Dear MoveOn member, 

Texas Governor Greg Abbott just signed an executive order banning schools,
businesses, and local governments from requiring masks and vaccines, even
while the state is becoming an epicenter of new COVID-19 cases.^1

In Arizona, GOP state lawmakers passed a bill allowing local businesses to
ignore mask mandates.^2

And across the country, as COVID-related hospitalizations skyrocket, state
and local GOP officials are spreading wild conspiracy theories about the
pandemic and COVID vaccines that are putting our health and lives at risk.

We need to defeat these dangerous extremists and elect real leaders who
follow the science and believe in facts. But shockingly, in as many as 75%
of races for elected office in America, Democrats don't even compete,
allowing Republicans to build a dangerous amount of power at the local and
state levels that is detrimental to all of us but especially our
communities of color, LGBTQ+ communities, immigrants, and women.^3

Which is why MoveOn is expanding our partnership with Rapid Resist
Action's Contest Every Race program, a coalition working to end GOP rule
in America by making sure that no Republican runs for office without a
fight. Together, we will help end GOP dominance in local races and elect
leaders who will put science and public health over right-wing
propaganda. 

[ [link removed] ]But recruiting, training, and helping to power thousands of down-ballot
candidates to victory is expensive work, and Contest Every Race is facing
a $360,000 fundraising shortfall. Will you chip in $3, split
between MoveOn and Contest Every Race, to help close the gap and fuel the
work to elect progressives up and down the ballot?

John, a terrifying report from NBC News shows that QAnon
conspiracy theorists "have hatched a new plan: run for school board or
local office."^4

The National Education Association warns that "conspiracy theorists and
proponents of fake news are winning local elections. And their new
positions give them a powerful voice in everything from local law
enforcement to libraries, trash pickup to textbook purchases."^5

Make no mistake: Conspiracy theorists are infiltrating and radicalizing
local school boards, city councils, and state governments. Once they're in
office, they're spreading dangerous misinformation and putting in place
policies that could result in the deaths of tens of thousands of people. 

They must be stopped. 

With your help, MoveOn and Contest Every Race will be able to provide
strong support for endorsed candidates, including offering training on how
to recruit and organize volunteers, raise grassroots donations, most
effectively use social media to get their message out, turn out voters to
the polls, and more.

The 2022 elections may seem far away, but in many states and localities,
candidates are already filing paperwork to run for office.

[ [link removed] ]We don't have a moment to spare. Chip in $3 today to help
power MoveOn and Contest Every Race's effort to defeat QAnon candidates
running for office.

Thanks for all you do. 

–Chris, Nita, Oscar, Casey, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Gov. Greg Abbott bars mandates for vaccinations and masks in Texas."
The New York Times, July 31, 2021
[link removed]

2. "Gov. Ducey signs HB 2770, Arizona businesses not required to enforce
mask mandate," KOLD News 13, April 9, 2021
[link removed]

3. "It's time to Contest Every Race." Contest Every Race, accessed August
3, 2021
[link removed]

4. "QAnon's new 'plan'? Run for school board," NBC News, July 7, 2021
[link removed]

5. Ibid.


Want to support MoveOn's work? The GOP is launching an all-out campaign to
take down the Democratic majority in Congress and reinstall Mitch
McConnell as Senate majority leader in 2022. To defeat the GOP, MoveOn is
going all-in with TV ads, a nationwide grassroots organizing campaign, and
more.

Will you chip in to power our effort to defeat McConnell and the GOP in
2022?



[ [link removed] ]Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can afford.





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