Election Day countdown: 46 days
Hi Friends,
A week ago, the 19th anniversary of 9/11, was my first since the attacks with a full view of Lower Manhattan. It brought me to an especially deep place of reflection, remembering being picked up from school by my father, watching the coverage unfold on SportsCenter, and seeing the cloud of ashes cover my hometown the next morning. It was the single most transformative and traumatic moment of my young life. One that inflicted unmitigated fear, which governed my politics for over a decade.
Gradually, I came to acknowledge that this was no healthy or productive way to live. Today, while at times this fear resurfaces, disguised as pragmatism, I have chosen for my life and politics to be governed by hope and aspiration. As we proceed through the last 46 days before the election, I encourage each of us to channel any fear or anxiety we have into candidates, organizations, or other actions that embody our vision for what is possible when we take back our democracy in November.
We will be hosting a major event on October 1st to build a more representative House, by supporting Black leadership in critical congressional races and announcing the second round of extraordinary candidates for our inaugural endorsement class. If you need any further inspiration to get involved in these last days, reply to let us know.
Highlights
Blue Neighbors is hosting an event to help flip Georgia’s state legislature on Tuesday, September 22nd at 8pm ET.
Candace Valenzuela (TX-24) and Chokwe Pitchford (MI-HD-79), The Next 50 endorsed candidates, joined another one of our endorsements Jevin Hodge (Maricopa County, AZ) in receiving an endorsement from Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s Win the Era.
Candace Valenzuela (TX-24) and Desiree Tims (OH-10), both The Next 50 endorsed candidates, received endorsements from former VP Joe Biden.
Gideon Adlon, from the hit Netflix show The Society, hosted an Instagram Live with Desiree Tims (OH-10), which was the first of our influencer-candidate series.
Mara Cohen is meeting the moment by supporting three Black candidates for U.S. Senate: Jaime Harrison (SC), Mike Espy (MS), and Rev. Raphael Warnock (GA), on Monday, September 21st at 8pm ET, with special guest music artists Aloe Blacc and Bonnie Raitt – tickets start at $25!
Sarah Beeson (GA-SD-56), The Next 50 endorsed candidate, received an endorsement from former Leader Stacey Abrams.
Sarah Rogers organized an event for The Next 50 endorsed candidate for Congress Candace Valenzuela (TX-24) and Lulu Seikaly (TX-3), which raised over $35K. Lulu shared breaking news that she is only 1 point behind her opponent now!
The Next 50 hosted an event with Rep. Lauren Underwood, Pod Save America’s Dan Pfeiffer, and Alyssa Milano. With the support of Susan and David Rockefeller, Mara Wallace, Melony Lewis, Ted Dintersmith, David Slifka, Sarah Sands, Megan Hull, Mark and Patty Manoff, David Paget, James Meledandri, Jennifer Swanson, Peggy Dulany, Greg Mahdesian of Blue Neighbors, and many others, we raised enough to double our class of endorsed candidates in 2020 – stay tuned!
What we are reading
Biden Republicans – a political illusion: “Trump is succeeding in consolidating Republican support behind him, while the Democratic pitch to Republican voters hasn’t gained any traction. Republicans who are skeptical of Trump are returning to the fold, while Democrats aren’t winning new converts.” (The Nation)
In solidarity,
Zak
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