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Eileen

2023 General Election Recap

By Homepage, Progressive Champions

Our Revolution endorsed more than 100 candidates for elected office at all levels of government, and over 74% won, thanks to our grassroots supporters and activists!

Bernie Sanders started Our Revolution to engage folks in the political process and grow power from the bottom up — and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

Our candidates ran strong progressive campaigns, and your donations powered millions of direct voter contacts — email, texts, calls, and more — to mobilize voters to elect progressives coast to coast.

In his post-election analysis, John Nichols said on Democracy Now that Tuesday’s results show “a much more progressive country than a lot of the pundits would tell you. In election after election, people voted for abortion rights, labor rights, and progressive values.”

“This is a very powerful reminder that there’s a route forward. But it isn’t a route of concession,” Nichols said. “It’s a route of activism and engagement with communities that are rising up and saying they want a different direction, a more progressive direction, for this country.”

Read all about our 2023 victories below – but first! – if you can, please kick in a few bucks to help us staff up and gear up for the big elections ahead in 2024!

We’ve added Pittsburgh to our list of progressive cities with the election of Sara Innamorato into the powerful seat of Allegheny County Executive.

We backed Sara as she beat big money back in May to win the primary and now she forms a progressive trifecta in the city with Mayor Ed Gainey and U.S. Rep Summer Lee, whom she ran alongside successfully for PA House back in 2018 with Our Revolution’s support.

As County Exec, Sara will lead the second-largest county in Pennsylvania and have the power to help protect abortion care, push for county-wide housing, and address human rights violations in the county jail.

Great news out of Virginia, all of our candidates won — holding the State Senate, flipping the State House, and forming a bulwark against Gov. Glenn Youngkin to maintain Virginia as a bastion for reproductive rights in the South.

Winners include Nadarius Clark, Rozia Henson, Adele McClure, and Joshua Cole for Virginia State House; and Jennifer Carrol Foy, Stella Pekarsky, and Lashrecse Aird for State Senate.

We didn’t overlook any progressive candidates in Virginia, including Steve Descano who won Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney, and Parisa Dehghani-Tafti who won Arlington County Commonwealth Attorney.

Abortion wins in Ohio! Organizers fought hard to get out the vote and shut down the rightwing playbook — passing Ohio Issue 1 to enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution.

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a small but loud group of deep-pocketed extremists took to the states, determined to gut abortion laws. But the resistance has been successful.

Marijuana legalization also passed in Ohio, showing that Democrats need young folks and progressives to hit the ground and drive voter turnout.

Looking ahead to 2024, we’re already kicking off organizing around Fair Maps to fend off Republican gerrymandering schemes in the Buckeye State.

Our Revolution candidates are taking over city councils in Ohio!

Congrats to OR members Trevor Elkins, who won Newburgh Heights Mayor, and Kim Mann, the newest member of Fairview Park City Council! Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney also won a seat on the Cincinnati City Council.

And, there was an exciting victory for our entire slate in Hilliard, Ohio, where progressives have now taken control of the City Council, including Cynthia Vermillion, Emily Cole, and Greg Betts!

“Progressives took control of the Minneapolis City Council” – Star Tribune

All 9 Our Revolution Twin Cities candidates won, taking over the City Council in Minneapolis:  Jeremiah Ellison, Elliot Payne, Jason Chavez, Aisha Chughtai, Katie Cashman, Soren Stevenson, and Robin Wonsley.

In St. Paul, progressives snagged City Council victories with Mitra Jalali, Nelsi Yang, Anika Bowie, Saura Jost, and Cheniqua Johnson.

We’re also growing progressive power in Duluth, MN, where Our Revolution candidate Wendy Durrwachter won a tight race for City Council. If we win one more seat, Democrats will have control of the council.

Wendy is a single mother, restaurant worker, and accomplished composer — and she will bring a necessary working class perspective to the council:  “When something needs to be done, I step up and do it. I’m not afraid to call out those who abuse their power.” 

Victories in the Seattle area!

As corporations broaden their dark money fundraising networks into city council and school board races, we need working-class champions ready to confront them head-on.

That’s why we were proud to endorse this winning slate of progressive candidates in Washington state! Our slate winners include Charles Adkins for Everett School Board, Tammy Morales for Seattle City Council, and Teresa Mosqueda and Jorge Baron King for King County Council.

 Our Revolution stood with Izola Shaw in her run for Rockville City Council At-Large and we are proud of her victory. Our organizers made more than 15,000 voter contacts in her district and turned out the progressive vote for this great candidate!

OR Member Izola Shaw was chair of the Montgomery County Racial Equity and Social Justice Advisory Committee, helped found the County’s Racial Equity Network (MORE), and helped pass the Racial Equity and Social Justice Act. 

She has worked with the County Executive on public works, policing, rent stabilization, and environmental protection through the Rockville City Academy.

Our entire slate of candidates won in New York City, making the council even more progressive to advance our priorities in the Big Apple!

