Dear fellow MoveOn member,
In many ways, my generation, the Baby Boomers, squandered the potential our parents left us.1
With Baby Boomers in political power, inequality increased.2 And all kinds of bullying—economic bullying, racial bullying, and gender bullying—have gone unchecked and even been rewarded.
But I want to share with you the big reason why I refuse to give in to despair: A new generation of progressive leaders is rising up to fight back against inequality and reclaim our democracy. And young people, like the thousands of students I’ve taught over the years, are taking on the fight with them.
You may have heard about Zohran Mamdani's stunning victory in New York City's Democratic primary for mayor. Mamdani is a 33-year-old community organizer and state lawmaker, the son of immigrants, and a proud democratic socialist. Mamdani defeated disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo—an establishment giant with tens of millions of dollars at his disposal.
How did Mamdani do it? By putting working people first with a bold, unapologetically progressive platform of free public buses, a freeze on rent hikes, and free child care for families. Mamdani campaigned in multiple languages, built a multiracial coalition, and inspired tens of thousands of volunteers to knock on doors.
In short, Mamdani's run for mayor was the way progressives believe politics should be: focused on justice—economic justice, racial justice, and social justice—and powered by people, not Big Money.
Mamdani's victory has sent shockwaves through the political establishment and given hope to millions far beyond New York.
Mamdani's win is not an isolated one—it's part of a much larger movement. From city councils to Congress, young progressives are stepping up and winning. In 2022, then-25-year-old Maxwell Frost became the first Gen Z member of Congress, proving that new, young, progressive voices can break through.3
Across the country, diverse young leaders are running for office on bold, progressive platforms. They're fighting for Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, racial and economic justice, and an America where every child is able to thrive.
And when they win, they bring new energy, ideas, and integrity to our government. I believe that Americans are hungry for exactly this kind of leadership and want a new generation of Democratic leaders.
This is why I'm so excited about MoveOn's new program, in partnership with Run for Something. They're finding, recruiting, and lifting up the next wave of progressive candidates like Mamdani, Ocasio-Cortez, and Frost.
Together, MoveOn and Run for Something are creating a pipeline of courageous candidates who will continue to challenge the status quo—and win.
Today, in a time of so much darkness and despair, I'm asking you to invest in hope.
Will you donate $9, or whatever you can, to help MoveOn support the next generation of young, progressive candidates? (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.)
Your contribution will help provide training, resources, and grassroots campaign support to ordinary people who are doing something extraordinary: stepping up, serving their communities, and changing the future. These are folks who might otherwise struggle to be heard over the roar of Big Money politics—but with your help, their voices will be amplified.
The stakes could not be higher, because politicians funded by billionaires and corporate PACs are determined to keep things rigged in their favor.
Right now, Republicans are attempting to ram through an incredibly cruel, Robin-Hood-in-reverse budget. MoveOn and I will fight it every step of the way, to defeat every awful provision of it. But the reality is that it's likely to pass in some form.
I know that many of us have been part of this fight for a long time. And I know that it's tempting to tune out and give up during times like these.
You might have marched against the Iraq War or stood with Occupy Wall Street or volunteered for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign. Like me, you might have thought, "Will we ever see the change we need?"
I truly believe that the answer is yes … if we commit to lifting up this new generation of leaders.
I've spent my life teaching and working with young people, and I can tell you firsthand that this generation is remarkable.4
They are fearless, idealistic yet pragmatic, and deeply committed to one another.
They've grown up in an era of crisis—school shootings, recessions, climate disasters—but instead of giving up, they're organizing, running for office, and winning.
They are the most diverse generation in American history, and they are determined to create a country that is more equitable and sustainable.
This is our chance to help them succeed. Please chip in $9, or whatever you can, and help MoveOn's crucial work to elect the next generation of progressive Democratic leaders. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.)
By supporting these efforts, you're investing in the long-term future of American democracy.
I am hopeful because of leaders like Frost, Ocasio-Cortez, and Mamdani.
I am hopeful because I see a new generation refusing to settle for the injustices we've faced—they're ready to fix what previous generations, including my generation, could not and would not.
I am also hopeful because every day I see people who have fought for progress all our lives, who could have given up long ago but are still in this fight, standing shoulder to shoulder with the next generation to bring about change.
Together, let's give these young progressive champions the support they need to win. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.)
Thanks for all you do.
–Robert Reich
Sources:
1. "Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America," Penguin Random House, accessed July 1, 2025
https://sites.prh.com/reich
2. "It’s the Inequality, Stupid," Mother Jones, March/April 2011
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-in-america-chart-graph/
3. "Maxwell Frost becomes the first Gen Zer elected to Congress," Axios, November 8, 2022
https://www.axios.com/2022/11/09/maxwell-frost-genz-midterm-election
4. "The Last Class," The Last Class Film, accessed July 1, 2025
https://www.thelastclassfilm.com/
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