Hi, all, and happy Friday.
I’ve been posting a lot of long introductions here recently, so today I’m going to give you a gift and keep this one short. In fact, instead of saying much of anything, I’m going to simply re-post an email I received yesterday. It’s from Susan Labandibar, the co-lead of the formidable Swing Blue Alliance.
She wrote:
Just wanted to keep you in the loop on Swing Blue Alliance. We have 16 people coming to Suffolk [Virginia] to canvass for Clint Jenkins and Karen Jenkins and Nadarius Clark. Most hail from Massachusetts.
So far for Virginia we've:
Raised $43,182 for 9 candidates and the Center for Common Ground.
Had 1282 volunteer recruiting conversations with potential volunteers for rural candidates.
Talked to 1189 voters and identified 795 supporters for Clint Jenkins.
Sent 67,387 postcards for Clint Jenkins and rural candidates.
Knocked approximately 1500 doors for Clint Jenkins and down ballot candidates. We'll do over 5,000 by election day.
She then reminded me about their remaining phone banks, which I’ve listed below in the “Call Virginia” section (I’ll be at both), and shared their team’s photo album. AMAZING!
A reminder: these are just regular folks—volunteers!—from Massachusetts who decided that they were going to do everything they could to help win elections in nearby states. Their contributions are astonishing! I know, furthermore, because I attend their weekly phonebanks, that they’re organized, efficient, and very, very capable.
This is what our side has that the other side doesn’t. Passionate, smart, galvanized volunteers like the folks at SBA. Folks who are willing to go to another state for multiple days and knock doors. Folks who can run phonebanks and recruit volunteers for them. Folks who can raise meaningful amounts of money for grassroots organizations and candidates.
Folks like Susan.
Folks like you.
There are a LOT of volunteer opportunities listed in the second half of the newsletter today. This is it, friends. We either knock it out of the park on Tuesday because people like you threw themselves into this effort or we don’t, and Republicans crow that Team Blue has lost their edge.
More importantly, in every place we lose real people will suffer immeasurably.
So let’s not let it happen. I look forward to seeing lots of clicks on those sign-up links! Let’s channel Susan. Let’s channel Ady. Let’s channel every activist before us who worked for justice, fairer laws, and better lawmakers.
Let’s leave it all, in short, on the field.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I understand that the Senate will soon vote on a rules change to make it possible to get around Tommy Tuberville’s blockade of military promotions. I want the Senator to support it. There are two ground wars happening overseas and the geopolitical situation is unstable in several other places. Tuberville is putting this country in danger. Get around his blockade and then vote to censure him. Thanks.
[Jay Kuo has a great new post explaining this whole Tuberville situation and how a rules change would work.]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m furious that the House just voted to cut IRS funding when that agency is finally going after the richest Americans, may of whom have been avoiding paying their fair share of taxes for decades. I’d like to know if the Congressmember supported these cuts, which will add enormously to our deficit.
[If yes, did vote to support cuts:] Really. And how is s/he is justifying that? Doesn’t s/he want lower deficits? Isn’t that what the Republican party is all about? Perhaps the GOP doesn’t actually care about deficits at all. I’d like an answer in writing. Thanks.
[If no, don’t support cuts] Thank you. I’d like the Congressmember to continue fighting these cuts at every opportunity. I like that the IRS is finally going after the Elon Musks of this world and bringing in a ton of money as a result. Please keep funding them. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
The Department of Labor has proposed new protections for temporary farm workers. Public comments for these regulations are open until November 14th. Since scripted comments are not counted, submit a comment in your own words sharing why you support the proposed regulations using the talking points below.
I’m commenting from [ZIP] in support of the proposed regulations because they will:
Strengthen farm workers’ right to advocate for better working conditions, unionize, and accept guests in employer-provided housing.
Protect workers from unjust firing, retaliation, and other labor rights violations.
Prevent human trafficking by prohibiting employers from confiscating workers’ travel documents.
Target unlawful fees, fraud, and other abuse in the recruitment and hiring of workers.
