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election 2017
People's Action Celebrates Election's Bold, Progressive Victories
Grassroots organizers cheered the loud and clear message in Tuesday's election results: voters are eager for progressive candidates with the bold ideas that
Nov 09, 2017
Grassroots organizers cheered the loud and clear message in Tuesday's election results: voters are eager for progressive candidates with the bold ideas that People's Action and its state organizations are proposing and supporting.
Throughout the country, candidates fighting for health care for all, a $15 minimum wage, race and gender justice, ending mass incarceration, tuition-free higher education and climate justice won seats from city council to state legislature, from Washington state to Maine.
"Tuesday's elections mark a turning point. Among the most hopeful signs of a more hopeful future were the victories down ballot, where working class progressive candidates won," said George Goehl, co-executive director of People's Action. "Already we have 70 people from our membership signed up to run in 2018. The new generation of truly progressive people, especially women and people of color, running for office and winning is one of the most important takeaways from this election.
In New Jersey, Governor-elect Phil Murphy, supported by People's Action member organization New Jersey Citizen Action, proposed a state-owned bank that would invest in local communities.
In Maine, voters won Medicaid expansion that would bring health care to 77,000 more people in the state. The referendum was endorsed and led by Maine People's Alliance and People's Action.
In Pennsylvania, Reclaim Philadelphia and 215 People's Alliance, endorsed Philadelphia's Larry Krasner who was elected district attorney on a platform to end mass incarceration.
In Virginia, People's Action leaders helped elect strong progressives in three House of Delegates districts to take out three corporate, conservative incumbents.
In Washington state, People's Action organizations OneAmerica Votes and Washington Community Action Network helped push Manka Dhingra into the state senate giving Democrats full control of state government.
Here are some of the newly-elected leaders who were endorsed and supported by People's Action and its members:
Colorado
Colorado People's Action has built a progressive block on the Aurora City Council with three candidates elected: Crystal Murillo and Nicole Johnston both defeated incumbents; Allison Hiltz led in an eight-way race for two at-large seats
Iowa
Ross Grooters won a seat on the Pleasant Hill City Council running under the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action banner.
Maine
A ballot measure led by Maine People's Alliance to expand Medicaid in the state passed easily with 59 percent of the vote.
Maryland
Progressive Maryland candidate Laurie-Anne Sayles was elected to Gaithersburg City Council.
Massachusetts
Neighbor to Neighbor Action members Adam Gomez and Nelson Roman were re-elected to the Springfield and Holyoke City Councils respectively.
Michigan
Michigan United member Tasha Green was elected to the Westland City Council.
Minnesota
TakeAction Minnesota's city council candidate Andrea Jenkins won in Minneapolis and is the first transgender woman of color elected to public office in the country. Jeremiah Ellison,looks likely to claim a city council victory on the northside of Minneapolis. In Duluth, TakeAction Minnesota candidate Renee Van Nett, elected to the city council, will bring a progressive and Native American voice to the table. Justice4All leader, Londel French is poised to be elected to the Minneapolis Park Board.
New Jersey
New Jersey Citizen Action-endorsed Phil Murphy easily won the governorship. Murphy won on a platform of state-owned banks and a $15 minimum wage. His election returns the state to full Democratic control.
New York
Three candidates from Community Voices Heard Power candidates won: Corazon Pineda was re-elected to the Yonkers City Council; Ann Finney was elected to the Poughkeepsie Common Council creating a progressive majority; and Christopher Johnson to the Westchester County Board. In Albany, Citizen Action of New York candidate Alfredo Balarin won his seat on the Albany Common Council. Long Island Progressive Coalition candidate Laura Curran was elected Nassau County executive. People's Action candidate Lynn Eckert won election to the Ulster County Legislature and Alfredo Balarin became the first Latino elected to Albany city council..
Pennsylvania
Reclaim Philadelphia and 215 People's Alliance endorsed progressive Larry Krasner who was elected to district attorney with a strong racial justice platform.
Virginia
The People's Action Virginia leadership team won three huge upsets in the House of Delegate races: Elizabeth Guzman, Chris Hurst and Kelly Fowler.
Washington
OneAmerica Votes and Washington Community Action Network candidate Manka Dhingra won her State Senate election giving Democrats a new majority and full control of Washington government. OneAmerica Votes candidates Lorena Gonzalez and Teresa Mosqueda were elected to Seattle City Council and De'Sean Quinn and Zak Idan won seats on the Tukwila City Council.
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Americans for Tax Fairness Reaction to Election Results
Nov 08, 2017
"From coast to coast and everywhere in between, voters spoke loudly and clearly to reject the agenda of the last 12 months. They rejected divisiveness and toxicity, and they rejected taking away people's healthcare in order to pay for tax cuts for millionaires and corporations. Voters rejected a rigged system in favor of the powerful and elite that hurts working families and small businesses. And make no mistake: voters rejected any tax legislation that will cut Medicaid and Medicare, raise taxes on the middle class, and further disadvantage small businesses and families in favor of corporations and millionaires."
- Frank Clemente, Americans for Tax Fairness Executive Director
8 Election Day Victories That Spell Good News for Democrats and the Progressive Grassroots
A year after Trump's win, Tuesday's election showed that progressive organizing in 2017 has paid off across the country
Nov 08, 2017
With state and local elections across the United States on Tuesday, the Democratic Party and progressive grassroots organizers were able to claim victories in key battles--including gubernatorial races, state legislatures, ballot initiatives, and local government--a repudiation of both President Donald Trump and the agenda being driven by Republicans.
What follows is just a snapshot of the assorted headlines and significance of those various victories.
