Thread by @DrLisaCorrigan

I have worked on campaigns and in politics for nearly 30 years. This is the most engaged I have ever seen the country in both state/local politics and national politics. A few observations:

1.) We are living through a massive political realignment. That kind of thing doesn't happen overnight but through protracted struggle. Mail-in ballots will be the terrain of struggle all week in states where fascist election deniers are in charge of certifying elections.

2.) The realignment is generational. Realignments always are. That means the realignment won't be complete until the ruling place is either destroyed, displaced, or minimized (say, through progressive taxation, union formation, campaign finance reform, or climate disaster).

Gen X needs to understand that though we were locked out of power, our job is to stan the youngs with money, wisdom (ahem) and time.

3.) It also means that democratic institutions need to be remade (starting with voting rights but also with rebalancing the courts, etc.). 1/6 accelerated the need for massive reform and made the threat easier to see. But a failed coup is a dress rehearsal for a successful coup.

4) Racial justice is motivating some of the realignment. White liberals are (slowly) moving left. That's good news. They need to divest more money into grassroots orgs run by POC.

5.) There will be a LOT of split ticket voting b/c Dems motivate voters with messaging but also, whites are racist and anxious abt bodies/reproduction. Split ticket voting is evidence of political realignment. The only question is whether it will be temporary or more long-term.

6.) There are a LOT of new people deeply involved in politics (Welcome! There's PLENTY OF WORK TO GO AROUND!) and that will produce new energies and strategies. But realignment creates interest convergence around BOLD IDEAS.

People are open to new things when they have been habitually and historically closed to them. So, experiment and reach out to folks you may have written off. They need places to connect, so create them.

7.) The war on kids (esp. trans kids and kids of color) is one place where the realignment is happening most violently. Realignment creates opportunities for privatization and COVID has WRECKED public ed, so it's ripe for the picking. BUT IT IS THE PRIZE OF A LIBERAL DEMOCRACY.

Losing a robust public ed system will be a devastating blow for liberals/the Left (even though obvs public ed needs more funding and support and unions) and will be nearly impossible to overcome. Run for school board. Support public school teachers.

8.) Ballot issues (and block grants) designed to expand police forces will weaponize those officers on all of you who have self-identified on the web as the #RadicalLeft.

Dog whistles about crime are really the GOP telling you they have divested from your communities to intentionally destabilize them so police can consolidate and protect white property. Folks might want to give that some thought.

9.) There are a LOT of white dudes with guns out there. Folks need to understand that narrow margins in local elections create opportunities for conflict, and, as we move through realignment, some of that will be violent.

School shootings happen because the kids and the cops don't shoot back. As the MAGA folks feel more cornered, they will lash out. A bunch of that will be anti-Black violence committed by WHITES (as it always is). Which is also (sometimes) called CRIME.

10.) I CANNOT overstate how bonkers the 2024 presidential election is going to be. So, let's start thinking about that yesterday.

11.) Elon Musk is obviously a chode. Stay on Twitter and maintain your big, beautiful connections. Never preemptively cede ground.

12.) And, because my DMs are a mess: Dems win the Senate (and Warnock wins a run-off against Walker; Oz gets creamed); if they hold the House, we won't know for a couple of days and turnout will push them over.

13.) @JonesForAR has run an **absolutely flawless campaign**. His manager, Ronna-Rose Akama-Makia is an absolute badass. This is the best of Arkansas.

14.) Thank candidates and poll workers. Consider being one or the other.
Go vote. And give money. And do more next week.

*Rhonna-Rose