Morgan Harper, for US Congress District Three

Morgan Harper said it is important to elect people to Congress who support the Green New Deal and who will work with a sense of urgency to ensure a habitable planet.

Harper said her early experiences in Columbus inspired her to run.

"I got a lot of lucky breaks here and I want to make sure that every kid no matter the circumstances of their birth gets that same opportunity, and we haven't achieved that vision yet. I've done a lot of things so far to get to the realization of that vision. But I think what we need now is bolder federal action to make sure everyone has housing, healthcare, and that we're doing something about the climate and jobs that pay enough to live."

Harper's completely grassroots-funded campaign had raised more than $550,000 at the time we spoke on Jan 22.

"We've had over 4500 individuals from all 50 states, 90 percent of the zip codes in the 3rd District have supported our campaign, and the most donations we have received from any state have been from Ohio. Our race is an indication that grassroots movenents are possible. You can run on a very progressive platform in Ohio and get traction and be successful. We're going to win on March 17."

Harper said her campaign is in every neighborhood of the 3rd Congressional District.

"We hold community events every Saturday after the week we've been canvassing in an area, to invite people we've met at their doors, to ask me questions or to meet their neighbors...We're really trying to use the campaign to also build community because that is the basis of true grassroots movements, and ultimately what makes us all happy : living together. So we're trying to facilitate that even while we're campaigning."

I asked Harper about methods for processing what voters tell her and canvassers.

"We take what comes up in the Q & A and a lot of it immediately factors into how I'm thinking about things. Because I'm meeting with a lot of people, it influences my views on policy issues. For example, we didn't have on the platform on day one something to address public safety, specifically police brutality. But speaking with community members, I heard from them how important that is in Central Ohio right now, and so we added to the platform the role the federal government can play to end police brutality. We're very responsive to the feedback we're getting through out the campaign and particularly through these forums we're having every Saturday."

During Harper's speech at the Green New Deal town hall, she emphasized the role the federal government can have. I asked her to say more about that

"I am running for a Congressional seat. But it's true here and in a lot of places across the country that folks think their only recourse is the mayor or the city council and they don't remember that Congress is this institution that is supposed to represent us, particularly the House of Representatives where you're running every two years. You are supposed to be staying connected to the people when you represent us in that role. We need to recognize the federal government has a huge role to play in addressing issues in our communities, so there's less of a burden on individual citizens or community members having to advocate at every level of government...That's something that is connected to the fact Congress has been corrupted by the influence of corporate money during the past 40 years, and it's a representation of the status quo. So a lot of people start tuning it out and don't understand what our representatives could be doing to support stable lives for every community member in our city."

I asked her about the extent to which she has talked with people who aren't Democrats about getting corporate money out of politics.

"In the 3rd District we meet with people who are Independents and Republicans. We have an open primary here in Ohio. So Republicans and Independents can decide, day-of, that they want to vote in the Democratic primary and could vote for me. I'm generally very open-minded in talking with anyone. None of the policies I'm standing for should be partisan, that everyone has a home, healthcare, and a job that pays enough to live, and that we do something about the climate. It's not partisan, not radical, but rational. We're building a broad coalition for this platform and these policies."

There are no third parties in Ohio. I asked Harper about the growing attempt across the country to make the Democratic Party more progressive.

"My intention is to help make the Democratic Party stand for its values ... that everyone in this country should get a fair shot and that shouldn't just depend on whether you or your parents have money. It should be because you are here and you matter and deserve to have a decent life and we will support you in getting there."