MIDTERMS MINUTE 2022: The Rest of the Toss Up House Races
Welcome to the Midterms Minute 2022!
Today’s focus is on the remaining toss-up House race.
The rating information below is based on Cook Political Report House ratings as of October 4th, 2022.
Short on time? Support ALL Democrats in key House races with one donation to the SwingLeft Hold the House Fund, or the SwingLeft Immediate Impact Fund which supports all high-impact races (House and Senate) and is updated weekly.
HOUSE TOSS-UPs (Democrat Incumbents):
CT-05 - Hayes
IL-17 Open - Sorenson
IN-01 - Mrvan
ME-02 - Golden
MI-07 - Slotkin
MN-02 - Craig
NH-01 - Pappas
NV-01 - Titus
NV-03 - Lee
OR-05 Open - Jamie McLeod-Skinner
Moved to "Toss-Up" from Leaning D - OR-06 New seat -
PA-08 - Cartwright
PA-17 Open -
RI-02 Open -
VA-02 - Luria
VA-07 - Spanberger
WA-08 - Schrier
HOUSE TOSS-UPs (Republican Incumbents):
AZ-01 - Schweikert
CO-08 New Seat -
NC-13 Open -
NE-02 - Bacon
NM-02 - Herrell
TX-34 Merged Seat -
Remember: Voting is not enough. Check out our curated GOTV resources.
MIDTERMS MINUTE 2022: Defending State Governor and Secretary of State Races from Anti-democracy MAGA Extremists
Welcome to the Midterms Minute 2022!
Today’s focus is on how to defend State Governor and Secretary of State races from anti-democracy MAGA extremists.
Short on time? 1) Support Democrats in key state Secretary of State races with one donation to MoveOn.org's "America for All" midterm election campaign. 2) Support Democrats in key Governor races with one donation to the SwingLeft Governor Fund. 3) Help Democrats in key state legislative races with one donation to the SwingLeft Legislative Fund.
According to the Washington Post, 291 Republican election deniers are on the ballot this fall, with 171 where the GOP is favored to win.
To ensure as few of them as possible win seats with election oversight power, MoveOn.org's "America for All" midterm campaign strategy is focused on two things: secretaries of state and governors. This effort also includes major Democratic voter outreach to ensure the pro-democracy Democratic candidates win or retain their seats, as well as "vote tripling" (personal outreach to a previous non-voter from someone they know).
Donate and/or volunteer to get involved in this grassroots effort to stop anti-democracy MAGA candidates from taking over state-level seats of power critical to safeguarding our elections, and, therefore our democracy.
The Gubernatorial race ratings below are based on Cook Political Report Governor Race Ratings as of October 12th, 2022. Secretary of State race ratings are from a FiveThirtyEight summary published Oct. 11th.
Key Secretaries of State Races
MoveOn has endorsed 5 candidates for Secretary of State:
TOSS-UP Arizona: (D) Adrian Fontes vs. (R - Election Denier & former Oath Keeper) State Rep. Mark Finchem (CLOSE race with R Finchem showing 2 point lead - FiveThirtyEight)
TOSS-UP Nevada (Open): (D) Cisco Aguilar vs. (R - Election Denier) Marchant (CLOSEST SoS Race in the Country with R Marchant holding small lead - FiveThirtyEight)
LIKELY D Colorado: (D - Incumbent) Jena Griswold vs. (R - Accepts election results) Pam Anderson (R Anderson way behind on fundraising - FiveThirtyEight)
LIKELY D Michigan: (D) Jocelyn Benson vs. (R - Election Denier) Kristina Karamo (Benson leading by 11 points in recent polls - FiveThirtyEight)
LIKELY R Georgia: (D) Bee Nguyen vs. (R - Incumbent - Defended election results) Brad Raffensperger (Raffensperger has 11 point lead - FiveThirtyEight)
Key Governors Races:
Candidates MoveOn Endorsed/is Supporting:
TOSS-UP Arizona (OPEN): (D) Katie Hobbs vs. (R - Election Denier) Kari Lake
TOSS-UP Wisconsin: (D - Incumbent) Tony Evers vs. (R - Endorsed by Trump) Tim Michels
LIKELY D Michigan: (D - Incumbent) Gretchen Whitmer vs. (R - Election Denier) Tudor Dixon
LIKELY D Pennsylvania (OPEN): (D) Josh Shapiro vs. (R - Election Denier & Christian Nationalist) State Sen. Doug Mastriano
LIKELY R Texas: Beto O'Rourke vs. (R - Incumbent) Greg Abbot
LEAN R Georgia: Stacey Abrams vs. (R - Incumbent) Brian Kemp
Other Toss-Up Governor Races:
Kansas: (D - Incumbent) Laura Kelly vs. (R - Election Denier) Derek Schmidt
Nevada: (D - incumbent) Steve Sisolak vs. (R - Former Sheriff) Joe Lombardo
Oregon (OPEN): (D) Tina Kotek vs. (R) Christine Drazan vs. (I) Betsy Johnson
Other Important Likely R Governor Races:
Florida: (D) Charlie Christ vs. (R - Incumbent & Election Denier) Ron DeSantis
Remember: Voting is not enough. Check out our curated GOTV resources.
