Just had to barricade myself with Keylin in a restaurant when a shooting broke out in DC on 14th Street. The only thing I could think of was: “statistically this was bound to happen to me at some point” and I truly fucking hate that.
Thankfully we are safe and unharmed.
In 2009, Democrats lost the Virginia governors race by 17 points and New Jersey by 4 points.
In 2021, Democrats lost the Virginia governors race by 2 points and won New Jersey.
This is what it actually looks like on the ground. And honestly, a lot of volunteers and Dem base voters who are appalled at these take down efforts + disregard of their role in the Democratic process. The beltway is loud, but I promise these people are louder and actually vote.
The political job industry is opaque, difficult to navigate, and 99% reliant on connections. We should do more to make the process more transparent and accessible. How can we build up the current + next generation of political staff if they never get in the door to begin with?
We beat Trump. We defeated the most destructive President our country has ever had. The circular firing squad and blame game can wait. There's a lot to process.
But we'll never get to relive the day we defeated Donald Trump. Take a moment to sit with what you have accomplished.
Today, I found out that there is a COVID outbreak in a rural health facility in NC where my grandfather has been recovering from surgery. He was supposed to go home tomorrow. But today he tested positive for COVID. He is sick and alone. The line between grief and rage is thin.
The future of the Democratic Party runs through the South. It's easy to say during a big election, but we need to repeat that over & over again long after Jan. 5th, then match that w/ year-round investments. That's how we win in Georgia, and that's how we create the next Georgia.
It took a violent attempt to overthrow our government for Twitter to suspend an account that has been spreading misinformation, sowing discord, and inciting psychological and psychical violence for years. A choice they always had the power to make, but chose not to act until now.
2,000+ fired up
@JoeBiden
fans today in Detroit, Michigan 🔥🔥 No pundit or beltway hysteria here — only thousands of real people grateful for the President’s record of getting things done and want four more years. Shout out to one of our favorite Michiganders,
@HaleyLive
! 🇺🇸🎉
BREAKING: Iowa Gov. Reynolds signs into law a Republican-backed bill that makes it harder to vote early; shortens early voting period from 29 days to 20; voting sites will close at 8 p.m. rather than 9 p.m.
Kevin McCarthy continuing to mispronounce Kamala Harris is a choice he makes every day. It's intentional and subtle and racist and misogynist and a dog whistle all at the same time.
The cognitive dissonance of watching people in Kabul desperately cling to airplanes as they're taking off and falling to their death, then clicking back over and responding to work emails, is really something. Hope everyone gives themselves and others some extra space today.
As they say, some (bittersweet!) personal news: I will be moving on from my role as Executive Director of
@swingleft
at the end of the year.
After a rewarding, fun, and wild ride, it's very tough to put the last few years into words, but I am going to do my best and try! 🧵💘
20+ years since a presidential candidate has visited Savannah, Georgia —
@KamalaHarris
is taking her campaign for the people everywhere, and people are 👏🏻 showing 👏🏻 up 👏🏻
Thinking of the
@swingleft
community today. After the 2016 election, you dove into the resistance head first. You pushed full steam ahead for four straight years — from fighting for the House in 2018 to electing Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and a Democratic Senate. Thank you.
I almost didn't get one of my 1st jobs in DC bc I didn't meet *1* of the qualifications in the job posting— so I didn't apply! Shut the door on myself! Luckily the hiring manager (
@KateBlackDC
!) found me anyway, but good lesson: Always apply! Don't be the one to tell yourself no!
A lot of blame is going to happen tonight. But I hope we can take a beat to also appreciate the thousands of people who worked tirelessly to keep Virginia on the path forward, and consider the millions of real lives that are going to be negatively impacted by tonight's results.
Today, a male stranger overheard me talking on a work call and felt compelled to tell me that I sounded important, but I'd improve my phone performance if I didn't "giggle" as much or use long, vocal "humms" when I'm considering something.
