COUNTDOWN TO NOVEMBER STARTS NOW | |
We have just six months to go until the midterm elections. What we do now can have a huge impact. Just like building wealth—where saving early provides the enormous benefit of compounding over time—investing early in elections carries big advantages. The converse is also true: if you fail to invest early, it’s very difficult to make up for lost time later.
No matter how strongly you feel about the need for change to help restore our democracy, nothing matters unless you take action. The string of Democratic electoral wins over the past nine months—some of them surprising and decisive—did not happen simply because of a growing wave of opposition to Trump and Republicans. They happened because concerned citizens got out and did the hard work—much of it unglamorous—needed to win elections.
What you can do includes doorknocking for local candidates, phonebanking for local or out-of-area races, writing letters to the editor, postcarding, joining a voter protection hotline in a battleground state, and—of course—donating to candidates and grassroots organizations that engage with voters.
Don’t wait—make your plan now for how you will invest your time and money to help win in November. As readers of this newsletter know, there is always plenty to do, no matter where you live or your level of experience.
Don’t leave it to others—get engaged now to maximize the return on your investment.
With faith in the power of collective action,
Your Faithful Editor
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In This Issue
- Aaron Zimmer Lays Out Vision To Flip State Senate Seat
- CT Enacts No-Excuse Absentee Voting—Big Win for Voter Access
- Voters Speak in Big Virginia Redistricting Win
- Trump Wants to Steal the Elections. Here's How We Fight Back
- Don't Let Truth Go Unfunded—Support Independent Journalism Today
- Join a Saturday Protest in Your Community
- Other Upcoming Events
- In Case You Missed It
- Get These Other Sources For Action
- This Month from Art Rejects Tyranny (A.R.T.)
- Please Donate
- Did You Miss A Newsletter?
- Share Your News
- Tell Us What You Think
- Spread The Word
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AARON ZIMMER LAYS OUT VISION TO FLIP STATE SENATE SEAT
Aaron Zimmer, the Democratic candidate for State Senate in District 30, addressed the Salisbury Democratic Town Committee last week, delivering an energetic message about the stakes of the upcoming election. Zimmer made clear that he is running a full-throttle campaign to unseat Republican incumbent Stephen Harding, framing the race as part of a broader fight to protect democracy in the face of what he described as the ongoing threat posed by Donald Trump.
His platform focuses on economic fairness and opportunity, including raising taxes on the ultra-wealthy, expanding healthcare access for all—regardless of immigration status—and addressing the rising costs of housing, healthcare, groceries, and gas to attract and retain working families in Connecticut.
Zimmer emphasized a modern, digitally focused campaign strategy, noting this is not a strength of his opponent, while also calling for stronger coordination within the Democratic Party to better reach voters across the district. He expects a competitive race, with Brookfield and New Milford as key battlegrounds, and stressed the importance of turnout among reliable Democratic voters in the midterms.
While drawing clear policy contrasts, Zimmer said he will run a positive campaign without personal attacks. Instead, he plans to engage voters directly through an aggressive doorknocking effort and by focusing on the issues that matter most.
To qualify for Connecticut’s public campaign financing program, Zimmer must raise $20,000 from at least 300 in-district donors. He is close but still needs 95 more contributions to qualify. If you have not already done so, please consider helping Aaron reach his goal with a donation today at https://www.zimmerforct.com
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CT HOUSE PASSES NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING
Connecticut just took a major step toward expanding voting access. The CT House of Representatives has passed a bill allowing no‑excuse absentee voting, meaning every voter will be able to request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Formerly, an absentee ballot was available only to a voter attesting to having a permitted reason, such as illness, disability, or being out of town.
The vote follows last year’s overwhelming voter approval of a constitutional amendment to permit no-excuse ballots and brings Connecticut in line with the majority of states. When enacted, the bill will make voting more convenient and boost participation, especially for people with demanding schedules, caregiving responsibilities, transportation challenges, or disabilities. The bill does not allow ballots to be sent automatically to voters, but it does let voters opt in to a permanent list to receive absentee ballot applications automatically before each election.The bill now moves to the Senate where it is expected to pass.
This is a big shift for our state and a win for voter access.
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VOTERS SPEAK IN BIG VIRGINIA REDISTRICTING WIN
On April 21, Virginia voters approved a state constitutional amendment allowing new, temporary congressional maps that are expected to give Democrats a net gain of up to four House seats in 2026. This was a major development in the nationwide redistricting battle, where Republicans had initially appeared to gain a decisive advantage.
That advantage was not accidental. Donald Trump helped spark a new gerrymandering arms race by urging Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps mid-decade—breaking with the long-standing norm of redistricting once every ten years after the census. States like Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Missouri moved aggressively to tilt maps in their favor, prompting widespread concern that Democrats were running out of options.
