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Jan 18
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Revolution Report: January 18th, 2025

By Homepage, Revolution Report, Revolution Report Newsletter
INSIDER NEWS FROM THE FRONTLINES OF THE POLITICAL REVOLUTION

HEADLINES: Fight Trump & The Oligarchs | Our 2025 Plan of Action | DNC Leadership Elections | 2025 Downballot Elections | & MORE!

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On Monday, Trump and the Oligarchs will take control of our government. Progressives need to be ready.

The Oligarch’s Mission: Plunder our tax dollars by privatizing our government and selling-off agencies and public assets to the highest bidder, gutting regulations for corporations and rolling back protections for working people; and slashing taxes for the rich by cutting public programs.

This week, in the Senate, we heard directly from Trump’s wealthy, far right political picks —

Hedge fund executive Scott Bessent (Treasury) said NO to raising the minimum wage, while vowing to expand Trump’s tax cuts for the rich; Oil & Gas CEO Chris Wright (Energy) denied the climate crisis and pledged to double down on drilling; and billionaire Doug Burgum (Interior) vowed to hand over our public lands to Big Oil.

In addition to extremist political appointees, Trump will start sowing policy chaos on Day 1, pledging to sign 100 Executive Orders to try to undermine the progress we’ve made on climate, healthcare, taxing the rich, and much more.

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We’re getting ready for the fight of our lives, and it starts with our 2025 3-Point Action Plan:

OUR MISSION: This moment calls for a total reboot. We’re fighting for our future by mobilizing a Citizen Army of grassroots activists to fight back against Trump and the Oligarchs, seizing the reins of the Democratic Party, and electing the next generation of Progressives in hundreds of down-ballot races across the country.

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Since the holidays, over 30,000 Our Revolution supporters have shown they’re ready to fight — participating in organizing meetings, strategy huddles, and taking strategic actions to get ready for Trump’s Second Term.

Despair is not an option. Our Citizen Action Team is preparing for battles ahead in 2025. We need to know you’re with us. Sign here to show our activists that you have our backs.

PLEDGE TO SUPPORT OUR GRASSROOTS ARMY

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WORKING TO TRANSFORM THE PARTY

“The Democratic Party cannot win back the working class without first addressing its own structural decay,” Our Revolution leader Joseph Geevarghese wrote in a recent Common Dreams opinion piece.

“The party has grown too reliant on corporate donors, consultants, and top-down strategies that ignore the real needs of working people,” he said. “It’s unlikely that the insiders who built a system that enriches themselves—guaranteeing profits whether the party wins or loses—will willingly dismantle it.”

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In looking at the contest for DNC chair and reforming the party’s operations, Our Revolution Board Chair Larry Cohen told Sludge his goal is: “Organizing in, dirty money out.”

Larry sees an opportunity for us to organize and win in “more than 3,000 counties nationwide where there is virtually no Democratic Party presence.” This is fertile ground for progressives to take over — but it’s just the start.

Looking at the totality of the party and its failures, the prescription is clear: Cut off the party’s reliance on corporate donors, abandon the consultant-driven strategies that fail working people, and rebuild a Party that serves the grassroots base.

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That’s why Our Revolution - working in coalition with progressive allies - organized a LIVE DNC Candidate Forum this week.

More than 25,000 Our Revolution supporters engaged with over a dozen candidates running for key DNC Leadership positions, including Chair candidates like Ken Martin and Ben Wikler, and Our Revolution leaders running for Vice Chair positions such as Jane Kleeb, Jim Zogby, and others.

This was an important event to give the grassroots a say in the party election process because as we know — just 448 voting members of the DNC will choose the new leadership — despite it being the rank-and-file volunteers who do the work to mobilize voters each election cycle and build the party in their counties and states.

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Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese opened the forum by summarizing the state of the party after the November election.

The Democratic Party has “ceased to be the party of the working class — MAGA won voters who make less than $100k a year. The Democratic Party also lost young people, voters of color, and women.