MIDTERMS MINUTE 2022: Toss Up Senate Races in GA, NV, PA, and WI, and Senate Races (precariously) Leaning D or R
Welcome to the Midterms Minute 2022!
Today’s focus is on toss-up Senate races in Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, and the other key Senate races leaning (precariously) Democrat or Republican.
The rating information below is based on Cook Political Report Senate ratings as of October 7th, 2022.
Short on time? Support ALL Democrats in key Senate races with one donation to the SwingLeft Hold the Senate Fund, or the SwingLeft Immediate Impact Fund which supports all high-impact races (Senate and House) and is updated weekly.
HOLD! GEORGIA Toss-Up Senate Race:
(D Incumbent) Warnock vs. (R) Walker
Having defeated Republican Kelly Loeffler in 2020 during a special election, Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock - working on restoring the right to vote, helping Georgia farmers, and expanding healthcare access - is now defending his hard-earned seat against loose cannon, Trumper, and former NFL player Herschel Walker. Recently, news broke that Walker - who is staunchly against abortion rights - paid for an abortion for a woman he was involved with. (Obviously, Republicans do not care.)
TAKE ACTION: Support Warnock with a donation to SwingLeft's Georgia Senate Fund fund and/or sign up to volunteer for the campaign.
HOLD! NEVADA Toss-Up Senate Race:
(D Incumbent) Cortez-Masto vs. (R) Laxalt
According to Ballotpedia, recent statewide Nevada races are won by 5 points or less, and the analysts say this one could come down to 2 points. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, the former Attorney General of Nevada, is trying to defend her Senate seat by focusing on abortion rights, the economy, law enforcement (too friendly), and healthcare. Her opponent, Republican Adam Laxalt is a lawyer from a big Nevada political family but has never held elected office. He claims Cortez Masto didn't support law enforcement enough after a police officer was injured during a protest after George Floyd's murder, then right afterward said he thinks the left is using the FBI as a political tool and can't support the agency. There are 3 others running for this seat (right-leaning Libertarians and Independents).
TAKE ACTION: Support Cortez Masto with a donation to SwingLeft's Nevada Senate Fund fund and/or sign up to volunteer with the campaign.
FLIP! PENNSYLVANIA Toss-Up Senate Race - OPEN (Prior R Incumbent):
(D) Fetterman vs. (R) Oz
This is a critical race. Pennsylvania's Democratic Lt. Governor John Fetterman is running for the Senate seat left open by Republican Pat Toomey (not seeking reelection). The unconventional Fetterman is focusing his campaign on the economy - tax cuts for working people and fighting corporate greed. His opponent is Republican "Dr. Oz", the former surgeon who used his national daytime TV show to push fake science and gimmicks as health information. He has never held political office and there are questions about whether he even lives in Pennsylvania (he seems to spend a LOT of time in New Jersey).
TAKE ACTION: Support Fetterman with a donation to SwingLeft's Pennsylvania Senate Fund fund and/or sign up to volunteer with the campaign.
FLIP! WISCONSIN Toss-Up Senate Race:
(D) Barnes vs. (R Incumbent) Johnson
Biden took Wisconsin in 2020 with just 49.5% to Trump's 48.8%, so, this is likely to be a hard-fought race. Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes is Wisconsin's first black Lt. Governor and grew up in a poverty-stricken zip code where both parents had good union jobs that gave him a path to middle-class opportunities. He is focusing his campaign on creating more union jobs, protecting reproductive rights, and ending corporate handouts. Meanwhile, Sen. Ron Johnson's extreme anti-abortion views are well-known, which is why his sudden call for a state referendum on abortion as simply what it is: a political maneuver leading into the midterms. Johnson has said Jan. 6th insurrection was not an "armed insurrection" and in the same breath said the "protestors" taught us how to use flagpoles as weapons. He also wants to dismantle Social Security and calls all climate proposals "radical green energy policies."
TAKE ACTION: Support Barnes with a donation to SwingLeft's Wisconsin Senate Fund fund and/or sign up to volunteer with the campaign.
Key Senate Races Leaning Democrat
HOLD! ARIZONA: (D Incumbent) Sen. Mark Kelly vs. (R) Blake Masters (<- Bankrolled by Peter Thiel and endorsed by ALL the other worst people)
HOLD! COLORADO: (D Incumbent) Michael Bennet vs. (R) Joe O'Dea (<- Claims he's a "moderate", but would vote for Trump in 2024...)
