Hey awesome BJ peeps!
For the GA Runoff, we have now raised $35,000+ for Worker Power, $35,000+ for Four Directions, and have given $6,000+ directly to Raphael Warnock.
Four Directions says they are in good shape, and we funded two canvass teams for Worker Power. That’s 2 canvass leaders and 25-30 pairs of boots on the ground. We couldn’t have done that without all the Balloon Juice angels and everyone else who donated.
The three thermometers for the GA runoff will remain in the sidebar, but unless something unexpected comes up, we are done with targeted fundraising posts until the time is right in the new year.
Once we know the results of the GA runoff, we’ll have a series of posts where we take a look at what we were able to do for AZ, GA, MI, NV, and WI, and all the various ways we supported each state – and we’ll take a look at outcomes in each of those states. We’ll also have posts for the Purple House Races, the Election Protection effort, and the proof-of-concept down ballot fundraising for Super Swing districts – and we’ll take a look at outcomes related to those.
For now, I’ll just say that Balloon Juice is responsible for having raised $925,000 for our targeted political fundraising, and I don’t think we’re giving away too much in advance of our analysis posts if I say that I think we did good!
Open thread.
Update: I had asked if we could get photos of at least one of “our” Worker Power teams, and it just arrived.
SiubhanDuinne
Just shy of a million dollars. Extraordinary. What a fine group of jackals we are. I’m proud to be associated with this generous group.
ETA: And of course the great bulk of the credit goes to WaterGirl.
HinTN
We done good, WaterGirl, but you done great. Presidential Medal of Freedom great, IMO. Thank you!!
ETA – On to the calendar 😘
WaterGirl
@SiubhanDuinne: I was thinking about that when the Pod Save America folks said their fundraising efforts brought in $5 million dollars.
delphinium
That is awesome-thanks WaterGirl for all your efforts!
Alison Rose
Damn. We’re awesome.
If we do another political book club, we should include this in the pitch we make to the author when we try to get them to join a meeting. That plus “Rep Adam Schiff’s favorite blog, Balloon Juice…”
Qrop Non Sequitur
I gave the most I ever had this year, which still felt paltry to me. Arranging for the matching angels and the groundwork on spreading the money across organizations and candidates definitely made it feel more impactful.
I really appreciate your hard work, Watergirl.
WaterGirl
Check out the photo I added up top. Worker Power sent us a photo of one of “our” two teams!
kindness
Winning the Senate seat is really important. Not to mention that the good reverend is a much better human being than Hershel.
trnc
That’s awesome! Thanks, Watergirl.
Omnes Omnibus
Well shit! Nice job, everyone. Great job, WG.
Qrop Non Sequitur
I’m Commander Shepard and this is my favorite store on the Citadel.
prostratedragon
Yaaaaay team!
Alison Rose
@WaterGirl: That photo is awesome! We helped do that!!
Old School
That’s amazing! A round of applause for everyone with extra for WaterGirl!
How did they structure their fundraising? Direct to candidates? Parties?
zhena gogolia
Great photo! Thanks WG and congratulations, everybody.
eachother
An almost top 1,000,000 dollar blog!
frosty
Amazing work jackals! And amazing organizing WG! Looking at the photo of our team I’m getting verklempt!
eclare
Just amazing, WaterGirl! Thank you so much for steering us in the right direction.
WaterGirl
@Alison Rose: We actually raised a lot more than that in the 2020-21 cycle.
That year we weren’t targeting to boots on the ground. We were throwing up thermometers and rage-giving after RBG, etc. So this year was a test of whether targeting is the way to go.
I’m looking forward to the posts where we talk about what we raised and what the outcomes are.
H.E.Wolf
I have no words. That is AMAZING. And WaterGirl, we owe a lot of it to you.
Mind-boggled thanks to everyone who participated!
gwangung
@eachother: That is frickin’ amazing. Seriously.
J R in WV
I too am speechless, Watergirl, you are amazing.
Thanks to every one who gave!
MazeDancer
Wow! And more Wow!
Way to go WaterGirl, Angels, and everyone!!
Cheryl from Maryland
Thank you, jackals and Watergirl. Go, Rev. Warnock!
MazeDancer
@eachother:
In true political fashion, feel we should round up.
Million Dollar Blog!!
Patricia Kayden
👍🏿 Great work!!
FelonyGovt
Thank you so much, WaterGirl and everyone who gave. That photo of “our” workers makes me happy. Go us!
UncleEbeneezer
@Old School: I believe they also funded boots-on-ground organizers. But given their incredible reach, popularity and damn-near celebrity status in political junkie world, I think $925K by this blog is more impressive.
la caterina
Thanks for the update, WG! You are a wonder.
Also, too the worker power kids are alright!
hells littlest angel
@SiubhanDuinne: Yes. So many blogs now are just places for old people to complain about how shitty life is. WaterGirl has been a breath of fresh air into this once-moribund platform.
Wanderer
@WaterGirl: I think the targeted giving to 4 Directions and Worker Power is a very impactful approach. Such a lift to see the photo of ‘our’ group. I look forward to seeing what the analysis shows. You have done such a fantastic job seeking out opportunities to give that make a difference. Many the days are that your optimism has lifted my spirits. Thank you for all you do.
Next item: can’t stand seeing tfg popping up everywhere. It’s going to be a long election cycle.
la caterina
@Qrop Non Sequitur: I gave more this year too. The targeting makes it feel so much more effective. I’d never given to an out of state candidate before Balloon Juice.
Qrop Non Sequitur
Wow, I didn’t know Balloon Juice was even on the ballot.