“Let me put it another way,” Joseph said, “the Democratic Party is now the party of the college educated suburban elite. At the end of the day, the corporate hacks who got the party in trouble in the first place aren’t going to be the ones to save us.”

Read more about our DNC candidate forum in Common Dreams.

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Robert Borosage wrote about our candidate forum in the The Nation, zeroing in on the most important issue to our members: Banning Dark Money from Democratic Primaries.

Borosage reported that while Chair candidate Ken Martin used the forum to state his commitment to rooting out Corporate Money from the party, other candidates were less clear.

For example, when Ben Wikler, Wisconsin State Chair, was asked directly about outside money on our call, he claimed the party “couldn’t do anything because it can’t pass laws—but this was, if not disingenuous, clearly wrong,” Borosage wrote. “For example, the chair of the DNC could ostracize pollsters, ad producers and consultants who work with outside groups to attack Democratic candidates.”

Borosage also noted how State Parties “can ban outside PAC money and enforce that ban by disqualifying any candidate that benefited from such spending.”

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Coming out of our DNC Candidate Forum, we are proud to announce the endorsement of Our Revolution leaders for Vice Chair positions in the party: Shasti Conrad, James Zogby, and Michelle Deatrick - and Jane Fleming Kleeb for ASDC Chair.

Shasti is the Washington State Party Chair and worked on both of Bernie’s presidential campaigns, Jane is an Our Revolution founding board member and Nebraska Party Chair, Michelle is an Our Revolution Michigan leader and DNC Climate Council Chair, and Jim, also Our Revolution founding board member who has been working to transform the party for three decades.

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So far, more than 10,000 grassroots volunteers, donors and local leaders have signed on demanding new DNC leadership sign on to these critical party reforms.

Some of our progressive allies in Congress are also calling on DNC candidates to commit to these reforms, including Pramila Jayapal and Greg Casar — the new chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

We need a massive groundswell of demand ahead of the Feb. 1st DNC election — urging party leaders and candidates to reject corporate money, increase transparency and accountability and rebuild a multiracial, working-class base.

SIGN THE PETITION

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On Thursday, Jan. 30th, Our Revolution is turning out our supporters to make our voices heard during the last official DNC Candidate Forum in Washington DC.

If you live in or around DC - the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia - join us to make our voices heard again before the DNC votes on Feb 1st. Our movement for change must have a presence every step of the way in the DNC election process.

SIGN UP TO JOIN US IN DC!

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BUILDING PROGRESSIVE POWER IN 2025

2025 isn’t an off-year for elections -- in fact, there are thousands of races at the state and local level with progressives running for mayor, city council, state offices, and more.

Our goal is to build power. Our movement elected a progressive voting bloc in Congress with the Progressive Caucus — and this year is a chance to do the same in cities and counties across the country.

Proof of concept: In St. Louis, Our Revolution Board Member Megan Green ran for city alderman and realized she needed allies serving alongside her to move a progressive agenda. So she partnered with Our Revolution and ran progressive slates over multiple cycles, creating a governing majority in the city — from mayor to council and more.

If progressives are going to build power in the United States, we have to return to our roots and do it from the bottom up.

If you’re a candidate running for election or re-election, join Megan Green and the Our Revolution Political Team for a 2025 Candidate Meetup to learn about our endorsement process and how we support candidates with strategic resources to win elections and build power for the long haul.

REGISTER HERE (ANNOUNCED CANDIDATES ONLY)

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Over 30,000 Our Revolution supporters have already stood up and shown they’re ready to fight back against Trump and the Oligarchs.

We know that despair is not an option. Our Citizen Action Team is preparing for battles ahead in 2025, and we need to know you’re with us. Sign here to show our activists that you have our backs.

