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Now more than ever, states are on the frontlines in defending our democracy and fighting for the soul of our country. With this Kavanaugh confirmation, it\u2019s clear that our national level system of checks and balances is compromised. We\u2019ll fight like hell the next 31 days to try to re-balance the scale in Congress, but I\u2019ve said it before, and I\u2019ll say it again. November is not the finish line. It\u2019s never the finish line.<\/p>\n
We need to invest in building power in states so that elected officials at all levels and everywhere can and will be held accountable. Just look at the role that the Alaskan Native community played in Murkowski’s decision to vote against Kavanaugh’s confirmation. And we have to stop making excuses for not investing more in states \u2013 they\u2019re too blue, they\u2019re too red, it\u2019ll take too long, there\u2019s not enough capacity\u2026the list goes on. Let\u2019s build that capacity.<\/p>\n
In 2016, Virginia was the only southern state to go for Hillary Clinton. That same year, across the state, in every locality, Virginians handedly rejected a right to work amendment that was on the ballot. A year later, Democrats won all three statewide seats and flipped 15 House seats, electing the most diverse freshmen class ever. And everywhere I go, people ask me how that wave was possible. What\u2019s the silver bullet?<\/p>\n
Let me tell you a secret. There is no silver bullet. Virginia is where it is today, not just because of the demographic shifts or a 45 backlash, but because of the organizing, advocacy, communications and voter engagement infrastructure that was built over the last decade, through the hard work of state and local organizations and other stakeholders with deep commitments to our state.<\/p>\n