HOLD! NEW HAMPSHIRE: (D Incumbent) Maggie Hassan vs. (R) Don Bulduc (<- Has flip-flopped TWICE on whether or not he denies the 2020 results)
Key Senate Races Leaning Republican
FLIP! FLORIDA: (D) Rep. Val Demmings vs. (R Incumbent) Sen. Marco Rubio (<- "Little Bigot Marco" who got his ass handed to him by a Florida drag queen he singled out in a fear-mongering campaign ad)
FLIP! NORTH CAROLINA: OPEN - (D) Cheri Beasley vs. (R) Tedd Budd (<- Trump-endorsed and an election denier via avoidance)
FLIP! OHIO: OPEN - (D) Rep. Tim Ryan vs. (R) Jim Vance (<- Endorsed by Trump, Jim Jordan and more of the worst, also running a dishonest, inflammatory, dog-whistling campaign)
Remember: Voting is not enough. Check out our curated GOTV resources.
MIDTERMS MINUTE 2022: Toss Up Races in CA, NY and OH, and Open Races Leaning D or R
Welcome to the Midterms Minute 2022!
Today’s focus is on toss-up House races in California, New York, and Ohio, and open or new seats that are leaning Democrat or Republican.
The rating information below is based on Cook Political Report House ratings as of October 4th, 2022.
Short on time? Support ALL Democrats in key House races with one donation to the SwingLeft Hold the House Fund, or the SwingLeft Immediate Impact Fund which supports all high-impact races (House and Senate) and is updated weekly.
CALIFORNIA Toss-Ups:
HOLD! CA-13 - OPEN - This used to be Rep. Barbara Lee's district, but now she's running for CA-12 after redistricting. Republicans see this shuffle as a good chance to pick up a seat. The Democrat is state congressperson Adam Gray, a moderate on many issues, but whose voting record shows that he is in favor of abortion rights and expanding access. The Republican is John Duerte, a businessman and "school choice" advocate whose priorities include "securing the border" and squashing the defund-the-police movement. Both are focused on water rights for farmers.
FLIP! CA-22 - (R Incumbent) - Republican Rep. David Valadao was representing the 21st district, but after redistricting he's running for the 22nd which includes most of his former district. The Democrat in this race is state assemblyperson Rudy Salas, who is focused on reducing drug prices and expanding access to healthcare, including mental healthcare. This used to be a "leaning D" race, but is now a toss-up.
FLIP! CA-27 - (R Incumbent) - Politico calls Republican Rep. Mike Garcia the most vulnerable GOP candidate in the country since his district in north Los Angeles voted for Biden by 13 points. The Democrat in this race is state assemblyperson Christy Smith, who is focusing on expanding affordable healthcare, improving education, and fighting climate change.
TAKE ACTION: Support all of the Democratic candidates in CA House races with one donation to SwingLeft's California House Target fund and/or volunteer (virtual & in-person opportunities).
NEW YORK Toss-Ups:
HOLD! NY-19 - OPEN (former D Incumbent) - Redistricting moved the Democratic incumbent. The Democrat, Josh Riley, is defending his seat after a special election. He is focusing his campaign on strengthening democracy, building an equitable economy, inflation, and abortion rights. His opponent is Republican is Marcus Molinaro. The redistricting appears to slightly favor Democrats, but it's still going to be close.
FLIP! NY-22 - OPEN (former R incumbent) - The Republican incumbent is now running for NY-24 due to redistricting. The Democrat is Francis Conole, who is focusing on healthcare, the economy, and the environment - and wants to codify Roe v. Wade. The Republican candidate is Brandon Williams, a self-proclaimed "outsider" and veteran focused on "restoring rule of law".
TAKE ACTION: Support all of the Democratic candidates in NY House races with one donation to SwingLeft's New York House Target fund and/or volunteer (virtual & in-person opportunities).
OHIO Toss Ups:
HOLD! OH-13 - Open - (Former D Incumbent) - This was Tim Ryan's seat, but now he's running for Senate. The Democrat is Emilia Sykes, who is prioritizing jobs and rising costs, and healthcare. The Republican candidate is Madison Gesiotto Gilbert, a former Trump campaign staffer (both times) and television commentator - that's really all you need to know.
FLIP! OH-01 - (R Incumbent) - Democrat Greg Landsman is focusing on lowering costs for families (inflation) and jobs and the economy, and is pro reproductive rights. He is hoping to oust the Republican incumbent, Steve Chabot.
Also, in Ohio, check out the Open Senate race between Democrat Rep. Tim Ryan and Trump Republican Jim Vance, rated "Leaning R".