PLEDGE TO SUPPORT OUR GRASSROOTS ARMY

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Mood. We know the frustration, but as Bernie says: “Despair is not an option.” Get this mug and enjoy a moment of self-care with a hot coffee or cocoa as we re-energize for the political battle of 2025. Fun trivia: this image comes from Bernie’s interview with the New York Times during his 2020 campaign. Get yours here!

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WHEN WE ORGANIZE, WE WIN!

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Nov 14
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Post Election Survey Results

By Homepage, Revolution Report

In our post-election survey of more than 12,000 progressives, 85% told us they’re feeling Angry, Sad, and Depressed. The rest told us they’re Shocked or Confused.

While some ranked misogyny, racism, and xenophobia as factors in the election, many pointed to the neglect of working people, the failure of the Democratic Party, the late switch from Biden to Harris, and the campaign’s misguided focus on Cheney Republicans and celebrities.

76% said they believe the Democratic Party has lost its way, and 91% said they believe the Party has long neglected the multiracial working class.

Nov 14
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Abandoned Working Class People

By Homepage, Progressive Champions, Revolution Report

“It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them,” Sen. Bernie Sanders said the morning after the election.

“First it was the white working class, and now it’s Latino and Black workers as well. While the Democratic Party leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And they’re right.”

“In the coming months, those of us concerned with grassroots democracy and economic justice need to have some very serious discussions. Stay tuned,” Bernie said.

It’s time for the Democratic Party to take stock and heed the warnings that progressives and working class Americans have been raising for years.

Bernie founded Our Revolution to take on corporate power, elect progressives, and transform the party — which is exactly what we’re going to do in 2025 as fight back against Trump every step of the way. Chip in to the resistance here.

Our Revolution made more than 5,000,000 voter contacts into the battleground states — door knocking, calls, texts, emails, and more — flipping many folks who weren’t planning to vote for VP Harris — but it wasn’t enough.

For weeks, Our Rev Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese spoke out to the AP and NPR about the campaign’s dangerous strategy to court Republicans at the expense of the base, as our surveys and voter conversations revealed a worrying motivation gap for Harris.

“We were seeing clear evidence that buddying up with the Cheneys and parroting conservative talking points rather than leaning into a strong, populist economic message was turning off voters,” Joseph told the NYT.

“We sounded the alarm,” he said to Axios. “But the party wouldn’t listen. They took the base for granted. People were voting their self-interest, which is their pocketbooks. Trump had an economic story, though flawed, while Harris’ narrative was vague.”

That’s why Our Revolution “aggressively worked to engage these voters on issues like job creation, wages, housing and health care to close the narrow margin,” Axios reported. In the end, just 5% of Republicans voted for Harris — less than voted for Joe Biden.  

The Times asked Joseph who Democratic Party would blame if they lost, and we already knew the answer:

“As they always do, the establishment will blame progressives instead of taking a serious look in the mirror and acknowledging their failure to lay out a clear vision for addressing the very real economic pain folks are feeling,” Joseph said.

Like clockwork, Bernie is being attacked by corporate Democrats for pointing out the obvious. Joseph summarized it well when he told Axios: “Voters want a leader who will take on corporate interests to improve their standard of living. The struggle is real, whether you’re Gen Z or a laid-off factory worker.”

Now, more than ever, we must transform the Party to be more democratic and responsive to the working class in order to beat back Trump and rising rightwing authoritarianism. Help us build our network of organizers and make sure we are prepared for 2025. Thank you.

Nov 14
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Chicago School Board Victories

By Homepage, Progressive Champions, Revolution Report

Our Revolution partnered with the Chicago Teachers Union to fight against the Charter School billionaires and elect a slate of 4 new members to the School Board. Our progressive voting bloc includes public education champions Jennifer Custer, Ebony Deberry, Jitu Brown, and Yesenia Lopez.  

“Project 2025-aligned billionaires lost big in Chicago. Despite all they invested to block our union’s vision for public schools, they won’t be able to stop Chicago’s commitment to finally delivering for communities who have been told to go without for generations,” CTU president Stacy Davis Gates said.

