Indivisibles, 

Yesterday, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia put out an op-ed where he stated that under no circumstances would he vote to eliminate or weaken the Senate filibuster. 

We know statements like that can be disappointing, especially after all the work you’ve done to eliminate the filibuster. But remember: we’re always losing until we’re not, and this is just normal politician stuff -- our job now is to keep fighting for the country that we want: an inclusive democracy that works for everyone.

We understand that some Democratic senators crave bipartisanship. But when it comes to voting rights and democracy reform, Republicans simply refuse to support wildly popular legislation that will help their constituents. That gives us just two choices: preserve the Jim Crow filibuster and do nothing, or get rid of it and fix our democracy. 

As you know, holding onto the filibuster is a major problem for all our progressive goals. We’re not going to dwell on disappointing op-eds because there’s just way too much work left to do. All of the work you’ve done these last two weeks -- pressuring your members of Congress during recess to pass a bold, inclusive recovery package and key democracy-saving legislation -- will be lost if we keep the filibuster intact. All of our Recovery Recess priorities -- the THRIVE agenda, the For the People Act, and D.C. statehood -- can’t be accomplished with the filibuster standing in the way.

That’s why we need you to keep calling your members of Congress today, tomorrow, and during next week’s movement-wide D.C. Statehood Digital Week of Action to ensure they prioritize all our March and April recess asks without letting the filibuster get in the way. Click here to call now. Then, keep reading for why it’s critical that we abolish the filibuster. 

Why the filibuster has got to go

The list of reasons to abolish the filibuster is endless. We’ve seen a lot of movement among elected officials (and the general public) on this issue in the last few years. Everyone from President Biden, President Obama, and progressive and moderate Democrats alike are recognizing the dysfunction that the filibuster enables in the Senate. Public pressure works, so we’re not going to take ‘no’ for an answer -- and we’re certainly not going to settle on mediocre proposals to reform the filibuster when we need to outright abolish it. 

Eliminating the filibuster is simple. All it takes is a simple majority vote in the Senate -- and this can be done at any time. For example, when Senate Democrats introduce a big package of democracy reforms like the For the People Act (S. 1), or the D.C. statehood bill (S. 51), Mitch McConnell, the self-proclaimed “grim reaper” of progressive legislation, will likely initiate a filibuster. Democrats can then hold a vote, and with just 50 votes eliminate the filibuster and prevent McConnell from vetoing the legislation.

Without abolishing the filibuster, everything we care about -- D.C. statehood, democracy reform, voting rights, climate change, gun control, healthcare, etc. -- are all on the line during this Democratic trifecta. And before we have the chance to act on our power -- this fleeting trifecta could be over. Call your members of Congress now and demand they prioritize all our March and April recess asks without letting the filibuster get in the way. Then, keep calling until we end the filibuster for good.

In solidarity,
Indivisible Team