TAKE ACTION: Support all of the Democratic candidates in OH House races with one donation to SwingLeft's Ohio House Target fund and/or volunteer (virtual & in-person opportunities).
Open/Vacant/New Races Leaning Democrat
IL-13 - Open - (D) Delia Ramirez vs. (R) Justin Burau
MI-03 - Open - Four candidates: (Working Class Party) Louis Palus | (D) Hillary Scholten | (R) John Gibbs | (Libertarian) Jamie Lewis
NC-01 - Open - (D) Donald Davis vs. (R) Sandy Smith
NY-03 - Open - (D/Working Families Party) Robert Zimmerman vs. (R) George Devolder-Santos
OR-04 - Open - (D/ Working Families Party) Val Hoyle vs. (R) Alex Skarlatos vs. (Constitution Party) Jim Howard vs. (Independent Party/Libertarian) Levi Leatherberry vs. (Pacific Green Party) Michael Beilstein
OR-06 - New Seat - (Democratic Party, Working Families Party, Independent Party) Andrea Salinas vs. (R) Mike Erickson vs. (Consitution Party) Larry McFarland
Open/Vacant/New Races Leaning Republican
CA-03 - Open - (D) Kermit Jones vs. (R) Kevin Kiley
FL-07 - Open - (D) Karen Green vs. (R) Cory Mills vs. a write-in
FL-13 - Vacant - (D) Eric Lynne vs. (R) Anna Paulina Luna vs. (Libertarian) Frank Craft vs. other write-ins
FL-15 - New Seat - (D) Alan Cohn vs. (R) Laurel Lee ( a former Gov. Rick Scott judicial appointee)
MI-10 - Open - (Working Class Party) Andrea Kirby vs. (D) Carl Marlinga vs. (R) John James vs (Libertarian) Mike Saliba vs.
MT-01 - New Seat - (D) Monica Tranel vs. (R) Ryan Zike (big coffers and getting millions from GOP in the final weeks) vs. (Libertarian) John Lamb
Remember: Voting is not enough. Check out our curated GOTV resources.
Fight to Pass the George Floyd Act, BREATHE Act, & Take LOCAL Action!
There are a few things you need to know upfront about the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act: it is not enough, it is not perfect, it will not come close to fixing everything, and it faces a steep uphill battle to get passed by the Senate.
That said, the bill is still historic and sweeping legislation in a country that has done next to nothing legislatively to stop police brutality. The bill includes the creation of a national database of police misconduct, bans federal law enforcement from using chokeholds and from using no-knock warrants in drug cases, criminalizes officer sexual misconduct against detainees, and more.
The key clarification here is that, if passed, the bill would mostly impact federal law enforcement. We’re talking about ICE, ATF and DEA officers, U.S. Park Rangers and police officers and many, many more law enforcement officers working under the federal government. But, as we know, police abuse and brutality happen frequently in these federal ranks and so the bill's potential impact should not be understated.
Two provisions in the bill that would definitely affect local and state police forces are the end of qualified immunity - which currently protects officers from individual liability - and limiting transfer of military equipment to local police departments. It’s important to remember that this bill is also still a work in progress and proposed amendments are still being made. You can help shape this bill by calling and writing to your members of congress.
The BREATHE Act is a project by The Movement for Black Lives unveiled in July 2020. This bill that aims to realign America’s moral compass by reallocating its massive investments in racist injustice systems, prisons and war toward incentives for decarceration, community-led approaches to public safety, and environmental, economic, health, education and housing justice. It’s basically “Defund the Police” on a national scale and an effort to acknowledge and right many of the wrongs committed over centuries. It is being called a visionary Civil Rights bill for the modern era. (See our segment from August 2020)
However, without an end to the racist Senate filibuster, any legislation like this is already stalled. Sure, you can force a vote and put people on the record, but Democrats have the power to end the filibuster and it is their duty to do so. Making sure that happens is an essential first step to any legislative fight right now.
So, should we keep fighting to improve and pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act? Yes. Should we keep fighting for the BREATHE Act from the Movement for Black Lives, which goes farther to address root causes of police brutality and its disproportionate impact on Black and Indigenous communities? Yes, and yes again.
But remember that in this gridlocked political landscape the local and state level fight for change is powerful and essential. You can get involved by joining a local action group or national organization local chapter fighting police brutality where you live. If you want a starting point to understand the approach to fighting police abuse and brutality locally, the ACLU Fighting Police Abuse Community Action Manual is a great resource.
From the halls of congress to your local city hall, tap into that local people power and make the change we need.
So, if upending our culture of police brutality is important to you, be sure to tell everyone you know about Fighting to Pass the George Floyd Act, BREATHE Act, & Taking LOCAL Action so that others in your network can spread the word too.
