Why I Ran

I ran in Georgia’s 2020 special election for the U. S. Senate to bring to Washington the fight to fulfill our social rights and overturn the blockages to opportunity that are undermining our democracy. Our government must guarantee everyone a prosperous livelihood, the medical care we need, a healthy environment, good housing, free quality education at all levels, public child and elder care, an even playing field between employees and employer, and civil as well as criminal legal counsel to defend our freedoms. To survive the Coronavirus pandemic and global economic crisis, we must enforce all these rights and keep everyone solvent with safe work and replacement income as needed; decently housed with a ban of evictions, foreclosures, and utility turnoffs combined with payment rescheduling; provided with medical treatment fully covered by Medicare; properly schooled with adequate coronavirus precautions; and able to politic and vote without risking our lives.

I now urge the tens of thousands who voted for me in Georgia's special US Senate election to vote for Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in the January 5th runoff election. We must save our future from the stranglehold of Mitch McConnell and push both Warnock and Ossoff to enact the policies that actually fulfill our fundamental social rights.

Get Updates

Endorsed By

Athens for Everyone (A4E)
Rick Day
Public Arts Commission
Mariah Parker
Broderick Flanigan

View all endorsements

Meet Richard

A philosopher, educator, husband, father, and union member, Richard Dien Winfield has devoted his work to addressing the fundamental problems of our society. In his philosophical writing, he has focused on conceiving what our institutions of freedom should be. In his social engagements, he has sought to put these ideas into practice. Seeing too many Americans denied dignity and economic security, Richard has supported striking workers, organized sugarcane laborers, and joined unionizing efforts at UGA, where he has taught for 37 years, inspiring students to seek truth and justice. In 2018, Richard ran for Congress in Georgia's 10th District, advancing a bold social rights platform, anchored in a Federal Job Guarantee.

Richard knows that the 2020 elections are the most important in our lifetime, for now, more than ever, we must fulfill our social rights and unchain our democracy. The time for solutions has come, for we CAN enact laws that guarantee jobs at a fair wage and level the playing field between employee and employer, that help us balance work and family, that combat our climate crisis with a Green New Deal, that give us all access to quality healthcare, education, housing, and legal representation, and that finally overcome the disadvantages people face based on race, gender, and sexual orientation.

Campaign Launch Video

For a full book length account of the social rights agenda:

https://amzn.to/2VxdGWf

Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate

Fighting for a New Social Bill of Rights

1. Guaranteed jobs at fair wages starting at $20/hr, with equivalent replacement income for the disabled and retirees

So that unemployment and poverty income are eliminated, with a Federal Job Guarantee enabling anyone who wants a job to get employment furnishing the public goods and services we need while earning a decent living keeping pace with inflation and national prosperity.

2. A Green New Deal and Super Medicare for All

So that we all can enjoy a healthy environment and quality health care with no premiums, copays or deductibles.

3. Paid family leave, free child care & elder care, and child allowances

So that no one has to make sacrifices to balance family and work and no child lives in poverty.

4. Worker empowerment & collective bargaining

Where employees have a say in the decisions that shape their lives, thanks to unionization and seats on corporate boards.

5. Legal Care for All

So that all persons can protect their rights under the law with public insurance fully covering personal civil and criminal legal counsel provided by any lawyer of their choosing. Then we have what neither the ERA or equal pay for equal work legislation can themselves confer: the legal resources to fight sexual harassment, wage inequities, and gender and racial discrimination.

Make America Righteous and Unchain Our Democracy

It is not enough to be a great global power. We can make America righteous by fullfilling all our social rights and overcoming every last vestige of racial and gender disadvantage. Let's make history together this November and secure justice for all.

Speaking on The Hill Rising about how we must extend our freedoms to contain the Covid pandemic