2023 CP Supported Candidate: Debra Gardner (D)
Common Power is headed to Virginia! Read about our CP Supported Candidate of the Day .
Common Power is headed to Virginia! Read about our CP Supported Candidate of the Day below!
The 2023 Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Debra Gardner (D) for House, District 76.
Website: https://debragardnerfordelegate.com/
Debra Gardner is running for election to the Virginia House of Delegates to represent District 76 and we’re looking forward to heading out into the field in the next few weeks to support her candidacy in Richmond.
Gardner holds a Master of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and a B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Social Work. She has thirty-plus years of public service providing leadership in human services, public safety, and criminal justice services, and has been a tireless advocate for those in need. If elected, she has committed to leading on education, public safety reform, and access to affordable health care. Gardner will push to invest in education by ensuring teachers are paid for the full value of their work, make the local criminal justice system fairer, and provide mental health care capacity and support for her constituents.
Debra not only has a vision, but she has experience too. She served at the chief deputy level of 3 state agencies and has devoted countless hours to organizations that provide aid and services to the community.
Debra is uniquely qualified to represent the 76th District in the House of Delegates. Thanks for your leadership and for running. Representation matters. We will see you soon!
Ready to get to work? Join us!
Join Team VA on Mobilize.us to learn more and sign up for travel. CP is traveling to Richmond from Tuesday, 10/31 to Wednesday, 11/8
Phone bank with our friends at Common Cause here
2023 CP Supported Candidate Slate of the Day: Eastern Washington
Common Power is headed to Eastern Washington! Read about our CP Supported Candidate Slate of the Day!
CP Supported Candidate Slate of the Day!
Common Power is excited to announce our support for a dynamic slate of candidates running for various seats in Eastern Washington this year. All of these races will be close which is why CP has stepped up to help get these leaders across the finish line.
Our bilingual Program “Poder Comun” (Common Power in English) is heading into the field to knock on doors and spread the word with Spanish-speaking voters about these important races. Join us! Sign up here and read more about why we’re supporting these awesome candidates below.
Lisa Brown for Spokane Mayor
https://www.lisabrownformayor.com
Former State Democratic Senator Lisa Brown is seeking the Spokane Mayor’s office seat. Spokane has had conservative mayors for the last twelve years with the conservative incumbent winning the election in 2019 by just over a thousand votes. Brown won the primary this year and needs our support to get across the finish line for the general. She offers the chance to transform city and local government in Spokane with her campaign focused on increasing neighborhood safety, creating a thriving Spokane economy, increasing housing supply and home ownership, and addressing homelessness.
Dulce Gutierrez for Yakima City Council, Position 1
Website: https://www.dulceforyakima.com
With only 458 ballots cast in this race for the primary election this year, we are supporting Dulce Gutierrez who has a proven track record and experience representing the people of Yakima. Gutierrez graduated from the University of Washington but returned to Yakima to help improve the neighborhood where she grew up and works to increase Latinx representation in government. She was one of the first Latinas ever elected in Yakima City Council in 2015 and served one term after which she was involved in legal actions seeking to expand voting rights for the Latinx community. She’s decided to run for city council again this year and we are looking forward to going into the field this month to support her.
Sunnyside City Council Slate
Only 988 voters were cast in the primary this year for the Sunnyside City Council elections with three candidates making it through, but only by a very slim margin. These races could come down to a handful of votes in the general.
Vazquez received ~47% of the vote in the primary this year
Galvan received ~50.5% of the vote in the primary this year
Sign up here to get involved with us in our support of the Eastern Washington Candidate Slate! See you in the field!
2023 CP Supported Candidate: Michael Feggans (D
Common Power is headed to Virginia! Read about our CP Supported Candidate of the Day .
Common Power is headed to Virginia! Read about our CP Supported Candidate of the Day below!
The 2023 Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Michael Feggans (D) for House, District 97
Website: https://michaelfeggans.com/bio/
Follow Michael on X: https://twitter.com/MikeFeggans
Today we are spotlighting Michael Feggans’ candidacy for Virginia state House of Delegates, District 97. Though this district has voted Democratic in recent years by very slim margins, his Republican opponent won the election in 2021 by only 115 votes and is seeking reelection this year. This is a critically important race that could decide whether Democrats take back the majority in the House. This is exactly why Common Power coordinates and supports voter registration drives and canvassing throughout our priority states, including in Virginia.
Michael Feggans is 40 years old and grew up in Virginia Beach. Immediately after graduating high school he enlisted in the Air Force and served for 20 years before retiring. He was one of the first enlisted and active duty Congressional interns assigned to U.S. Senator Warner’s Norfolk office. Feggans’ earned a Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration and a Master’s degree in Cyber Security from Virginia Tech and was selected to the University of Virginia’s political leadership program. He now works as a small business owner in the technology industry.
