Hi all -
Wow oh wow voters are voting in record numbers and no one has any idea what any of it means. (FWIW: I voted! I mailed it in a few weeks ago and on Friday, my ballot was marked accepted by the NYC board of elections — cross that off my list.)
Especially exciting in the world of early voting numbers: Texas, which is at the top of everyone’s minds right now (see: Politico, the NYTimes, basically everywhere else!)
In Harris County, where Judge Lina Hidalgo (a RFS alum!) has helped ease the way for voters to vote in spite of GOP voter suppression efforts, more than 1 million people have already cast their ballots.
In Hays county, turnout has already surpassed 2016 levels — Rep. Erin Zwiener is fighting to keep the seat she won in 2018.
All across the state, voters are showing up and casting their ballots — not just for Joe Biden but for state legislative candidates who could help flip the nine seats we need to win the TX state house. I’m so proud that Run for Something invested more than $100k in candidate recruitment in Texas back in 2019, and that we’re able to work with so many incredible partners across the state, both national and local, to support these campaigns.
In other voting news:
You may have seen photos of long lines to vote early in New York over the weekend, and similar exciting stats about early voting in Virginia. It’s worth pointing out: The only reason voters can go to the polls early at all in either of these states is because thanks in part to RFS candidates, we flipped the state legislatures over the last four years and Democrats went to work expanding access to the polls.
Remember our mantra: The way to win national elections is to compete for and win local elections.
(After all: The thing in common across all the battleground states who are prepped for this election is that they have county clerks and local election supervisors who believe in making it easier to vote.)
Relatedly, you also must must must read this deep-dive into how the Republican Party has planned to hold permanent minority rule —spoiler: it involves winning state legislatures.
Building sustainable power means we have to fight for and win it all, not just the White House. If you’re looking for a place to make a donation in the final stretch, Run for Something still has a $130k budget gap before 2020 ends. Every dollar goes a long way toward helping us help our candidates, and help recruit more. (Even better: Make a recurring donation!)
In other Run for Something candidate & alumni news…
Maybe my favorite clip of the week: How local millennial candidates like Nicole Hamm (Jacksonville City Council) and Rayonte Bell (Berrien County Board of Commissioners, MI) are fighting for action on climate change. I love this story for two reasons. (1) Climate change feels like a big problem, but local gov’t can actually tackle it in a meaningful way if we put the right people in charge. (2) The story mentions how Rayonte “credits conversations with other young Michigan Democrats for his decision to get into electoral politics. Joey Andrews, a 2018 candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives, suggested that he run for the county commission. Chokwe Pitchford, a current candidate for the Michigan House, has also helped shape Bell’s campaign.” Both Joey and Chokwe are part of the Run for Something community!! More young people running begets more young people running.
Julie Gunnigle’s campaign for Maricopa County Attorney is critical for how marijuana legalization in AZ gets implemented (should it pass next week as a ballot referendum.) Julie’s race is also critical for protecting abortion and contraception access if Roe v Wade gets overturned.
With incredible candidates like Abigail Wheeler and Chokwe Pitchford on the ballot, we have a chance to flip the Michigan state house. Keep your eye on it!
The Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette endorsed Daisy Bonilla in her campaign against a Republican incumbent in the AR state house — if she wins, she’ll be the first Latina in the legislature.
Madinah Wilson-Anton is going to be the first Muslim elected to the Delaware state legislature - the 27 year old beat a 70 year-old 11-term incumbent earlier this year in her competitive primary that spurred record turnout.
EMILY’s List president Stephanie Schriock wrote in Elle Magazine about six 2020 candidates who will become household names; three are RFS candidates, including Sarah McBride, Mari Manoogian, and Anna Eskamani. They’re the best.
This is exciting stuff in Denver:
Similarly: Iman Jodeh is likely to become Colorado’s first Muslim lawmaker assuming she wins next week.
Fady Qaddoura’s story as an immigrant, a displaced person after Hurricane Katrina, and his experience in Indiana after then Gov. Mike Pence banned Syrian refugees from the state directly informs his campaign for state senator. This is so powerful.
A bipartisan crew of women, including Rep. Keri Ingle, passed important legislation in the Missouri state legislature that would make life substantially better for foster kids across the state.
Elizabeth Betancourt is trying to turn rural red California blue with her community-rooted campaign for state legislature.
Louise Snodgrass was sick of the South Dakota state legislature ignoring people like her: someone low-income, someone who works in the service industry, someone who runs a small business, someone who identifies as queer. She says it best: “In the past five years, state representatives have attempted to pass 19 anti-trans legislative bills. And it just takes away from conversations like municipal utilities and rural electric co-ops.”
“With all the tense hullabaloo over voting this year, we can all rest easy in future elections with her plan to protect and serve the voting citizens in our county.” - a great letter to the editor in support of Gabriella Cazares-Kelly for Pima County Recorder
Alex Lee has a chance to be the youngest member of the CA state assembly — he’s 25, openly queer, and will prioritize getting corporate money out of state politics.
Raul Campillo and Sean Elo-Rivera are part of a new class of Democrats who, if they win, will dramatically change the direction of the San Diego city council.
The community we’re building is something special.
Two other things to put on your radar:
On this week’s episode of Run for Something (the podcast): Chokwe Pitchford is running to flip a much-needed Michigan state house seat and give Democrats the majority in the chamber. In this interview, we talk through his story, the moment he decided to run, how he deals with imposter syndrome, and as a treat, he gives us the director's commentary on the ads he wrote, produced, directed, and even points out a little easter egg you might not have noticed if you watched them. Get it wherever you get your shows.
Our last event before the 2020 election: Tuesday, 10/27, at 8pm — meet Jessica Harrington (who’s running to flip a state legislative seat in Florida) and Rep. Brianna Tittone (the first openly trans lawmaker in Colorado who flipped a seat in 2018).
I’ll admit: At any given point in the day, I’m feeling angry, stressed, optimistic, pessimistic, terrified, excited, and certainly tired on top of any/all those things. But none of that changes how I spend my time: All we have left to do is run through the finish line and lean into the tape. There is no alternative.
Let me know how you’re feeling. I genuinely want to know.
I’m so glad to be doing this work with you.
- Amanda