OH-12: Dying Progressive Activist Films Ad For Ohio Democrat In Close Election

A terminally ill progressive activist is crowdfunding an advertisement for Danny O’Connor, the Democratic candidate in the upcoming special election for Ohio’s 12th Congressional District.

In the minute-long video, released Wednesday on social media, influential activist Ady Barkan recounts his sudden diagnosis with ALS and his attempts to prevent the Republican tax legislation.

Like many Democrats, Barkan maintains that the GOP’s budget-busting tax cuts will eventually force reductions in social programs like Medicare and Medicaid ― programs he will depend on as his condition worsens.

“Your family and my family are gonna pay the price” for the tax cuts, Barkan says in the ad, his speech slurred due to the advancement of ALS. “So now I’m asking you to be a hero.”

“On August 7th, vote for Danny O’Connor,” Barkan continues. “He’ll protect health care for my family and yours.”

Barkan, a leader of the Center for Popular Democracy, a community organizing umbrella group, rose to national prominence during the fight over the GOP tax cuts in December, when he confronted Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) on a plane about the legislation. At the time, Barkan asked Flake to “be an American hero” and vote down the bill, but Flake and his Republican colleagues voted for it.