These winners include Carlina Rivera, Althea Stevens, Amanda Farias, Tiffany Caban, Lincoln Restler, Jennifer Gutierrez, Crystal Hudson, Chi Osse, Sandy Nurse, Alexa Aviles, Shahana Hanif, and Rita Joseph.

And, the whole Our Revolution-endorsed Ithaca Solidarity Slate was victorious — Jorge DeFendini and Phoebe Brown won re-election to the Ithaca Common Council, and Kayla Matos won her race to join them on the council.

This is exciting news out of Ithaca, where these progressive council members can make a real difference in the everyday lives of working-class folks in the community.

In Onondaga County, Maurice Brown won a seat in the legislature with a pledge to confront vital community issues like the lead crisis, high housing costs, and unreliable public transportation.

These are the races that determine the direction of cities and help us build progressive power at the level of government closest to people’s lives.

Our Revolution member Jared Evans was re-elected to the Indianapolis City Council with 53% of the vote in a district that Trump Republicans won in 2022 and which city media predicted would go Republican again.

We’re getting many Republicans to vote Democrat for the first time because progressive policies offer real material improvements to people’s lives and because of the direct voter mobilization operation that our grassroots donors make possible.

Jared has been a strong progressive ally in Indianapolis, fighting for higher wages, good jobs, and more for the blue-collar neighborhoods he serves in District 17 — and we are proud to have his back!

Our Revolution endorsed Sheila Jackson Lee for Houston Mayor, and on November 8th she got enough votes to make it to the runoff against John Whitmire — a Democratic defector who sides with radical Republicans on voter suppression and racist policing policies. 

U.S. Rep. Jackson Lee is a long-time member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and she’s a fighter for Medicare for All, the Raise the Wage Act, and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

As the next Mayor, she’s committed to promoting policies to expand healthcare, create good jobs, increase affordable housing, promote safe and reliable public transportation, and protect the city from climate disasters.  

She’s also been endorsed by SEIU Texas, the Communications Workers of America, and other key Our Revolution allies. 

The above wins from last Tuesday come on top of major victories earlier this year as Our Revolution has been blazing a path for progressive cities.

In April, we helped elect progressive Mayor Brandon Johnson to take the helm in Chicago – where he already delivered on a promise to raising wages for tipped workers in the city.

Our Revolution teamed up with One Fair Wage this year to make sure everyone gets a living wage and tipped workers aren’t left behind.

And, our organizers were key to winning a progressive majority in St. Louis with new Board President Megan Green joining progressive mayor Tishaura Jones in Cori Bush’s congressional district.

They’re taking on developers in a fight for affordable housing, and they’ve already passed a universal basic income pilot program!

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Rep. Ro Khanna introduces State-Based Universal Healthcare

By Policy Fights

Our Revolution partner U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna has introduced the State-Based Universal Health Care Act! 

This is a bill that would allow states to develop their single-payer healthcare plans! This is instrumental in the pathway toward a federal Medicare for All program. 

State by state, we are fighting for universal healthcare, but we’re also partnering with Ro Khanna and Bernie Sanders in a push to end medical debt, stop hospital price-gouging, and lower drug prices.

SIGN TO SUPPORT STATE-BASED UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE

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This Black Friday, Make Amazon Pay

By Policy Fights

This Thanksgiving, we are grateful for the solidarity of all our movement allies here and around the world. 

This Black Friday, workers from around the world will stand shoulder to shoulder in a global day of action to Make Amazon Pay – pay its workers, pay its taxes, and pay for its climate damage. 

Keep and eye out for strikes and protests in over 30 countries for dignity on the job and a sustainable future for all! 

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Medicare for All in Massachusetts

By Party Work

Our Revolution Massachusetts organizers just won the state Democratic Party’s support for Medicare for All, union organizing rights for state house staff, and an audit of the state legislature! 

Meanwhile, resolutions calling for a majority-elected Party Leadership, more transparent governance, and incentives to get “dark money” out of primaries were defeated – but with major declines in party membership, the fight for a more democratic, grassroots-oriented party continues. 

“We are thrilled that four resolutions were adopted by the state committee,” said Michael Gilbreath, a Wayland Democrat and leader of Our Revolution MetroWest. “However, we have to keep fighting for a more active, democratic, and transparent Democratic Party.” 

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Victory for UAW!

By Policy Fights

VICTORY! Congratulations to United Auto Workers who won tentative agreements with the BIG 3 this week after months of hard-fought negotiations and strikes.

Our Revolution members joined workers on picket lines coast to coast – from Maryland to Michigan to West Virginia and beyond. 

We’ve been canvassing dealerships and distributing leaflets in our community about the UAW’s Stand-Up Strike and how Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis tried to avoid settling fair contracts with 150,000 workers after making $250 billion in profits. 

Strikes work, join a union! UAW has proven that when workers organize, they can win and defeat some of the most powerful corporations on earth. This is why our working class progressive movement stands with the burgeoning unionization efforts across the country. 

