WE DID IT!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHA!! In the midterm that was supposed to tank us AND the democracy, we did not just hold the Senate…WE ADDED A SEAT. That has only happened twice in history – during JFK, during FDR... and now a third time.
Election Night was a 4-hour heart attack.
Democratic turnout had broken records in the early vote, but as Election Day votes were counted it became clear that Republican turnout had also surged. Warnock's lead plummeted, and then switched to Walker.
We took deep breaths, poured deep drinks, and watched that TV like the EKG of a loved one for signs of hope.
The lead changed hands about ten times.
Rachael Maddow laughed at how close it was, and we hated her for laughing.
Then, so tentatively, the patient began to stabilize. And then the Metro Atlanta counties reported more votes... and the patient finally blinked open her eyes… and we cried. It was going to be okay.
One more time… Black voters had saved us. Young voters, women, and people of color had saved us.
Republicans had again increased voter suppression tactics every way they could.
But they were no match for Georgia voters.
They were no match for Georgia activists.
They were no match for US – the multiracial, multigenerational coalition of good-hearted organizers across the country, taking our lead from Georgians, pulling in the same direction to save our democracy.
Georgia sent Reverend Warnock back to the Senate for his first full 6-year term.
In the end, he won by only 2.8 points.
That means once again, every single thing you did mattered.
Thank you to every single one of you, volunteers and donors! YOU DID THIS.
Thank God you enabled us to send 231,000 texts the day before the election, and half a million texts total for the runoff!
Thank God for our Text Champion Meredith Pominville for leading those text banks!
Thank God for our Phone Bank Champions Lynn Bommer and Susan Machtinger for leading 11 phone banks!
Thank God for our in-person Voter Drive Champions Julie Glade, Harvey Kaufman, and Amod Sureka!
And thank God for the truly incredible partner orgs who joined and amplified these events – including Georgia N.O.W., The Union, Fearless Action, and Human Rights Campaign!
Because of what you did – HOPE LIVES.
There is so much good work to do in 2023 and 2024. But first: WE DANCE!
To kick it off, here’s a VIDEO from our good friend, activist//musician/Warnock canvasser Charlie Castell, who recorded this at Warnock HQ, at the moment CNN called the race! Enjoy this singular moment – let this joy fill your sails – you earned it!
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