TAKE ACTION!
Fight to improve & pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
Fight to pass the BREATHE Act (Movement for Black Lives) (BOTL segment from last summer)
Join a local organization or chapter fighting police brutality: some suggestions
Explore the ACLU's "FIGHTING POLICE ABUSE: A COMMUNITY ACTION MANUAL"
EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE
George Floyd Justice in Policing Act Explained (Note: Headline updated) (Vox)
Now is the time to revolutionize policing (BREATHE Act) (Vox)
Movement for Black Lives opposes George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (PBS)
Why Police Brutality Is a Public Health Issue (Self)
Posted March 28, 2021; Researched and written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman
Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1407: Reclaiming the Streets (Defunding the Police and the Sarah Everard Outcry)
Fight GOP Voter Suppression Laws
With more than 253 bills attacking voting rights proposed in 43 states since the election and the Supreme Court signaling they will dismantle the rest of the beleaguered Voting Rights Act, the fight to defend and expand voting rights is quite literally existential.
So, let’s dive in.
At the federal level, as you’ve heard about today, there are two pieces of legislation that MUST become law. The first is H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which the Brennan Center for Justice is calling the “greatest civil rights bill since the civil rights movement itself.” The second is H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would re-establish the preclearance requirements that were gutted from the Voting Rights Act in the 2013 and establish national preclearance for practices that disproportionately affect communities of color.
You can join the fight to pass these bills by calling and writing to your members of Congress, and putting further pressure on them with safely organized local rallies with local chapters of political action groups. Common Cause has also created an H.R. 1 campaign page that includes all the ways you can take action, including signing up to textbank and phonebank voters in targeted districts connecting them to their Senators to support H.R. 1. Visit common cause dot org to get involved.
Of course, an essential piece of this work is also demanding the elimination of the Senate filibuster that was forged by racists more than a century ago and used by racists in the last century to fight the civil rights movement. It’s worth noting that Stacy Abrams is proposing a bit of a work around. She is calling on the Senate to invoke the elections clause of the Constitution to make voting rights bills only require a majority vote, like budget bills and judge and cabinet confirmations. This may sway conservative Democrats, like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema.
On the state and local level, get very familiar with reaching out to your state Reps, Senators and Governor if you’re not already. Blue states are not exempt from voter suppression laws - looking at you, New York. So, wherever you are make noise and fight to protect and expand the vote and start helping the opponents of any elected official that supports voter suppression laws.
And finally, many of the new GOP voter suppression laws are voter ID laws. The organization Vote Riders helps fight voter suppression laws and helps voters get the IDs they need to vote. The work they do between elections makes a huge difference on election day and they could use your help now. You can sign up to volunteer with them at voteriders.org.
So, if upholding the core tenants of democracy is important to you, be sure to tell everyone you know about Fighting GOP Voter Suppression Laws so that others in your network can spread the word too.
TAKE ACTION
Common Cause H.R. 1 Campaign - Text & Phonebank & Resources
Demand Elimination of the Filibuster
Follow Your State Legislature & Contact State Reps, Senators and Governor
Support Opponents of Suppressionists in Public Office
Vote Riders - Help Fight Suppression & Help Voters Get IDs They Need
EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE
For the People Act Is Needed to Stop New GOP Voter Suppression Bills (Teen Vogue)
Annotated Guide to the For the People Act of 2021 (Brennan Center for Justice)
How to Restore and Strengthen the Voting Rights Act (Brennan Center for Justice)
Blue States Suppress the Vote, Too (The New Republic)
Republicans Are Taking Their Voter Suppression Efforts to New Extremes (Mother Jones)
Republicans roll out “tidal wave of voter suppression”: 253 restrictive bills in 43 states (Salon)
Posted March 12, 2021; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman
Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1404: Democracy Under Siege (Voting and Protest Rights)
On November 14th & Beyond, Prepare to Stop a Coup in America via Refuse Fascism & Protect the Results
The first thing I’m going to tell you to do today is go read Naomi Klein’s latest article in The Intercept called “Now We Have To Fight Trump’s Tin-Pot Coup - And Biden’s Worst Instincts.” In the piece, Klein lays out five possible reasons why Republicans are echoing Trump’s baseless election fraud talking points. The last reason she lists is that there could be an actual thought-through plot for a coup. Klein notes that the risk slim, but not nil.
Regardless of whether you think Trump’s “coup-talk” is empty bluster, the public threat of a coup (or autogolpe) in America should be enough for us to call it out and prepare for how to stop it. This is a messaging war that we have to win.
Refuse Fascism has planned mass protests nationwide on Saturday, November 14th - and more will likely be planned. You can sign their pledge to the world that you refuse to accept a fascist America and find a protest near you or organize your own at RefuseFascism.org.