Thriving as a working woman in 2021!
It is deeply problematic for organizations to be emailing w/ subject lines like “insufficient funds,” “schedule an interview,” and “arrest warrants” during the middle of a pandemic, mass unemployment, & an economic recession. There is no open rate high enough to be worth it.
An honor to serve this President. A selfless public servant full of courage, love, empathy, and an unmatched dedication to our country. I only hope I am lucky enough to see many more Joe Bidens in my lifetime.
Shout out to the thousands of
@swingleft
CA volunteers who have worked tirelessly against the GOP recall 💙 These volunteers helped take back the House in 2018 & take back the White House/Senate in 2020, and now they've protected their home against an extreme GOP power grab.
Don’t knock wood — knock doors! 🚪Can’t leave anything up to chance for an election as important as the one coming up in Virginia. All hands on deck in the final stretch!
Excited to get out the vote for
@TerryMcAuliffe
&
@WendyGooditisVA
today with
@swingleft
! LFG!
Note: When awful, devastating policy is enacted in GOP-run states — particularly in the South, “you just should move away” is not an appropriate or useful response to people living in that state.
My fiancé just made me call and wake up my future super liberal future father-in-law to share Dave Wasserman's prediction so I need all this to work out to ensure I end up on the right side of this high risk, high reward move
As we make our final calls to voters before polls close, I wanted to pause for a moment and lift up the incredible work of the
@swingleft
grassroots community. Through this tough election, our grassroots volunteers and donors have smashed through every goal we set for them.
The Vice President has been to North Carolina *15 times* since 2020 — a clear indicdator of how bullish we feel about the state in this election. The President, First Lady, VP, and SG have been all over the state — from Asheville and Greensboro to Fayetteville and Wilmington!
This weekend, I was in my rural hometown, which has one of the lowest vaccine rates in NC. The fear & misinformation running through communities like this is a direct result of a corporate, morally bankrupt media ecosystem that cares about $ and doesn't give a shit about people.
ER doctor says he doesn't "blame my patients for their refusal" to get vaccinated.
"I do blame Fox News and other right-wing media outlets for poisoning the minds of millions of Americans with the deceptive propaganda they spray into living rooms 24/7."
Yesterday, we saw what treason looks like. Donald Trump remaining President of the United States continues to present a dangerous threat to our people and our democracy.
@swingleft
joins the chorus of voices in calling for him to be removed from office.
The amount of men on this website *AGGRESSIVELY* arguing about why fathers don’t need parental leave really makes me want to conduct a wellness check on the women in their life
An important reminder of the actual people who built the winning Biden coalition — Black voters, labor, reproductive freedom advocates, and many more. The same people who are standing strong for
@JoeBiden
, a detail through all this that the media + others are choosing to forget.
We will not respond lightly to any attempt to marginalize the voices of Black voters (also including the 14 million voters in the primary) that supported the Biden- Harris ticket nor will we sit on the sidelines and allow the elite Dems step over our
@VP
.
🚨🚨🚨 Couldn't be more excited to welcome
@djohanesb
to the
@swingleft
team as our new Head of Community! 🎉 As we begin the next chapter of our work, David will lead organizing + mobilization efforts for our community of over 1 million grassroots volunteers, donors, & members.
I can't stomach Republicans running to Twitter and Facebook to "condemn" these acts of sedition. You get no credit for calling anything out now. You are not brave. You are not a hero for yelling "the house is burning down" when you're the one who set it on fire. You are cowards.
Just thinking about how there’s been more media discourse on headphones this week than the neatly formatted PowerPoint on how to overthrow a democracy one bullet point at a time.
Someone once told me that it is never too late to restart your day. If you're having an off day, step back, take a shower, get ready again, eat something, have a coffee, then just start the day over. This was great advice.
