Feel-good update: Much-needed optimism
Last week was tougher than most, even by 2018 standards, so a few bright spots are particularly needed these days…
Last week was tougher than most, even by 2018 standards, so a few bright spots are particularly needed these days…
In Tuesday’s elections, we had a great batch of victories:
Emily Shetty — MD 18, who advanced from an 8-way primary
Vaughn Stewart — MD 19, who also advanced from 8-way primary
Lesley Lopez — MD 39, who came in first (!) in a 7 way primary
Andrew Friedson — Montgomery County Council, district 1
Kambrell Garvin — SC 77, who beat an incumbent in a runoff election
Lauren Morris — OK 84, who advanced from the primary
Carrie Blumert — OK County Commissioner, district 1, who beat 3 men in the primary
Rochelle Galindo — CO 5 — a progressive, Latina, gay 28-year-old city councilwoman and school custodian who crushed a moderate 76-year-old ex-legislator and state insurance commissioner.
Election Days are our favorites — Twitter summed it up pretty well:
The other big victory on Tuesday is worth mentioning, too: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s win was inspiring as hell.
While we don’t work in congressional races, Alexandria, a dynamic 28 year-old first time candidate, is just like the hundreds of incredible young candidates we’re working with across the country: She ran a campaign driven by her values and her passion, and put the work in to knock doors and connect with people, regardless of how much money she raised or what the “establishment” might say. That’s exactly how we’ve been coaching our candidates since day one. It works!
Two of our fave stories out of Tuesday:
- “Given an option, Democratic voters have been picking women, racial minorities, and gay men and lesbians in races around the country at historic rates.” — The Washington Post
- “The future of the Democratic Party is not old, white, conservative, rich men,” says Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin in this story in McClatchy. We agree!
And worth noting: Run for Something-endorsed candidates Jessica Ramos and Alessandra Biaggi are in primaries against New York IDC members that heavily overlap with NY-14, where AOC won. Keep an eye on them…
Some other Run for Something related reading…
- Our Voices Were Heard.’ Dozens of Teachers Advance in Oklahoma Primaries After Walkouts. I’m obsessed with Oklahoma politics, and think there is true potential for Democrats to win unexpected victories this fall. I’m so proud that we’re working with candidates in the Sooner State.
- The Millennial Socialists Are Coming, which spotlights Run for Something-endorsed candidate Sara Innamorato in Pittsburgh, who took on a dynastic Democratic family in PA and won earlier this year. She’s a badass.
- There are 9 states where women could make up 50% or more of state legislatures. More women in state legislatures means eventually more women in Congress, more women governors, and more women presidents.
— “Obama underscored the need for young people to be given more of a voice. ‘The most important thing we can do is to invite them in and give them power. Give them a voice. Stop talking at them and start working with them.’”
Have a good holiday week. Thanks for making this possible.
(And P.S.:If you’re in the Hamptons on July 21st, well, so are we! Join us for dinner.)
Catch up from last week: