Hello Team,
2021 has been a long and difficult year, but we have learned some incredibly important lessons about our communities, our commonwealth, and our democracy. One of the biggest takeaways for our team is an issue Gerry has been concerned with for decades: having candidates running and winning in every locality across the Commonwealth.
Our election loss in November was a symptom of this chronic issue - no matter how blue Northern Virginia may be, Democrats cannot continue to win and deliver for working families without maintaining our broad coalition. Essential to that is regaining lost ground in our rural communities, which have been long overlooked, underepresented, and underserved.
That is why Gerry surprised us all for the Holidays with his offer to match up to $10,000 in donations to Rural GroundGame, an amazing organization doing the hard work of supporting and organizing with Democratic committees and candidates across rural Virginia.
Rural GroundGame is already making a huge impact across the Commonwealth, employing their electoral experience and providing logistical and material assistance to candidates running at all levels - from school board to State Senate - ensuring that Democrats are competing for every single seat in areas too long dominated by Republicans. These are not outsiders parachuting in with their own ideas - they are people rooted in rural Virginia communities, working with their neighbors to build long-lasting, self-sustaining, and effective Democratic committees and supporting candidates with roots in the districts they're running in.
We need you to help Rural GroundGame meet their $10,000 match goal - for every dollar you donate, Gerry will match!
If we have learned anything in 2021, it is that our communities are stronger when we work together. This is not the time to despair, but to take action and make long-lasting change across our Commonwealth to make sure Democrats can run - and win - everywhere. We really appreciate your support for Gerry and Rural GroundGame - if you want to check them out, their website is here.
Have a Happy Holidays and New Year!
-- Team Connolly
