insurance and economic well-being—is unconscionable.
November 9, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Shutting down the government is a big deal. People have been hurt in big ways as a result of the decision. To have that suffering be for nothing—to re-open the government without actually having protected people’s health insurance and economic well-being—is unconscionable.
Reposted by Ben Peck
I told my Senators that the message Senate Dems are sending is that if we vote for Democrats resoundingly in an election, they’ll promptly fold.
Is this what they want us to take from this?
Is this what they want us to take from this?
November 10, 2025 at 12:31 AM
I told my Senators that the message Senate Dems are sending is that if we vote for Democrats resoundingly in an election, they’ll promptly fold.
Is this what they want us to take from this?
Is this what they want us to take from this?
Reposted by Ben Peck
100% on #2
If Dems accept this deal, it will help the GOP cement the following ideas into the public conscience over the coming 4 weeks:
-Shutdown was Dems fault/responsibility
-They did it for nothing
-They caved to Trump
Having accepted responsibility, it will also cripple them in the follow up debate.
-Shutdown was Dems fault/responsibility
-They did it for nothing
-They caved to Trump
Having accepted responsibility, it will also cripple them in the follow up debate.
First, I will say this: never believe an Axios backed story with only a Thune test vote schedule.
That being said, for obvious reasons to anyone who sees my posts regularly, I don't think a deal is a good idea for Dems, but the rumored deal seems pretty poor even factoring in my priors against.
That being said, for obvious reasons to anyone who sees my posts regularly, I don't think a deal is a good idea for Dems, but the rumored deal seems pretty poor even factoring in my priors against.
November 10, 2025 at 1:04 AM
100% on #2
Reposted by Ben Peck
Im seeing a lot of arguments like this from colleagues in PoliSci
My view from working on autocracy is that Dems were winning on the biggest fight- making autocratization unpopular and now they're giving that up.
Those are the costs
My view from working on autocracy is that Dems were winning on the biggest fight- making autocratization unpopular and now they're giving that up.
Those are the costs
I’m not sure the benefits outweigh the costs, but this is a reasonable case that there are benefits to ending the shutdown.
I will probably get excommunicated from Bsky for saying that, but I can see a case for ending the shutdown now.
- Millions of civil servants did not get a salary for over a month, and millions are losing SNAP going into the holiday season.
- But, just as important...
- Millions of civil servants did not get a salary for over a month, and millions are losing SNAP going into the holiday season.
- But, just as important...
November 10, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Im seeing a lot of arguments like this from colleagues in PoliSci
My view from working on autocracy is that Dems were winning on the biggest fight- making autocratization unpopular and now they're giving that up.
Those are the costs
My view from working on autocracy is that Dems were winning on the biggest fight- making autocratization unpopular and now they're giving that up.
Those are the costs
Reposted by Ben Peck
I wish I could say this would be ammo for all of these folks to be removed. But I'm more and more concerned that the Democratic Party as an institutional vehicle is beyond functional repair. And when that bleeds over badly enough, the party will become a worthless electoral vehicle.
November 10, 2025 at 1:09 AM
I wish I could say this would be ammo for all of these folks to be removed. But I'm more and more concerned that the Democratic Party as an institutional vehicle is beyond functional repair. And when that bleeds over badly enough, the party will become a worthless electoral vehicle.
Reposted by Ben Peck
The centrists in the Senate Democratic caucus saw that the country was rallying to the party in the 2025 elections and resolved that they would do anything they could to kill that momentum.
November 10, 2025 at 12:52 AM
The centrists in the Senate Democratic caucus saw that the country was rallying to the party in the 2025 elections and resolved that they would do anything they could to kill that momentum.
Reposted by Ben Peck
“We won the thing we were legally owed” take a victory lap Dems, absolutely killing it
One of the talking points I keep seeing from Democrats is that part of the deal is that it will "ensure federal workers receive back pay" but that's the existing law!
That's not something you've won in negotiations. That's just the letter of the law. You don't get to claim that as a win.
That's not something you've won in negotiations. That's just the letter of the law. You don't get to claim that as a win.
November 10, 2025 at 1:19 AM
“We won the thing we were legally owed” take a victory lap Dems, absolutely killing it
Reposted by Ben Peck
Republicans took away your healthcare. We refused to fight back. Please rush us $3
Can't wait for tomorrow's fundraising email from the Democratic Party.
November 10, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Republicans took away your healthcare. We refused to fight back. Please rush us $3
Reposted by Ben Peck
even when the democratic party has leverage and one of the craziest election swings the party intentionally self immolates it’s just so exhausting what is even the point of these people
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
even when the democratic party has leverage and one of the craziest election swings the party intentionally self immolates it’s just so exhausting what is even the point of these people
Reposted by Ben Peck
This is correct. I think the correct response from those upset by this is to demand that those Senators voting against the resolution move to dismiss Schumer. If they won't do that publicly and actively, they need to face a primary challenger.
Assume all the yes and no votes from Dem senators are strategic and not sincere votes. The party caucus made a decision. No way to know how many were in favor. Then the caucus decided who would vote yes and no based on what would protect each of them politically the most. That’s how this works.