On his 18 month campaign trail, Feggan has committed to prioritizing reproductive freedom, funding schools and reducing gun violence for all Virginians. “At the end of the day, we’re going to have to move forward and work to make Virginia better.”, Feggans said. We at Common Power couldn't agree more. We are looking forward to supporting you in the general, Michael! Thank you for running - see you soon!
Ready to get to work? Join us!
Join Team VA on Mobilize.us to learn more and sign up for travel in support of Feggans. CP is traveling to VA Beach from Thursday, 10/26 to Monday, 10/30
Phone bank with our friends at Common Cause here
2023 CP Supported Candidate: Phil Hernandez (D)
Common Power is headed to Virginia! Read about our CP Supported Candidate of the Day .
Common Power is headed to Virginia!
Read about our CP Supported Candidate of the Day below!
Phil Hernandez (D) for House, District 94
The 2023 Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Website: https://philforvirginia.com/bio/
Today we are highlighting Phil Hernandez, one of the three candidates we’re knocking on doors for in Virginia Beach from October 26 to October 30. Hernandez is running to represent his home, the city of Norfolk, in the newly created House District 94.
Hernandez has a long history of working for change. Currently, Hernandez is the Senior Vice President for Policy and Advocacy for The Commonwealth Institute, a nonprofit organization that fights to advance racial and economic justice. Previously, he served as a Senior Policy Analyst in President Obama’s White House Domestic Policy Council and worked as a civil rights attorney. Hernandez has helped pass laws in Virginia to “increase the minimum wage, lower taxes for families, and support local public schools”.
If elected, Hernandez vows to protect the fundamental right to vote and stand up against any efforts that create barriers to the ballot box. Thank you, Mr. Hernandez, for stepping up to run for the VA House of Delegates! We are looking forward to volunteering for you this month.
Ready to get to work? Join us!
Join Team VA on Mobilize.us to learn more and sign up for travel in support of Hernandez. CP is traveling to VA Beach from Thursday, 10/26 to Monday, 10/30
Phone bank with our friends at Common Cause here
2023 CP Supported Candidate: Aaron Rouse (D)
Common Power is headed to Virginia! Read about our CP Supported Candidate of the Day .
Common Power is headed to Virginia!
Read about our “CP Supported Candidate of the Day” below!
Senator Aaron Rouse (D) for House, District 22.
The 2023 Virginia House of Delegates and Senate election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Website: https://rouseforsenate.com/bio
Our 2023, “Common Power Supported Candidate of the Day” features Senator Aaron Rouse (D) for Virginia’s District 22. Rouse was born and raised in Virginia Beach where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He was then drafted by the Green Bay Packers and also played for the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals. After retiring from the NFL, Rouse returned home to Virginia Beach to begin his career in public service where he currently resides with his wife, Virginia Beach Councilwoman Jennifer Valentine-Rouse and family.
Aaron was first elected to Virginia's 7th District in a special election last year and won the race by only 696 votes, flipping the 7th Senate District from a Republican to a Democratic seat. The margin of victory in these races is often very tight, which is why we need your engagement in the field and on the phones every year.
Every 10 years, Virginia updates its legislative district boundaries which means Senator Rouse will be running in the newly formed District 22 this fall. This new district makes up about 70% of the old District 7 that he currently represents.
Rouse has committed to continue focusing on the economy, healthcare, and education as his political platform and we are looking forward to heading into the field in support of his candidacy this month!
Ready to get to work? Join us!
Join Team VA on Mobilize.us to learn more and sign up for travel in support of Senator Rouse. CP is traveling to VA Beach from Thursday, 10/26 to Monday, 10/30
Phone bank with our friends at Common Cause here
The Blog is Back! Celebrating CP Supported Candidates
CP Supported Candidates - Where Are They Now?
Common Power Community,
We are excited to announce that we’re bringing back our official Common Power Blog!
Today we are introducing *NEW* updates on where CP-supported candidates are now and looking forward with information on those we plan to support in the future and why. This new program led by the Advocacy Department will be titled as follows: “CP Supported Candidates - Where Are They Now?” and “CP Supported Candidates - Going Into the Field!”.
We recognize and celebrate the incredible work of our CP staff, volunteers, and community members who have traveled, knocked on doors, phone banked, and registered voters with us to help elect strong candidates who in turn introduce and enact pro-democracy and voting justice reform legislation around the country.
Follow along, we’re so excited to have you with us!
