Hi John,
I admit, it kind of feels like the sky is falling today as each news alert hits my phone. (Can you believe the debate was earlier this week? I can’t.)
But I wanted to send this email anyway, because September was a big month, there is reason to be hopeful, and you deserve a giant thank you.
Run for Something is confronting a very real budget shortfall that we must fill before the end of the year to keep our mission to win sustainable, permanent power on track.
We started out with a $400,000 gap. When we reached out to grassroots supporters, friends, family, and leaders from all over the progressive world for help, you all came through and stepped up to make a HUGE dent. We raised over $220,000 in September -- a little over half of our goal.
So to Secretary Hillary Clinton, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Run for Something Alumni, progressive activists, and
especially you, John -- thank you for answering our call to action and helping get closer to the finish line. We couldn't have done it without you!
(Want to keep it going? Chip in whatever you can with this link:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2010_email_runforsomething)
And that money matters. Fun fact: In the 12 hours after that shitshow of a debate, more people signed up to run for office than had the entire week before. We have a responsibility as an organization to be there for those candidates in 2021, 2022, and beyond (along with the 500+ we have on the ballot this fall.) You’re investing in a better future for us all. Thank you.
Now, let's get this month's Run for Something Roundup started! Here's what September looked like:
WIN SOMETHING
Did you get a chance to meet our September endorsement class?
If not, check out our amazing candidates now!
We've got 109 newly-endorsed candidates on the ballot this November competing in 32 states. Last month's class of candidates is 68% BIPOC -- electing young diverse progressives is our mission, and this class is going to help us continue to prove it!
We've also got some EXCITING wins to share, check it out these highlights:
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Marie Pinkney (Delaware) beat a 40+ year incumbent who happened to be the Senate Pro Tempore by 282 votes -- an incredible upset for the most powerful legislator in the state.
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Sarah McBride (Delaware) came out on top of her primary and by November she will be the first openly trans person elected to a state Senate; that will make her the highest-ranking openly trans person in America. (Frickin' awesome.)
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Madinah Wilson-Anton (Delaware) won her race against an 11-term incumbent by 43 votes. Let her victory remind you how much your vote matters.
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Shané Darby (Delaware) won her four-way race for a seat on the Wilmington City Council.
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Kyle Evans Gay (Delaware) won her primary, moving on to November to try to flip a seat in the state Senate.
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Tiara Mack (Rhode Island) is a Black queer organizer, educator, and reproductive rights advocate -- and if that wasn't enough, she beat a 30-year incumbent with a long history of anti-abortion stances.
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Brianna Henries (Rhode Island) won her primary and will be bringing her theater teacher enthusiasm to the Rhode Island state House.
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Leonela Felix (Rhode Island) walked more than 370 miles throughout her district; now she's going to be their next representative.
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Cynthia Mendes, Jonathon Acosta, and Brandon Potter also won primaries against incumbents in Rhode Island -- they, along with Tiara, Leo, and Brianna, are 6 of the 9 challengers who beat incumbents last month in Rhode Island, which will make the state's legislature substantially more progressive.
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Natalie Quevedo won a primary against an 18-year incumbent in the New Hampshire state House.
- RFS regional director (and state rep!) Manny Espitia won his primary!
VOLUNTEER FOR SOMETHING
Nationwide, there are thousands of Democratic campaigns organizing for this November. The presidency, Senate races, and House seats have more often than not commanded the majority of activists' attention -- but if we're going to build sustainable, permanent power for all the people, down-ballot progressives need your help, too!
To that end, an amazing RFS team member made this tool for grassroots activists to find and support a RFS-endorsed candidate near you. Check it out now:
Nothing local? Go find someone you can get excited about in another state! This election is too important to the future of our country to be left to chance, and there are PLENTY of remote volunteer opportunities to pick from.
LEARN SOMETHING
If you missed our last Armchair chat of the cycle (or any and all of them),
you can watch the full series on Facebook right now!
That's not all we've got for you: Make sure you check out
Unapologetically Progressive, our bi-weekly deep dive into critical battleground states and the down-ballot young progressives who are running to build permanent power for Democrats.
AND check out our weekly podcast, Run for Something (not to be confused with our organization or my book), now on a podcatcher of your choice!
All of these resources are completely free! A few that you might have missed:
Listen to Run for Something's podcast:
Don't forget to subscribe for new episode updates!
Thanks for reading.
November's roundup won't come out until after the election -- with your support, we'll have a lot to celebrate.
Amanda Litman
Co-founder
Run for Something
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Run for Something is a grassroots-powered organization that recruits and empowers young progressives running for local office, with the goal of winning permanent power for decades to come. We rely on support from grassroots donors pitching in a little to create big change. Please chip in now to help us continue running and winning.
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