A huge opportunity (if we can meet the moment)

I'm Cheryl Zando, MoveOn's chief operations officer.

Dear MoveOn member, I'm Cheryl Zando, MoveOn's chief operations officer. I'm writing to you today because 2026 is only the third time in MoveOn's 27-year history that we have an opportunity to end unified Republican control of government. MoveOn will have a crucial role to play, but we are behind on our goal for new monthly donors in February. Will you help close the gap by starting a monthly donation of $5 to MoveOn today? Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.) No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation. In 2018, when Donald Trump was in the White House and Republicans held both chambers of Congress, MoveOn helped drive a huge landslide election and ended Republican control of the House by flipping 40 seats from red to blue!1 And way back in 2006, when George W. Bush was in the White House and Republicans controlled Congress, MoveOn ran a nationally recognized "Caught Red Handed" campaign that put the House of Representatives in play by focusing the debate on the Republican representatives' allegiance to special interests over their own constituents. The result: A landslide election, with the largest seat gain for the House Democrats since 1974!2 In both cases, MoveOn made the case early that we could take back the House. And then organized to make it happen. We developed messaging to reach and engage key voters. And signed up volunteers. We raised money for the candidates. We got out the vote, ran ads, and more. The bottom line: MoveOn has had an outsized role in elections when Republicans control Congress and the White House. In this year's midterm elections, MoveOn's infrastructure—messaging, volunteers, voter outreach—is crucial to winning! With Trump's popularity at a historic low, we have the rare opportunity to drive a landslide election that puts a check on MAGA and starts the process of bringing an end to the Trump nightmare.3 But there's a big problem: We still need to sign up 288 monthly donors in February. MoveOn's monthly donors are crucial to our success. They give us the sustained support we need to lay the groundwork for a wave election and see it through. If we don't sign up 288 more new donors this month, it means thousands fewer donations that we can count on before the November elections—which are just eight months away. And it means that, as the person who guides MoveOn's operations, I will soon have to make difficult choices. We simply cannot afford to wait. That's why I'm asking you to make an important commitment today and become a monthly donor to MoveOn right now. Will you please start a monthly donation today, Andra? Click below to chip in $5 a month, or whatever you can. Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.) No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation. People give MoveOn more money in presidential election years than they give us in midterm election years. Not only that, but in midterm years, they tend to donate later in the election cycle. But it's early money that makes the biggest difference. Early, consistent donations will let us set up the infrastructure that we'll need to win. If every MoveOn member gave just $5 each month, we'd be all set. But unfortunately, not everyone will read this message. And of the people who do, not everyone can afford to give monthly, because times are tough for many. So, Andra, if you can afford to chip in any amount each month, please do. We are counting on you to help us end Republican control of the House of Representatives in 2026! Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.) No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation. It's nearly March, and while November's Election Day may seem far away, with just eight months left, we are quickly falling behind where we need to be to finally put a real check on Trump's cruelty, corruption, and lawlessness. Pulling from lessons learned in 2024, we need to fund a creator engagement program to turn the tides on social media. We need to test narrative and messaging frames that will empower Democrats to run boldly on affordability, corporate accountability, and anti-militarization. We need to expose corrupt elected officials and make sure they lose their seats in Congress. We need to recruit bold, courageous candidates who will fight for working people, including more young people, people of color, and those from nontraditional backgrounds who may not have run for office before. Because no matter how good the message is, if the messengers are wrong, in the long run, we will lose. 2026 will be a pivotal year in our country's history, and also a challenging one. Never before have we faced this level of billionaire money in politics or this level of threat to our freedom and rights. If we don't close the monthly donation funding gap quickly, I will have to make hard choices soon, which could compromise MoveOn's powerful plans for this incredibly important year. But, Andra, I am hopeful. In the 27 years since its founding, MoveOn has faced this scenario more than once, and each time, MoveOn members have stepped up to fuel our work together. That includes stepping up as monthly donors in key moments, when there was a strong need. Please, if you are able to, will you take action right now and start a $5 monthly donation to MoveOn? Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.) No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation. We can end MAGA control of Congress only with your help, Andra. MoveOn helps elect progressive Democrats who share our values. Who believe in affordable, accessible health care for all. Who believe that human beings, no matter where they come from or their gender identity or sexual orientation, must be treated with dignity and respect. And who believe that billionaires, who are now richer than they have ever been in human history, need to pay their fair share in taxes to ensure that programs like Social Security endure for generations to come. This year, you can have a greater impact per dollar invested than in presidential election years. And your impact will be even greater if you start a monthly donation today than if you wait. So if you can afford it, please do not wait: Start a monthly donation right now. This is a difficult time for all of us. Many are personally affected by the Trump administration's deportation agenda. Many are struggling because of Trump's tariffs and the affordability crisis. All of us are heartbroken by the cruelty and selfishness of the people in power. But we will not let the weight of this difficult moment stop us from fighting. I've been with MoveOn for eight years, and I am awed by the enduring determination, empathy, and grit of MoveOn's millions of members. I know that we will rise up together now and do what needs to be done, because we are uniquely poised to make a difference that no other organization can make. And because the country is counting on us. Will you please support our work together with a $5 monthly donation right now? It will make a huge difference and go a long way toward kicking out MAGA Republicans in 2026 and building a country where everyone can thrive. Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.) No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation. Thanks for all you do. –Cheryl Zando Sources: 1. "2018 MoveOn Year In Review," MoveOn, December 28, 2018 https://front.moveon.org/2018-moveon-year-in-review/ 2. "MoveOn's Electoral Work," MoveOn, accessed February 25, 2026 https://front.moveon.org/moveons-electoral-work/ 3. "Here's how Trump's polling has changed since last year," The Hill, February 24, 2026 https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5751721-trump-approval-ratings-state-of-union/ Want to support MoveOn's work? The Democratic Party needs big change. That's why MoveOn is partnering with Run For Something to recruit, train, and support young, progressive, diverse candidates—including MoveOn members—to run for local and state office all across the country. From town council to mayor's offices to state legislatures and more, our partnership will support candidates who are fighting for a living wage, combatting climate change, investing in affordable housing, and so much more. Will you make a monthly donation to elect young, progressive, and diverse candidates across the country? If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: Donate: $5 monthly Donate: $15 monthly Donate: $50 monthly Donate another amount monthly Or make a one-time gift PAID FOR BY MOVEON POLITICAL ACTION, https://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. MoveOn Political Action - PO Box 96142, Washington, D.C. 20090-6142. This email was sent to Andra Patterson on February 26, 2026. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. MoveOn's privacy policy was recently updated. To read our new privacy policy, click here. 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