Additionally, Protect the Results is still ready and waiting and has moved out some of the dates of their protests. They now range from November 14th to December 1st and beyond, depending on the event. Go to ProtecttheResults.com to find an event or organize your own.
As we watch this all play out, remember the signs of a coup from the Waging Nonviolence article we highlighted a few weeks ago.
We know it’s a coup if the government:
- stops counting votes (Trump already lost that battle)
- certifies someone a winner who didn’t get the most votes (they are currently working on this), or,
- allows someone to stay in power who didn’t win the election (they are strongly signaling this is their intent)
Most coup attempts are secret then happen quickly, but Trump’s slow-walking style means we are able to prepare and that gives us - the people - an upper-hand.
As Klein points out, unrest in one of the world’s largest economies is not good for capitalists and they are the ones actually in control. So, in an irony no one can enjoy, it may be the capitalist monsters who get Trump and Republicans to stop the power grab. But they will only pull those strings if they see that an uprising is inevitable; we need to give a preview to assure them that it absolutely is.
So, if preventing a coup in America is important to you, be sure to tell everyone you know about Preparing to Stop a Coup in America on November 14th & Beyond so that others in your network can spread the word too.
TAKE ACTION
Protests on Sat., Nov. 14th - RefuseFascism.org
Protests Nov. 14th & Beyond - ProtecttheResults.com
10 Things You Need to Know to Stop a Coup (Waging Nonviolence)
EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE
Now We Have To Fight Trump’s Tin-Pot Coup - And Biden’s Worst Instincts (The Intercept)
This is no conventional coup. Trump is paving the way for a 'virtual Confederacy' (Opinion - The Guardian)
A political scientist explains why the GOP is a threat to American democracy (Vox)
Tantrum and Theater: Trump's Desperation After Election Loss Isn't Yet a Coup (The Intercept)
The Damage of Trump’s Voter-Fraud Allegations Can’t Be Undone (The Atlantic - June 2020)
Posted November 13, 2020; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman
Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1380: The Coup Attempt We Saw Coming Years in Advance
Georgia On Our Minds: Get Involved in Our LAST CHANCE to Flip the Senate
Georgia may go blue - barring a recount - for the first time since the 90s and yet one hard-fought miracle wasn’t enough. Now, because Democrats blew their Senate chances everywhere else, Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock are feeling the weight of the entire country on their shoulders to win not one, but BOTH Georgia senate seats in the January run-off elections.
I want to take a moment to remind our white listeners that the gigantic headline of the 2020 election is that Black voters, organizers and activists did the difficult, grueling ground work that handed the election to Joe Biden. The fact that Georgia is at least purple in a presidential election is a testament to Black activists and organizers and Black youth who turned out in huge numbers. So, white People: We are absolutely not allowed to sit this one out. Maybe you can’t literally move to Georgia like Andrew Yang, but you can still help make a difference.
As we saw in this election, money actually isn’t everything - but it sure helps. GASenate.com allows you to make a single donation that will be split between the Ossoff and Warnock campaigns, and Stacy Abrams’ Fair Fight PAC, which is training advocates to fight voter suppression in Georgia.
To help bolster the youth turnout, you should also consider donating or volunteering with Stacy Abrams’ other organization. The New Georgia Project is a nonpartisan organization with the goal of registering all, eligible unregistered citizens of color in Georgia by the end of the decade, with a focus on youth - the fastest growing part of the state’s electorate. This is important since Georgia residents who turn 18 by January 5th are eligible to vote in the run-offs. Go to NewGeorgiaProject.org to contribute or get involved.
You can also buy PPE for New Georgia Project workers from their Amazon Wishlist!
Another major presence on the ground in Georgia is Black Voters Matter, founded by LaTosha Brown and Cliff Albright to increase power in marginalized, predominantly Black communities. They not only register voters and advocate for voting rights, but help build infrastructure for other Black-led grassroots organizations. Visit BlackVotersMatterFund.org to donate or get involved.
And it’s very important to note that Georgia has a voter ID law, a tool of voter suppression that disproportionately affects low-income, unhoused and Black, Indigenous communities and people of color. You can help more people access the ballot by supporting or volunteering with my favorite organization, Vote Riders. VoteRiders helps voters identify the documents they need to get an ID, request and pay for the documents, pay the DMV fees, and gives a free ride to the DMV. Voters can call or text their help line at 844-338-8743 or go to VoteRiders.org/freehelp to submit an online form and get started. If you don’t need an ID, I strongly urge you to fundraise, donate or become a volunteer to support their sadly necessary work.
Of course, voter suppression will come in many forms, so the ACLU of Georgia is ready to take action. You can support their work at ACLUGA.org.
