There’s a historic argument made every election after any disappointment in the polls that it was due to low turnout of Black voters or other voters of color. When we don’t turn out in record numbers, we’re blamed for not carrying the election on our backs. When in reality, in every election — 

Black voters are the HEROES. 

Voters of Color are the HEROES. 

Young voters of color are the HEROES. 

We are the HEROES. 

As the dust settles in the days following the most expensive Midterm election in US history, one thing is clear: our communities didn’t turn out for ANY political party. We turned out for ourselves to fight for the issues and values that matter to us.

Communities of color turned out to vote and made the difference in key races. This turnout was DESPITE relentless attacks on our access to the ballot box, including the passage of a record number of voter suppression laws across the country and intimidation tactics at the polls, and misinformation campaigns targeting our communities. 

We saw in our Youth Poll that among the issues on the ballot, abortion rights ranked high for our young voters. Now, looking at states where abortion was on the ballot, we know that the turnout of young voters, particularly young voters of color, was critical to protecting abortion access. Our communities want progress, not just commitments. 

The future of democracy has always been voters of color. I feel optimistic that the power we are building in local communities can transform our country’s entire political system. For democracy to truly serve our communities, it will be the result of the determination of voters of color. 

Onward

Judith Browne Dianis

Executive Director 

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