January 2023
AIRLIFT PARTNERS AND THE HISTORY-DEFYING 2022 MIDTERMS
Lift the Midwest: Mighty Restoration
Michigan Liberation canvassed statewide for the first time: knocking on doors, holding rallies, phoning, and conducting many Tasty Tuesday Text Parties in a robust Peer-to-Peer Campaign. Their State Supreme Court mailer to 350K households helped preserve the 4-3 democratic majority, while an active voter protection plan ensured voting access. In addition to defending the executive offices and 2 US House seats, Michigan Liberation’s efforts were instrumental in flipping both chambers of the state legislature. They supported passing Michigan ballot initiatives to protect abortion rights, expand voting rights, and make critical adjustments to state term-limit laws. Airlift raised $55,000 for Michigan Liberation in 2022.
Pennsylvania Stands Up (PASU) is smoking hot!! They helped flip a US Senate seat–the only one in the country! There’s now one more blue seat in the Senate and a stronger US House delegation. By flipping an astounding 12 seats in the state House, Democrats gained control of one chamber of the state’s General Assembly. This stops the GOP state legislators in their tracks from restricting abortion and voting rights. PASU also helped elect Josh Shapiro as Governor, who will appoint both the Attorney General and the Secretary of State. PASU notes, “This election showed that our deep investments in rural and small town Pennsylvania are showing powerful results.” Because of PASU’s incredible efforts in areas routinely written off, margins of victory widened and margins of loss narrowed. As for PASU members? Twelve of them filed for local elected offices just 10 days after the midterms! Airlift raised $84,000 for PASU in 2022.
Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT) was instrumental in re-electing Wisconsin’s democratic governor, attorney general, and secretary of state, particularly by helping to drive up youth turnout. Although Mandela Barnes could not flip Ron Johnson out of the US Senate, he came within 1%. Not bad for a young, progressive Black man campaigning amid a cacophony of racist dog whistles! LIT also expanded their presence on college and high school campuses; stopped ultra-right wingers from taking over La Crosse’s school district; called over 250,000 young people with voting and registration information; and hosted two statewide action gatherings for student leaders. In Milwaukee, LIT knocked on more than 120,000 doors in the neighborhoods with the highest number of young people and the lowest historical voter turnout–and the impact showed! LIT is nurturing Wisconsin’s rising voting population. Airlift raised $83,000 for LIT in 2022.
Moving South: Hope (and Heartache)
Once again, Georgia closed out the election season with another stunning US Senate run-off victory! The New Georgia Project played a huge part not only in re-electing Raphael Warnock, but in building one of the most formidable progressive grassroots organizations in the country over the last decade, turning deep-red Georgia into a crucial swing state. NGP has devised new strategies for navigating voter suppression laws, amping up its outreach, voter protection, and legal team. They provided more than 2,000 rides to the polls this year, and offer some of the most innovative, wide-ranging programs we’ve seen. 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.” Airlift raised $98,000 for NGP in 2022, as well as $89,000 for the Georgia Alliance for Progress to win the Senate run-off.
The top priority for our two North Carolina Partners, Carolina Federation and Down Home NC, was to prevent a GOP supermajority in the General Assembly. They did it by flipping two seats won by their members: Ray Jeffers, a Black farmer, and Diamond Staton Williams, a Black working class nurse. Our Partners are justifiably proud: “We held the line and protected abortion access for millions of North Carolinians, defended our public schools, our trans and queer youth, our undocumented neighbors, our right to protest, and our access to the ballot. Every time Governor Cooper uses his veto in the coming years, he will be wielding the power of our members.” Although Cheri Beasley for US Senate and two candidates on the State Supreme Court suffered heartbreaking losses, there were many down ballot victories, including an upset victory by Wiley Nickel for the US House; the first Black sheriff in Granville County history; and progressive school board victories in three rural counties.