In our inaugural blog post, we are proud to highlight three candidates Common Power supported in the 2022 midterm and 2023 special elections. Read below on how voters and leaders like you made an impact.
-Governor Katie Hobbs-
Governor Katie Hobbs of Arizona took office in November of 2022 becoming the fifth female governor of Arizona and the first Democrat elected to the position since 2006. Common Power supported Hobbs’ gubernatorial race through multiple trips to Phoenix last year. With an election denier as her opponent, Hobbs’ race showed that democracy was on the ballot. During her campaign and after her election, Hobbs emphasized her commitment to protecting the right to vote. Since taking office Hobbs has upheld this promise by helping to create a Bipartisan Elections Task Force in Arizona as well as:
Vetoing HB2560, an anti-voting bill that threatened the “anonymity and privacy” of voters
Vetoing 20+ election bills. She now holds the record for the most AZ governor vetoes
Because Republicans hold a slim majority in both chambers of the Arizona State Legislature, but not enough to override the governor, Hobbs is a “key player in blocking anti-democratic efforts”.
Thank you, Governor Hobbs, for championing voting rights!
-Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan-
Earlier this year Common Power supported Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan’s special election to represent Virginia's 4th Congressional District. We are proud to contribute to her historic win as the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress. In February, a team of six CP volunteers knocked on nearly 1,300 doors in 3.5 days of canvassing. Representative McClellan was sworn into office on March 7th.
We’ve had the pleasure of meeting with Representative McClellan on every CP trip to VA. McClellan’s strong record of protecting voting rights in the state legislature made supporting her candidacy a no-brainer. The first bill she passed while still in the General Assembly expanded absentee voting. McClellan also played an integral role in passing the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, making Virginia the first Southern state to pass such an act. To pass this incredible legislation McClellan worked closely with a longtime CP partner, New Virginia Majority.
In her brief time in Congress Representative McClellan has already:
Voiced support for increasing voting access to active service members as a member of the Armed Service Committee
Co-sponsored a House Resolution honoring the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom that calls on Congress to fulfill the demands of the March participants, including the right to vote
Joined her Democratic House colleagues to re-introduce John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
Thank you for your leadership on voting access on the state and national stage, Congresswoman McClellan!
-Senator Catherine Cortez Masto-
Common Power staff and volunteers traveled to Nevada last year to support Congresswoman Cortez Masto’s reelection campaign against her opponent (who is a longtime Trump ally). This race narrowly tipped the balance of power of the Senate to Democrats with Cortez Masto winning the election by 0.8% or 7,928 votes. Only about half of registered voters in the state cast a ballot last year. This is exactly why Common Power coordinates and supports voter registration drives throughout our priority states, including Nevada. Want to join us? Click here.
Nevada is a 30% Latino state, with Cortez Masto being the first Latina ever elected to serve in the upper chamber and the first woman to represent the state in Congress since 2016. In 2023 Congresswoman Cortez Masto co-sponsored the CP-supported “Freedom to Vote Act”, a bill that aims to expand Americans’ access to the ballot box and reduce the influence of money in politics. When Common Power commits, travels, and supports progressive, BIPOC, and women candidates in close races to secure stronger representation, we all win.
Thank you, Senator Cortez Masto!
Would you like to learn more and support Common Power’s field efforts in the future? Join us by visiting: https://commonpower.org/in-person
Jacob Blake and All of Us
Jacob Blake and All of Us
Days ago, a Black man named Jacob Blake was shot multiple times in the back, inches away from his children. He wasn’t arrested. He wasn’t tried by a jury of his peers and a judge didn’t sentence him, but the officers who shot him attempted to execute him.
Not long after, a young white boy was safely taken into custody without harm, after confirmation that he shot at and killed multiple people.
The differences in how Black people are treated isn’t lost on me. Ever. I think about it when I shop at Whole Foods. When my sons roam Seattle with their friends. When AJ picks up a package at the office or when Maria heads into a wealthy neighborhood for a meeting. When Wole runs an errand for us. There’s a reality that says that no matter how we conduct our lives, the chances of harm coming to us are higher than for others. We live with this understanding every day, and society reminds us like this just in case we forget.
So how do we continue to show up the way we do, to greet you all at events, build community, and show up positively? It’s because we know that the way to a better future is this one: through voting, helping others to vote, and through changing and promoting laws that better recognize the equal value of our lives.
Our.
Lives.
So get upset. Get angry. Then get to work. Because that’s what we do, and right now we, and our country, need you.
