Dear Friends -

Well. It’s a few days after the election and we still don’t know definitively which party will control the Senate and the House.

What we do know, however, is that Tuesday’s midterm elections turned out far better than many people had feared. And let’s be clear. The hard work and grass-roots organizing of progressives made that happen. Voter turnout was high, especially in battleground states like Pennsylvania. Without that kind of turnout, John Fetterman would not have been elected.

Let me especially thank the young people who came out to vote in large numbers. There is no doubt that young people played a decisive role in this election. Young voters in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Arizona supported Democrats by OVER 70% – and played a key role in electing senators, members of Congress, governors and state legislators.

Our younger generation believes passionately in justice: in women’s rights, racial justice, gay rights and comprehensive immigration reform. It is also the generation that has led the effort, worldwide, against climate change and the need to take on the greed and irresponsibility of the fossil fuel industry. The young people of our country also know, from their lived experience, that we must have an economy and government that works for all, not just the billionaire class. In the richest country on earth they will not, and should not, accept having a lower standard of living than their parents.

I also want to thank many of our trade unions who played a great role in getting working people to the polls. During my campaign tour I was delighted to meet with the culinary workers in Las Vegas, Nevada and the UAW workers in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. They, and unions throughout the country, understood what was at stake in this election and they mounted very impressive get out the vote campaigns.

Let me also mention that this midterm election was a real success for progressives. Despite the huge amount of money spent by billionaires and their super PACs in support of right-wing politicians, there will now be more strong progressives in the U.S. House than ever before.

Let me congratulate Summer Lee on her resounding victory in Pennsylvania's 12th District. Summer ran a great campaign and withstood an onslaught of outside money from billionaires. She will be a great congresswoman for the working class.

Congratulations to Becca Balint on her historic win. She will be the first woman ever elected from Vermont to Congress. I look forward to working with her on behalf of Vermont's working families in Congress.

Texas, thank you very much for sending Greg Casar to the United States Congress. Greg is a skilled organizer, labor advocate and climate change activist who will be a real fighter in Congress.

Texas also gave us Jasmine Crockett from the 30th District. Jasmine will be a much-needed voice for voting rights and for an economy that represents the needs of working class Texans.

I want to also congratulate Jonathan Jackson on his victory in the 1st District of Illinois. Jonathan understands the need to take on corporate greed and to fight for an economy that works for all.

Congratulations to Delia Ramirez on her win on election night. She’s been a champion of working families in Illinois and I know she will continue her fight for them in Congress.

Congratulations to Val Hoyle on her win in Oregon. Val knows what it means to stand up for working people and fight for raising the minimum wage, passing paid sick leave, and for workers' rights. I very much look forward to working with her in Washington.

Congratulations to Maxwell Frost on his historic victory in Florida’s 10th District. Maxwell will be the first member of Gen Z elected to Congress and a strong leader for his generation.

Further, we saw progressive ballot initiatives win all across the country. Not only did five states codify the right to an abortion, but the states that attempted to pass draconian restrictions to abortion failed. We saw Nebraska and Nevada raise their minimum wage, Washington D.C. eliminated the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers, and Maryland and Missouri voted to legalize marijuana. Our issues were on the ballot and they won.

As you all know, Election Day comes and goes. And this was an extremely important one. But no matter what the results of an election are, the struggle for justice continues.

Let’s go forward together.

In Solidarity,

Bernie

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