"Unelectable" Progressive Civil Rights Attorney Larry Krasner Wins Philadelphia DA Race in Landslide
The Democrat joked during a debate that he "spent a career becoming completely unelectable," having sued his city's police department dozens of times for civil rights violations--only to beat his Republican opponent by 40 percentage points. Krasner has represented activists with the Occupy movement and Black Lives Matter pro bono, and pledged during his campaign to work to end Philadelphia's epidemic of mass incarceration.
Our Revolution Candidates Win Big in Boston Suburb
Based on the city's unofficial election results, all seven Somerville, Mass. aldermen candidates who were endorsed by Our Revolution--the group spun out of Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) 2016 bid for president--won: Ben Ewen-Campen, Jesse Clingan, Will Mbah, Matthew McLaughlin, Mary Jo Rossetti, J.T. Scott, and Bill White. McLaughlin, who last year chaired the Sanders campaign in Somerville, told the Boston Globe that he thought the results reflected residents' desire for "progressive change," adding: "Locally this is mandate for change in Somerville and the affordable housing crisis specifically."
\u201cThe @OurRevolution slate went 7 for 7 in Somerville! Two are @DemSocialists members! @JTforWard2 and @BenForWard3\u201d— Beth Huang \ud83c\udf39 (@Beth Huang \ud83c\udf39) 1510107168
Justin Fairfax Trounces GOP Opponent in Virginia's Race for Lieutenant Governor
In the state where white supremacists marched chanting, "You will not replace us" three months ago, a black Democrat won by a comfortable margin against a Republican who embraced President Donald Trump's agenda and declared at a rally, "We are going to take back Virginia the way this president is going to take back this country!" Fairfax's new role often serves as a stepping stone to a gubernatorial race.
\u201c88 nights ago, white supremacists marched with torches in Virginia. Tonight, Virginia elected Justin Fairfax its second African-American lieutenant governor.\u201d— Ben Wikler (@Ben Wikler) 1510106900
Maine Becomes First State to Expand Medicaid by Ballot Measure
Rebuffing Congressional Republican's attacks on healthcare, and Maine Gov. Paul LePage's vetoes of at least five legislative efforts to expand Medicaid in the state, a ballot initiative to provide healthcare to an estimated 70,000 low-income residents of the state passed by nearly 20 percentage points. "Maine has shown the way for the rest of the country," Jennie Pirkl, the campaign manager for measure told the Bangor Daily News. "Voters have sent a clear message to Augusta, Washington, and the rest of the country that we want more health care, not less."
\u201cMaine Medicaid result is a good reminder that Republicans in 19 states have rejected what is usually quite popular federal money to give low-income people health insurance.\u201d— Daniel Dale (@Daniel Dale) 1510112576
\u201cBig credit to @mainepeople @MeEqualJustice and others who hustled and beat back a major LePage disinformation campaign to make this happen https://t.co/anfdnsYmnb\u201d— Jacob Leibenluft (@Jacob Leibenluft) 1510110281
Democrat Danica Roem Becomes Virginia's First Openly Transgender House Member By Defeating Anti-Trans Republican Incumbent
Defeating the GOP incumbent who wanted to ban transgender people like her from using public bathrooms of their choice, Roem won her place in the state legislature by unseating Republican Bob Marshall, described as "one of the state's longest serving and most socially conservative lawmakers." Roem focused her campaign on jobs, schools, and northern Virginia's traffic congestion.
\u201c@BlyTarbell @FoldableHuman You call that grace and composure, I call that a burn to end all burns\u201d— Todd in the Shadows (@Todd in the Shadows) 1510123331
Democrat Socialist Lee Carter Headed to Virginia House of Delegates
Carter unseated Republican delegate Jackson Miller in an upset after a contentious race; Miller attacked Carter for being an open socialist, comparing him in a mailer to Josef Stalin and Mao Zedong. Carter is a proponent of single-payer healthcare and promised during his campaign to expand access to Medicaid in Virginia.
\u201cThis really is a truly stunning upset https://t.co/FZlrDYzT1m\u201d— Chris Hayes (@Chris Hayes) 1510107732
First Transgender Woman of Color Wins in Minneapolis City Council Race
While long-time Minneapolis City Council members struggled to hold their seats, Andrea Jenkins secured more than 70 percent of the vote in the city's Eighth Ward and became the first transgender black woman elected to public office nationwide. "Transgender people have been here forever, and black transgender people have been here forever," Jenkins told the Washington Post after her win. "I'm really proud to have achieved that status, and I look forward to more trans people joining me in elected office, and all other kinds of leadership roles in our society."
\u201cSo proud of movement auntie, Andrea Jenkins, who became the first openly trans woman of color elected to the city council of a major U.S. city. She\u2019ll represent Ward 8 of Minneapolis! So much history being made tonight! #AJ4W8 #TransFolksCanWin #ElectionDay\u201d— Raquel Willis (she/her) (@Raquel Willis (she/her)) 1510105753
After Race-Baiting Tactics Used by Opponent, Ravi Bhalla Becomes Nation's First Sikh Mayor
Days after his opponents distributed a racist flyer portraying him as a terrorist, Ravinder Bhalla was elected as the nation's first Sikh mayor. During the campaign, the new mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey responded to attacks on his ethnicity and religion with a simple tweet stating, "We won't let hate win."
\u201cA repudiation of Trump last night: several Asian-American candidates featured in racist posters were elected anyway.\nIncluding NJ's first Sikh Mayor \u270a\nhttps://t.co/1hB9LvKF19 via\u201d— Sunny Hundal (@Sunny Hundal) 1510142129
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