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The Establishment has told us over and over again that our movement is weak, is in decline and can’t accomplish much. Really? Progressives in the Midwest on Tuesday, with strong national support, apparently didn’t get that memo. They went on to win two extraordinary and consequential victories – and I want to congratulate everyone who took part in those efforts.
First of all, let me begin by congratulating Brandon Johnson on being elected as the next mayor of Chicago, and Janet Protasiewicz on her decisive win in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. These are two huge victories for progressives and for our movement.
If we are serious about creating transformative change in this country — and if we're serious about taking on the powerful special interests that want to protect the status quo — we need to elect more great candidates at the grassroots level. That's why Brandon Johnson and Janet Protasiewicz's victories are so important.
Our campaign was proud to have played a role in these victories, and I would like to thank supporters like you for all you've done to help make these victories possible. Our team reached out to people all across Chicago to encourage them to turn out to vote for Brandon Johnson, and to attend our GOTV rally with him last week. And we contacted Wisconsinites statewide informing them about early voting and Election Day voting for Janet Protasiewicz in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.
Brandon Johnson is a former teacher who ran a campaign centered on economic justice and racial justice. What he did during his campaign for mayor, and what we have got to do all over this country, is continue the struggle to build a government that works for all of us, not just the wealthy few.
Chicago deserves a mayor who will invest in affordable housing, health care, fully-funded neighborhood schools, and good jobs. That's the kind of mayor that Brandon Johnson will be. He understands that we need not only job creation, but jobs that provide workers with decent wages, benefits, and working conditions.
During the runoff election, Brandon overcame incredible odds after being outspent 2-to-1. The way he was able to do that was by bringing people together in a multi-racial, multi-generational movement. This past Tuesday, large numbers of working people all across the city of Chicago came together to say enough is enough. It is time to finally create a government that invests in the needs of its people. And with Brandon Johnson as mayor, Chicago will now have a city government that supports the working class and unions.
In Wisconsin, Janet Protasiewicz ended the conservative majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court for the first time in 15 years. Her victory will help protect the future of our democracy and will have an enormous impact on voting rights, abortion rights, redistricting, and potential challenges to 2024 election results in a key battleground state.
Janet's opponent was a Republican extremist with a history of opposing abortion rights, workers' rights, and LGBTQ rights. He also participated in a scheme to send a list of fake electors to Mike Pence in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. Someone who threatens to undermine the basic principles of our democracy has no place serving on a state Supreme Court.
It is therefore hard to overstate how significant Janet's victory will be for many of the issues at the center of our movement. With Janet as a Justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, we can ensure free and fair elections, overcome threats to our democracy, and ensure women are able to make decisions about their own bodies.
In the midst of the many struggles we face, it has never been more important to elect candidates who will fight for justice. We need more leaders who have the guts to take on the billionaire class, large corporations and Republican extremism, and will fight to address the needs of the working class.
This past Tuesday was a big night for our movement with Brandon Johnson and Janet Protasiewicz's victories. Now let us commit ourselves to continuing to do the work required to create a government that works for all of our people, not just the ultra wealthy and large corporations.
Thank you for reading.
In solidarity,
Bernie Sanders
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After this week's big victories in Wisconsin and Chicago, it has never been more important for us to continue standing together in the struggle for justice and elect more progressives who will fight for the needs of the working class.
Bernie cannot do it alone – it's going to require all of us. That's why we are asking you directly:
Please make a contribution to show you stand with Bernie in creating a government and an economy that works for ALL of our people, not just those at the top.
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