Run for Office.
A lot can happen in one weekend. In one weekend, a reality show star and Manhattan billionaire (not to mention, sexual predator) became the 45th President of the United States of America, millions of grandmas, women, & children took over 300+ cities, and, thanks to Kellyanne Conway, the phrase “alternative facts” became something we cannot forget.
In one weekend, hundreds of thousands of people gathered to welcome a new President, millions marched in protest of that President & all that he stands for (in what is likely the biggest protest in US history), and Trump made clear he’s the first Big-Brother-in-Chief (for more on this, check out the first episode of Jeremy Scahill’s new podcast, The Intercept, titled “The Clock Strikes Thirteen and Donald Trump is President”).
Participants and some observers felt excited, energized, and even a bit hopeful. After all, a majority voted for someone who isn’t president and that majority are now fired up and ready to go!
Now what do we do?
Three words: run for office.
I know it’s easier said than done. It is exhausting. It is very public. And it is possibly the most important thing you can do right now. There are millions of people who’ve never been more energized in their lives and there are over half a million elected positions in the US (519,682 to be exact).
Sure, you might lose. But by not running and letting the status quo continue, you are not losing an election, but instead are losing civil liberties, environmental protections, rights for women, rights for people of color, your health care, and on and on and on and on.
The future belongs to those who show up and those who’ve been showing up for elected office are less popular than root canals, head lice, and Nickelback.
Also, you could win. The result of which would help stop the weakening of democracy in America.
Additionally, there’s never been a more resource-heavy time to learn what you need to know to run.
In Milwaukee, a growing number of Democrats are involved in the Democratic Training for Elections and Actions in Milwaukee (DemTEAM), who put on trainings for how to get elected to local office.
There are also Wellstone trainings around the country. Wellstone is an organization that trains and gives resources to any progressive who wants to be involved in their local government. They also have some great resources online.
Hell, just google it and you’ll find many, many websites created to help you win local elections, included a wiki page (with pictures!) and a page called, get this, How to Run for Office!
For information on what you need to do to get on the ballot in your community, your local elections commission will almost always have information on what you’d need to do. For the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, or the State of Wisconsin, click here, here, and/or here.
And, if you’re anything like me, you’re getting really sick of losing elections. Well, I’ve got good news for you, my friend! Soon, we will stop losing. Not only is the party that’s out of power likely to win more seats in the 2018 elections, but you’ve got the wind of marching millions behind you.
All we need is you.