So, what are we all gonna do for the next 2 months? That’s right, keep Georgia on our minds.
If putting Mitch McConnell in the minority is important to you, be sure to tell everyone you know about Getting Involved in Our LAST CHANCE to Flip the Senate so that others in your network can spread the word too.
TAKE ACTION
- Buy PPE for the New Georgia Project workers!
SURJ Post-Election Action Toolkit
- Nov. 12th - Join SURJ Mass Call: White people recommitting to racial justice in a Biden Administration
EDUCATE YOURSELF
'The Rise Of The New South': Black Women Organizers Turn Georgia Bluish (WBUR)
Activist Brittany Packnett Cunningham’s Post-Election Road Map (W)
Young people could decide the Georgia runoff races for US Senate (The Civics Center)
#15: If We’re Not Organizing White People, Somebody Else Is (Organizing Upgrade - SURJ)
Voting Is Not Enough: FINAL PUSH! GOTV & DONATE STRATEGICALLY!
Next week, exactly seven days from now (Oct. 27th), America will watch the election results roll in. And chances are it will take days, possibly weeks, maybe even months until we know who won.
Your actions this week can build the giant turnout we desperately need to overwhelm gerrymandering, make up for voter suppression and deliver a decisive victory for Biden. Maybe that doesn’t sound exciting to some of you - and I get that - but this is what it will take to have a chance at protecting peoples’ rights and fighting for progressive ideas.
Last time, we highlighted the get out the vote campaigns Swing Left, Field Team 6 and Vote Save America. This week we’ll add Indivisible to that list at 2020.indivisible.org. Handwringing doesn’t help, but talking to likely voters might actually make you feel better. For our full list of volunteering opportunities, voting resources, and much more, visit our Voting Is Not Enough: 2020 Election Action Guide at BestoftheLeft.com/2020action.
Today, we’re going to focus on how you can strategically and effectively donate in this final, critical week before the election. We know these are hard times for many people, so if you can give - please, please do.
SwingLeft isn’t just getting out the vote, they’re also making it easy to donate strategically. The Swing Left Immediate Impact Fund sends 100% of your donation to the candidates in the closest races among the 12 Super States - the most important states to help flip the White House, the Senate and state houses key to rolling back Republican gerrymandering. Or, donate to one of the Super States and 100% of your donation will support close races up and down the ballot just in that state. Go to SwingLeft.org/fundsto donate.
If you want to help the Democrats keep control of the House, the DCCC has established what they’re calling a Frontline Member donation fund. These are House members who won tight House races and flipped districts in the 2018 midterms and are vulnerable in 2020. Go to DCCC.org/frontline to see the list of candidates and scroll all the way down to click to donate. It’s worth noting that this list includes Sharice Davids from Kansas - one of the first two Native American women elected to congress, as well as the first openly gay person elected to congress from Kansas. Lauren Underwood from Illinois - the youngest and first black woman to win in her district. Abby Finkenauer - the first woman elected to congress from the state of Iowa and nearly tied with AOC for youngest member of the House. And Jahana Hayes - the first black woman to represent Connecticut in congress. We don’t want to lose these 2018 gains in diversity and political outsiders.
If you want to help flip more House seats, donate to the DCCC’s Red to Blue program at redtoblue.dccc.org. That list includes Kara Eastman in Nebraska’s 2nd district, who was endorsed by AOC’s Courage to Change PAC and Justice Democrats in the primaries. She was within 2 points of winning in 2018. This could be her year.
(Not in on air segment) If you want to help flip state houses, you don't have to know about every state legislative seat that's in play. EveryDistrict does that for you. Read their blog post - complete with action buttons - about how they can help you strategically donate to help flip state legislatures.
And don’t forget about governorships, which will be critical to protecting civil rights laws and implementing public health measures to fight against COVID-19. Right now, Utah and Montana have an open seat for Governor, while Missouri’s Republican incumbent is in a close race. Indiana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia all have Republican governors up for re-election. Head to DemocraticGovernors.org to donate.
As we get closer to election day, remember that if you or someone you know encounters a problem when trying to vote, call Election Protection at 866-OUR-VOTE or visit 866OurVote.org. If you want to help voters, sign up to assist with Election Protection’s nonpartisan poll monitoring program at ProtectTheVote.net.
Don’t get complacent. Trump could still win this thing. Republicans could still hold on to the Senate or erode the gains in the House. No one wants to wake up on November 4th wishing they had done more, so take action now. Voting is not enough, folks….it’s just not.
So, if giving liberal candidates the resources they need to WIN this thing is important to you, be sure to tell everyone you know about Voting Is Not Enough: GET OUT THE VOTE & DONATE STRATEGICALLY FOR THE FINAL PUSH! so that others in your network can spread the word too.
