Dear MoveOn member,
Democrats are in big trouble. Last night, Republican Glenn Youngkin won the gubernatorial race in Virginia, a state that President Joe Biden carried by 10 points in 2020 and where no Republican has won a statewide election since 2009.1
And in New Jersey, a solid blue state, the gubernatorial race is still too close to call.2
It's the beginning of a red wave that will wash over our country next year in the midterm elections, unless we learn from last night and start mobilizing now.
History is not on our side. Republicans are more motivated when a Democrat is in the White House. And the party in power typically loses—and loses big—in midterm elections.3
John, our country is in peril, but MoveOn's team is hunkering down right now and pulling together an ambitious, data-backed plan to run a massive voter turnout campaign in battleground districts and states across the country in 2022.
We need you with us. Will you donate $5 a month to stop the red wave and defeat the GOP in the midterms next year?
No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
Youngkin's victory in Virginia shows us exactly what playbook Republicans will use across the country in the months to come—and it is even more vile than you can imagine.
The centerpiece of his campaign was a promise that he would ban the teaching of "critical race theory" on his first day in office, a dog whistle meant to stir racial resentment that has quickly become a favorite among the far-right.4
But he didn't stop there. Youngkin also piled on his racism with antisemitism, making a ridiculous claim that Jewish philanthropist George Soros was behind a shadowy plot to place secret leftist operatives on Virginia school boards.5
And in the final days of his campaign, he was joined on the trail by two well-known white supremacists who have proudly proclaimed their desire to kill Black Lives Matter activists.6
And he won. He won a state where no Republican had won statewide in more than a decade.
A year from now, we will be watching dozens of racist, antisemitic candidates who are willing to burn our democracy to the ground for their twisted beliefs get swept into office across the country.
That's Trump's playbook. We know what's coming. But we can stop it from working if we give it our all. Not in every race, but in enough races to keep control of Congress and stop Trump's plan to overturn the will of the people in 2024.
We have this narrow chance only if we work just as hard as we did in 2020, and that work starts right now.
But unlike the GOP, MoveOn isn't bankrolled by corporate cash. Our funding comes from members like you, chipping in what they can. Can you chip in $5 a month to stop the red wave and defeat the GOP in the midterm elections next year?
No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
John, last night wasn't the only warning shot that Democrats are in trouble when it comes to the 2022 midterm elections.
We recently learned that Marjorie Taylor Greene has raised more than $6.2 million this year alone.7
Meanwhile, donations to MoveOn and other progressive groups have plummeted since Joe Biden took office.
Last night needs to be a serious wake-up call. MoveOn is committed to working 24/7 for the next year to fight back. But we can do it only with your help.
Our democracy hangs in the balance. Will you start a $5 a month donation now?
No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
Thanks for all you do.
–Chris, Chloe, Maralyn, Corinne, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "Republican Glenn Youngkin wins Virginia's governor race, dealing Democrats a blow," NPR, November 3, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/159446?t=8&akid=309802%2E40999114%2EqR5B9y
2. "Election results live updates: NJ governor's race nearly tied; McAuliffe concedes to Youngkin," USA Today, November 3, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/159455?t=10&akid=309802%2E40999114%2EqR5B9y
3. "What Glenn Youngkin’s Virginia win means for Democrats," Vox, November 3, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/159456?t=12&akid=309802%2E40999114%2EqR5B9y
4. "Youngkin accused of antisemitism after claiming allies of Jewish donor George Soros 'inserted' operatives into Virginia school boards," The Washington Post, October 21, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/159457?t=14&akid=309802%2E40999114%2EqR5B9y
5. Ibid.
6. "They threatened to shoot BLM supporters. Now they're campaigning for Glenn Youngkin," DailyDot, November 2, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/159452?t=16&akid=309802%2E40999114%2EqR5B9y
7. "Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene - Campaign Finance Summary," OpenSecrets, accessed November 3, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/159450?t=18&akid=309802%2E40999114%2EqR5B9y
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