We're going into the belly of the beast

Yesterday, Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema sided with Mitch McConnell and the GOP and voted to keep intact the filibuster—the arcane, racist Senate rule that enables Republican obstructionism and prevents the Senate from passing legislation with a simple 51-vote majority.

Dear MoveOn member,

Yesterday, Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema sided with Mitch McConnell and the GOP and voted to keep intact the filibuster—the arcane, racist Senate rule that enables Republican obstructionism and prevents the Senate from passing legislation with a simple 51-vote majority.¹

There's no sugarcoating it: With Republican state lawmakers passing dozens of laws to erect deliberate, racist barriers to voting, this is an infuriating setback.

But we won't give up. And because we knew we couldn't count on Manchin and Sinema, MoveOn has been meticulously planning for this unfortunate outcome that is now reality.

MoveOn's strategy is two-fold. First, we know that one of the most effective ways to fight the GOP's state-level attacks on our right to vote is to march directly into the belly of the beast and defeat Republican anti-voter governors at the ballot box. And then replace them with candidates committed to protecting our freedom to vote.

Second, we're launching an unprecedented campaign to defeat Trump-backed candidates for secretaries of state, the state officials who oversee voter registration, vote counting, and certifying—or rejecting—election results.

MoveOn members have already endorsed voting rights champion Stacey Abrams for governor in Georgia, a state that under Republican leadership has led the assault on voters—and MoveOn is planning a massive, multimillion-dollar campaign to get her elected. As governor, Abrams can block new anti-voter laws, sign executive orders that protect our right to vote, and more.

But we need your help to power Abrams to victory. Will you rush a $65 donation right now? Your donation will be split between the Abrams campaign for governor and MoveOn's effort to defeat GOP candidates for secretary of state nationwide.

Andra, in addition to working to defeat anti-voter governors, MoveOn is launching an unprecedented, multimillion-dollar campaign to elect Democrats to the little-known office of secretary of state.

In most states, secretaries of state oversee voter registration, control the counting of ballots, and have the power to certify—or reject—election results.

As you read this, Donald Trump is carrying out a plot to install his most ardent loyalists in these critical offices. If Trump succeeds, his lackeys will have the power to throw out thousands—or even millions—of votes to ensure Republicans win elections, no matter the will of the voters.²

Before now, Trump had never endorsed a secretary of state. Now, he's endorsing loyalists for the position in the battleground states.³ And the risk is grave. The Washington Post describes it this way: "More than any other category of elected official, secretaries of state could be instrumental in overturning the popular vote in their state—an unprecedented move in American history—or take other actions that throw results into question."⁴

Which is why MoveOn is doing something we've never done in our 23-year history: In addition to electing progressive governors like Stacey Abrams, we're launching a powerful, multimillion-dollar effort to defeat Trump-backed secretaries of state across the country and elect individuals who will count every vote and ensure fair elections.

But we urgently need your support. Will you make a $65 donation to propel Stacey Abrams to victory and to power our new campaign to defeat Trump-backed secretaries of state this November?

Manchin and Sinema's decision to side with the Republican Party is despicable.

And it places our already fragile democracy in an even more precarious position.

But the good news is that there are more Americans who believe in free and fair elections than those who want to sabotage our right to vote.

There are more people who want fair representation than those who want to rig our democracy. 

And MoveOn has a plan to elect leaders like Stacey Abrams and to defeat Trump-backed candidates at the ballot box in November. 

If you are able, please chip in $65 today, split between the Abrams for governor campaign and MoveOn's efforts to win secretaries of state races across the country.

Thanks for all you do.

–Chris, Emma, Amanda, Kathy, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Manchin, Sinema join with GOP in rejecting attempt to change filibuster rules, effectively killing Democratic voting bill," The Washington Post, January 19, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/160100?t=5&akid=315167%2E53570607%2EkCAB7T

2. "Trump loyalists form alliance in bid to take over election process in key states," The Guardian, January 13, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/160087?t=7&akid=315167%2E53570607%2EkCAB7T

3. Ibid.

4. "How Trump-backed secretary of state candidates would change elections in the United States," The Washington Post, December 1, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/159806?t=9&akid=315167%2E53570607%2EkCAB7T

Want to support MoveOn's work? The GOP is launching an all-out campaign to take down the Democratic majority in Congress and reinstall Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader in 2022. To defeat the GOP, MoveOn is going all-in with TV ads, a nationwide grassroots organizing campaign, and more.

Will you chip in to power our effort to defeat McConnell and the GOP in 2022?

Click here to chip in $65, or whatever you can afford.

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