Oct 28
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Chicago School Board

By Homepage, Progressive Champions, Revolution Report

For the FIRST time ever, Chicago voters can elect their school board members. And, Our Revolution is supporting the Our Schools Slate of 10 progressives on the ballot!

We are proud to endorse:

 

District 1: Jennifer Custer

District 2: Ebony DeBerry

District 3: Jason Dones

District 4: Karen Zaccor

District 5: Jitu Brown

District 6: Anusha Thotakura

District 7: Yesenia Lopez

District 8: Felix Ponce

District 9: Lanetta Thomas

District 10: Rev. Robert Jones

 

Make a plan to vote and find your polling place here 

The ‘Our Schools’ slate of candidates is committed to fostering equity, inclusion, and excellence in education. They believe that every student in Chicago—regardless of their race, income, or zip code—receives a fully resourced, equitable, safe, and healthy learning environment.

On our recent Live Organizing Call, Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates said: “We have expanded democracy in the city of Chicago,” Stacy told us. “It’s an amazing feat, and it only happened because we organized AND we voted AND we went on Strike.. and and and..” Our diverse movement is fighting on every terrain — and that’s how we win.

Bernie Sanders founded Our Revolution in 2016 to build progressive power from the bottom up. Thank you for staying in the fight for the better world we all know is possible.

Sep 13
Love1

2024 Swing State Plan

By Homepage, Policy Fights, Revolution Report

We know our mission: Defeat Donald Trump and elect Progressives up and down the ballot.

Our goal is to make 5 million voter contacts into the 7 key swing states that will decide this election – Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Four years ago, Biden/Harris narrowly beat Trump in 6 of these states with under 300,000 votes combined — and the polls right now are tight!  That means 2024 will be a turnout election — whichever side runs the most surgical and efficient voter mobilization program will prevail.   

Our Revolution has over 1.2 million supporters in these battlegrounds, and we know what it takes to mobilize our base of progressive voters. In 2020, we made over 5 million voter contacts, and with your support we hope to match or exceed that by November.  

Bernie founded Our Revolution in 2016 to be a people-powered progressive political organization to mobilize for candidates and causes up and down the ballot. Since then, we’ve built an effective voter turnout machine.

Because we’ve been doing election work every year in these 7 swing states, we not only have accurate voter data, we also have relationships with over 1000 activists on the ground who are motivated to door-knock, make calls, send texts, and use social media to motivate other progressives to vote. 

Chip in to help power our work in the homestretch to Election Day Nov. 5th. For every $1, our teams can make 5 voter contacts into a swing state.

Sep 12
Love1

Post Debate #2 Survey

By Homepage, Policy Fights, Revolution Report

94% Say Harris Won the Debate in Our Revolution Survey of 10,000 Progressive Voters

Survey results showed 94% thought VP Harris won the debate against former President Trump. Respondents largely felt Harris was most effective on the issues of abortion and defending democracy, while expressing far less confidence in how the Vice President tackled questions on immigration, affordable housing, and climate change.

Stark warning signs for the Harris campaign emerged, however, when respondents were further questioned about specific policy positions and other factors related to the Vice President’s viability in the general election against Trump. According to findings from the Our Revolution post-debate survey:

  • More than half of respondents indicated that they have no intention to volunteer for the campaign or actively encourage family and friends to vote, despite an intent to vote for Harris themselves. 
  • 44 percent of respondents expressed doubt that Harris will take on corporate power in the White House.
  • A quarter of respondents indicated that they do not fully trust the Vice President, with 1 in 5 questioning her authenticity as a candidate.
  • 30 percent of those surveyed remain uncertain that Harris can defeat Trump.

