Dear Friend,

One of our progressive movement's biggest victories of the last decade was turning Virginia blue -- but Democrats are at risk of losing the governorship and control of the legislature's House of Delegates.

Former Governor Terry McCauliffe is running neck and neck against his Republican opponent with just two weeks left before Voting Day on November 2, and Democrats are facing an enthusiasm gap.(1)

The Virginia governor race is being seen as a bellwether for the 2022 midterms, and we need diverse voters in the state to turn out in force to keep the leadership Democratic. Our partners in Virginia could use some Courage right now, which is why we're asking for your help.

Click here to sign up for a virtual phone bank with New Virginia Majority.

Or, sign up here by Monday, October 18, to write postcards to Virginia voters with Activate America.

There are a number of reasons why we should all care who wins the Virginia governorship and controls the House of Delegates.

Despite being surrounded by COVID-19 hot spots West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, Virginia's Democratic policies concerning mask mandates and the vaccine rollout has consistently kept the state's infection rates low.(2)

Only 15 states have Democratic trifectas like Virginia's, keeping those states as safe havens for reproductive rights and other progressive values.(3) We can't let another state become a Texas or Florida. But that's what McCauliffe's Republican opponent -- who supports abortion bans, wants to eliminate income tax, and won't condemn The Big Lie -- will do.

2022 is right around the corner, and losses in Virginia would build momentum for Republican and right-wing victories that have stymied our fight for a more progressive nation.

In just 15 minutes, you could make 10 phone calls or write 10 postcards -- and drive 10 people to the polls. Can we count on you?

Click here to sign up for a virtual phone bank with New Virginia Majority.

Or, sign up here by Monday, October 18, to write postcards to Virginia voters with Activate America.

Yours in the fight for a progressive California,

Irene, along with Angela, Annie, Caitlin, Isidra, Jay, Lindsay, LisaMarie, Raquel, and Scottie (the Courage team) 

Footnotes:
1. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-the-virginia-governors-race-is-so-close/
2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/09/26/virginia-governor-race-covid-mandates/
3. https://ballotpedia.org/Partisan_composition_of_governors