We’re approaching the holiday season – let’s talk about gifts that keep on giving.
Who are some of the Attorneys General that are suing the Administration for abuses of power?
People that we helped elect thru direct donations and through our support of boots on the ground organizations in those states.
What is the latest state to help fight the steal of elections by Republican gerrymandering in TX and elsewhere – to rig the game in 2026?
Virginia!
The Virginia Senate majority leader is leading the charge in Virginia to offset the recent gerrymandering in TX and elsewhere. Why is he able to do that?
Because Democrats gained the (slim) majority in the Virginia Senate and the Virginia House in 2023. We directly supported candidates in two key races for the VA House, and we supported boots on the ground organizations in VA.
We need to keep stepping up, and we can’t let the frustration and discouragement and anger at all the destruction that is occurring day after day after day keep us from making a positive difference.
Not suggesting that we all have to agree on everything, but I would love to see us leave the infighting behind – it saps our energy and creates rifts that we can’t afford if we are going to win this fight. I would love to see us get back to making a difference.
Let’s save the rocks in our pockets for the Republicans.
Let’s turn anger into action.
More details about Virginia from the Status Kuo – click to read the whole thing.
That’s why I let out a little cheer when a news alert popped up on my screen yesterday: Virginia was moving to act.
Blue seats, from out of the blue
In a surprise move yesterday, the Virginia Senate majority leader, Scott Surovell, announced that his state would seek to redraw its congressional map in time for the 2026 midterms. “We are coming back to address actions by the Trump administration,” Surovell declared, referring to a special legislative session that Democrats would convene.
My first thought was “Yay!” But my second thought was, “How on earth?”
Virginia was not on anyone’s list of “most likely to Avengers Assemble” in this moment of dire need. That’s because the governor, Glenn Youngkin, who is a Republican, wasn’t about to call a special session to push redistricting. And earlier this summer, the Democratic candidate for governor, Abigail Spanberger, had thrown cold water on the idea of a mid-decade redistricting, indicating that she had “no plans” to push such an effort.
And time was running out. Under Virginia’s state constitution, to get an amendment on the ballot, the authorizing legislation has to pass twice—once before both houses of the General Assembly (the House of Delegates and the state Senate) and then again after the election of the next General Assembly.
I figured such a hurry up offense was pretty much impossible with just 11 days to go before the election. Virginia, it seemed, would have to wait, just like New York which has also has a cumbersome dual-session process to amend its state constitution.
What I didn’t consider—and what I hope some brilliant legislative staffer figured out (if so, please give them a raise!)—was the possibility of a special legislative session that the Democrats could call on their own.
Let’s play some inside legislative baseball to explain what happened. It’s all really quite amazing, and the GOP is fuming mad which makes it even more delightful.
Sandia Blanca
Are you going to repost the “ground game in Virginia” thermometer?
Professor Bigfoot
Darn it, I have stuff to get done outside in the chill but I will absolutely read “Virginia to the Rescue” when I get back.
mrmoshpotato
@Sandia Blanca: Not sure if WG just reposted it, but it’s at the bottom of my tablet screen.
Miss Bianca
Phil Weiser, Attorney General for Colorado, also running as Democratic candidate for Governor. (The other Democratic contender is current Senator/weasel Michael Bennet, so Weiser could definitely use some $ love.)
To date, he has filed at least 37 lawsuits against the Trump Administration – that was as of August, I’m sure he’s added a few since then.
ETA: Oh, Weiser has also called for a CO constitutional amendment to allow for redistricting.
Another Scott
VA Senate Majority Leader is Scott Surovell. He’s my state senator. He does a great job.
Team D should do very well in the Virginia elections in 10 days, but we cannot take anything for granted. We have to fight for every gettable vote.
Forward!!
Best wishes,
Scott.
XeckyGilchrist
Thank you.
WaterGirl
@Sandia Blanca: Yes, you’ll be seeing a post from me tomorrow.
After Charlie Kirk was killed, National Ground Game had to pivot in some of their efforts, but a plan is in place for a final push in Virginia, and I’ll be telling you all about the effort tomorrow
It’s the same thermometer as the one that’s been in the sidebar. I didn’t want to actively fundraise while they were pivoting and figuring things out, but now that there is a new plan in place, we’ll be more active with this last political fundraising effort for 2025.
Then we’ll be right back at it in late January of 2026.
FastEdD
Out here in CA it is really good to hear we aren’t alone and there are a couple other states trying to push back. It sounds like Indiana isn’t redistricting.
H.E.Wolf
It’s a good time to give ourselves and one another a little grace; a little benefit of the doubt.
My dad used to say to us kids, when we were at odds with each other, that we needed to contribute “60-60”, rather than 50-50. It used to infuriate me, because I knew he was right and I didn’t want him to be. Self-righteousness is so much easier (for me; I’m sure it’s just me) than generosity!
Anyway, in his memory, I’m a “60-60” contributor now, to the best of my abilities.
WaterGirl
@H.E.Wolf: My dad would always say “Why can’t you girls just get along?” (3 daughters)
Sounds like your dad took it a step further, with a clue about how to get there.
Sandia Blanca
@WaterGirl: Thanks. I was just thinking it would be good to remind us of their activities. Will look forward to your post tomorrow!
Villiageidiocy
We all can step up in our own way. In addition to political activity, I suggest that folks who have the resources volunteer with, or donate to, local community orgs which support those who are egregiously affected by food or housing insecurity. A lot of the shenanigans from the republicans, not just a suspension of SNAP, are devastating communities already on the edge.
BlueGuitarist
Virginia Election Forecaster Chaz Nuttycombe has added a seat to the 7 he previously thought Democrats would flip
projecting a narrow win for BJ-supported candidate Virgil Thornton, VA House 86
projects.statenavigate.com/25-26/states/va/forecast
he estimates Kimberly Pope Adams (“Good Kim”) will win by a comfortable margin.
there are 5 additional R-held seats projected to be very close.
lots of virtual phone banking opportunities, and canvassing for folks in range
Details at mobilize.us
Sandia Blanca
@BlueGuitarist: That’s great news!
Matt McIrvin
@WaterGirl: There sure seemed to be a concerted effort to turn the killing of Charlie Kirk into Trump’s JFK assassination or 9/11 That Changed Everything, and just steamroll all opposition with it like what happened after 9/11. But it didn’t really work out that way.
H.E.Wolf
@WaterGirl:
Yes. Dad was a good teacher, with a knack for a memorable phrase!
iKropoclast
@Matt McIrvin: Maybe it would help if anyone outside some very online Republicans cared about Charlie Kirk.
lowtechcyclist
Jay Kuo goes on to say:
Jay Jones is the Democratic candidate for Virginia AG. If you go to http://www.jayjones.com and click on a donation amount, it’ll take you to his ActBlue page. I just tossed in $100.
Another Scott
@lowtechcyclist: Thanks for the reminders.
Donated.
Forward!!
Best wishes,
Scott.
Cheryl from Maryland
Donated $250.00 to VA Ground Game. The Attorney General race is tight, and no one is focusing on the House of Delegates. We do not want to waste our time writing postcards for a Democratic Victory in Virginia.