Leslie
That photo makes me so happy! Thank you to everyone who gave, and to our angels, and especially to WaterGirl.
OzarkHillbilly
Love that pic.
dnfree
I don’t remember who told me (last week, maybe?) that Jiffy now makes a vegetarian cornbread mix? I looked in the grocery store today, and it’s even labeled “Vegetarian” in big letters. Thanks, whoever! I have bought other mixes for years, but they make too much cornbread for two people to eat in any reasonable amount of time.
Qrop Non Sequitur
@dnfree: What is going into cornbread mixes to make them non-vegetarian?
CaseyL
I’m in awe – of us, and particularly of WaterGirl. Not just the organizing and finding Angels – as momentous a task those were – but also the strategizing.
I’ll be very interested to see how the targeted fundraising worked out. It certainly felt like we were doing something more effective than the rage-giving that WaterGirl mentioned. Organizing on the voter end, not just on the candidate end, is so damned important and I’m very happy we directly funded those efforts.
TS
What an amazing group you are!! My part of the world voting is compulsory, campaigning is limited and mainly government funded and only the wealthy/companies contribute funding to political parties.
I am continually so impressed by what you do – and somewhat astonished that you have to do it to keep democracy alive. So congratulate yourselves – well earned.
Miss Bianca
@SiubhanDuinne: Seconded on both counts!
SuzieC
Incredible. So proud to have been a part of it. We won the two purple house districts targeted for fundraising in Ohio: Marcy Kaptur and Emelia Sykes.
Mo Salad
I imagine that we’ll get active again in early 2023 for the April Wisconsin Supreme Court races.
la caterina
@Qrop Non Sequitur: Lard
WaterGirl
@Old School: I haven’t looked at what their breakdown was, but they did a lot of funding candidates and also did some boots on the ground.
Qrop Non Sequitur
@la caterina: Ah, never considered that. My dad often works hard to get that in its raw form.
WaterGirl
@Mo Salad: Yeppers! If you guys are up for it, I would like us to get involved for all the special elections for the House and for all the state Supreme Court races.
We are going to have to make headway in the off season if we are going to win back the House and keep the Senate.
Qrop Non Sequitur
@WaterGirl: I’m very week-to-week but keeping us up on future fundraising plans would help me participate consistently.
Martin
@SiubhanDuinne: Willing to bet a lot of us have given decent amounts outside of BJ campaigns, so we’re certainly over a million as a community.
zhena gogolia
@Martin: Definitely. I’ve been on a monthly since the last election, half to Warnock and half to Abrams’s organization.
dnfree
@Qrop Non Sequitur: Lard has been part of Jiffy’s mix for as long as I can remember. Lard is also in Pillsbury pie crusts in the refrigerator section, unfortunately.
Qrop Non Sequitur
@dnfree: Good to know. Honestly, I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about ingredients in processed food.
Probably because I’m not vegetarian or any other special diet. I do try to make vegetarian choices as often as possible, though.
WaterGirl
@Qrop Non Sequitur: Can you say more about what you mean by that?
Matt McIrvin
Amazing!
Qrop Non Sequitur
@WaterGirl: Essentially that forewarning will help me budget for fundraisers. I think you do thay anyway so keep it up!
Alison Rose
@dnfree: I think that was me, and you are welcome! :)
Sure Lurkalot
Republican groups in Georgia have an emergency court filing to stop voting on Saturday… the same cause the state brought and lost.
Let’s hope for the same result (the last judge said something to the effect that he has to work M-F himself).
UncleEbeneezer
Wonderful job everyone! So proud to be a part of the effort. I’ll be writing some postcards to Warnock voters tomorrow!
Uncle Cosmo
Somewhat O/T, but I’m about to finalize my charitable donations for FY22 – coming out of what I have to withdraw from my retirement accounts – and I’d like to put some pre-tax $$$ toward a certified non-profit that does Ukrainian relief. I intend to drop Chef Jose and WCK some cash for his work there, but any other suggestions for where I could do the most good?
WaterGirl
@Uncle Cosmo:
Balloon Juice for Ukraine
That’s Razom for Ukraine + World Central Kitchen, but you can split your donation any way you want.
WaterGirl
Tonight is our last postcard writing party & music thread.
Everybody is welcome!
Spanish Moss
Thanks for asking for the picture, it makes it seem more real. And thanks for all you do WaterGirl!
WaterGirl
You guys did this!
I could have found the best organizations ever, and I could have put up posts all day long, but if you guys hadn’t donated the money, and if angels hadn’t come forward, we certainly wouldn’t have raised $925,000!
Great job, everyone!
StringOnAStick
I gave more than ever this year because it was targeted, especially to GOTV groups and to smaller races where some bucks can make a big difference. I also contribute monthly to Marc Elias ‘s work, Four Directions and Stacy Abrams voter recruiting group, all of whom I learned about here.
Randal Sexton
In my little island household – we just had one of those things where our main credit card just started getting used in faraway places for items unloved. Which caused my S.O. to say, what are all these ACTBLUE thingies ? Busted hahaha. Well the S.O. is on board , and now I am thinking ‘ALMOST a mil, ALMOST a mil ? ‘ . There is still a bit of time till Dec 6. Imma pony up summore.
Kayla Rudbek
@Qrop Non Sequitur: lard? Eggs if you’re vegan?
dww44
@WaterGirl: I got a postcard in the mail yesterday, Don’t think it was one from the groups here. It was mostly preprinted. It was the product of http://www.grandmothersforabrighterfuture.org.
I’ll add my thanks to WaterGirl for all she’s done to grow the impact of our political voices. Your work is so very deserving of approbation.