This is crunch time. Are you ready to get to work saving Democracy? Here's a guide with key GOTV opportunities.
There are many ways to help get out the vote from going door-to-door; making phone calls and sending text messages, writing postcards, volunteering at campaign offices and donating funds.
What happens in the next fifty days will determine the future of reproductive choice, voting rights, gun safety, civil rights, human rights, climate change, and the growing gap between the very rich and everyone else. The MAGA GOP is fighting to impose its minority views on the rest of us, and they have rigged the system to the point where they have a chance to prevail. We cannot allow it.
You have a choice. You can grow more anxious as the days go by, or you can turn your emotional investment into action.
This is a guide with some of the organizations, campaigns and candidates that need your help. I hope you will share it with your friends & family. You can easily focus your efforts on the races that most matter to you and where your work can have the biggest impact. Making a difference in this fight is not too hard to do. You do not have to be rich. You do not have to be an insider. You do not even have to leave your house.
When future generations ask who stepped up to save American democracy when it was under attack, and who joined the fight against forces that would take America backwards, I know I want to be able to raise my hand. Here’s how you can, too.
MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE
Start by making sure you are registered to vote. Vote.org & When We All Vote are among the many excellent resources to check your voter registration status (& register if you haven't already), find your polling place, check voting deadlines and much more. Once you have your voting plan set, you should also talk with your family & friends about their plan to vote. If you have questions about your voter registration, call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) to talk with a trained volunteers with Election Protection.
GET TO WORK
There are so many impactful ways you can get involved with a campaign:
Door to Door Canvassing
Postcarding
Phone and text banking
Working or volunteering on election day.
Donating to GOTV groups, causes & candidates
TRUSTED RESOURCES FOR GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORTS
In a close election little else matters if we do not get out the vote (GOTV). These are some of the smart, effective #GOTV groups that can use your help. Each one has a variety of volunteering options from texting and phone banking from your home to getting out and going door-to-door.
The Democratic National Committee and all of the Democratic party campaign committees also have volunteer opportunities. Click here to see what the DNC has scheduled.
THE REAL DAMAGE TO OUR SOCIETY IS HAPPENING IN STATE HOUSES- STATE PARTIES ARE FIGHTING BACK- YOU CAN TOO:
Gerrymandering has created districts where voters cannot hold officials accountable leading cruel abortion bans, restrictions on voting, book bans, and more. This needs to stop and various groups like Forward Majority, Every District & The States Project are leading this charge. Former Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper is an excellent source of information on this vital topic.
Also in the fight are state party organizations. Today’s Democratic Party organizations are a lot different than they were a generation ago. They have evolved from total reliance on unions and big city patronage organizations to become inclusive, broader based political organizing powerhouses that provide on ramps for everyone to get involved. Don’t get me wrong, those traditional partners in labor are still there, but the tent is big, and these state organizations are organized to win. These are the ones fighting some of the key battles including flipping state house chambers from red to blue like in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Arizona; stopping super majorities like in Wisconsin and gaining seats on State Supreme Courts like in Ohio:
PROTECTING THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE: GOVERNOR, STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SECRETARY OF STATE:
Democratic Governors and Secretaries of State are, in states like Wisconsin and Michigan, the last line of defense against MAGA legislatures.
The GOP chose to go after them with election deniers. In statewide races around the country, for Governor, Attorney General and Secretary of State, MAGA candidates have vowed not to accept election results. In 27 states, 43 Big Lie candidates are running for Governor, Attorney General and Secretary of State. In Michigan and Arizona, all three of the republicans vying for those top jobs are election deniers.
You can help by supporting key races around the country including:
Michigan: Gov Gretchen Whitmire, AG Dana Nessel, SoS Jocelyn Benson
Arizona: Gov candidate Katie Hobbs, AG candidate Kris Mayes, SoS candidate Adrian Fontes
Wisconsin: Gov Tony Evers, AG Josh Kaul, SoS Douglas La Follette
Nevada: Gov Steve Sisolak
Pennsylvania: Josh Shapiro
Texas: Beto O’Rourke
Georgia: Stacey Abrams
You can also volunteer at Dems of State and the DGA.
BREAKING THE FILIBUSTER IS JUST TWO SENATE SEATS AWAY!
Democrats have gotten a lot done with a 50/50 Senate but we do not have the majority we need to break the filibuster on issues like voting rights and reproductive choice. Each one of these Senate races is critical to holding the Senate and expanding the majority.
ARIZONA: Sen. Mark Kelly
WISCONSIN: Mandela Barnes
NEVADA: Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto
FLORIDA: Val Demings
NORTH CAROLINA: Cheri Beasley
PENNSYLVANIA: John Fetterman
GEORGIA: Sen Rev Raphael Warnock
OHIO: Tim Ryan
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Sen. Maggie Hassan
THE HOUSE IS AT RISK (and they will burn it down!):
Just imagine Rep. Jim Jordan leading screaming witch hunts. That’s what we will get if the GOP wins control of the House. And, they are favored to do just that. Despite extreme gerrymandering by Republicans, however, Democrats have a chance to hold them off if we win some key races including:
MICHIGAN: Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Hillary Scholten, Rep. Dan Kildee, Carl Malinga
ALASKA: Rep. Mary Petola
PENNSYLVANIA: Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Chris DeLuzio, Rep. Matt Cartwright
WISCONSIN: Brad Pfaff
OHIO: Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Greg Landsman, Emilia Sykes
WASHINGTON: Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez, Rep. Kim Schrier
You can also check out volunteer options with the DCCC plus find more targeted House races at Swing Left.
GET MORE GOTV INFO HERE:
START FIGHTING
As I said at the top, we live in a meaningful time. Two different futures are possible. Right now they are balanced on a knife’s edge, but that will not last. Whether we become a great multi-racial democracy and a force for good in the world, or begin the long slide into a selfish and autocratic rule is in your hands. Please join the fight.