Tuesday was a difficult day. So many of us put countless hours into organizing for a brighter future, only to face bleak national election results. If you have spent the past few days with sadness, disappointment, anxiety, anger, or grief, we’re there with and for you.
But it also underscored our resolve about why the work we do at Progressive Massachusetts is so important.
When Donald Trump and his right-wing allies in Congress try to enact an agenda of hate and greed, we need to be ready to fight back, and we need our elected officials in Massachusetts to be willing to do so as well.
But the next few years are not just about blocking a harmful federal agenda. They are about advancing a progressive agenda here. We need to model what a successful alternative looks like: a government committed to reducing inequality, empowering workers, protecting the rights of all, fostering inclusion, tackling the climate crisis, investing in our schools and infrastructure, tackling the high cost of living, and so much more.
When we build an equitable, just, democratic, and sustainable commonwealth, we not only improve the quality of life here at home but also set the bar for other states and the country as a whole. We show that progressive policies exist and that they work.
Building local communities of activists and holding our elected officials accountable year-round is critical to that work. We hope you’ll join us—or continue on with us—in the fight. Stay tuned in the coming days regarding some critical next steps.
Onwards,
The Progressive Mass Team
Celebrating Our Victories
If we’re going to build that brighter future, we need to be willing to celebrate our wins, and on Tuesday, we had some here in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts voted 72% to 28% for Question 1, sending a clear message to the Legislature that we expect more transparency and accountability.
Massachusetts voted 59% to 41% for Question 2, sending a clear message that voters trust our educators and recognize the harms of high-stakes testing and the need for all students to get a well-rounded education.
Massachusetts voted 56% to 44% for Question 3, empowering Uber and Lyft drivers by giving them the option to organize to form a union.
Our endorsed candidates in contested races all won their elections on Tuesday. Congrats to Tamisha Civil, Leigh Davis, and Tara Hong!
You Did This!
We are proud of the work we did on Question 2 in particular this fall.
We organized more than 120 volunteers to talk to voters.
We knocked on over 14,600 doors.
We attempted to reach more than 25,000 voters through canvassing, phone banking, text-banking, and relational organizing.
We spoke with more than 3,400 voters directly — not to mention all of the conversations from chapters tabling at farmers markets and community events.
These one-on-one conversations helped power the victory on Tuesday, and we know that they will be powering the victories ahead.
