What Makes You Feel Optimistic About the 2020 Election?

A couple of weeks ago, it was a frustrating time to be a Democrat. The Iowa Caucuses were all sorts of crazy. People were being very mean to each other about it online. And the Senate had just acquitted Donald Trump. It was a bummer for everyone and an extra bummer when you're job is convincing people their individual vote matters and that they have the ability to hold elected officials accountable and make a difference. Stuck in a funk and determined not to spread my spread my negativity, I started asking everybody I came in contact with what makes them feel optimistic about the 2020 Election. Here are some of their answers:

(Note: I didn't ask permission to share so these aren't attributed, but if one is you and you'd like credit just let me know.)

First here are mine: (I gave myself permission to share)

1) The Caucus location I attended in Iowa was like 200 Latino voters (it was a Spanish/English satellite location) many of whom were not just caucusing but REGISTERING to vote for the first time. For the Iowa Caucus, which is not exactly a low threshold to engagement.
2) I feel 95% confident that the Presidential ticket will include at least one woman or person of color.
3) I can think of great reasons to get excited about ANY ONE of the potential Democratic nominees even those that weren't my first or second choice.
4) There's so much passion and energy for primary candidates. If we all came together we'd be unstoppable!


And verbatim from my friends/colleagues/Internet strangers:

1) THIS
2) The early, broad investment in voter protection programs in 20 states. (Thanks to ^^^ this woman)
3) I think we'll take back the [Minnesota] State Senate. That makes me happy.
4) Republicans constantly saying and doing dumb shit. It is a steady flow!
5) I think Georgia is going to finally get real battleground status, something I've been screaming into the void about for the better part of a decade.
6) I’m excited when I see my peers at school wanting to be engaged and slowly feeling more comfy talking about politics.
7) Okay, I’m a numbers person. When the numbers don’t work the only thing I can do is fight like hell. When they do, I still fight like hell but am happier all around. This little known person has a methodology much like mine and she sees some good possibilities for 2020.
8) My smart, beautiful friends working on campaigns.
9) The activation of new candidates and volunteers since 2016, turnout from the midterm, and seeing many of those people still excited for 2020.
10) Increases in turnout in every election since 2016. Gen Z is starting to be able to vote.
11) Based on the polling, the candidate I think will win the nomination is in the best place to beat Trump.
12) Other than the deep intelligence of so many of the candidates (which is real and important), I like knowing that this is a long game and the majority of voters will not remember what happens in these early days yet.
13) Late 30’s millennials aging into higher turnout years.
14) Trump barely won last time and has never had a net positive approval rating.
15) People engaging with new and more nuanced ideas on the Dem side.
16) The focus on state legislatures: mobilized candidates competing to complement top of the ticket dynamics, low dollar (and high dollar) investment, all coming during sky high turnout immediately prior to redistricting. Capturing trifectas or at least blocking Republican trifectas can have a positive impact on our politics for the next decade before it's too late.
17) Trump’s approval being underwater in most swing states.
18) Campaigns are investing in communities of color.


There were more but the ones I got told verbally I forgot to write down :(.

So tell me...what makes YOU feel optimistic about 2020?

What I've been reading lately

I have some very exciting things planned for myself and this blog coming up but it's leaving me with scant time to write as I would like to. Still there is so much going on in the world that I'd like to discuss with you and share so I've decided to start a weekly roundup of campaign and election-related material that I've found interesting.

Here is round one:

You Don't Have to Like Bernie Sanders to Like Bernie Sanders on Jezebel
This is possibly the most eloquent expression of my feelings on Bernie Sanders' 2020 candidacy and I didn't even write it. For lefty progressive women who are not comfortable with Bernie or those trying to understand us, this is a great read.
Female Donors Gaining Influence as 2020 Kicks Off on OpenSecrets
I wrote and thought a lot about women donors in grad school so I am always interested in following these trends. Where a candidate's money comes from, including gender breakdown of donors, says a lot about them and the trends show that women are leveraging our economic power to our political advantage like never before.
The Electability Trap from WaPo
Enough with this "but other people won't elect a woman" bullshit. It's a trope and a lie that only perpetuates itself.
The Shutdown Made Sara Nelson America's Most Powerful Flight Attendant from the New York Times
Trust me, you're going to love this woman.
Ranch Lady on the Hill and elsewhere
This is the most quintessential Iowa Caucus moment ever to ranch on ranch dressing. The intimate setting. The entitlement. The ranch. If I had to summarize the caucus experience in nutshell, this would be it.
Bernie Sanders Asks Surrogates to Engage Respectfully With Democratic Rivals
It's been really interesting to watch the dialectic in Bernie Sanders 2020 campaign of trying to do better and old habits dying hard.
Dollars on the Margins from New York Times Magazine
To quote straight from the piece "A living wage is an antidepressant. It is a sleep aid. A diet. A stress reliever. It is a contraceptive, preventing teenage pregnancy.It prevents premature death. It shields children from neglect."
Campaign Culture Must Change by Brice Barnes on Medium "Campaigns are the last species of business to adapt to change. It is the ultimate workplace where there are no rules, no boundaries, no employment handbook, and typically no formal Human Resources department. Everything goes and it truly is the survival of the fittest and strongest. As a professional in the land of no rules, especially as a woman, and even more so as a mom, I find myself working within an industry lacking a handbook for people like me." I am feeling this so hard as I think about my next steps in my career path, my desire to be in the same place as my husband and to eventually start a family. Weird how you guys started crying.
Elizabeth Warren is Not Doing Call Time or Fundraisers on CNN and elsewhere
It should be noted that Bernie Sanders had this same policy in 2016. And it makes sense...if you're in a crowded primary and running against special interests. That said, an I cannot stress this enough, Democratic donors large and small know who Sanders and Warren are and where to find them. Candidates: unless you are a national name you still have to do call time. Sorry.

What are you reading? What else should I read? Let me know if you liked this round up and you'd like to see more.



Campaign Love and Mine,

Nancy