Hi, Team Wisconsin!
I know you may be feeling a bit down about the results of the elections in this (deeply frustrating) state, so I wanted to write and thank you.
I know we didn’t, as losing candidates tend to say, “get the results we wanted” in WI, but I am a big believer in incremental progress, and I think where Wisconsin is concerned we all have to be. Remember how long it took activists in Georgia to flip that state blue(ish?) Over a decade! It may take us that long in purple states like Wisconsin. It may take longer.
But every time I consider giving up on it, saying “screw ‘em if they want to keep electing a—holes,” I remember the hundreds of thousands of people who didn’t vote for Johnson, who truly, with every fiber of their being, want and need better for their state and for their country.
I also try to think of all of the kids who don’t have a vote at all.
And I resolve to stay in the fight because of them. I hope you will, too.
I’m going to be more or less retiring this WI-focussed newsletter until early 2024, so if you want to keep hearing from me you’ll have to subscribe to my main one, Chop Wood, Carry Water. And I hope you will, as our work is far from over. This fight for democracy is a fight we can win, but it’ll take time, and perseverance, and effort.
I know you’re up to the challenge. And regardless, thanks for what you did to make these midterms a “shocking” (not to me!) success overall.
Jess
Thank you for all that you do, Jess. You are amazing and inspiring.