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Happy July!
With the midterm elections still nine months away, it’s easy to think, we can relax; but please realize how important this election is. President Donald Trump recently called for a nationalization of elections, while the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act.
Let’s think about what’s at stake for the 2026 midterm elections and U.S. democracy:
Donald Trump since before he was elected in 2016, has claimed we have fraudulent elections. Of course, we know in 2020 Trump lost the election. He went on a very public campaign to argue that the election was stolen from him, and there was widespread fraud. We know there was no widespread fraud, this has been determined by the courts. Now, Trump is back in the White House, he’s still pushing this idea of voter fraud and fraudulent elections, and he’s really ramped up the rhetoric. We recently saw federal agents raid the election center in Fulton County, Georgia.
The courts have nullified much of the president’s executive orders, but I think the damage has already been done. If there are doubts about the integrity of the midterm elections, many are concerned it leaves open the door, for instance, of maybe congressional leaders waiting on or denying the seating of winners of congressional elections. It generates a lot of concern around what could happen leading up to or after November.
Our U.S. democracy is in a very challenged state right now. Most experts around the world who track the status of democracies say the U.S. is showing the recognized signs of being in significant decline. Historically, we’ve had low voter participation, low turnout. I think what we’re really starting to come to terms with is how many people don’t really believe in their democracy or government. We must work by talking to these people to understand what can happen if Democrats don’t strongly win this election. We must talk to our Democratic friends about a Democratic Party takeover of the House which would make it harder for President Trump to govern in the ways he would like. A Democratic House would push back on Republican cuts in social spending and require more deal making. In some ways, a Democratic takeover of the House would also be hopeful — the Democrats would appear on the national stage more in critical moments, given their control of one of the congressional branches. We would see less of Mike Johnson and more of Hakeem Jeffries!
Please start coming to our monthly meetings. Please start volunteering to do simple things like writing postcards, calling your friends to see how they’re doing, and informing yourself so if someone says, “Who’s running?” you can answer. You can do something creative or fun. Help us make these things happen! Yes, the things Trump does are depressing, so take the time to call your Congressional representatives to tell them they’re wrong. It makes you feel good! There’s a new Texas Democratic program that will give us money to do these things, but we must have the volunteers to do the work.
Now is when what we do makes a difference!
Thanks! Maggie
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