|
Let's All Get to Work!
by Janet Singer
The news media loves to emphasize all of the negative – whether inflation or the war in Ukraine or Biden’s unpopularity. We have heard over and over that the party in power loses seats in the midterms. But when all of this gloom makes us overwhelmed and demoralized, our Crimson Goes Blue community is more important than ever. We are steadfast in our belief that if our community remains focused, pragmatic, and energized, we can face down the anti-democratic forces that threaten our nation. We hope that for those of you who were able to join us for our virtual gathering two weeks ago, that is the message you took away.
There are some glimmers of hope in the news. While the GOP is using their resources during the primaries to nominate Trump-supported election deniers, the January 6 hearings are showcasing respected Republican voices–even those closest to Trump–asserting under oath in videotaped testimony that the claims of fraud and election rigging are not true and they never believed them. Though polls are not terribly predictive this early in the election season, they do tell us that Democrats are very much in this race. In the latest round of June polls, Democrat Josh Shapiro is leading against January 6 insurrection participant Doug Mastriano in the Pennsylvania Governor’s race, and John Fetterman is ahead of Trump-endorsed Mehmet Oz for the open Senate seat there. In North Carolina, the Democrat Cheri Beasely is now polling ahead of Trump-endorsed Ted Budd in the race to replace retiring Republican Senator Richard Burr, and in Ohio Tim Ryan is now ahead of Trump-endorsed JD Vance for the Senate. As the January 6 Committee continues to release damning information about Republican involvement in Trump’s seditious conspiracy, the Trump wing of the GOP may face more headwinds in November.
So now it is time to get to work! Each of us, by virtue of our Harvard education and our standing in whatever community we find ourselves in, has a unique ability and responsibility to help defend our democracy and bring about that “more perfect union.” At Crimson Goes Blue, we feel it is our responsibility to bring you the information, the organization, and the tools you need to help you in that work.
Crimson Goes Blue is a pragmatic, pro-democracy group. More than ever, we need to focus our time, energy, and money on races that matter–ones that are close but winnable, ones that can change the balance of power. In the end, it will come down to just a handful of close races that will determine whether we have access to abortion, fair election administration, and support for working families. And at the very heart of our work is a commitment to election integrity, since that is the core of our whole democratic system.
So, how can you join this effort?
You can volunteer as part of our CGB State-based action teams in Arizona, California, Georgia, the Midwest, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Pennsylvania–the states where election integrity is most at risk or where state and federal races need the most support or both.
You can get involved with one of our Voter Protection and Election Integrity efforts, where you can help reach out to voters via postcards, letters, by phone, or help staff hotlines to answer questions about voting procedures and help cure ballots.
You can donate money (or help solicit other people to donate money) to the races that actually matter and grassroots organizations that are working to defeat voter suppression and support election integrity in local, state, and national races all over the country by giving through our curated Crimson Goes Blueprint Portfolio.
Go to our “Act” page on our website and read about all of the ways we are working to support everyone in the Crimson Goes Blue community to find the way they can work to defend our democracy.
Remember, midterm elections are almost always about voter turnout. They are about energy and focus. WIth all the news pouring out, it is easy to become overwhelmed. With all the election deniers still being supported by Republicans in primaries all over the country, it is easy to become demoralized. With all the work we still have to do, it is easy to feel defeated. But the Crimson Goes Blue community is here to keep all of us focused, pragmatic, and energized, to do the work we need to do. Let’s say yes to our democracy. Let’s play our A-game. No regrets. Because our democracy is worth defending.
|
