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About Diana

I was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin and was one of seven children. Most of my life was lived in Appleton, with periods lived in Virginia, Texas, and other parts of Wisconsin. My husband and I recently moved to Van Buren, Arkansas to be closer to my daughter and her young family.

Growing up in a middle-class family provided the experience that most people can relate to. Dad was a combat veteran of both the Korean War and WWII, but somehow not a benefactor of benefits he should have been entitled to. He found a variety of jobs that managed to provide for a large family, though none of the jobs were professional or well-paid. He was sometimes laid off, or out of work because of job injuries (once falling far in a factory and seriously injured). My family had to get by on the safety-net we could access. It seems likely that my father stoically suffered from his war injuries and experiences for the rest of his life.

My mother got CNA nurse training at the local tech college and managed to take care of the family while we needed her during the day, then worked during the night while we slept. Between her income and Dad’s, we got by. Meals tended to be thrifty. We owned a modest house and a car, and most of us went to college after high school. But without student loans, college would have been impossible. Dad died in 2014, and Mom in 2020 during the Covid isolation, in an assisted living facility during the lockdown alone without family visitation.

Undiagnosed mental health problems challenged me until I was in my mid-thirties, providing some challenging life experiences. I had a wide variety of jobs. It is not a bad experience looking back at it because it gave me a wide variety of experiences. I was a bank teller, janitor, potato salad maker, many types of customer service jobs, office jobs, an independent contractor as a real estate agent, and recently substitute teaching in public schools.

More specifically, I worked for many years after my diagnosis and recovery from bi-polar disorder in the healthcare industry, in customer service, to working with employee health benefits sales agents, to working for a pharmacy benefit management company. As a Realtor I understood the issues of property ownership and the struggles of buying a house. Very importantly, I know what it is like to live on a minimum wage in many types of economies. Teaching has helped me to understand the challenges that face teachers, students, administrators and the families.

My interest in politics extends way back to my college days when I was living in Madison, Wisconsin. I would go to the State Capitol building several times a week to hang around and enjoy the beautiful building and listen to the clamor. It was not until many years later, after I met my husband Alan, that I joined the Sierra Club and got more involved in politics. Sierra Club’s mission is to get people out in nature, to explore and enjoy it, and want to protect it. One of the ways of protection is to get politically involved. I was also involved with the League of Conservation Voters in Wisconsin.

Despite our relentless efforts working for the environment, we were always fighting the same battles, year after year, regardless of who was in office. The final straw for me was the turmoil in Wisconsin in 2011 after the Republican Tea Party won the trifecta (Governor and both state houses) and tore our state apart. I decided that I must run for political office, selecting State Assembly as my goal.

My husband and I were already close friends with a fellow Sierra Club member who had run for and been elected to State Assembly, and we knew of others. Between environmental issues and everything else elected Republicans were doing I knew the time was right, and I had role models to follow. I paid to attend the Camp Wellstone training program for candidates, and also trained and graduated from the Emerge Wisconsin program. Emerge, a national program with divisions in most states, aims to help elect Democratic women. When I participated in the program this was a competitive program to enter, with an application, reference letters, interviews and a fee. There were 25 students in my class.

I ran for Wisconsin State Assembly in 2012 but lost in the Democratic primary. Encouraged by friends to run for County Board of Supervisors to gain name recognition, I ran in 2014, but lost to the incumbent. Nobody challenged the Republican State Assembly incumbent in 2014. I watched as another Democrat ran and lost in the 2016 contest. I tried again in 2018, and won the Democratic primary, but failed again in the November election. Undaunted, I made a third effort in 2020, a year with additional Covid-19 challenges, and again failed in the November election.

Most of Wisconsin’s legislative district boundaries were gerrymandered to favor Republican candidates, and my district was severely handicapped. There is no history, even now, that a Democrat has won in my old district. Furthermore, election statistics seem to have approximately the same Win-Loss spread each year of approximately 60% of the votes going to the Republican and approximately 40% going to the Democrat. This seemed to happen, regardless of the candidate and their campaign budget. After my 2020 loss I needed a break.

But I was aware that in votes cast within my district (ballots including my name) that I did well compared to other Democrats on the ballot. And in comparison with other Democratic candidates I studied in neighboring districts, even if they won their contests, I also compared well. I simply had the bad luck of living in a district gerrymandered to prevent my victory.

Things have changed since 2020. I have moved to Arkansas to live near my daughter and grandson, to have the grandmotherly experience. The nonsense with Trump demands that I run for election again. How can I be a good grandmother if I leave a broken world to our children?

So, I am running for Congress in my new district, and I really have hopes to improve things in Washington, and ultimately here in Arkansas. Because I am a new resident to Arkansas you can be assured that I will be listening to you, my neighbors, to hear what you feel is important.

Please support my quest, and know that my goal is to serve you well.

I have a Bachelor of Science in Georgraphy and a Minor in Anthropology, graduating from University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh Campus, in 2008.

I have taken graduate level classes in Public Administration and Secondary Education.

Currently I am working on a second Bachelor of Science, this one in Urban Planning. I have a passion for learning.

I am an avid reader of books on politics and policies.

My life-long learning has equipped me with a lot of knowledge I can use in government representing my constituents. My geography major was in physical geography and insights into cultures. I know details about climate change, the oceans, and sustainable energy. Knowledge of different cultures is important as well, and it gives insight into why people do and say what they do.

