“Make Way for the Trucker”

Go read an inspiring story about a lady running for Congress in Alaska against all odds. She's a Dem running against the well-funded Dem choice as well. She is my kind of candidate.

Katrina Vanden Heuvel

In these times, when the number of women in Congress has leveled off, it is great to see Diane Benson waging a spirited fight for Congress in traditionally Republican Alaska.

In 2006, Benson ran an impressive race against Republican Representative Don Young for Alaska's single at-large seat. She spent approximately 10% as much as her opponent but still won over 40% of the vote – only the third time in 33 years a Democratic challenger had crossed that threshold in vying for the seat.

I asked Benson how she responds to the fact that the Washington Democratic establishment hasn't supported her – or, at the very least – stayed out of the primary given her success in 2006.

"I think people are always scared of somebody who challenges their values," she told me. "I believe I have challenged the values of the party. I'm asking them to really step up to what they claim to be. And sometimes that's tough for people…. Not just in terms of the issues, which is one thing. There's a certain safety net in a good ole boy network. Insiders support insiders too often. And trying to break-up the game – it's like standing in front of a bunch of guys [who are watching] Monday Night Football [on] the TV set. Good luck."

But if there's one thing Benson has in abundance it's toughness. In her attempt to become the first Native American woman in Congress – as well as the first Alaskan Native man or woman – she calls on that toughness every day.

Benson's strength and determination stems at least in part from her background. She "grew up in logging camps, boarding schools, foster homes and even on boat houses," according to Indian Country Today. At times she was homeless. She worked her way through college as a Teamster truck driver and was one of the first women tractor-trailer drivers on the Alaska Pipeline – she often was the only woman on the jobsite. Benson said that was a tough job to get.

"I could prove that I could do the job and the union stood up for me," she said. "And they stood up for me time and time again, and I will never forget that."

Ms. Benson is one stand-up gal. We need more Reps with balls like that, men and women both.

Good luck, Diane.