Hi John --

After the last two weeks (on top of many years) of tough, important national conversations around systemic racism and police brutality against Black people, we believe more than ever that it's important to elect young, diverse progressives to state and local seats.

Think about the power those offices have: Municipal offices like mayors and city councils can control police budgets and create structures for police oversight. School boards can cancel contracts with police departments. State legislatures can do things like introduce legislation around community-based alternatives to policing, or repeal “police bill of rights” where still relevant, or change public records laws around police misconduct. District attorneys and sheriffs can change the way police departments function and how officers are held accountable. Even coroners play a role here by determining what is listed on death certificates.

Our latest endorsement class alone includes Jabari Brisport, a queer, Black public school teacher in Brooklyn running on a platform of divesting from police to invest in public education; Nada Elmikashfi, an immigrant and black Muslim womxn fighting to bring progressive change to the Wisconsin state legislature; Phil Robinson, who flipped his Ohio district Democratic in 2018 to become the first African-American to hold the seat and is now running for re-election; four social workers; and at least a dozen experienced organizers, among other (incredible) things.

One of our generous donors has agreed to match donations up to $50,000. If you can, chip in to fund our summer and fall program and support our candidates for state and local offices, and your gift will be instantly doubled.

In many places, the GOP has held the majority of these offices for far too long -- and in others, Democrats haven't made good on their promises to make our communities safer and more fair. But in the last few years, we've seen what happens when candidates like the ones we work with get the chance to make decisions for a community -- they put people first, and make changes that benefit everyone.

But in the last few years, we've seen what happens when candidates like the ones we work with get the chance to make decisions for a community -- they put people first, and make changes that benefit everyone.

We want to be able to give all of our candidates the support they need and start planning for beyond 2020, but we'll need your support. Like everyone else, the COVID-19 crisis derailed our plans for the spring; if you can make a contribution to get us back on track, our generous donors will match it right away.

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