WASHINGTON - May 15 - Green candidates running for Congress are picking up support from many voters frustrated by the lack of Democratic opposition to the Bush agenda, especially on the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

A state-based list of campaigns to watch in the 2006 mid-term elections is appended below. Other candidates will be featured in future releases.

Most of the candidates are currently seeking the nomination of their respective state Green Parties. In some races, multiple candidates are competing for the nomination. 

"The fact that the Green Party now has contested nominations shows the growth and maturity of the party," said Nan Garrett, co-chair of the Georgia Green Party and spokesperson for the National Women's Caucus. 

For more Green campaign listings, news, photos, and web sites, visit www.gp.org/2006elections/  (candidate spotlight page) and Greens in Elections  (Green elections database, with a list of all 2006 candidates).

CALIFORNIA

California Greens will decide between three candidates for the U.S. Senate nomination: Todd Chretien (todd4senate.org), Tian Harter (tianharter.org), and Kent Mesplay (mesplay.org). The primary election will take place June 6. 

In House races, Krissy Keefer (krissyforcongress.com) is challenging Nancy Pelosi for her seat in the 8th Congressional District (San Francisco). Jeff Kravitz, a well know professor of constitutional law and civil rights lawyer, is running in District 5 (Sacramento) (kravitzforcongress.com). 

Byron De Lear, running in the 28th District (San Fernando, Pacoima, Arleta, Panorama City, Van Nuys, and North Hollywood) (DeLearforCongress.org), was one of five Greens delivered the party's rebuttal to President Bush's 2006 State of the Union address (see video at gp.org/video/2006stateofunion/) and has received a lot of media coverage. 

Bill Paparian, former Mayor of Pasadena and Green candidate for Congress in the 29th District (Pasadena/Glendale/Burbank paparian4congress.com), has been endorsed by Danny Bakewell Sr., national Democratic leader and publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel, the largest and oldest black-owned newspaper on the west coast. Mr. Bakewell endorsed Mr. Paparian over pro-war Democrat incumbent Adam Schiff.  

DELAWARE 

Michael Berg has received wide coverage for his House campaign (bergforcongress.us) and was recently endorsed by antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan. Mr. Berg, the father of Nick Berg, who was taken hostage and murdered in Iraq in May, 2004, marched in the lead contingent of the April 30 antiwar protest in New York City with Ms. Sheehan, Daniel Elsberg, and Rev. Jesse Jackson. On Sunday, May 14, Mr. Berg appeared at a Mother's Day antiwar rally along with Ms. Sheehan and Susan Sarandon on Lafayette Square in front of the White House.

MARYLAND

Kevin Zeese, running for U.S. Senate (www.kevinzeese.com), is seeking the nomination of the Green, Libertarian, and Populist Parties in a Unity Campaign to challenge the two old parties. Mr. Zeese had planned to run on all three ballot lines but 'emergency' legislation passed by Maryland's Democratic-controlled legislature is likely to force him to pick one ballot; he will run on the Green Party line unless litigation allows him to run on multiple lines.

NEW YORK

Steve Greenfield (www.greenfieldforsenate.org), Howie Hawkins (www.hawkinsforsenate.org)  Sander Hicks (www.hicksforsenate.com/), and Steve Krulick are seeking the nomination of the Green Party of New York State for Hillary Clinton's U.S. Senate seat. The New York 'Peace Slate' nomination will take place on May 20.

Jim Brown, running for the 3rd District (Nassau and Suffolk counties) House seat (www.jimbrownforcongress.com), is the only candidate challenging Republican Peter King, chair of the House Homeland Security Commitee.

PENNSYLVANIA

Four Greens are running for the U.S. House: Dave Baker in District 2 (West Philadelphia) (www.davebaker2006.com); Greta Browne in District 15 (Berks, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton); Derf Maitland in District 19; and Titus North in District 14 (Allegheny).

SOUTH CAROLINA

The South Carolina Green Party (www.scgreenparty.org) has nominated three congressional candidates: James E. Dunn in the 1st District, a family and individual councellor in Myrtle Beach; pastor and community activist Antonio Williams in the 2nd District (the state party's first African American congressional nominee); and C. Faye Walters, a self employed cosmetologist, in the 4th District (www.fayewalters.com).

TENNESSEE

Chris Lugo, Green candidate for the U.S. Senate (www.chris4senate.com), was recently featured on WKRN (ABC) in Nashville speaking out against the war in Iraq. Mr. Lugo, running as a peace candidate, was interviewed regarding a peace rally organized by Tennessee Greens, Code Pink, and the Nashville Peace Coalition in response to a May 11 speech by Laura Bush at Vanderbilt University.

In House races, Robert Smith is running in District 1 (1bigtree.tripod.com/robertnsmith_greens) and Katey Culver in District 7 (www.kate4congress.com).

WASHINGTON

Aaron Dixon is challenging Maria Cantwell for her U.S. Senate seat (www.aarondixon.org/). Mr. Dixon's rebuttal to a May 4 op-ed column by Ms. Cantwell in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, in which he sharply criticizes her support for the Iraq War, can be read on his web site.

WISCONSIN

Politics1.com has named the Rae Vogeler for U.S. Senate website (www.voterae.org) its 'Site of the Day': see (www.politics1.com/sotd.htm). Ms. Vogeler is challenging incumbent Herb Kohl. Earlier in 2006, she traveled the state promoting a Wisconsin ballot initiative calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq; on April 4, the 'Bring the Troops Home' initiative passed in 24 out of 32 cities, towns, communities where it appeared on the ballot (gp.org/press/pr_2006_04_05.shtml).

###