Election Day 2021 (10/31/21)

As we approach election day 2021, no matter the outcome, we are reminded that tending to our democracy is a daily exercise and that important elections don’t just happen every four years. In this 2021 cycle, the Markers community wrote postcards late into the night before the last mailing deadline this week. We continue to text bank and phone bank to get out the vote and cure ballots. Our giving circle raised over $60,000 to support Democratic candidates running to protect the slim majority in the Virginia House of Delegates so they can continue legislating to make the lives of Virginians better. Many of us have voted early and others plan to vote on Tuesday. Big or small, whatever your part, thank you for being part of our community and tending to our democracy. As David Pepper, former Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party has said, "we should retire the phrase 'off-year elections.' There are no off years when it comes to saving our democracy."

Join us Tuesday night on Zoom and on Slack for Election Night results and Wednesday morning to debrief. Bring a friend. Details are listed below. Wednesday begins the look ahead into the 2022 midterms. It has been difficult watching the machinations in Washington the last few months. As Robert Hubbell recently said “If you are frustrated or upset by the process, direct that emotion into expanding the Democratic majorities in Congress. It is worth remembering that in January 2020, no respected forecaster predicted that Democrats would gain control of the Senate in 2020. But we did so, defying the odds. Let’s defy the odds in 2022. We can do that!” Tending to democracy isn’t easy and the work can feel slow, but if together we commit to the journey we can make a difference.