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California Progressives speak out at our Healthcare for All Town Hall

By Policy Fights

Barbara Lee joined fellow U.S. Reps Pramila Jayapal and Ro Khanna, and CA Assemblymand Ash Kalra at Our Revolution’s Healthcare for All Town Hall, where thousands tuned in to help chart a path for healthcare justice on every front – from ending medical debt to guaranteeing healthcare as a human right in California and nationwide. 

Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal emphasized the importance of electing “more true universal healthcare champions to the Senate just like my friend Barbara Lee.” 

“She’s someone who will build the coalitions we need and do the organizing on the inside in the Senate to get more senators to recognize what we all know: the healthcare system is broken and we need Medicare for All,” Jayapal said. 

“Together, we can finally give Americans what they deserve: universal comprehensive healthcare prioritizes people not profits – with everybody in and nobody out,” she added. “I’m thrilled about Barbara Lee running and that Our Revolution is doing the organizing on the ground to help her win.” 

Rep. Ro Khanna served as a campaign co-chair for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 run for President, and now he’s chairing Barbara Lee’s campaign for Senate. 

He said she’s well-positioned in the race and much-needed in the seat because she has been a fearless trailblazer – not only on Medicare for All, but also on foreign policy, which sets her apart from her opponents. 

“She was for Medicare for All and eliminating medical debt before anyone, and she’s been the only person who opposed the war in Afghanistan expanding,” Ro said. 

“When I used to say that 2 months ago, you know that’s great, but now we NEED her voice,” he said. “She’s the only person talking clearly and loudly about the Palestinians also who are being killed in Gaza. She’s condemned the brutal Hamas attacks, but she’s also calling to end the cycle of violence.” 

“This is the time that we need a candidate who is going to caution against another expanded war, and candidate who’s going to stand up for Medicare for All,” Ro stated. 

California Assemblyman Ash Karl also joined the conversation – layout out the path passing his bill for CalCare single-payer healthcare, which was first authored by Barbara Lee. 

“The bottom line is: CalCare is how we can get the greedy insurance companies out of our healthcare system – the same doctors, nurses, providers, they’re just funded through one source,” Ash explained. “Small businesses and individuals are getting ripped off.” 

“Even with the most expensive healthcare system in the world, we have people dying and medical debt is the number one cause of bankruptcy for families in our state,” he said. “With our movement and a senator like Barbara Lee, we can get it done. We can’t stop, lives depend on it, so thank you Our Revolution for being the wind behind our sails to continue to push us.” 

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Meet the Ithaca Solidarity Slate

By Progressive Champions

Our Revolution is endorsing the Ithaca Solidarity Slate in New York! 

Jorge DeFendini and Phoebe Brown are both seeking re-election to the Ithaca Common Council, and Kayla Matos is a challenger who would grow our progressive bloc on the council. 

These are the races that determine the direction of cities and help us build progressive power at the local level, where we can directly improve people’s lives.

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Meet our Maryland Progressive Champions

By Progressive Champions

Our Revolution stands with Izola Shaw in her run for Rockville City Council At-Large and Martin Mitchell who is vying for Mayor of the City of Laurel. 

OR Member Izola Shaw was chair of the Montgomery County Racial Equity and Social Justice Advisory Committee, helped found the County’s Racial Equity Network (MORE), and helped pass the Racial Equity and Social Justice Act. 

She has worked with the County Executive on public works, policing, rent stabilization, and environmental protection through the Rockville City Academy. 

Laurel City Councilmember Martin Mitchell was a 2020 Bernie delegate and a founding member of Maryland for Bernie Sanders. He has been a leader in the fight for rent stabilization, marijuana decriminalization, and collective bargaining for municipal employees. 

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Meet our Washington Progressive Champions

By Progressive Champions

As corporations broaden their dark money fundraising networks into city council and school board races, we need working-class champions ready to confront them head-on, everywhere. That’s why we’re endorsing this slate of progressive candidates in Washington! 

Leah Perkel is an Our Revolution member and a former Bernie delegate. She has firsthand experience with medical debt resulting from our lousy private health insurance system, and she wants to be an agent of change to help create healthier people and communities.

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Meet our Minnesota Progressive Champions

By Progressive Champions

Our Revolution Twin Cities has a powerhouse slate of progressives in Minnesota – and we are working to get out the vote to make sure each of these champions wins re-election! 

These candidates include Minneapolis City Council members Jeremiah Ellison, Elliot Payne, and Robin Wonsley. And, in St. Paul, we are backing City Council members Mitra Jalali and Nelsie Yang. 

Also in Minnesota, Our Revolution members weighed in and we are endorsing an exciting slate of progressive champions to win a majority on the city council in Duluth! 

We’re organizing to elect these three amazing women: Miranda Pacheco and Jenna Yeakle for City Council At-Large and Wendy Durrwachter for City Council District 1. 

These candidates have a real shot at winning and building a strong progressive bloc of local power, and we can’t let an opportunity like this pass us by! 

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