“Death by a thousand cuts” has afflicted abortion rights for years. Now the right-wing Supreme Court seems poised to deliver the final blow, erasing 50 years of a constitutional right supported by a large majority of Americans. No doubt the SCOTUS leaked draft will be tidied up before its official release. But it’s impossible to mask the stench of this radical decision, which threatens not only the right to control one’s own body, but so many other fundamental rights.

The relentless screaming headlines that harp on Biden’s poll numbers are getting us down. So now is a good time to remind ourselves that headlines are designed to generate clicks, not to inspire us to action. Furthermore, headline writers don’t determine election outcomes; voters do.

Airlift partners know what they must do this year and how to go about it. After victories in 2018 and 2020, they are battle-hardened and determined. Here’s a brief summary of what the groups are doing in each key arena in order to win this year and prepare the ground for 2024.

Holding onto Democratic power this year can seem a little like climbing Everest – particularly considering massive voter suppression at home and war in Ukraine. However, a midterm defeat is certainly not destiny.

For over 20 years Republicans, with the aid of allies such as the Heritage Foundation and the Koch brothers, have been assiduously building political grassroots power from school board races on up. The Democratic Party and most of its donors, however, have focused primarily on the top of the ticket, often investing millions in un-winnable races.

Think back to a year ago. No, not the insurrection, but the day before. On January 5th, both Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff won their Georgia run-offs, turning the U.S. Senate the palest – but still lovely! – shade of blue. Honestly, to most of us, the likelihood of not just one but both of these men prevailing seemed preposterous. But we opened our checkbooks, rolled up our sleeves, and got to work anyway. Their victories felt miraculous.

We’re coming into winter solstice season, when encroaching darkness yields to greater light. How fitting for another year of political and often personal triumph and hardship. It is also a time of preparation. The season’s wintery change cloaks how much is happening below the surface, where the underground growth necessary for a flourishing new year unfolds.

Some headlines following last week’s election results were little short of apocalyptic. It’s certainly true that the Republican strategy triumphed in Virginia. The good news is that we already understand how to defeat that strategy: smart messaging, grassroots organizing, and doubling down on our commitment to a more progressive future.

It looked like neck and neck for a while on the California recall but in the end sanity and democracy prevailed.

Of the significant takeaways from the election, one that has largely gone under-reported is the major role played by voters of color who were activated by our partners on the ground.