TAKE ACTION!
GOTV: Swing Left | Field Team 6 | Vote Save America | Indivisible
Swing Left Immediate Impact Fund & Super States (White House, Senate & State Level)
DCCC Frontline Fund (Protect Vulnerable House Dems)
DCCC Red to Blue (Flip More Red House Seats)
EveryDistrict (Flip state legislatures)
Democratic Governors Association (Support Incumbents & Flip Red Governorships)
Voting Problems? Call 866-OUR-VOTE
EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE
The Battleground States Biden and Trump Need to Win 270 (The NY Times)
How Biden — or Trump — could win 270 electoral votes (Vox)
Stop giving your money to presidential campaigns, donate to local races instead (Business Insider)
Vision 2020: How soon will we know the US election outcome? (AP)
US Election 2020: When will we get a result and could it be contested? (BBC)
A Night of Firsts: The Candidates Who Made History in the 2018 Midterms (The Guardian, 2018)
Posted October 27, 2020; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman
Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1377: Building a Solidarity Economy for a More Resilient Future
Voting Is Not Enough: GET OUT THE VOTE!
It’s crunch time, folks. There are less than 2 weeks until election day. Just 13 days (as of Oct. 21).
And, yes, there is some positive news floating around regarding polling and fundraising…but, you know what?
Ignore it.
Dig deep and remember way, way, waaay back to 2016 when all that good pre-election news did not stop Trump from winning. Remember that every single day the GOP is working at the local level and through the courts to suppress votes. Remember that they may get their Supreme Court nominee through in time for the court to call a close election in favor of Trump. Remember that the right has been spending billions pushing a massive disinformation campaign to help reelect Trump and he has personally invited his supporters to practice voter intimidation at the polls. And beyond all of that, you should know that Republicans are now saying they are hopeful because they’ve seen a spike in Republican voter registrations in key states like Florida, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. In fact, they are calling these registrations their “secret weapon.”
So, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT get complacent. Getting Trump out is still a major uphill battle and right now - the the last two weeks before the election - we need all hands on deck. If you haven’t made volunteering a priority yet, please, please, please do it now. Even a couple hours a week can make a big difference.
There are many volunteer opportunities out there, but today we’re just going to re-highlight a few of the big ones. To see a longer list of volunteering opportunities, and much more, visit our Voting Is Not Enough: 2020 Election Action Guide at BestoftheLeft.com/2020 action.
First, you can volunteer from anywhere with Swing Left and help them continue implementing their Super State Strategy. This strategy focuses on 12 states that are each critical to the flipping the White House, the Senate and the state houses key to rolling back Republican gerrymandering. Go to TheLastWeekends.org to instantly find and sign up for phonebook and textbank shifts during the final two weekends before the election.
In addition to volunteering, SwingLeft also lets you donate strategically. The Swing Left Immediate Impact Fund sends your donations to the candidates in the closest races among the Super States, or you can choose a Super State and your donations will support races up and down the ballot in that state. Go to SwingLeft.org/funds to donate.
Next, you could get involved with Field Team 6 - a west coast-based get out the vote organization that strategically partners with over 100 state and national organizations to make the most impact. With multiple, remote phone banking and text banking events and trainings held every single day of the week, there is just no excuse to not get involved.
Head to fieldteam6.org to check their Calendar of Events and sign up for a shift. If you’re not on the west coast, just a note that Field Team 6 lists the Pacific time first for all events, so adjust accordingly.
And finally, there is Vote Save America, the get out the vote effort from Crooked Media, which allows you to volunteer from anywhere in six key battleground states. You can also Adopt a State and receive updates on everything you need to know to support the work of organizers and volunteers in that state. Go to VoteSaveAmerica.com to learn more.
Voting is already underway, so if you or someone you know encounters a problem with ballot drop boxes, early voting, absentee ballots, or something else, remember that help is available. Call Election Protection at 866-OUR-VOTE or visit 866OurVote.org. If you want to help voters, sign up to assist with Election Protection’s nonpartisan poll monitoring program at ProtectTheVote.net.
So, if building massive voter turnout that categorically throws Trump out of office is important to you, be sure to tell everyone you know about Voting Is Not Enough - GET OUT THE VOTE so that others in your network can spread the word too.
TAKE ACTION!
Voting problems?
Call 866-OUR-VOTE or 866OurVote.org
Help Voters: Volunteer at ProtectTheVote.net
EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE
The Billion-Dollar Disinformation Campaign to Reelect the President (The Atlantic)
Behind in the Polls, Republicans See a Silver Lining in Voter Registrations (The New York Times)
Posted October 21, 2018; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman
Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1376: Tell Stories, Not Myths: America is a Force But Not Always for Good