Earlier this month, House Republicans tried to subvert democracy by disenfranchising millions of voters. That's why
@swingleft
is launching our first fund of the 2022 election: Funding Democratic opponents of these seditious members in competitive races.
haven’t been posting much on this website since coming to Portugal, but thought at least one person here could use a quick timeline cleanse so here is a sunset for you 💖✨☀️
Over the next two years, GOP-controlled legislatures are going to pass the most sweeping voter restrictions in a generation for two reasons:
1) They can't win the game, so they have to change the rules.
2) They need to appease a base that has been radicalized by THEIR OWN lies.
🧵on ARP: The American Rescue Plan is the most progressive piece of legislation passed in a generation, & it's thanks to a coalition - led by Black, Brown, Native American, immigrant leaders, & young people - who elected Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, & a Democratic House + Senate.
Last year, when
@swingleft
merged with
@flippable_org
, we embarked on an ambitious, grassroots-powered mission to flip key legislative chambers in 2020. Proud that we've raised over $10.5 million for the most competitive legislative races in the country.
1/2 When I first got involved in politics, one of the tougher parts for me was how expensive “professional” clothes were. I remember once breaking down in tears to my mom before a conference I was going to because I didn’t have anything nice to wear.
Electing Democratic majorities at the state level means protecting, strengthening, and expanding our democracy.
Access to the ballot box is a cornerstone of a functioning, reflective democracy, and only one party is interested in it.
Since 2019, Virginia has gone from one of the hardest states for voting to one of the easiest, according to a ranking by researchers at Northern Illinois University.
#VirginiaIsForVoters
If there is anything we talk about after tonight, I hope we talk about
@harrisonjaime
. It wasn't just a campaign. He built a movement. He revitalized hope in a state that has long been written off for Democrats. What he built in South Carolina will outlast this election.
#SCSEN
Hope all the DC folks on my timeline will reconsider their patronage of Nellie's. What happened there this past weekend was unconscionable. A bar that cannot guarantee the safety of patrons *at the hands of their own staff* does not deserve your business.
First, if you’re out here typing hot takes that blame voters of color for a n y t h i n g in the outcomes last night, free advice: delete it.
Second, as we lift up successes, don’t forget the multi-year organizing work of leaders & orgs on the ground that made this possible.
🚨 A page to bookmark for tonight:
@swingleft
created a one-stop shop for live updates on most important elections we're watching across the country: presidential election, 12 Senate races, & the most competitive state legislative chambers in 10 states.
Last days to early vote in Virginia! Election Day is on Tuesday!
@swingleft
is all in and we need all hands on deck to make sure we
#KeepVABlue
! Still time to sign up to volunteer between now and then — for all the fun! 🥳
For folks hitting a wall this week, you're not alone. We're running up on a year locked down from this pandemic. What's happening in Texas is infuriating and heartbreaking. Redefine productivity to meet yourself in these times. You are doing your best, and that is good enough.
🚨🚨🚨
@swingleft
has a weekend of action *THIS* weekend in Virginia! If you're worried or stressed about polls or the news, volunteering is a great antidote!
@TerryMcAuliffe
and our House of Delegate candidates need our help to
#KeepVABlue
this year. Join us! 👇🏻
It’s a close race in Virginia and if that has you feeling 🥴, sign up and call voters with our friends
@swingleft
! The weekend of action is kicking off and needs YOU! Let’s go:
2/2 A family friend ended up loaning me some money to buy an outfit. The symbolism of leaders like
@CoriBush
shopping at a thrift store matters to low-income kids everywhere who see these expensive details of leadership as a tough and embarrassing barrier.
When I was a kid, I heard the quote “be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle,” and each year, it never fails to strike me how remarkably & heartbreakingly consistent that quote rings true. Don’t forget people in your life are fighting some wild, unseen shit. Be kind.