Keep on…
Charles
On Wisconsin: A Conversation with Dr. Lew Friedman
All of US - Florida Trip
I heard over and over that they felt ignored and forgotten - and they were frankly surprised we were walking their neighborhoods, talking to voters…
By: Bert Greenwood
My third CP fieldwork trip to Florida brought me to the communities of Hillsborough; underserved and nearly forgotten by political parties, these primarily Latinx neighborhoods were filled with folks who wanted to talk about issues. From Nando, the Iraq-war vet, to the Ramirez family from Puerto Rico, I heard over and over that they felt ignored and forgotten - and they were frankly surprised we were walking their neighborhoods, talking to voters.
Listening to them, I discovered that the same issues that trouble me, bother them. How will they pay for the healthcare they so urgently need? Who is a role model in politics for their grandchildren? Will we engage in another rush to war - a rush that will unfairly target their communities? I learned how selected and targeted voter suppression efforts had denied many folks the right to vote - and one young man told me that after voting in the 2018 election, nothing changed so he's never voting again. I came to realize that the easy and efficient ways of voting in the PNW are truly precious gifts - gifts that are restricted to many fellow Americans.
Long days of canvassing were supported by the team that waited back at our hotel at the end of each shift. We sat together and debriefed our day, and I often learned a new trick to connect with a voter from one of my teammates. Group dinners brought us together to laugh and celebrate. I enjoyed learning about my teammates - where they were born, what their hobbies and interests were, why they chose to spend a week in Florida with a group of 44 folks, knocking on doors in neighborhoods very unlike their own. I also enjoyed a quiet moment together, when feeling tired or discouraged, a friendly word bolstered my spirits. Our motto "we come for the work, we stay for the people" is true. The CP community is a remarkable family - and the people extends into our local partners and the neighborhoods we walk. Suddenly, the great experiment that is America becomes clear for me...we are all indeed in this together.
My Call To Action is best summed up by the parting words of Mr. Ramirez. An ex-military man, he served his country and raised his children with what he described as "good, Christian values." He quietly stated that he voted for Trump in 2016 and was registered as a Republican but he wanted to re-register as a Democrat and participate in the Florida Presidential Preference Primary. His reason? "Trump thinks the government belongs to him; he's wrong. The government belongs to us." He registered as a Democrat and the next day, we returned to register his wife and daughter. That's what makes my work with CP, our local partners and their communities important to me...it is US. All of US.
Notes From The Field - Charlotte North Carolina
It’s been an exhilarating, exhausting, inspiring week with Common Purpose in Charlotte, North Carolina. We partnered with You Can Vote, an organization that…
By: Susan Storer Clark
It’s been an exhilarating, exhausting, inspiring week with Common Purpose in Charlotte, North Carolina. We partnered with You Can Vote, an organization that “trains and mobilizes volunteers to register, educate, and empower all North Carolina citizens to successfully cast their ballot.”
We registered 310 people to vote in our time in Charlotte. We also talked to them about how to vote in the upcoming primary and general elections. Because of the work we did, We Can Vote not only reached its goal for all of February but is 160 registrations ahead on their goal for March.
That’s the kind of work I want to do. It’s the reason I joined Common Purpose. I want to do this kind of work because my religious faith impels me to do so.
My denomination has no creed, but it does have seven principles. The first one is that we believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every human being (boldface mine). The fifth one says that we believe in the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. To me, that means that every citizen has a right to vote, regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, poverty, or previous condition of incarceration.
Because the right to vote is under threat in so many places in our country, I decided this is the work I want to do, for this election cycle and probably for many years to come.
I didn’t know anybody in our group of eighteen before I came to Charlotte. My flight got canceled, so I missed the whole first day of getting to know people. I was a little afraid that I would be out of the loop and playing catch-up the whole time.
I needn’t have worried. I got a quick orientation from our team captain Jordan Goldwarg and from Zion Lemelle, the regional director for We Can Vote. Soon I was with my team out on a sidewalk, asking people if they were registered where they currently live.
On my first day there I realized that people who will travel on their own time and their own dime to do this work are likely to be interesting, engaging people. That’s because they all were. It was a very accomplished group: teachers, doctors, nurses, former political staffers, people who had built projects and programs to benefit their community. Because we were working together on something we cared about, it was easy to build camaraderie.
There’s a lot at stake for North Carolina in the 2020 elections. Their election districts were recently redrawn, in obedience to a court order to fix obvious gerrymandering. There’s a vulnerable Democratic governor up for re-election, as well as a vulnerable Republican senator. Charlotte’s current Republican member of Congress won a narrow victory in 2018 and is considered vulnerable this year.
The citizens of North Carolina—all the citizens of North Carolina—have a right to determine the future of their state. I think that, in some small way, I have helped. Some people who should be able to vote, will be able to vote, because of what I did. And that makes me happy.