“The Harris campaign won’t win by courting Never Trumpers at the expense of young progressives, millions of whom vote in swing states,” said Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese. “These voters don’t care what Dick Cheney has to say. They are ready, however, to hear the Vice President’s plans to reign in corporate power, address climate change, and make housing and healthcare more affordable in this country.”

With just 55 days remaining until the November election, the central challenge for the Harris campaign remains translating newfound enthusiasm for the Vice President into actual votes. 

Overall, data collected in our post-debate survey makes clear that despite the online fanfare on platforms like TikTok and X, the Vice President has work to do to win over skeptical progressives and young voters and convince them that she is aligned with their policy values on issues like reigning in corporate power and addressing climate change.

Aug 20
Love1

CA Yes on 33

By Homepage, Policy Fights, Revolution Report

The AVERAGE rent is now $2,895 in California, and more than 171,000 people are now homeless in the state.

The rent is still too damn high! And, that’s why Our Revolution is throwing our full support behind Proposition 33, the statewide ballot measure for rent control in California.

Renters and advocates delivered more than 730,000 letters to Gov. Gavin Newsom, urging him to support Yes on 33 — and now, voters will get to decide in November.

Not only will Prop 33 remove the California ban on Rent Control, it will allow cities and counties to expand Rent Control. AND – this is huge – it will allow local communities to stop predatory corporate landlords from charging unfair and unaffordable rents.

We are proud to be part of this massive coalition of renters, families, veterans, seniors, and young people fighting alongside social justice organizations and labor unions for Justice for Renters.

Add your name here to support Rent Control in California and help us get the word out to Vote Yes on 33 by Election Day Nov. 5th.

TAKE ACTION
Aug 16
Love0

8/23 PRIMARY WINS

By Homepage, Progressive Champions, Revolution Report, Uncategorized

 

Major Primary Victories — Not only did Ilhan Omar defeat Big Money with our help, but Our Revolution’s entire slate of endorsed progressives in Vermont won in a clean sweep on Tuesday — including our founder Bernie Sanders!

We mobilized our members, got out the vote, and sent a huge message to the establishment that good policy is good politics. This week marks our 8th anniversary since Bernie started Our Revolution, and these victories add to our growing success of electing more than 1,000 progressives up and down the ballot.

Ilhan Omar was the target of rightwing and pro-Israel PACs, but she had the grassroots at her back and overcame big money and racist attack ads to overwhelmingly defeat her primary challenger.

“Ilhan’s win is a powerful rebuke to the influence of corporate money in our democracy,” Our Rev Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese told Common Dreams. “Her commitment to bold, progressive policies—whether it’s climate action, Medicare for All, or standing up for a permanent cease-fire and end to unconditional aid to Israel—resonates deeply.”

Bernie Sanders’ political revolution has brought millions of working people into the political process, and this week’s progressive victories are a direct result of his leadership. 

Bernie ignited a movement that has profoundly reshaped American politics. His vision of a fair and just society has not only become a rallying cry for millions but has also driven the Democratic Party to embrace progressive policies. 

The success of our entire slate of endorsed candidates shows that the people of Vermont, and Americans more broadly, are ready to embrace a future where government serves the interests of the people, not corporate and special interests. This is the power of organizing, and it’s how we will continue to win.

Alongside Bernie and Ilhan, Our Revolution is proud to celebrate the victories of a slate of progressive candidates who share his vision and dedication to the people of Vermont:

 

  • David Zuckerman, re-elected as Lieutenant Governor, is a lifelong advocate for environmental justice and the rights of working people. His decades-long collaboration with Bernie Sanders and his commitment to fighting corporate power make him a crucial leader in Vermont’s progressive movement.

 

  • Tanya Vyhovsky, newly elected to the State Senate for Chittenden-Central District, brings her background in social work and social justice to the forefront. Her victory underscores the demand for representation that truly reflects the voices of all Vermonters, particularly those fighting for affordable housing, a livable wage, and comprehensive healthcare.

