Dear John,
The Texas House just passed voter suppression bill SB 1, which, combined with the poll closures, voter ID laws and racial gerrymandering of our state over the last eight years, comprises the greatest attack on voting rights in modern Texas history. At this point, the bill is all but certain to head to Governor Abbott’s desk soon, where he will sign it into law.
There’s a way forward from here, but first, it’s important that we thank everyone who has fought the good fight so far. Everyone who has marched, rallied, called their state legislators, and spent hours upon hours at the state capitol trying to stop this bill — you are my heroes. After today’s vote, many of you may be doubting whether all of that effort made a difference, but I want to make clear that it did.
That courageous work on the part of everyday Texans forced Republican lawmakers to walk back some of its worst provisions, brought national attention to the fight for democracy in Texas, and gave our Democratic legislators the support they needed to break quorum and fight this fight. And most importantly, it pushed Congress to make progress on the For the People Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would override the SB 1 voter suppression bill, unrig our elections, and help us build a true multiracial democracy in America.
This isn’t the time to give up or give in.
These federal bills could save voting rights in America, but only if all of us do all we can to get them passed and signed into law.
Much like the 1965 Voting Rights Act depended on millions of Americans to push President Lyndon Johnson to use the extraordinary power of his office to get it passed, today’s voting rights bills call upon you and me to do our part to push President Biden to do the same. So please, contact President Biden and urge him to give this fight everything he’s got.
I know we can do it.
Keep the faith,
Beto
