John,
Every time we near the end of one year and the start of another, I take time to reflect and look back on what we’ve gone through and achieved together. And honestly, I can’t think of another year in my life that compares to 2020.
The year started with our efforts to hold President Trump accountable for wrongdoing, to send a message that no one — not even the President of the United States — is above the law.
And the question I've gotten most often since the impeachment trial finished is, was it worth it?
Absolutely.
Donald Trump will always be impeached, and we were able to expose his corruption for all to see. Becoming only the third president in U.S. history to be impeached, Trump will never be exonerated or vindicated for his actions against our country.
And most importantly, we stood up and proved that right still matters, truth still matters, and decency still matters.
Though the Republican party largely stood loyal to Trump during and after his impeachment, the American people weren’t fooled. We showed them just what type of man Trump is, and I would like to think that is part of the reason voters rejected him in November.
We put in the hard work to register and mobilize voters in the months leading up to the 2020 election. And Americans made their voices heard, loud and clear, casting more votes for Joe Biden than any other presidential candidate in American history, and delivering a decisive defeat to Trump. And yes, he was defeated, no matter what Trump says.
And through it all, we faced a challenge no one could have predicted: a global pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic started with Trump and Republicans downplaying the virus in public, while making stock trades and giving private warnings behind closed doors. This president not only stood idly by in the face of this deadly disease, but he made it worse, pushing conspiracy theories and even suggesting it could be treated by sunlight or ingesting bleach.
Workers, small businesses, schools, and families have faced a struggle like no other. While our House Democratic majority passed bill after bill to provide relief throughout the year, Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans blocked help from arriving until it was almost too late, leaving the most vulnerable Americans to fend for themselves.
As of today, our country has experienced more than 19 million cases of coronavirus and over 333,000 deaths. It didn’t have to be this way. As we speak, the president is golfing in Florida, seemingly giving up on his presidential duties and the American people. But soon, with the inauguration of President-elect Biden, we will once more have a president in the White House who believes in science, who is committed to defeating this viral enemy, and who cares.
Not only have our public health and economy been deeply tested during this year, but our democracy has been too. Following the victory of President-elect Biden at the polls, Trump and Republicans tried to overturn the results of the election and subvert our democracy. Almost every single one of their fifty cases was thrown out by judges and the Electoral College confirmed Biden’s win, but that hasn’t stopped Trump from refusing to concede or Republicans from standing by him in defiance of our Constitution and democratic norms. Their lies and conspiracy theories continue to pose a threat to our democracy, but the facts are on our side.
This was truly a year like no other. And looking ahead, we have our work cut out for us. Tackling the COVID-19 crisis will be no small task. McConnell and Republicans continue to maintain control of the Senate. Trump and the GOP are trying to set the incoming Biden Administration up for failure.
But the potential for progress is greater than ever. President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris will lead with compassion and competence. And next Tuesday, we have the opportunity to take back the Senate from McConnell’s grasp by electing Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock in the Georgia runoffs. And in the House, we’re ready to pass long-overdue legislation to move our country forward, like a higher minimum wage for workers, universal healthcare, bold action on climate change, comprehensive and compassionate immigration reform, and a whole lot more.
There will no doubt still be tough fights ahead, but I know with your amazing grassroots support, we can achieve anything. And we will. We defeated Trump, after all.
If you’re ready to take back the Senate, pass progressive legislation in Congress, and build back our country better with the Biden Administration, please consider chipping in $10 or more before tomorrow’s end-of-year fundraising deadline to help make it happen in 2021.
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I can’t thank you enough for all you did in 2020 to make our victories possible. This was a challenging and unforgettable year, but now more than ever, I’m hopeful about the future.
— Adam
