Election Day is Tuesday — Vote Janeese Lewis George in DC and Yes on Ballot Question 1 in Maryland; Bracing for impact — residents of DC, MD & VA go to polls in presidential, senate and local races; Bodily Autonomy working group kickoff party
This is the weekly newsletter of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA), which is produced by local members of the chapter's Publications Working Group. The Weekly Update publishes every Friday at 9am.
Paid for by Metro DC DSA (mdcdsa.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee.
UP FRONT
Election Day is Tuesday — Vote Janeese Lewis George in DC and Yes on Ballot Question 1 in Maryland
Election Day is this Tuesday, November 5. Although the presidential race has captured the attention of most voters this election cycle, there are also important down-ballot questions posed this year. If you have not voted by mail-in ballot, early-voting is still available in Virginia and DC. If you are not registered, same-day voter registration is available in DC, Maryland and Virginia.
The Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America have made the following endorsement in this year’s regional general elections:
Re-elect Janeese Lewis George in Ward 4 — During the primary this year, Metro DC DSA overwhelmingly voted to re-endorse chapter member Janeese Lewis George for the Ward 4 seat on the DC Council. Backing Janeese is a coalition of labor unions and community organizations who stand behind Janeese’s record on protecting tenants’ rights, investing in public infrastructure and funding community alternatives to police and the carceral state. In her re-election campaign, Janeese has vowed to continue these efforts and move on decommodifying housing by bringing social housing to the District.
Ballot Question 1 in Maryland — The proposed amendment to the Maryland state constitution would enshrine the right to an abortion in Maryland, protecting abortion access from right-wing interventions at the state or federal level. Bodily autonomy is a fundamental tenet of the democratic socialist vision, and local socialists and allies have been leading canvassing efforts to ensure victory of this ballot question, including this weekend — come out Saturday, November 2 at 10am at Morgan Blvd. Metro Station (300 Garrett A Morgan Blvd, Greater Landover, MD 20785) and Sunday, November 3 at 10am at Landover Metro Station (3000 Pennsy Dr, Landover, MD 20785).
Bracing for impact — residents of DC, MD & VA go to polls in presidential, senate and local races
As 2024 draws to a close, all eyes in the DMV are poised at this year's presidential race, with neo-liberal Democrat Kamala Harris squaring off against fascist Donald Trump. Political soothsayers across Washington are left blind, as polls suggest a toss-up in the Electoral College. Election-night junkies should pay close attention to results from Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania — a loss in just one of those states would be fatal to Harris' campaign unless blunted by equivalent upsets in Nevada, North Carolina, Arizona or Georgia. DSA has not endorsed any candidate for President, although at the national and local levels members have emphasized the threat Trump poses to the rights of workers, immigrants and tenants.
In Northern Virginia, voters that survived Governor Youngkin’s voter purge have few options aside from status-quo liberals and kooky conservatives, with the race for Senate capturing eyes. Incumbent liberal senator Tim Kaine is facing off against unhinged Republican Hung Cao, who has united a nightmare coalition of neocons and Trumpian social conservatives camped out in the exurbs of Virginia. You can read research on candidates running for the Arlington Board, Alexandria Council and Mayor and Arlington School Board on the REDBUG NOVA.
In DC, voters are facing a sleepier election than usual, with incumbents going largely unchallenged throughout the city. However, DC voters will also be voting on a ballot Initiative 83, which would call on the DC Council to enact ranked-choice voting and open primaries. MDC DSA declined to endorse the initiative, but voters can read more about the impact of I83 proposals in Washington Socialist.
In Maryland, the open Senate race between Democratic PG County executive Angela Alsobrooks and Republican ex-Governor Larry Hogan (R) has acted as the secondary electoral thriller in the state. Although Democrats usually enjoy healthy leads in Maryland, Hogan’s status as a “never-Trump” Republican and popularity among wealthy liberals are leaving many nervous of a split-ticket upset. In Montgomery County, developers and GOP allies have put Question A on the ballot, limiting the county executive to two terms, and GOP-endorsed candidate Brenda Diaz is on the ballot for school board. In 2016, Montgomery County voted to limit the county council and county executive to three terms.
All Virginia residents should double-check their voter registration status. This week, the conservative Supreme Court enabled Republican Governor Youngkin to purge 1,600 voters suspected of being non-citizens.
Voters can register at early vote centers and at vote centers on election day. Voters can cast ballots at any vote center in the city regardless of residence.
Incarcerated DC residents never lose their right to vote.
Non-citizens residents of more than 30 days can vote in local (not federal) DC elections. Check rules and regulations around non-citizen voting on the DC Board of Elections website.