I believe I am prepared to serve as your Congressional Representative.

Issues, Positions, and Viewpoints

As an engaged citizen I am frustrated by politicians who favor parties or special interests over constituents. The extreme nonsense and harm coming from the White House and supported by Republican Congressional Representatives and Republican Senators convinced me that I need to run for Congress. Government is paid for by the public and needs to serve everyone. I will do my best for you.

I talk with constituents to learn how they feel. Almost everyone tells me that the single most important issue of the day is protecting democracy. They also care about the economy, taxes, climate change, immigration and many other things, but most believe that we cannot do any of those things until democracy is protected. That’s done by electing a new Congress with a Democratic majority that actually can stand up to President Trump. I agree, and will fight in Congress for our democracy.

When you ask people the difference between Democrats and Republicans, one answer you may get is that a Republican is not happy until someone’s ox is gored, and that a Democrat is happy only when everyone is doing well. That may be a bit simplistic, but It states a difference in the current parties. Democrats are for minimal government interference, and using government to make things possible that are otherwise difficult to achieve. The modern Republican Party does not want to use money to improve our status. The modern Republican Party wants to enforce moral issues it believes in.

I am a lifelong Democrat, and I support the Democratic Party Platform and its ideals.

Democratic Party candidates support the party platform. Each state, and the National oganization, write their own platforms, and update them frequently. They are different, but they all tend to be uplifting and positive, and they are meant to be easy to read.

Read the Platform of the Democratic Party of Arkansas and the Platform of the National Democratic Party (DNC) in these links. PDF files will open. Visit the websites of these organizations to read more about the Democratic Party and our values. Arkansas (ArkDems) -or- National (DNC).

The Arkansas party platform is short (6 pages) and easy to read. Its Preamble says: “It is a plan, a call to action, and a collective commitment to doing the hard work to create a healthier, safer, fairer, and brighter Arkansas for all of us.”

“Democrats are working for a healthier Arkansas with improved health care and expanded access, better health outcomes, and a healthier environment. We are working for a safer Arkansas with better roads and bridges, clean air and water, less crime in our communities, and safe places to live and work. We are working for a fairer Arkansas with rights protected for everyone and systems that work for all of us. And we are working for a brighter Arkansas with a world-class education for every child, a growing economy, and economic opportunity for all.”

The national party platform is lengthy (92 pages) and covers many issues. The Preamble begins: “Our nation is at an inflection point. What kind of America will we be? A land of more freedom, or less freedom? More rights or fewer? An economy rigged for the rich and powerful, or where everyone has a fair shot at getting ahead? Will we lower the temperature in our politics and come together, or treat each other as enemies instead? The stakes in this election are enormously high.”

The national party Preamble concludes: “History has shown that nothing about democracy is guaranteed. Every generation has to protect it, preserve it, choose it. We must stand together to choose what we want America to be.”

I like the positive and uplifting preamble used by my former state of Wisconsin. It began: “The Democratic Party strives to build an open, just, and strong society where all people have equal rights and equal opportunities to live meaningful, secure lives. We work actively for open, honest, and responsive government that is accountable to the needs and will of the people.”

The Democratic Party agenda strives to work for all of us!

To the extent that our dreams may be hard to achieve, this is because we want so much good for our country. Contrast that with the current Republican party. I think you will recognize that the Republican Party, under President Trump, and supported by Representative Steve Womack and our two Republican US Senators, are harming our nation (and world) and not treating all people with dignity and respect. We can do better. I, Diana Lawrence, as your Representative, promise to work for you, for a better Arkansas and a better United States, and a better world.

While serving as your Representative in Congress I will serve as a Democrat in the Democratic Caucus. I have been interested in Progressive ideas for a long time, and I expect I shall continue my interest in progressive issues. My Party will not always be right. When they are wrong I will put them on notice that I disagree. My people come first.

During my campaign I intend to write “papers” on various issues. They may evolve over time as I learn more, so please notice the date on each document. Each document opens as a PDF. If you wish me to write about other issues please let me know.

Citizens United case and Money in Politics

Environment | Farmers | Healthcare | Services | Working Class Poor

I will work to represent you and to enhance your ability to participate in democracy. This includes reducing the effects of big money having inappropriate access to, and influence on, government. Your government should work for you and not just for business owners, special interests, and those with more money than you. I intend to serve the people of Arkansas Congressional District 3 with respect.

I will help Congress stand up to President Trump, to check his abusive acts. Protecting democracy is important for all of us, and I will do my part.

I hope you will learn about me and want me as your next Representative. I need your support. I can lead, and will work harder in this campaign than I ask from anyone else, but I cannot accomplish it without the support of many of you.

I grew up in a Democratic family and have been a voting Democrat all my life. My husband was already involved in Democratic Party activities, including helping candidates, and he brought me along after we married. For many years we were members of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and the Democratic Party of Outagamie County. Several of those years I served a Delegate at the Party State Convention. One important aspect of the State Conventions was updating the Party Platform. Resolutions were solicited from membership across the state prior to the convention. During the convention we reviewed, revised, and approved a new platform. In small part, I helped write the platform.

While living in Wisconsin I ran in three elections as a Democrat, and as the “liberal” in the non-partisan County Supervisor election.