The results, however, are not yet certain. On April 22, in response to a GOP challenge, a judge ruled the amendment to be “void ad initio” (void from the beginning). However, the state has appealed the ruling.
If the Court upholds the referendum, Virginia’s outcome—along with gains in California and Utah—has helped offset those Republican advantages, bringing the overall redistricting fight to a near draw. What once looked like a structural GOP edge heading into 2026 now appears far more competitive.
Just months ago, many analysts warned that Democrats were out of options. Instead, Democrats responded strategically—embracing temporary redistricting measures, taking them directly to voters, and preserving long-term nonpartisan reforms until after the 2030 census.
In a cogent analysis, Robert Hubbell highlights two key lessons. First, Democrats must be willing to act boldly and “fight fire with fire” when norms are broken. Second, they should not give in to panic or defeatism. Predictions of Democratic collapse proved premature once leaders adopted creative and assertive strategies.
The result is significant: control of the House in 2026 may now hinge on a genuinely competitive map. More broadly, Virginia shows that Democrats can shape the political landscape—not control it entirely but influence it—by acting decisively and trusting voters.
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TRUMP WANTS TO STEAL THE ELECTIONS. HERE'S HOW WE FIGHT BACK
It’s no secret by now that Donald Trump has been trying to rig the 2026 midterm elections in some very obvious ways: demanding that red states engage in mid-decade gerrymandering, introducing the “SAVE America Act,” attempting to gain control of state voter rolls, and issuing an executive order to restrict mail-in voting. Unfortunately, Trump is also working in some less direct but equally dangerous ways — such as installing loyalists on state election boards, raiding a Fulton County, Georgia, election facility and seizing 2020 election records, and hinting that he may use the National Guard and/or ICE to “protect” voting in certain districts that happen to be heavily Democratic. And there is no reason to think that these attempts will stop after Election Day. Indeed, given his past behavior, there is every reason to think that Trump will refuse to accept the results of elections where the Republican candidate loses.
What can we do to stop him? Quite a lot, but it will require each of us to do some work.
Get the word out: Talk to your friends and family about the upcoming elections. Counter any mis- or disinformation they may have. Explain that democracy itself is at stake and that it’s critical that Democrats not only win but win by large enough margins that the results cannot be denied. The decisiveness of the recent elections in Hungary gives us hope that the same thing can happen here.
Get active: Join your friends and neighbors in local protests (such as our own protests in Salisbury every Saturday morning), sign up to phonebank, write postcards, call your representatives, and work at the polls. And get your friends and family to join you.
Prepare: Strengthen community connections for possible troubled times ahead and be ready to mobilize peacefully if a critical moment demands it. A key success factor in the recent protests in the Twin Cities that drove ICE out was the breadth of underlying community networks that went into action.
Be a Good Neighbor: None of us can be effective alone. We must rely on our communities to help sustain us through these hard times. These communities get stronger when we each invest in them through small acts of kindness, such as donating to local food banks or lending a hand to a neighbor in need.
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DON'T LET TRUTH GO UNFUNDED—SUPPORT INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM TODAY
At a moment when misinformation spreads faster than facts and political pressure on the press is intense, supporting bona fide, independent journalism is more critical than ever. Yet too many of us have grown accustomed to the idea that information should be free. A recent report from the Pew Research Center finds that most Americans neither pay for news nor believe they need to.
Independent, high-quality journalism is essential to democracy. It provides accurate information, holds those in power accountable, and enables informed civic participation. Without it, democracy cannot exist.
Here’s what you can do: Support independent journalism—whether national outlets or local publications like your community newspaper—by subscribing, donating, and sharing trusted reporting. The New York Times has even been running an unusual ad during its podcasts in which publisher A. G. Sulzberger urges listeners to support quality journalism wherever they find it. Airing on shows like The Daily, the message points to the financial strain facing news organizations and makes the case that fact-based reporting deserves the public's support.
Rather than promoting only his own paper, Sulzberger encourages listeners to back any outlet producing original reporting, underscoring the urgent need to sustain a healthy, independent media ecosystem. As he puts it: “Just subscribe to a real news organization with real journalists doing firsthand, fact-based reporting.” Please heed his words as you encounter journalistic organizations asking for your support.
| | JOIN A SATURDAY PROTEST IN YOUR COMMUNITY | |
Keep building the pro-democracy momentum that's sweeping our country. Show up at one of the protests happening every Saturday in our area. Bring a sign or a flag if you can—but what matters most is simply showing up.
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Salisbury - 11am-noon at the Salisbury Town Green at the White Hart Inn, 15 Under Mountain Road, Salisbury.
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Torrington - 11am-noon at Coe Park, 101 Litchfield Street, Torrington.
