December 2022
MIDTERM TAKEAWAYS: WE DID IT!
Breaking News: We Did It In Georgia–Again!
Airlift to Georgia raised $100,000 to help re-elect Senator Raphael Warnock
That 51st Senate seat? It’s because of you!
Thank you so much!
Your generosity truly fed the grassroots that led to this victory. As our friends at Movement Voter Project report, “Georgia Alliance for Progress supported 27 organizations whose organizers knocked on 5.6 million doors, blowing past their original goal of 4 million with a 25% contact rate. They talked with 1.3 million voters in person in the past four weeks alone – not to mention 2.1 million calls, 3.6 million texts, countless events, relational outreach, and working in the pouring rain for the past few days with umbrellas. This was on top of the millions of voters they contacted over the past two years to register, while navigating Georgia’s gauntlet of anti-voting laws that dramatically reduced the ballot access of Black and Brown voters. Talk about scale: collectively the groups we supported had more canvassers than both Senate campaigns and the Democratic and Republican parties combined - with a fraction of the money. That’s how we won – by prioritizing one another and coming together to build something greater than any one election.”
Airlift to Georgia also rushed run-off funds to New Georgia Project–a member of the Alliance, and also our stalwart Partner and organizing juggernaut. NGP notes, “Every year we are building on our power by investing deeply in our people. We are building a movement, and with you on our team, we have no plans to slow down.”
Georgia’s run-off victory is only part of this wild midterm story. We also defied the odds nationwide. The dreaded red wave turned out to be the ketchup on the walls of Mar-a-Lago. Because you helped us stand strong against tough headwinds with your phenomenal support for Airlift Partners, they were able to expand membership, programs, and reach, train new leaders, and launch the most massive grassroots efforts and GOTV programs in their histories.
Your investment paid off: We held every single blue US Senate seat and flipped Pennsylvania's, increasing our majority. Although we lost control of the US House, we kept almost all of the most vulnerable seats, and even flipped some! We held onto almost all crucial governorships (and flipped Arizona’s blue), kept Big Lie partisans away from key election positions, and flipped state legislative chambers in Michigan and Pennsylvania while preventing a GOP supermajority in North Carolina. Abortion rights, voting rights, and democracy were on the ballot–and they won.
Of course the midterms brought disappointment as well. The low number of losses in the US House is a remarkable feat, but still, the GOP will soon hold a tiny majority. Wisconsin and North Carolina came close but could not flip US Senate seats. Nevada’s governorship flipped red, as did control of NC’s state Supreme Court. Along with local wins, there were heartbreaking defeats. But as one partner group member remarked, “Grieving the losses is so important—the tears water the roots of what I care about.”
There’s always a deeper story beyond the win-loss headlines–lessons learned, successes, sources of pride. Common themes emerged among Airlift’s Partners:
Elections are moments in long-term movement building–just a few years ago, Georgia and Arizona were ruby red and there was no progressive presence or even non-GOP candidates on the ballot in large swaths of the country
Wins depend on turnout; turnout depends on consistent, values-driven, year-round person-to-person engagement
Showing up, scaling up, and listening up are the secret sauce
Representation matters–when organizers and candidates look like and come from oft-ignored communities, people relate, respond, get inspired–and even run for office themselves!
Never underestimate rural voters!
Young people, women, and people of color–our partners’ key focus–really stepped up big time
Combating intimidation, disinformation, and misinformation is now a key and demanding aspect of grassroots organizing
Don’t overlook the silver linings in losses: margins of loss narrowing, building community, infrastructure, and excitement for next time, forcing opponents to spend money
Clear-eyed assessment–our partners are always learning, adjusting, and improving
So a huge shout-out to all of Airlift’s Partner Groups. They’ve proved once again that year-round, bottom-up, grassroots organizing is key to lasting progressive change.
Even as we celebrate, we are clear-eyed. We know we were buoyed by the backlash to Roe’s overturn and so many deeply flawed candidates on the other side. MAGA extremists and their “normie” enablers have been held at bay, but not vanquished. Challenges abound. But with your continued faith and support, we and our Partner Groups will rise to meet them.
THANKS A MILLION!
Your incredible generosity means
we surpassed our million dollar fundraising goal!
The Airlift community really understands the value of consistent investment in grassroots organizations. We could not be more grateful and proud. As 2022 winds down, it’s time for family, friends, replenishment, and celebration.
However, around the corner is 2023 and there are no off years in building a movement for progress. Years without major elections allow our Partners to:
Replenish depleted coffers
Reflect and plan
Improve operations
Develop leadership
Build community based on shared interests
Hold elected officials accountable
We trust in your continued spirit of giving. We believe in all our partners. Here’s how to help:
Donate by Check. Set up automatic payments to Airlift with the Bill Pay service at your bank, or send a check directly to: Airlift, PO Box 617, Corte Madera, CA 94976
Donate Online at ActBlue. Just click the button:
For Tax-Deductible Giving (Great for Year-End Contributions). Email Ruth Jaeger at ruth@airlift.fund
Spread the word! Tell your friends and family about Airlift and our events. Share this newsletter and the link to our website.
Thanks, Peace, and Joy to You All!
FIELD NOTES
Down Home North Carolina in action, knocking on doors that rarely get knocked. Read more. No wonder they flipped the script this year! Read more.
Michigan Liberation is a part of this amazing coalition that helped turn Michigan into a midterm superstar! Read more.
Views from the Grassroots: Interviews with Brendan Walsh, Worker Power, and Carrie Santoro, Pennsylvania Stands Up.
Why rural America turned away from Democrats, and how we can bring it back. (Hint: many Airlift Partners are doing just that.) Read more.