John, this weekend was marked by a deeply frightening and deadly shooting at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania.

To be clear, political violence is anti-democratic and has no place in our system.

Our democracy is becoming increasingly fragile. As such, our fight to build power in the states — through peaceful, focused organizing — has never been more important.

Because the reality is this: When we wake up on November 6, no matter who won, our futures will continue to be determined at the state level.

If President Biden is re-elected, Donald Trump will try to subvert the results using state legislatures as a leverage point. That means we’ll need leaders with the integrity to uphold democratic principles.

If Donald Trump wins, robust state legislatures will be our frontline defense, protecting our rights and advancing progressive policies, acting as a safeguard against rollbacks on the federal level.

History is not something that happens to us — it is shaped by what we do.

These races will determine whether a person can discuss options for a safe abortion with their doctor, whether a cashier earns $7.25 or $15 an hour, and whether a trans kid can play volleyball with their school team.

So, this year, as in every year since our founding, our mission remains steadfast: to build progressive power in state legislatures and create a future where our communities thrive.

John, the antidote to despair is action, and that’s what this moment demands. I hope you’ll join us.