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Cornwall - 12 noon (now only 30 minutes) at the triangle intersection of Routes 4 and 7 South in Cornwall Bridge.
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New Milford - 12 noon (now only 30 minutes) - Protest and Food/Diaper Drive at the Old East Street School near CVS, 50 East Street, New Milford.
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Kent - 2-3pm - At 50 North Main Street, north of the Welcome Center.
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Friday Protests in Sheffield (MA) - 4-5pm at Main Street (Rt. 7), across from Roberto’s Pizza. Contact Ricky Bernstein for details at rickypenrose@gmail.com.
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OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday May 2 from 12-3pm: Rally and Concert for Peace. Join NW Connecticut Take Action in Coe Park, Torrington for a peaceful concert and protest for peace featuring local musicians performing protest songs, classic and new, including songs written by the performers themselves along with messages of peace from local politicians and community leaders. Costumes and signs are encouraged. Bring your family, your friends, and your singing voice. Expect a lively afternoon full of music, community spirit, and the joyful energy of peaceful protest. The event will also include a food drive for The Community Kitchen in Torrington. Please consider bringing a food donation to help neighbors in need. Please click to register.
Tuesday May 5 from 12-8pm: Vote on Regional One School District Referendum. Voting takes place at Town Hall. To be eligible to vote on the budget, you must be either a registered voter in Salisbury or a US citizen who is listed on the town’s grand list (property tax list) with taxable property of at least $1,000 in value. Corporations, LLCs, and other entities cannot vote.
Thursdays May 7, 14, 21 & 28 at 3pm: What’s the Plan? Weekly Call with Indivisible’s Founders. The chaos coming out of the White House is a deliberate strategy to sow confusion and make us believe we are powerless to fight back. The antidote? Coming together as a community to cut through the noise and unite around strategies for resistance. Join Indivisible co-founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin each week for an hour to discuss what’s happening—and, more importantly, what's the plan. These calls can be very uplifting! Click for details and registration.
Wednesday May 13 at 7:30pm: Annual Town Meeting and Budget Vote. The meeting will be held at Town Hall. To be eligible to vote on the budget, you must be either a registered voter in Salisbury or a US citizen who is listed on the town’s grand list (property tax list) with taxable property of at least $1,000 in value. Corporations, LLCs, and other entities are not eligible to vote.
Tuesday May 19 at 7pm: Salisbury Democratic Town Committee. This regular meeting of the SDTC will be held at Town Hall and on Zoom. We will be hosting Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, who will discuss her re-election campaign as well as the importance of protecting the vote. Please email Al Ginouves to receive a copy of the agenda and the link to the meeting. All are welcome.
Wednesday May 27 at 6:30pm: All in for North Carolina (AINC) fundraiser with Heather Cox Richardson. AINC is a New England-based volunteer group with a strong track record of recruiting volunteers and raising money for Democratic candidates in North Carolina. We wrote in our April issue about their activities. Sign up for this Zoom event at AINC Fundraiser with Heather Cox Richardson.
Wednesday May 27 at 8pm: Greater Litchfield County Young Democrats - Monthly Meeting. Join fellow Democrats for this meeting on Zoom. For more information, please contact Daniela Larsson at nwctyd@gmail.com.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Liberal Judge Wins in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race. Adding to a string of recent losses for GOP and conservative candidates, in April a liberal judge resoundingly defeated a conservative candidate for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Candidates in Wisconsin judicial elections do not run with party labels, but the affiliations in this race were clear. Liberal judge Chris Taylor defeated conservative candidate Maria Lazar by 20 points. This victory adds to a wave of Democratic wins in contested elections across the country since Trump was elected. Liberals flipped the state’s high court in 2023. With Taylor’s victory, the liberal majority becomes 5-2 and ensures liberal control for several more years. Read more from PBS Wisconsin.
Democrats May Finally Have a Winning Message on Clean Energy: Trump’s War with Iran. The war Trump started has driven sharp spikes in oil and gas prices over the past two months. With damage to oil infrastructure across the Middle East, experts warn that even if the conflict ends soon, prices could remain elevated into 2027. Trump has long been hostile to renewable energy, calling it a “con job" and eliminating green tax credits and other programs designed to expand it. Until recently, Democrats have been slow to reassert a strong alternative. Now, rising energy costs are giving them an opportunity to connect clean energy with affordability and national security—and some leaders are beginning to respond. Read more in The Guardian.