Bodily Autonomy working group kickoff party — Monday, November 4 at 6pm
Come out to celebrate the official launch of the MDC DSA Bodily Autonomy Working Group — a merger between the Reproductive Justice working group, Trans Rights and Bodily Autonomy campaign and Socialist Feminist section — on Monday, November 4, from 6 to 8:30pm at Dew Drop Inn. Come hang out and learn about our upcoming campaigns, including making Arlington the second sanctuary city in Virginia, fundraising for DC’s Abortion Fund, planning our annual reproductive care kit packing event, political education programs, monthly socials and more. RSVP here.
BRIEFS
Local socialists to meet with Vienna delegation of elected officials and housing policy experts — TODAY at 6pm
TODAY, Friday, November 1, Green New Deal DC and Metro DC DSA will lead presentations and exchange with a delegation of current and former elected officials and policy experts from Vienna, Austria. Vienna is the global capital of social housing, a system which provides mixed-income, affordable, high-quality housing for over half of the city’s residents. The delegation of more than 40 Austrians will come together with DC advocates for conversation and exchange. The delegation includes members of the Austrian National Council, the Vienna State Parliament, as well as officials from the City of Vienna, university professors, union representatives and more. Local residents are invited to attend — the in-person meeting will take place from 6 to 8pm at the Festival Center in Adams Morgan (1640 Columbia Rd NW, DC 20009). RSVP here.
Fundraising for Palestinian families and mutual aid — November 9 – 10
In July 2024, MDC DSA members were part of a fundraising campaign that raised over $106,000 for 21 Palestinian families and a mutual aid project serving a refugee camp of 3,500 people, with over $90,000 raised in just two days. Chapter members will be part of another fundraiser for over 100 Palestinian families and two mutual aid projects during the weekend of November 9 – 10. If you are interested in helping to fundraise by posting on your Instagram stories/grid (you will receive graphics like last time), please SIGN UP. Reach out to [email protected] for any questions or to add a Palestinian family to the fundraiser.
History of Police Violence walking tour on November 17, wheatpasting tomorrow
The next in our chapter’s series of walking tours will focus on the history of police violence on November 17, brought to you by the local Abolition working group. The tour will visit downtown DC sites of historical and recent police violence and will explore how police, prisons, and carceral logic are used to put forward an idea of “safety” that in practice only makes life harder for DC residents with the least access to resources. The tour will also explore alternative visions for the abolition of police and prisons in order to build the city we deserve where all are truly safe. Sign up for the walking tour here. Comrades interested in promoting the walking tour can sign up here to wheatpaste in Anacostia tomorrow, Saturday, November 2 at 2pm.
Last summer, the Rockville City Council and Mayor voted to end consideration of a rent stabilization policy for the city and instead hold a series of housing policy discussions. The final housing policy discussion on November 18 will focus on “housing stability” but will not include any consideration of rent stabilization. Rockville tenants and allies are decrying the Council and Mayor’s refusal to act on rent stabilization and plan to attend the hearing to make their disapproval known. RSVP for the session here.
In advance of the discussion, join the Montgomery County branch on November 9 to wheatpaste around Rockville and get out the word about the hearing and the campaign RSVP here. To learn more about this campaign, visit RockvilleRenters.org.
Metro DC DSA Street Team Monthly Meeting — Saturday, November 2 at 3:30pm
TOMORROW: Build power in the DMV and join the Metro DC DSA Street Team by attending our monthly meeting. This event is for anyone interested in getting active in the chapter’s Street Team to build socialist power in the DMV. The Street Team hosts and attends community events to connect Metro DC DSA and its campaigns with the DMV community in order to expand the chapter's base and build a more democratic society. These events are a great opportunity to talk to DMV residents about what's going on in their everyday lives and how these issues connect to chapter campaigns. In this meeting the Metro DC DSA Street Team will be discussing fall events with a happy hour to follow. All are encouraged to attend in-person. RSVP here.
SAVE THE DATE: MDC DSA Election Debrief on November 16
As all eyes turn to the election on November 5, how do we plan for November 6 and beyond? From local races to the presidential election, the results will have impacts on people’s material lives and on our organizing in the years ahead. On November 16 from 1 to 3pm, join Metro DC DSA to unpack and reflect on these results, discuss the impact the incoming presidential administration will have on the DMV area and DSA in general, and learn about specific campaigns you can get involved with. After the discussion, we will move to a campaigns fair where attendees will have the opportunity to talk to organizers from different campaigns about what they are working on and how to get involved. Register here.
