WOOSAH!! I can hear the collective sigh of relief now that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are President-Elect and Vice President-Elect AND the letter of ascertainment has been sent from the GSA. But, Joe'gia, our work is not done!
Although the election results aren't final, it's pretty clear
that our TWO Senate races are headed to a run-off on January 5, 2021.
Whether you live in GA or not, you can help!
- Here's a good NYTimes article that explains why this race is so important. Bottom line, Democrats can regain control of the Senate if Raphael Warnock AND Jon Ossoff win their run-off contests. Cabinet picks, Supreme Court justice nominees (remember Merrick Garland?), even funding to battle COVID--19 and our current economic crisis are all on the line. We must #WarnockTheVote and #VoteYourOssoff
- But wait, there's more! The January 5th run-off election will also include a race for a seat on the Georgia Public Service Commission. We don't hear a lot about the PSC, but it touches all of our lives every day. It sets the rates that we pay for utilities, including telecommunications, electric and natural gas services. Unsurprisingly, the rates in Georgia are some of the highest in the nation. Somehow, there are no Democrats and there has never been an African American Commissioner. Daniel Blackman is running for a seat on the PSC to protect today's and prepare for tomorrow's energy workforce, champion cleaner and more efficient energy solutions, bring high speed internet to all 159 counties in Georgia, and strengthen utility assistance programs. Click here to meet Daniel and learn more what he stands for.
- I'm no fan of reinventing the wheel and I have zero knowledge of how to convince people to register and/or how to actually register people to vote, but I know who does. Stacey Abrams and her organization Fair Fight Action have done the incredibly heavy lift of combating voter suppression, which resulted in successfully registering and turning out the vote, so I am supporting her cause. Check out her recent message about the importance of these Senate races. A friend of mine has a great idea for making contributions of a certain amount to honor Stacey's various passions. I'm in the "regular folk" category, so my $20.20 has already been sent! Of course this is just a suggestion - give til it hurts!
- Spelman Sisters - $18.81
- Kirkwood Friends - $18.99
- Regular Folks - $20.20
- You can also support Fair Fight Action, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff by making a donation to GASenate.com, which will be split to help to protect the vote and send these two candidates to Washington.
- Turnout is going to be key. Young adults who will be 18 years old by election day (January 5, 2021) are eligible to vote in this election! So, if you know any young folks, please make sure they're registered and encourage them to pester their friends to register. The voter registration deadline for any Georgian is December 7, 2020.
- Along those same lines, please talk to your friends and family members to make sure they're aware of this run-off election and that they have a plan to vote. Conventional wisdom is that Democrats do not turn out for mid-terms or special elections, but we have to prove 'em wrong again, Georgia!
- Unfortunately, we are still in the throes of a global pandemic. As such, voting by absentee ballot will probably remain a popular option. You can request your absentee ballot now at https://ballotrequest.sos.ga.gov. It's super quick to complete your request. All you'll need is your Georgia driver's license or state ID.
- Early voting begins on December 14, 2020, and Election Day is January 5, 2021. You can keep up with all of the election details, like early voting locations and hours, your absentee ballot status, polling locations and more at the Georgia Secretary of State's My Voter Page.
- I know we're all exhausted from the just concluded election, but getting Rev. Warnock and Jon Ossoff across the finish line will allow President Biden and Vice President Harris to implement their vision for America without obstruction from an intractable Senate. And a vote for Daniel will ensure that we pay fair utility rates. Please stay engaged! Volunteer (phone bank, text, or write postcards), donate, encourage others, just DO SOMETHING. This was a hard fought election, but there's still work to be done. The next four years will be a lot less painful if these two Senate candidates win.
- Now, back to our regularly scheduled celebration...
