Remember a couple weeks ago when our "Primary" focus was to get out there and vote for Democratic candidates? So much has changed in a relatively short amount of time. At PCDWA, we recognize that the COVID-19 response has dramatically altered the way we live our lives and interact with people outside our homes. We hope that all of you will remain healthy and safe during this time.
We also acknowledge that this global pandemic has eclipsed any and all other news. Primary elections are being postponed with no rescheduled dates in the immediate future. Rallies, fundraisers and meet and greets - all cancelled. It seems challenging to engage in either civic activities or political action like Get Out The Vote when you can't really Get Out, you know? For now, we will not gather for our regular coffees or happy hours.
We do have a couple ideas for at-home action (and also to break up the boredom):
Our goal is to have 1000 letters sent to Democratic voters in Texas, encouraging them to vote in November. The letters do not get mailed until October 27. There are two ways you can participate right now:
1) Prepare your letters at home
OR
2) Pick up pre-printed letters, complete them at home, and return them to your pick up location.
To prepare letters at home:
1A) Go to Vote Forward and sign up to adopt 20 voters from the TEXAS PLEASE VOTE 2020 campaign. There are two Texas campaigns; let's work on the first one first. There are over 700,000 letters to be written from this mailing list.
Vote Forward is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to empower grassroots volunteers to help register voters from under-represented demographics and encourage them to vote. We build tools to enable Americans, wherever they may be, to encourage fellow citizens to participate in our democracy.
1B) Print your assigned letters and complete them with your handwritten comments. Address envelopes, seal and stamp.
1C) Drop off your completed stamped envelopes at 5505 Montrose Drive, 75209 (Lori's house.) We will collect them and mail in bulk.
To pick up letters and complete at home:
2A) Drop by Lori's house (5505 Montrose Dr) and pick up a packet of pre-printed letters and instructions. Please email Lori directly lreisenbichler@yahoo.com to let her know ahead of time so that she may prepare your bundle for pickup.
2B) Write letters at home. You provide envelopes and stamps.
2C) When finished, return to Lori's house to be mailed in bulk.
If you have middle school, high school or college kids sitting around on indefinitely leave from school, this could be a wonderful opportunity to break up some of that boredom.
In addition here are the takeaways from our March coffee, where we learned about gerrymandering, redistricting and strategic seats to which we should be paying attention.
Do check out YelloPain's rap - he eloquently explains why voters feel discouraged and therefore don't vote.
Here are the Texas House races that Lone Star considers 'flippable' in north Texas, and the candidates that need our support:
108 - Joanna Cattanach
112 - Brandy Chambers
64 - Angela Brewer
66 - Sharon Hirsch
67 - Runoff between Tom Adair and Lorenzo Sanchez
92 - Jeff Whitfield (open seat)
93 - Lydia Bean
94 - Alisa Simmons
96 - Joe Drago (open seat)
97 - Elizabeth Beck (Beto won this district in 2018)
100 - Lorraine Birabil (Eric Johnson's seat)
138- runoff Akilah Bacy or Jennifer Pool (open seat)
Tx House Democrats who won recently and we need to protect their seats:
65- Michelle Beckley (R's are targeting her)
102 - Anna Marie Ramos (R's are targeting her)
105 - Terry Meza
107 - Victoria Neave
113 - Rhetta Bowers (R's think they can flip this seat)
114 - John Turner
115 - Julie Johnson
132- Gina Calanni (R's want this open seat)
135 - Jon Rosenthal
Our first priority is to support Colin, Joanna, and whoever wins between MJ and Royce West - but after that, let's encourage everyone to adopt one of these other races and support them in a focused way.
Texas Democrats to support in close races for
US House of Representatives:
7 - Lizzie Fletcher (Houston)
32 - Colin Allred
23 - Gina Ortiz Jones (running to flip Will Hurd's seat)
24 - Kim Olson or Candace Valenzuela (runoff)
31- Christine Mann or Donna Imam (runoff) - this is the seat MJ Hegar narrowly lost last time
34 - Mark Veasey
Here's are links to other ways to get involved:
