Hello John,
I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we, as a progressive community, have been going through a lot lately. Since Election Day—and maybe even a little before that—we’ve been stuck in a constant cycle of anxiety, angst, anger, sadness, resilience, and even hopelessness. Sometimes, we cycle through all these emotions in a single day.
The country we know and love is deteriorating before our very eyes. The policies being enacted are both cruel and bewildering. The rhetoric coming from the White House, the mainstream media, and certain members of Congress has crossed every imaginable line of decency and sensibility.
I could go on and on about how bad things have gotten, but I know I’m preaching to the choir. The reason I’m writing and sharing this is that I’ve been holding in these thoughts all weekend, and my form of therapy is connecting with my community. I am so grateful for the No Dem Left Behind community and the larger progressive movement. In times like these, we must lean on one another.
Early in the days of No Dem Left Behind, we had a saying: We will never bring up a problem without also sharing solutions or ideas to address it. I’m going back to our roots here. As progressive visionary Teddy Roosevelt once said: "There are many qualities which we need in order to gain success, but the three above all—for the lack of which no brilliancy and no genius can atone—are Courage, Honesty and Common Sense.”
You’ll see report after report about the 2024 elections—why we lost, what went wrong, who stayed home, etc. No Dem Left Behind will be releasing our own comprehensive report soon, so keep an eye out for that. Reports are essential for understanding our mistakes and learning how to grow.
But this moment requires more than reflection—it requires action. What we’re working on this cycle is getting back to basics: identifying community leaders who are already trusted and respected where they live because of the work they do, and recruiting those people to run for Congress.
The House of Representatives should truly represent America. We are not all lawyers, former prosecutors, or millionaires. Our country is made up of incredible working people—teachers, firefighters, small business owners, and so many others. Sadly, our current Congress doesn’t reflect that reality, and as a result, we see policies that hurt our communities rather than help them.
Leadership is what we need above all else. Democratic allies in Congress face a daunting challenge over the next two years, but we are counting on them to rise to the occasion. And if they don’t, we are prepared to hold them accountable. We’ve seen how Trump uses the primary lever to intimidate those who step out of line, and we can’t be afraid to use it ourselves.
This doesn’t mean we’ll primary someone over minor disagreements. But we will challenge those who vote with Republicans or parrot their talking points. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema betrayed us time and again, and now it seems John Fetterman is following in their footsteps. His hesitation on the recent January 6 vote to condemn the pardons of those who stormed the Capitol was utterly unacceptable.
And then there’s the courts. Donald Trump controls a radical, right-wing Supreme Court, and the corruption we see there is undeniable. Across the country, Americans from all political backgrounds are growing increasingly skeptical of SCOTUS. It is corrupt and compromised, and we must shine a light on this to force Congress and the public to address it. Americans—whether Republican, Democrat, or Independent—can get behind a simple, powerful message: We want an unbiased, corruption-free Supreme Court.
The road ahead is long, but we cannot afford to sit back. This moment requires bold action, fearless leadership, and a united progressive movement ready to stand up for what’s right.
Here’s what I’m asking of you: Will you join us in this fight? Donate today to help us recruit strong, community-based leaders for Congress and continue holding our elected officials accountable. Every dollar helps us organize, fight, and make progress for the America we all believe in. Together, we can turn frustration into action. Together, we can win.
