Arizona Labor
A Specific Way to Help win this Election
If we all do something to get the vote out, this election will go the right way. I am sure you know the basic things to do: make sure you are registered; make sure people you know are registered; phone bank; canvas; donate. It's not the vibes, it's not the polls: it's the votes.Â
The way American elections are structured, we count state by state. And so the most important states become those that either candidate can plausibly win. Historically the bellwether was Ohio. I think Ohio will be in play this year, and will spend some of my own October there (more on that soon). I think Florida and Texas could also go either way.Â
The swing states on the current conventional wisdom are Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Arizona.
Today I want to recommend a very specific way to help in Arizona. This is not only a crucial swing state in the presidential election, but a state with wonderful candidates down the ballot who deserve support,
Worker Power is a very effective political canvassing operation linked to the labor union Unite Here. Its canvassers take a lot of time, and get to know people. They work to meet people where they are and develop relationships. Worker Power is a more in-depth operation than typical canvassing (which I have done, and which is important too!)
In 2020, Biden won Arizona by a very small margin. It is reasonable to think that Worker Power’s canvassing made the difference.
If you have time and have a sense of commitment, you can apply to volunteer for or to work for Worker Power. For both, email the address here. If you would like to help Worker Power canvass in Arizona by making a donation, you can go to this site and hit the donate button, or use this link.
Aside from Arizona, Unite Here will also be organizing canvassing in Nevada, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Ohio. To support the national field effort, please donate here.
It's Labor Day weekend. Labor Day is a holiday we often struggle to commemorate. This is a way to celebrate and promote both labor and democracy. Please share this post with anyone who might be interested!
As a NC resident, I feel confident that my state is in contention to turn blue in this upcoming election. The key here is that the Republican candidate for governor, Mark Robinson, is a true nut job whereas the Democratic candidate, Josh Stein, is not only sane, he has done a great job as attorney general. Stay tuned!
This was a perfect message for Labor Day thoughts and action. The elections are very soon. Communicating with one another could not be more important. Listening and sharing are always vital. Thank you, Timothy Snyder, for bringing us together as you do.