Savor Our Recent Victories and Momentum for Democracy
By Anna Galland and Sarah M. Williams
The news out of Kansas this week was thrilling (and as we write this, so is the terrific progress in Washington, DC on major federal legislation — we’ll wait til that’s a truly done deal to celebrate that!). Even in a state that’s considered reliably red, a huge majority of Kansans voted to defend abortion rights amidst sky-high voter turnout, more people voted in this primary than in several recent general elections.
Two things struck us over the last few days:
- We have to celebrate and support the long-haul work that helped propel this win
This win was made possible by the determined, long-term efforts of local and national organizers, advocates, and leaders. It wasn’t inexorable after the Supreme Court’s decision. In-state folks worked for years to create strong community-based organizations that laid the groundwork and made it possible for a pro-choice electoral campaign to mobilize so effectively. And they, like so many state-based leaders organizing for democratic values across the country, need financial support for the long haul, not just in those moments when the rest of the country tunes in. Express your appreciation for this critical work at the Kansas Abortion Fund and with local groups in key states.
2. It’s essential to see and savor victories & momentum for our democracy — and not just the roadblocks and disappointments
The work of building an open, inclusive, fair, and functional democracy has had terrible setbacks in recent months. But this has also — often quietly — become a summer of new momentum and progress for democracy. It feels important to recognize and savor those bright spots — which include:
> Kansas. And not just Kansas! There’s a tidal wave of determined activism in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision — strengthening movements for freedom, gender equity and reproductive justice over the longer haul.
> Congress is on the precipice of winning very significant climate, tax, and health care federal legislation. This package, which could pass early next week, would reduce the cost of prescription drugs; make wealthy corporations pay more of their fair share; extend Affordable Care Act subsidies; and reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030. If the “Inflation Reduction Act” deal announced by Sen. Schumer keeps advancing, it could be the biggest investment in clean energy and climate in our history.
> After decades of inaction, a meaningful bipartisan gun law — insufficient, but a concrete and hard-fought step forward, undergirded by persistent advocacy over the course of decades — was passed by Congress and signed by President Biden this summer.
> The January 6th committee is adding powerful fuel to the vital project of countering the MAGA faction’s effort to rig permanent power. The hard work of this committee demonstrated what accountability and effective governing leadership look like — and showed how we can unite to confront authoritarian extremism.
> Unemployment is at a historic low. Dozens of states have raised their minimum wage in 2022. A tight labor market has meant working families are seeing real wage growth and more leverage in the workplace. And workers are making dramatic inroads in unionizing companies like Amazon.
> COVID aid in 2020 and 2021 showed that our government can provide direct cash aid to families and slash childhood poverty — expanding what’s thinkable and politically do-able in the future to address the grave and divisive reality of income inequality in this country. Even as federal action on this issue stalls, states like California and cities like Chicago are running guaranteed income pilots. One of the silver linings of the COVID era is an expanded public sense of possibility when it comes to alleviating poverty in America.
> Pundits are revising their midterm election projections to be more competitive and favorable for Democrats and progressives. If we all put in the work, voters could expand Democrats’ Senate majority; elect pro-democracy secretaries of state and governors; and pass pro-choice ballot measures in states like Michigan and Arizona.
> Movements for racial justice and equality have unmistakably made forward progress in recent years — from advancing leaders that reflect America across a dizzying array of institutions, to unlocking a shift in consciousness about the depth and severity of racism and misogyny in our country. That reckoning was, and is, an essential precursor to truly be the inclusive pluralistic democracy we need now and for the future.
There’s plenty of fodder for grief and anger around us. But to stay engaged in this work, we also need to fortify ourselves with a real awareness of organizing momentum and tangible victories. So after an electrifying week, here’s a cheer for the Kansas organizers — and here’s to supporting them for the long haul. Here’s a cheer for all those who’ve advocated for and hammered out what’s possible to deliver at the federal level for Americans. Here’s a cheer for the determined work of advocates and changemakers on so many fronts, through dark moments as well as inspiring weeks like this one.
Wins like these can help remind us of this important truth: that a strong majority of Americans share a progressive, inclusive vision and want our democracy to live into its promise. In so many ways, we have momentum on our side. Let’s see this clearly — and recommit to the vital work to be done over the next 94 days and beyond.
