RFS feel-good update (9/21): What to do next
You've given to the Senate. Now what?
Hi all -
After the news of RBG’s passing on Friday, I know it’s hard for many to even consider “feeling good” right now. Her death was devastating, both personally and politically. We each would be entirely justified feeling brokenhearted, crushed, or even demoralized.
But much like RBG, I am ever the optimist, and there is at least some reason to be: The outpouring of money, volunteer effort, and recommitments to the fight over the last 48 hours have shown that Democrats won’t let this Supreme Court seat go without a vigorous fight.
If you donated to key Senate campaigns over the weekend, I have a suggestion for what to do next (and it won’t surprise you): Help close Run for Something’s $400k gap in our 2020 budget.
Our work is connected to this crisis for two big reasons: (1) Our local candidates in Senate battlegrounds will help gin up turnout for their top-of-ticket races. A better-run school board race in Montana could help Steve Bullock; a more competitive state legislative race in Maine could help Sara Gideon. (2) The bad laws that end up before the Supreme Court get their start in state legislatures. The more Democrats we elect to state legislatures, the more we can nip these laws in the bud before they even pass.
If you have any questions or ever want to hop on the phone to talk more about how our work plays a part in winning big in November, let me know. I’m here!
In RFS candidate & alumni updates…
It was Election Day in Delaware last week — the final primary of 2020!! A few big wins:
Marie Pinkney beat the Senate Pro Tempore by 282 votes — a HUGE upset for the most powerful legislator in the state, who’d been in the seat for 40+ years.
Sarah McBride easily won her primary and come November will be the first openly trans person elected to state senate; that will make her the highest-ranking trans person in America.
Madinah Wilson-Anton won her election against an 11-term incumbent by 43 votes. Click through to watch this beautiful video of her finding out the results.
This is so 💕❤️🎉. I spoke with Madinah last year as a volunteer with @runforsomething and it was immediately clear to me what a great state legislator she would be. Every vote truly matters, especially in these state races.We won by 43 votes. 43 VOTES! Every. Single. Vote. Matters. THANK YOU! I am humbled by the trust that the voters have placed in me. Now, it’s time to win in November and get to work implementing our people-powered agenda. I’m proud to be on the side of the people ✊🏽 https://t.co/bvxtqH5PL1
Madinah Wilson-Anton @MadinahForDEShane Darby handily won her four-way race for a seat on the Wilmington City Council and Kyle Evans Gay won her primary, moving on to November to try and flip a seat in the DE state senate.
Watch Julie Gunnigle, candidate for Maricopa County DA in Arizona, explain why she won’t prosecute cannabis crimes. (Julie’s Republican opponent was recently caught on tape making hateful trans jokes.)
Get to know Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, who flipped her seat in the MI state house by 221 votes and is the first Democrat to hold it since the 1970s. She’s in a tough re-election right now; we’re on her side.
Run for Something alum are supporting up-and-coming RFS candidates as we build a nationwide movement of young people fighting for a change. A few examples…
This is what building a nationwide network of young diverse progressives looks like: RFS aum @ZachWahls & @malcolmkenyatta are supporting current RFS candidate @EricHolguinTX.
We also partnered with NowThis for a series on why school board races matter. Tune in for this quick batch of videos with RFS candidate Devin Del Palacio.
School board elections live at the exact overlap of "under-discussed" and "super important". We partnered with @nowthisnews to explain why. In the first video, meet @Devindelpalacio.Know the power school board members hold. Part 1: Police on campus #LearnOnTikTok #TikTokPartner (via @jackienpadilla & Run For Something) https://t.co/hbQb8VX9ye
NowThis @nowthisnewsThe Laredo Morning Times endorsed Natali Hurtado in her race to flip a seat in the TX state house. This is a big deal: Last cycle they endorsed her Republican opponent.
PA state senate candidate Michelle Siegel is leading on a Rural Bill of Rights, giving representatives from across her community a clear list of aligned goals to fight for.
Ricky Hurtado could be the first Latino elected to the NC state legislature; campaigns like his are helping power outreach to Latino communities in places that might not have seen that kind of investment before.
NowThis continues to highlight Run for Something candidates in their “Face of Change” series.
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. joined six other young Black mayors on the Today show to talk about how they’re navigating the pandemic, the racial injustice, and executive leadership. Watch the segment.
“The Electorate Has a Bias for Youth & Energy” - how younger candidates are taking New York politics by storm. Read how the movement kicked off by folks like RFS candidates Alessandra Biaggi, Jessica Ramos, Andrew Gounardes, and Zellnor Myrie in 2018 led to the victories from folks like Jabari Brisport and Khaleel Anderson in 2020. This movement builds on itself!
A short but powerful letter to the editor about Kalie Hess, running for Maine state senate. The more people who show up for Kalie, the more people who will vote out Susan Collins. You love to see it.
Finally, you MUST watch this ad from Abigail Wheeler, who’s running to flip a seat in the Michigan state house. It’s one of the more badass ads we’ve seen in a while.
A few other things that happened last week, even though it feels one million years ago already:
We had three big events that you can catch up on…
Unapologetically Progressive in Michigan, with Rep. Mari Manoogian, Ranjeev Puri, and Chokwe Pitchford. Watch on Facebook.
Our final Armchair Chat on video storytelling with NowThis senior produer Allan Piper and creator Taylor Behnke. Watch on Facebook. (More than half a million people have already tuned in!)
RFS & NDTC with Senator Cory Booker & Aimy Steele, candidate for NC state house. Watch on YouTube. This event was so joyful; if you need something to soothe the soul, put this on.
There are no events this week (for the first time in a while, wow) but good news, another episode of Run for Something: The Podcast drops tomorrow. I interview Dr. Ravi Grivois Shah, a doctor and school board candidate in Tucson, Arizona — we talked about COVID, why school boards matter, and what it’s like to be campaigning right now. Subscribe wherever you get your shows.
I know things feel dark right now. But the truth is, the only way out is through — so let’s get through it together. Thank you for being part of our team.
- Amanda