Friend,

Between Raphael Warnock’s runoff victory and the latest Supreme Court hearings for Moore v. Harper, which could radically change how our elections are decided, 2022 is leaving us with a mixed bag of outcomes (and emotions).

So today, we wanted to share our highs and lows from this year as we look back on our accomplishments and setbacks – and then, we’ll look forward to the challenges ahead of us in 2023.

2022 Victories

[1] Passed legislation: House and Senate Democrats came together to pass bills that take action on our most pressing priorities: the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and most recently, the Respect for Marriage Act were all passed this year. We know there’s still a long way to go, but achieving meaningful progress on issues like gun reform and LGBTQ+ rights is something to celebrate.

[2] Midterm wins: Not only did we expand Democrats’ Senate majority by electing John Fetterman in Pennsylvania and reelecting Senators like Mark Kelly and Raphael Warnock, but we made history in other ways – including electing the first Gen Z member of Congress, Maxwell Frost, and keeping state legislatures blue across the country. 

[3] On-the-ground organizing: We couldn’t send this email out without showing our gratitude and support to our teams who worked in Arizona and Georgia to turn out a huge number of voters in November. And to all of our activists who made calls, knocked doors, or chipped in during the midterms: Thank you. You made a real impact.

2022 Setbacks

[1] Abortion access: After the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade, restrictive abortion bans began passing in Republican-led state legislatures nationwide. We were also frustrated to see bills that would have helped restore abortion access, like the Women’s Health Protection Act, fail in the Senate due to moderate holdouts and the archaic filibuster. Our fight for reproductive freedoms will continue into 2023.

[2] Midterm losses: Keeping with historic precedent, we lost our Democratic House majority during the midterm elections. Now, Republicans are poised to lead key committees and block Democratic bills from advancing to President Biden’s desk. But we’re already building the groundwork for 2024 to take back our majority and defeat extremist Republicans – the work starts right now.

2023 Look Forward

[1] Local elections: While 2023 is seen as an “off-year” to some, we know that there are key elections happening in towns, cities, and states that should not be counted out. Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi will hold statewide elections to determine their Governor, Secretary of State, and more. Virginia will hold elections for its State Assembly, just two years after Republicans flipped control of the House of Delegates. Wisconsin will elect a new state Supreme Court Justice who could make or break the current 4-3 conservative majority. And cities across the nation will hold local elections to decide their Mayor and City Councilmembers. As we enter 2023, remember to check for your upcoming elections in your state or locality.

[2] Supreme Court: Right now, the conservative Supreme Court is hearing cases that could inject further uncertainty and chaos into our democracy. Between Moore v. Harper, which questions the method by which our federal elections are decided, to 303 Creative v. Elenis, which pits religious freedom against LGBTQ+ rights, we may face a number of shocking and disappointing decisions next year. No matter the outcome, March On will be ready to react and put our values in action to protect the rights of our communities.

Friend, as 2022 comes to a close, we hope you’re able to take time to enjoy the holiday season with those close to you. Then, we’ll enter 2023 rested and ready for the challenges ahead.

Standing with you always,

Team MARCH ON

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