 

  • Brian Cina, re-elected to the Vermont State House in District 15, has long been a champion of progressive change. His leadership in the Climate Solutions Caucus and Social Equity Caucus, along with his work as Co-chair of the Working Vermonters Caucus, has been instrumental in advancing key progressive policies in Vermont.

 

  • Emilie Kornheiser, re-elected to the Vermont State House in District 7 in Windham, continues her work to ensure equal rights, dignity, and access to essential services for all Vermonters. Her focus on creating a fair tax system to support quality healthcare, education, and affordable housing resonates deeply with the values of our movement.

 

  • Emilie Krasnow, re-elected in South Burlington, played a pivotal role in passing historic legislation that holds fossil fuel corporations accountable for the climate damage they cause. Her work, alongside her colleagues on our slate, exemplifies the kind of bold action needed to address the climate crisis.

 

These victories are a testament to the power of grassroots organizing and the enduring appeal of progressive values and policies. Our Revolution is proud to stand with these leaders as they continue the work of transforming Vermont and our nation.

Aug 08
Love0

8/6 PRIMARY WINS

By Homepage, Progressive Champions, Revolution Report, Uncategorized

 

Our Revolution-endorsed candidates brought home some incredible wins from the Aug. 6th primary elections across Michigan, Missouri, and Washington State. 

Not only did we have key progressive allies on the ballot for Congress, but we also notched down-ballot victories that will put down-ballot champions on the ballot to grow progressive power in November.

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal won her primary in Washington State, and we’ll have her back through November and beyond! 

Pramila has been a critical ally for our movement as the Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. She’s led on the Medicare for All Act, defending abortion rights, and passing the largest-ever climate bill, and more. We need her leadership to continue!

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) beat the big money with grassroots enthusiasm and also heads to the general election in November! 

Rashida has been a fearless champion for a ceasefire in Gaza, racial justice, and working people. No matter how much the far right comes after her, we must keep fighting back and doing the work to keep her important voice in Congress!

Also in Michigan, Congrats are in order for Alyshia Dyer who will moves on to the general election in her run for Sheriff of Washtenaw County, Michigan! 

Alyshia will create a sheriff’s office that respects and protects the whole community. Experiencing homelessness as a juvenile deeply informed her focus on community support and social justice. She’ll also bring her experience in social work and Detroit’s Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity Department.

 

And, we’re celebrating THREE big victories in the Missouri primary!

It’s time for a progressive Governor, and Crystal Quade is ready to do the work. She has led in the State House on some of Missouri’s most important fights: to restore abortion rights, stand up to corporate interests, and stop China and Russia from buying up farmland and squeezing out local farmers.

For State House, Marty J. Murray, Jr. (HD-78) now heads to the general. He is a proven servant leader who will prioritize housing, worker rights, restorative justice, gun reform, environment — and direct democracy initiatives to fix the broken Missouri Legislature!

We’re also proud to see Alfred Montgomery one step closer to becoming Sheriff in St. Louis! As sheriff, he will build a community of trust and transparency. He will bring his focus on youth and anti-poverty initiatives, and has plans for restorative justice and jobs programs for exited offenders.

This is how we deliver on the mission Bernie Sanders gave us to ‘build power from the bottom up.’ Since Bernie founded Our Revolution eight years ago, we have elected more than 1,000 progressives up and down the ballot, and we will keep it going!

We also can’t take our eye off the ball for the top of the ticket in 2024. Kamala Harris just chose a progressive VP with Gov. Tim Walz, and our movement is mobilizing NOW to make sure we defeat Trump in November.

Donate to Our Revolution’s Swing State Fund to help us build out our voter turnout operation in battleground states across the country!

 

When we organize, we win.

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Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. Our Revolution is a 501(c)(4) organization. Donations to Our Revolution are not deductible as charitable contributions for Federal income tax purposes. All donations are made to support Our Revolution’s general mission and are not designated for any specific activity.

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