Remember, the above are talking points but please make it your own or they’ll toss your comment out.
[H/T Americans of Conscience Checklist]
Get Smart! 📚
Next week, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in United States v. Rahimi, challenging the constitutionality of gun laws that prevent people under domestic violence restraining orders from owning guns. The outcome of this case could upend years of progress we've made around gun violence protection measures and worsen the gun crisis in America.
On Wednesday, November 8th at 4pm ET, join Just Majority for an experts’ discussion of the oral arguments, what the Rahimi case tells us about the threat this Supreme Court to poses to gun safety, why there’s growing support for Supreme Court reform in the gun safety movement, and where we go from here. Register here.
Spread the Word! 📣
The powerful ad Maga Is Watching You has tested well at mobilizing voters. Reproductive rights are on the ballot next Tuesday in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Kentucky and New Jersey, too! Please share the ad across social media with this Demcast toolkit! So easy!
Win Races—send texts! 💻
Public Citizen is holding one final text-a-thon event to reach voters tomorrow, November 4, from 10:00-11:30 a.m. ET. This is their last push to inform voters and turn them out to vote in Tuesday's elections! RSVP here.
Win Races—call VA! 🗳
I’ll be at the Swing Blue Alliance phonebank into Virginia today from 1-3 PM PT /4-6 PM ET. Join us! Register here.
Then I am kicking off a phonebank into VA with the Environmental Voter Project! Come hear my short pep talk and stay to make easy, effective calls! 3-5 PT / 6-8 ET. Sign up here.
Or the DNC has a special phone bank tonight, Friday, with VP Harris and Rep Maxwell Frost. 3:15PM PT / 6:15 ET - sign up here.
The Center For Common Ground has one more National Guided Phone bank before election day next week! It’s on Saturday (the last day of early voting). They are still hearing from voters that their phone calls are the FIRST time they are hearing about the election. 10 am PST / 1PM EST You will be SO supported! ♥️ Here is the link.
Sat 4-6 ET phonebank with Jane Fonda for VA climate champs! Sign up here.
And on Monday I’ll be back at my Swing Blue Alliance phonebank into VA. 2PM PT / 5PM ET. Register here.
Win Races —call PA! 📲
Sign up to make ballot chase calls into PA on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Remember, there are FOUR statewide judicial races in PA—including a State Supreme Court seat—as well as some very important school board and election administration races that could determine the outcome of the 2024 Presidential election!
These PA election administrator races in Berks, Luzerne, and Erie counties are so important they have their own phonebanks. They are here (for the weekend and Monday) and here (for election day).
Win Races—call VA and KY! ☎️
The Union has a Sun. Nov 5 phonebank into VA and Kentucky 3-5 PM PT / 6-8 ET sign up here.
Win Races—call Ohio!
Activate America has daily phonebanks into Ohio between now and election day.
You can sign up below:
Nov. 4 from noon – 2 p.m. EDT
Nov. 5 from 1 – 5 p.m. EST
Nov. 6 from 3 – 8 p.m. EST
Nov. 7 from 1 – 5 p.m. EST
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[to your HOUSE rep] [H/T] [Text SIGN POLLRF to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
Hello, I’m writing as a constituent because I’m concerned about the dramatic rise in homelessness affecting over half a million Americans, including families with children. I urge Congress to expand investments in affordable, accessible housing through the FY24 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Bill (H.R. 4820), and to oppose harmful amendments that would prevent those with the greatest need from accessing housing.
As the House FY24 Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Bill goes to the floor, I urge you to support increased funding for HUD programs that have been proven to reduce homelessness; and to vote against punitive policy amendments that would increase homelessness among vulnerable groups. This shouldn’t be about partisan politics. It should be about getting or keeping a roof over the heads of as many Americans as possible. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Once again I forgot to post a link. It's for the Environmental Voter Project phonebank I'm kicking off! It's here https://mobilize.us/s/zTAC6x hope some of you will come!
I love your newsletter and I love being part of actively working to save democracy. Thank you.