Both Carolina Federation and Down Home NC saw massive expansions this year, increasing their regional reach with new chapters and launching their biggest deep canvassing and GOTV efforts ever. Carolina Federation is especially proud of completely building two new programs to recruit, endorse, train, and campaign for progressive candidates. The final word on the state from both groups? “The rumors of our demise are premature; North Carolina is a swing state, North Carolina is a purple state, North Carolina is a battleground. When the necessary investments are made, we can and will win.” Airlift raised $74,000 for Carolina Federation and $78,000 for Down Home NC in 2022.
Florida and Texas are the long-term bets: Will they slip below our horizons into a deep red sea, or become reliably purple states on their way to blue? 2022 election results were disappointing, although Dream Defenders member Maxwell Frost will become the first GenZ member of Congress.
MOVE Texas helped hold all of the Congressional seats in the border communities, re-elect Judge Lina Hidalgo in Harris County, and turn out the youth vote with very successful local initiatives to decriminalize marijuana use. Coordination among other progressive groups was much better and more complete than in the past, and MOVE was able to reopen their college campus operations after pandemic shutdowns.
Both Dream Defenders and MOVE focus on vital and under-tapped youth, Black, and Brown constituencies and the issues that mobilize them: climate justice, student debt relief, and decarceration. They are planting the seeds of a vibrant progressive future. Airlift raised $50,000 for Dream Defenders and $49,000 for MOVE Texas in 2022.
Westward, Ho(pe)!
Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) and Worker Power (formerly CASE) are really rockin’ it in Arizona. Their largest organizing and GOTV efforts ever helped re-elect Senator Kelly, flipped the governor’s and attorney general’s seats blue, and kept the secretary of state office out of the hands of a far-right election denier. Between 2006 and 2018, not a single Democrat was elected to state office–or, for a much longer spell, the US Senate. Talk about flips! Topping it off, LUCHA and WP helped pass a ballot measure approving in-state tuition for Dreamers and defeated two anti-voting-rights propositions. Arizona saw historic turnout among young and Latino voters that grassroots organizations like LUCHA and WP have been working to register and mobilize for a decade. Latino turnout has nearly doubled over the last few years. LUCHA put resources into rural Cochise and Coconino counties which were critical to Democratic wins–the margins improved over Biden 2020 in both counties. And talk about tireless: as soon as AZ’s election was over, more than 100 Worker Power organizers went to Georgia to help re-elect Senator Warnock. Airlift raised $82,000 for LUCHA and $85,000 for Worker Power in 2022.
California isn’t exactly a swing state, but it’s Airlift’s home turf and a treasure trove of US House seats. Ever since Orange County and the Central Valley flipped every House seat blue in the 2018 midterms, they’ve become important battleground regions. Our partners OC Action and Communities for a New California (CNC) have played a key role in the transformation. As is typical in races won by tiny margins, we lost some ground in 2020, but held on this year while adding to statewide successes–including enshrining abortion rights in the California constitution by passing Proposition 1, as well as flipping the Orange County Board of Supervisors blue. Airlift raised $79,000 for OC Action and $78,000 for CNC in 2022.
The Silver State wasn’t pure gold this year (the governorship flipped red), but it came close. Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) was instrumental in turning out the vote to secure the US Senate Democratic majority by re-electing Catherine Cortez Masto. They also helped flip the secretary of state and two state House seats blue and strongly held ALL seats of a very vulnerable Democratic congressional delegation. PLAN made a big push to pass Question 1, the most comprehensive state version of the Equal Rights Amendment in the nation. That’s right in keeping with PLAN’s tireless dedication to promoting climate justice, immigrant and abortion rights, and affordable housing. Airlift raised $69,000 for PLAN in 2022.
Thanks to all our partners and supporters for an amazing year
NOW ON TO 2023 AND BEYOND!
There are no off-years in securing the progressive future we all want. The new year is a time for replenishment, rebuilding, and gearing up for the fight ahead.
A great new year’s resolution that’s easy to keep is to become a monthly donor so our Partners can meet the monthly payroll to keep staff to do what they have to do this year:
Improve operations
Develop leadership
Build and sustain a community of supporters based on shared interests
Hold elected officials accountable
As always, we treasure your support:
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 and make it monthly:
For Tax-Deductible Giving 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, and a Happy New Year!