Chop Wood, Carry Water 10/31 👻
Hi, all, and happy Monday!
And happy Halloween to those who celebrate it.
I’m moving slowly this morning, so I’m going to start this newsletter off by simply quoting Ronnie Cohen, the outstanding director of Activate America. She wrote this yesterday:
Across the country, Democrats are turning in their ballots at far higher levels than Republicans: it’s 4 to 1 in Pennsylvania, 3 to 1 in North Carolina, and [we have] a solid Democratic advantage in each of Nevada’s three competitive House races.
Interestingly, Democratic candidates are outperforming in Republican-leaning states, perhaps a reflection of the very immediate consequences of abortion access in those states should Republicans prevail.
We know better than to read too much into early voting numbers, but one thing is clear: the 2022 election is still very much up for grabs.
Couple this with the repeated assertions from Simon Rosenberg that Republicans are “flooding the zone” with bad polls to kill morale and suppress the vote, and you’ve got every reason to believe that this election is entirely winnable.
The only thing that will prevent our victory?
Quitting before we achieve it.
So let’s get back to work, push ourselves a little farther that we think we can go, and leave every last ounce of ourselves on the field fighting for our country.
While, of course, eating tons of candy. 🍭
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
No call today. Sorry. Drowning in election stuff.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
See above.
Extra Credit ✅
This seems small, but petitions to businesses can be really effective. Please ask Home Depot and Lowe's to stop selling their most hazardous pesticides now. Sign here.
Give Last Minute Money 💰
Blue Tent is out with a good post this morning arguing that last minute money would be best spent on grassroots orgs getting out the Black vote in key battleground states. They’ve got a fund splitting donations between the 3 most effective of these orgs. Give here. (I can’t seem to link to the post but if you want to read it reply to this newsletter and I’ll forward you the email they sent me.)
Get Smart! 📚
Is climate change a top issue for you? Oil Change International, one of the best groups working on getting us off fossil fuels, will be joined by renowned activists and writers, Rebecca Solnit and Nnimmo Bassey at its upcoming briefing.
When: Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 12 noon PDT / 3:00 pm EDT / 7:00 pm GMT
Where: Online! Please RSVP here.
If you haven’t heard from or read Solnit before you’re missing out. She’s an inspiration to millions, myself included. Not familiar with Bassey, but I’m sure he’ll be amazing.
Win Races with Heather Cox Richardson!
This event is particularly good if you live in a battleground state!
The amazing Heather Cox Richardson is back to help Red, Wine and Blue make one final push tomorrow night at 7:30PM ET. Join them as they rally together to get out the vote AND raise funds for women in need of access to abortion services -- all at the same time!
Here’s how it will go down: You contact the people you know about voting, and Red Wine & Blue will give up to $500 to your state’s abortion fund—OR to you, to keep or donate to your favorite charity. You don’t want to miss Heather so be sure to RSVP here if you haven’t already!
Win Races—Write Postcards (yes, still)!
Postcards to Voters is still assigning addresses for:
Beto O'Rourke, Susan Hays, and Luke Warford running for Governor, Agriculture Commissioner, and Railroad Commissioner (respectively) in Texas.
Senator Raphael Warnock for re-election and Stacey Abrams for Governor in Georgia.
Justice Jennifer Brunner, Judge Marilyn Zayas, and Judge Terri Jamison for Supreme Court in Ohio.
Defeat of the Anti-Choice Constitutional Amendment in Kentucky.
State Senator James Skoufis in New York.
Tony Vargas for Congress in Nebraska.
Obviously they need to be written fast, but if you’re ready to go Text HELLO to (484) 275-2229 to get started!
Win Races—Textbank!
💻 Today, Monday October 31st, SURJ is offering a Spooktacular Text Bank for Georgia and Kentucky from 6:30-9pm ET
This textbank will be for Bee Nguyen + Stacey Abrams in GA or for Vote No on 2 : the Kentucky Abortion Amendment. You pick!
💻 Tomorrow Indivisible and Climate Hawks Vote are teaming up to text for Mandela Barnes in Wisconsin. It’s from 1 – 3pm EDT.
Win Races—Phonebank! 🗳
Every day this week:
Join Activate America to phone voters to GOTV in key Senate races - AZ, CA, GA, PA, NC, NV, and WI. Sign up here.
Tuesday, November 1
I’ve signed up to make calls for Wiley Nickel for NC-13 tomorrow, Nov 1, at 6PM ET. Are you free to join me? As always, calling for Congressional races will help with Senate races, too. Plus Nickel is a great candidate and this is a top race to watch!
Win Races, Cure Ballots NOW!
Joan’s Democracy Cafe is beginning their ballot-curing efforts in Nevada today! Nevada has already rejected thousands of ballots that need to be cured, so that these critical votes count. They will be calling voters who have voted Democrat, and advise them of the issue with their ballot, and walk them through how they can cure their ballots.
Please join JDC for these pivotal calls, on Mondays and Fridays only, from:
4:30pm to 7pm PDT
5:30pm to 8pm MDT
6:30pm to 9pm CDT
7:30pm to 10pm EDT
Click here to sign up (Mobilize), select Mon and Fri for Curing. And yes, they will train you!
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)
[to all 3 reps] [H/t Audubon Society] [Quick send: text SIGN PUEANT to 50409]
I am writing to urge you to support the Bird-Safe Buildings Act (HR 1986/S 791), which promotes bird-friendly design features at federal buildings.
North America’s bird populations have declined by 3 billion birds in the last 50 years and we must do more to bring birds back. This bill is a great step toward implementing the changes needed to save the hundreds of millions of birds killed every year in the U.S. by colliding with buildings.
This cost-neutral legislation works hand in hand with state and local efforts to address building collisions, including "lights-out" programs in our cities during spring and fall migration to help birds safely navigate our night skies, and guidelines that promote bird-safe construction in the private sector.
With threats to bird populations increasing, now is the time to do everything we can to minimize hazards facing birds. The Bird-Safe Buildings Act is an important step in that direction, and I urge you to cosponsor and support this legislation. Thanks!
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
Thank you as always Jessica for the inspiration!
Spent my day poll watching at Univ of NV Reno and learned a few things. Here’s how YOU can help turn out #GenZ Voters:
🗳 Remind them that if they did not get their mail in ballot, they may be able to same day register & vote at the polls. (22 states and Washington, D.C. do this - https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/same-day-registration.aspx.) Need proof of res/ID. (Ck www.iwillvote.com for state reqs/reg.)
🍩 Seriously, get some donuts or candy & go to your nearest student union of a community college, or university. Walk around and ask them if they’ve voted. If they haven’t, find out why and help them. Most kids I’ve talked to who haven’t voted WANT to vote but feel overwhelmed. (Last night, I spoke with a 19 year old hotel reception clerk - he said he wanted to vote, but he wasn't sure how to do it and that his family are Trumpers so he didn't want to ask them. I gave him www.iwillvote.com and my number for any questions about voting.) On Wednesday, I'mm going back to UNR to do the above!
📲 Make sure your kids (and their friends) have their ballots and will vote! And even if they are in a blue state, it's so important for young people to vote so they have political power and don't have 70+ yr old white conservative voters deciding their futures.