November 10, 2025 at 2:48 AM
This is correct. I think the correct response from those upset by this is to demand that those Senators voting against the resolution move to dismiss Schumer. If they won't do that publicly and actively, they need to face a primary challenger.
Reposted by Ben Peck
This is why this surrender isn't just about this narrow issue but is rather the whole constitutional ballgame:
Democrats are affirmatively signaling they do not want political power at the same time Trump is transitioning the political system into an autocratic one wherein they're denied it forever
Democrats are affirmatively signaling they do not want political power at the same time Trump is transitioning the political system into an autocratic one wherein they're denied it forever
Not that he didn’t already know, but now Trump knows for sure he can roll the Dems every time and there’s no need to negotiate for anything
November 10, 2025 at 3:10 AM
This is why this surrender isn't just about this narrow issue but is rather the whole constitutional ballgame:
Democrats are affirmatively signaling they do not want political power at the same time Trump is transitioning the political system into an autocratic one wherein they're denied it forever
Democrats are affirmatively signaling they do not want political power at the same time Trump is transitioning the political system into an autocratic one wherein they're denied it forever
Reposted by Ben Peck
What makes this more frustrating is that Dems were winning.
They had public opinion
They had base enthusiasm
They had Trump making tactical mistakes every day
And they lose
They had public opinion
They had base enthusiasm
They had Trump making tactical mistakes every day
And they lose
This is why this surrender isn't just about this narrow issue but is rather the whole constitutional ballgame:
Democrats are affirmatively signaling they do not want political power at the same time Trump is transitioning the political system into an autocratic one wherein they're denied it forever
Democrats are affirmatively signaling they do not want political power at the same time Trump is transitioning the political system into an autocratic one wherein they're denied it forever
Not that he didn’t already know, but now Trump knows for sure he can roll the Dems every time and there’s no need to negotiate for anything
November 10, 2025 at 3:16 AM
What makes this more frustrating is that Dems were winning.
They had public opinion
They had base enthusiasm
They had Trump making tactical mistakes every day
And they lose
They had public opinion
They had base enthusiasm
They had Trump making tactical mistakes every day
And they lose
This is horrible. This move will save the county $2 million dollars per year, reducing the property tax increase for the average household by just 30 cents per month.
#utpol
kutv.com/news/local/h...
#utpol
kutv.com/news/local/h...
Hundreds of families scrambling for options after county votes to close child care centers
A narrow vote by the Salt Lake County Council will shutter four county-operated child care centers next year, leaving hundreds of families looking for new optio
kutv.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:58 PM
This is horrible. This move will save the county $2 million dollars per year, reducing the property tax increase for the average household by just 30 cents per month.
#utpol
kutv.com/news/local/h...
#utpol
kutv.com/news/local/h...
Turning our local police officers into immigration agents was a bad idea before and it’s an even worse one with the current administration. I’ll always fight to protect ALL Murray residents.
September 2, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Turning our local police officers into immigration agents was a bad idea before and it’s an even worse one with the current administration. I’ll always fight to protect ALL Murray residents.
Reposted by Ben Peck
How One California City Teamed Up With Residents To Stop Speeding www.strongtowns.org/journal/2025... via @strongtowns.org
How One California City Teamed Up With Residents To Stop Speeding
The city of Artesia, California, has been struggling with a speeding problem. Instead of just blaming drivers, city staff teamed up with local advocates to address the root problem: the street design.
www.strongtowns.org
August 27, 2025 at 8:10 PM
How One California City Teamed Up With Residents To Stop Speeding www.strongtowns.org/journal/2025... via @strongtowns.org
Reposted by Ben Peck
Not even a page into the actual proposal is a commitment to increasing pay, retention bonuses, and promotions for CBP and DHS. You know - the groups who's employees are actively (and in many cases gleefully) destroying the American Constitution to shreds.
New Dems just released our Immigration & Border Security framework—a plan for how we can pass commonsense, bipartisan policies that fix our system & address the issues Americans care most about.
Read more about it in @washingtonpost.com ⬇️
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Read more about it in @washingtonpost.com ⬇️
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
These House Democrats seek a new middle ground on immigration
The New Democratic Coalition unveiled a plan to win back voters on immigration but they need the party’s support.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 26, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Not even a page into the actual proposal is a commitment to increasing pay, retention bonuses, and promotions for CBP and DHS. You know - the groups who's employees are actively (and in many cases gleefully) destroying the American Constitution to shreds.
Just a reminder that I’m old enough to run for Congress 👀
BREAKING NEWS: A judge has THROWN OUT Utah's congressional maps in the League of Women Voter and Mormon Women for Ethical Government's gerrymandering lawsuit against the Utah legislature: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah
Judge makes ruling in gerrymandering lawsuit over Utah's redistricting
A judge has issued a ruling in a lawsuit accusing the Utah state legislature of illegally gerrymandering congressional districts to benefit Republicans.
www.fox13now.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Just a reminder that I’m old enough to run for Congress 👀