INFO ACCESS
Learn more about our local MDC DSA chapter — structure, campaigns and working groups, Night School and reading groups — HERE. And live from our studio, Wednesday, November 6, 7 – 8pm, Why You Should Join DSA / New Member Orientation (with Q&A). MDC DSA members: Join our all-member Slack for real-time info on working group and campaign events, convo, and inspiration. Email [email protected] with your most recent DSA dues receipt to get Slack access. Chapter members are also invited to read — and edit — MDC DSA’sinternal wiki. Email [email protected] to get set up, or ask in #helpdesk. Members are also invited to Steering’s recurring Ask Me Anything hours on Thursdays, next on November 7.
MDC DSA Publications is information central for not only MDC DSA but the entire DMV left. #publications(our working group’s Slack channel) is always ready to onboard new socialist communicators.
Weekly Updates like this one are scheduled and emailed on Fridays; current and past Updates are on the web here. Not subscribed? DSA member or not, sign up to get the Update here. Submit your Update suggestions or chapter political blog REDBUG tips to our tip line. The Washington Socialist, published since the 1970s, offers articles on a quarterly schedule; the Fall 2024 edition is now live and will be updated on a rolling basis. Theory, socialist organizing practice, and the reasons we organize — check our archive to see what we write — and what youcan write. Anyone, MDC DSA member or not, interested in contributing to the Washington Socialist can email submissions or questions to [email protected]. Get your socialist self on the record. Donate to our Comradery page if you would like to financially support socialist publishing in the DMV.
COMMUNITY BULLETIN
Coat Swap and Candy Potluck | Silver Spring Takoma Park Mutual Aid
Silver Spring Takoma Park Mutual Aid is hosting a coat swap and candy potluck at the Long Branch Library in Silver Spring on Saturday, November 2 at 2pm. Please bring any washed and clean jackets, coats and warm outerwear pieces that you are no longer using to pass on to someone else, and take a jacket if you need one. You do not need to bring a jacket to pick one up. Bring your leftover Halloween candy or a favorite snack to share.
ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES
ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES are articles and opinion pieces of interest to DMV leftists but not, generally, appearing in local media. They should have links without paywalls. Readers are invited to submit candidates at our tip line.
Why Democracy Lives and Dies by Math “How an understanding of math, or lack thereof, affects society’s ability to deal with the most pressing challenges and crises — health care, climate, misinformation, elections.” A documentary filmmaker and a mathematician discuss our fear of numbers and its civic costs. NYT
A Graphic History of DSA The nonprofit DSA Fund, which focuses on political (i.e. socialist) education, has just produced a graphic history of DSA and the socialist movement. It is narrated by Eugene V. Debs (“most people just call me Gene”) and in 22 remarkably rich and detailed pages touches on the issues that fuel our activism: social inequities, union suppression and class warfare, police violence, foreign wars, US imperialist adventures and alliances, the seismic effect of the Sanders campaigns and the growth of socialist-identifying electeds in Congress and down-ballot around the country. Check it out and share it widely; it has reach beyond the faithful.
Don’t Cancel The Washington Post. Cancel Amazon Prime. In our ‘local’ newspaper – “...if Bezos is indeed why the Post is no longer endorsing candidates, and if people are worried about his outsize influence on our society, they should not be canceling their newspaper subscriptions. They should be canceling their Amazon Prime subscriptions. Amazon is the biggest store in the world, the … reason Bezos was rich enough to buy the Post in the first place. And Amazon is powered by Prime, which in and of itself generates tremendous revenue for the company, in addition to facilitating ever more shopping. Last year, the company’s revenue from its membership offerings alone came to $40.2 billion. The subscription money enriching Jeff Bezos could instead be spent on the journalism crucial to preserving democracy.” The Atlantic via Portside
Gun Ownership Has a Psychological Dimension – Threat Response – Deeper Than We Think
Researchers unfold “a theory that gun owners aren’t just protecting against the specific threat of physical violence. Owners are also using a gun to protect their psychological selves. Owning a gun helps them feel more in control of the world around them and more able to live meaningful, purposeful lives that connect to the people and communities they care for. This sort of protection may be especially appealing to those who think that the normal institutions of society – such as the police or the government – are either unable or unwilling to keep them safe. They feel they need to take protection into their own hands…. And when gun owners look for danger, they often are more likely to find it.” These responses, the researchers note, cross ideological boundaries. From The Conversation
This is the weekly newsletter of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA), which is produced by local members of the chapter's Publications working group. The Weekly Update publishes every Friday at 9am.
Paid for by Metro DC DSA (mdcdsa.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee.
The flame of thought, the magnificence of art, the wonder of discovery, and the audacity of invention all belong to revolutionary periods when humanity, tired of its chains, shatters them and stops inebriated to breathe the breeze of a vast and free horizon. - Virgilia D'Andrea
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