Go, OOOHHHHH

Remember: our politics are broken, not our people

Go, Oooooohhhhh!! Ohio voters went to the polls in record numbers on August 8^th and resoundingly defeated by a total of 57% to 43% a Republican-backed referendum aimed at making it harder to pass constitutional amendments. Republicans were trying to sneak through this anti-democratic referendum while people were gardening and swimming. Moreover, they assumed people wouldn’t notice that this seemingly dry, procedural referendum was really about making it much harder for people’s voices to be heard on the issues, particularly abortion.

Shoving through a referendum to undo a fundamental tenets of direct democracy (that the majority rules) just doesn’t fly. We’ve proven this over and again in Ohio, but also in Arizona, Arkansas and South Dakota this year as well.  

Two more lessons from Ohio:

1.     Sunlight is important. Louis Brandeis wrote, “If the broad light of day could be let in upon men’s actions, it would purify them as the sun disinfects.” As invasive and pernicious as social media has become, one thing it does well is bring to light issues that powerful people do not want us to see. In addition, since 2016, we have a growing ecosystem of state and local organizations (e.g. Red, Wine and Blue, Swing Left, Indivisible) doing the hard work of political organizing that the Democratic Party abandoned. Together, we crushed the hopes of Republicans to sneak through a wildly unpopular referendum in August.

2.     Gerrymandering isn’t destiny. The idea of uncompetitive districts is daunting, but it doesn’t mean we can’t win. The old sports adage applies, “That’s why they play the game.” Look at Wisconsin, where winning one key state supreme court seat now allows us to rectify the most egregious gerrymandering in the country. There is a growing coalition of independents, Dems and Republicans who don’t want government in our private business that could create an entirely new political landscape if we cultivate it. One more thing: early voting helps a LOT.

Creating our north star. There continues to be one really important thing that the Extreme Right does better than us: they play the long game. We go campaign to campaign, outrage to outrage, candidate to candidate. Reproductive justice and freedom are going to take a long time to win back. We are going to lose battles, which is why it’s important that we create a north star to stay focused on the long run. Our north star (according to me) is building progressive political power in every state that prioritizes women’s health. It’s no more complicated than that, When we prioritize women’s health, we guarantee access to reproductive health care, which means women can decide if and when to have a family, which means women will make more money and be safer from domestic violence, which means children will grow up happier and more secure. I want to hear politicians start from this position, not tack it on to the bottom of their laundry list of policy positions.

I don’t want to pretend that any of this is easy. Progress on reproductive rights takes enormous energy, money and resilience. But knowing that we’re finally in the fight and we represent the majority of voters is what gives us strength.

Three things you can do today:

1.     Create a state level Giving Circle. I met with Melissa Walker last week – lucky me! Melissa is head of Giving Circles for the States Project. Giving Circles are social groups that pool their resources for a common cause. Remember the millions of dollars we dumped in Maine, Kentucky and SC senate races n 2020? Yeah, not a great use of money. Melissa’s group is helping us to become super strategic - and successful flipping state legislatures. In 2016, Michigan and Ohio looked very similar politically. The key to turning Michigan all blue was laser focus on state level elections. Flipping state houses is the best way to build lasting political power – just ask the far Right. Watch this video, then gather up a few friends and create your own giving circle as part of the States Project. I’m going to do it!

2.     Sign the Florida petition. Yes, I know, it’s awful to ever depend on Florida, but we’re going to win there in the same way we just won in OH – through referenda. Signatures are needed to get a referendum making abortion a state right in 2024. Get this, you don’t have to go out and find someone holding a clipboard, just fill out this form: https://floridiansprotectingfreedom.com/petition/

3.     See the Barbie movie!! Seriously. It’s a fantastic movie, which will make you feel better and more powerful and, well, happier.

Relax if you have a chance right now, and then let’s getting back to fighting in September!