Loving the
@DLCC
's new website. Websites are often the unsung hero of infrastructure — so much time + work goes into design, content, engineering, and accessibility to ensure users have a great experience + can take action easily. Great job, team DLCC! 👏🏻
This past weekend, 200+
@swingleft
volunteers across 37 events in 12 states participated in our Weekend of Action for
@TerryMcAuliffe
+ 10 state house candidates like
@ChrisHurstVA
&
@KatieSponsler
! Laying the groundwork to protect our Democratic majorities in 2021 and beyond 💪🏻
There are thousands of people who didn't take a break after the 2020 election to jump back into this fight. It's OK for us to talk about why tonight went down the way that it did, but make sure you include appreciation for the folks who worked so hard to avoid tonight's results.
Every single day, a handful Democratic governors and state leaders hold the line against GOP majorities across the country. They are the defensive line for our democracy.
@swingleft
is proud to be getting onto the field and having their backs (+ electing more!) in 2022 💪🏻
So grateful for
@GovEvers
,
@GovernorTomWolf
,
@RoyCooperNC
and
@GovWhitmer
who are the only thing standing between these Republican Jim Crow laws in big battleground states. If you’re not supporting Dem state parties there, now is a great time to start.
After joining forces w/
@flippable_org
, Virginia was
@swingleft
’s first big investment into state elections in 2019. Democrats won a blue trifecta that year, then spent the next 2 years getting shit done. We are ALL IN again to defend these gains in 2021!
The thing that is so infuriating to me about Manchin in this process is that I come from a very similar rural community + have family in WV, and the BBB would be so impactful for those *exact* people. You could literally argue these communities have the most to gain from this.
I get cold outreach (I have done it a lot in my career!), and there's nothing I love more than a well-prepared pitch. But, it goes a bit far for me when you reference the street I live on and a photo I posted on Instagram 6mo ago! Pitch your product without scaring me, friend!
First post-debate tour stop in Charlotte at Bojangles Coliseum — complete with plenty of chicken supremes and biscuits for hungry rally goers. 10/10 North Carolina day 🫰🏻🫰🏻🫰🏻
The courage of progressive lawmakers and organizers in the South never fails to move me. They write the rules on resilience, resistance, and getting shit done. They move mountains, and they are the reason you should never let anyone try to convince you “red” states don’t matter.
Last month, I wrapped up my last day as
@swingleft
's Executive Director. They're officially on the search for Swing Left's (+ our affiliate
@votefwd
) next leader. Pls share with anyone you know that might be interested in joining this kind + talented team:
Celebrating making it through my first real day back at work post break by crawling through my 75th peloton class and over ordering 5x more Indian food and ice cream than I can eat in one night. Happy 2021!!!
I might tattoo this on my forehead. We cannot decouple short-term electoral victories and long-term power building work. Elections are like step 7 in a long, year-round process to building progressive power and strengthening democracy at the local, state, national level.
We will win in 2022 because of the investments made in the next 6 months, not those made at the end of the cycle--investments in party infrastructure that won’t be washed away after one election. That’s how we made the progress we have today & how we’ll go even further.
Managing a campaign was the best career decision I’ve ever made. But the campaign management ladder is a weird one: often opaque, inaccessible, and hard (impossible?!) to sustain.
@BLCleaders
is actively changing that. So happy to see them recognized here.
How the teenage version of myself somehow made it to five classes + lunch period + softball practice + social activities five days a week without Google Calendar will never fail to shock 32-year-old version of myself
News this AM in
@politico
:
@swingleft
announced we're back in Virginia!💥 From criminal justice to voting rights, Democrats made promises and they are delivering. We're all in to ensure the Commonwealth stays under Democratic leadership in 2021 and beyond.
We know from history (ex: 2009, 2017, 2019) how much elections like this one can be key indicators of momentum. Defending the U.S. House, Senate, and our Democratic legislative power in 2022 begins with holding the blue wall in Virginia in 2021.
Never forget the millions of dollars in racist ads that billionaire Kelly Loeffler ran against Rev. Warnock over the last few months. Not only is Warnock going to be an INCREDIBLE United States Senator, but he will replace someone who is bafflingly unfit to hold public office.