Hello 2023! (1/2/23)
Hello, 2023. If you were able to take a break and find time for family, friends, and festivities, we hope it provided food for the soul and heart. Welcome back and if you are new to our community, we are thrilled you are joining us! After 2016 we have learned many things, but most importantly that democracy is not a spectator sport, that every act of democracy small or large is important, and that together we are stronger. Our friend Robert Hubbell reminded us of this in today's newsletter where he wrote: "After January 6th, every act of democracy is important, no matter how seemingly small or insignificant. The election in Arizona for Attorney General was won by a Democrat by a margin of 280 votes. That margin may have been the result of postcards by a dozen dedicated citizens, or texts by a single person, or door knocks by two teams of canvassers. There are no small acts in defense of democracy."
Let us enter 2023 with optimism in our ability to make a difference, inspire others to do what they can, and engage in the big and small acts in defense of democracy. We are postcard writers, candidate supporters, students and educators of democracy, and most of all a community that turns our rage into action and our hope into energy. We do this work because we believe in the idea of democracy and know that every postcard we write, phone number we call or text, dollar we raise, and door we knock could be the deciding vote in an election. May our new year’s resolutions include staying present in the fight for our values and freedoms, encouraging a friend to join the work, and not allowing the polls and media to distract or depress us. (On that front, this New York Times piece about how the Republicans flooding the zone with bad polls in the last weeks before the midterms may have had an impact in some close races, is a must-read. If we have learned anything it is that doing the work works!
We don't know about you but our inboxes are full of messages of optimism after the midterms. And we are as happy as anyone that the midterms went so much better than expected for Democrats (except in New York but that's another story). However, we think you all know that this does not mean that it is time to let up. As Jessica Craven wrote in today's edition of "Chop Wood, Carry Water," "There are no “off years” in a struggling democracy. What we achieved in 2022 was amazing. Brilliant. Shocking. What we must achieve this year will be more remarkable still. For we must either continue to build on the momentum of our victories or risk losing our hard-won advantage. That, we cannot do. Because the battle for the future of our country is not over. Not by a long shot." We have special elections, school board, and other local elections, state legislative and gubernatorial elections in several states to focus on this year.
Join us as we hit the ground running for 2023. US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is visiting us on January 9th. We have a fantastic panel launching our deep dive into what happened in NY on the 23rd, and already we have started scheduling other guests/speakers. Of course, there also are postcards to write for January special elections and voter registration campaigns. It is all listed below.
Happy New Year! We are glad we are starting it with all of you.