After Criticism of ICE, Trump Moves to Unmask Reddit User via Grand Jury. A new federal effort to unmask an anonymous Reddit user is raising alarms about free speech and political dissent under the Trump administration. After a Redditor posted criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), federal agents failed in court to force Reddit to reveal the user’s identity. Now, prosecutors have escalated the matter by issuing a secret grand jury subpoena demanding the platform turn over personal data tied to the account. Advocates warn that targeting someone for expressing criticism on Reddit—and pursuing their identity through a grand jury after earlier legal setbacks—signals a troubling intensification of efforts to silence dissent online. Read the story in The Intercept.
Trump Thinks Automatic Registration is Fine for The Draft, But Not for Voters. In December, Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act, a must-pass bill that had one small, almost unnoticed provision requiring that the federal government automatically register all males in the U.S. for the military draft pool upon their 18th birthday. Registration isn’t new; young men have been registering for the draft since World War I and are still legally required to do so. It’s the automatic part that is getting attention. Newsweek recently ran an article that singled out a thought-provoking post on Facebook: “If they can automatically enroll men into the draft at 18, they can automatically register Americans to vote at 18. Ask yourself why they won’t.” While states—not the federal government—are responsible for voter registration, the post’s point remains valid. Rather than encouraging states to register voters, the Trump administration has pushed anti-democratic measures, such as the SAVE America Act, to make voter registration harder.
| | GET THESE OTHER SOURCES FOR ACTION | |
Because we publish only once a month, there are many events that never make it into our pages. To keep informed about those events, we strongly suggest that you subscribe to some of the excellent, more frequent sources that are listed below.
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Robert Hubbell's Today's Edition provides daily analysis and commentary on the latest political happenings and practical suggestions for what citizens can do. He started the newsletter in 2017 to provide hope and perspective to his family after the unexpected results of the 2016 election. Over time, his family email was shared among friends and became of community of like-minded citizens devoted to preserving American democracy. Click to read his latest posts and subscribe.
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5 Calls - Elected officials really do care what their constituents think. That's why calls to officials' offices are impactful. Every day staffers compile and report on all the calls that their offices receive. Making a call takes just a minute using the short scripts on key issues and telephone numbers they provide. 5 Calls researches key issues, drafts scripts, and provides contact info for elected officials. Go to the 5 Calls website and choose an issue you care about. Enter your zip code and the system will provide you with the telephone numbers of your senators and representatives along with the relevant scripts. Subscribe to 5 Call’s weekly newsletter for emails with the latest updates.
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Jill Drew’s Today's Action Daily Blast – This twice-a-week email suggests a single, focused calling action to our public officials each day, most often providing carefully-researched sample scripts along with the contact information for calling US Senators and Representatives serving Northwestern Connecticut and the adjoining area of New York’s Hudson Valley. To sign up email jill@jilldrew.com.
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Saving Democracy email - Indefatigable activist Kathy Voldstad provides announcements of actions for people in and around Salisbury and elsewhere. Kathy's emails also provide inspiration that we all need in times like these. To sign up, email kathyvoldstad@gmail.com.
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Jessica Craven's Chop Wood, Carry Water – This is one of our perennial favorites. Activist Jessica Craven provides daily suggestions on easy actions that each of us can take. Read it here and subscribe free for her daily dose of actions.
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THIS MONTH FROM ART REJECTS TYRANNY (A.R.T.)
Since the start of the US–Iran war, news outlets have reported that DOGE cuts to State Department staff have left the U.S. government unable to assist thousands of Americans stranded in the Middle East.
This episode brings to mind a powerful work of art, Archive of the disappeared, the disappearing by Joanne Hayhurst, currently featured in the A.R.T. gallery of works submitted by local artists. A.R.T. is a collaborative community project that invites people to create in response to the destruction being wrought in Washington. Submissions include painting, drawing, collage, photography, sculpture, scrapbooking, and poetry.
Archive of the disappeared, the disappearing is a multi-page accordion book. Each page consists of an open black envelope representing a month in the first year of the current Trump administration, from January through December 2025. Each envelope contains preserved materials—news articles about organizations, photographs of individuals, and excerpts from government websites—that have been removed or erased from the public record.
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PLEASE DONATE
Thank you to everyone who responded to our annual appeal. Your support of our work is so gratifying and urgent at this time, when democracy is under attack.
If you have not yet given, you can still do so by check or click to donate by credit card or use this QR code.
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DID YOU MISS A NEWSLETTER?
The entire archive of past newsletters is available at the Salisbury Democratic Town Committee website.
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SHARE YOUR NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please send us any news or announcements that you would like us to share with our community. We publish on the first of each month, so please send us any submissions at least one week in advance. Please submit to the editor at salsdemsnews@gmail.com.
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TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
We love hearing from you, our readers. Every edition of our newsletter is created with you in mind — to inform, engage, and inspire. But your feedback helps us do our job better. Drop us a note — even a few lines can make a big difference. Reach us anytime at salsdemsnews@gmail.com.
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