We Know How to Win

Let's to take a deep breath and get to work

In 2016, it was unimaginable that we could lose. Now we know that it’s possible. And in 2022, we didn’t think we could win a ballot initiative for abortion rights in Kansas. We did handily, in part because we’ve learned how to organize politically in every state.

Political outcomes are not predetermined and inevitable unless we allow them to become so. We have won every statewide election in purple states since 2017, and now we’re going to use the same get-out-the-vote techniques to do it again.

We cannot allow the party that gleefully overturned Roe to win. We cannot afford to be discouraged. Let’s take a deep breath and get back to work.

The stakes of this election remain simple and clear: one side is for autocracy, the other for democracy. One side believes that politicians should decide what medical treatments women should be allowed to have; the other side believes women and their doctors should decide. One side believes the church should run the state; the other believes in separation of church and state. See, it’s not that complicated.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. There is a long way to go until November, and not a single vote has been cast yet.

2. We could not imagine losing in 2016, and since 2016, we have created amazing infrastructure in states for getting out the vote. This is particularly true in places like PA and MI, where we have won every statewide election since 2017.

3. Women of all political persuasions have been voting overwhelmingly to support and protect our right to choose our own futures, and we will do so again in November.

Here are the reasons we are going to win:

1. Abortion is on the ballot everywhere. Eight states have abortion on the ballot. In each case, there was an overwhelming number of signatures collected to ensure it. For instance, Arizona for Abortion Access turned in more than 823,685 signatures, exceeding the required 383,923. Other states with ballot initiatives include Maryland, Nebraska, New York, Nevada, South Dakota, and Florida. In addition, the state government is trying very hard to invalidate an initiative in Arkansas, but on flimsy grounds. We can win anywhere, for instance, in this special election in Alabama where the Democratic candidate led with abortion rights: CNN Article.

2. Independent and Republican women are voting for decency and freedom. We are winning on ballots in places like Kansas and Ohio because of the support from Independent and Republican women. Plus, there are people I would call quiet Dems. Politics is not their passion. They aren’t marching or yelling or maybe even talking about it with their friends and family. That’s fine; they can stay within their comfort zone. What we need them to do is to continue to vote on this issue even if it doesn’t seem like it is explicitly on the ballot. This is particularly true for the presidential race. The choice cannot be clearer: Republicans want a national abortion ban, and an unfettered Trump is very likely to give it to them. It’s not complicated, and we shouldn’t make it more complicated. Republicans are aiming to create not just an autocracy but a theocracy, and that’s why everyone needs to vote for Dems.

3. All politics is local. I have a MAGA-lite Congressman, Mike Lawler. Ridiculous, right!? My job is to work my ass off to make sure that Mondaire Jones gets elected and help re-take the house. If you’re in Wisconsin, your job is to get Tammy Baldwin re-elected. We need to stay focused on what we can do to encourage women and young people to vote. And kids get what’s at stake.

Here are a few things you can do today to support reproductive rights:

• Sign up with your statewide abortion coalition. Time was when abortion advocates fought one another as much as they fought the anti’s. That’s no longer the case. The groups are coordinated and working in concert. Here are ways to volunteer for abortion rights based on how much time you have: Bustle Article.

• Become an abortion whisperer. You know five people who are either despairing or turning out right now. Remind them that no one has actually voted yet. Tell them that each of us has a chance to express our outrage at Republican efforts to strip women of our rights in November. Show them the polling on abortion rights when they show you what Politico is shouting today.

• Buy from Every. Body. Brands for repro support: Every. Body. Brands.