Friend,

The voting rights bill is about to fail in the Senate. I am not being alarmist. I am stating a fact.

For all the lip service the Sinemas and Manchins and Romneys of the world pay to bipartisanship, there is a simpler reality in play right now.

Republicans know that obstruction – obstructing literally everything – is their path to power. They are going to do absolutely nothing for as long as they can in order to grind things to a halt while their allies at the state and local level continue to stack the deck in their favor.

Their candidates know it. The directive is coming from on high. The campaign arms of the GOP are parroting this message like the propaganda flaks they have become. And it is showing in the quality, or rather lack of quality, of their recruits for the 2022 midterms. Look at New Hampshire. 

One of the most hotly contested GOP pickup opportunities is Democrat Maggie Hassan’s Senate seat. The best shot the GOP has at the seat is Gov. Chris Sununu throwing his hat into the ring. He declined. Why? He said the quiet part out loud:

”[Senate Republicans] were all, for the most part, content with the speed at which they weren’t doing anything. It was very clear that we just have to hold the line for two years. OK, so I’m just going to be a roadblock for 2 years. That’s not what I do.”

In case you’re wondering what we’re up against, that’s it. There is no negotiating with it. No more bipartisanship. Anyone who thinks otherwise is at best mistaken – and at worst, willfully ignorant and part of the problem we face. Good for Sununu for telling the truth. But as Trippi often puts it, all that’s left of the GOP are the hostages or the hostage takers. Sununu was unwilling to be either. But too many are stepping up and willfully joining them. That’s how you get Senator Dr. Oz or whatever he’s going to want to be called. Or, and I can’t believe I’m even writing this, Senator Peter Thiel J.D. Vance.

Take a look at what’s going on the Senate floor these days.

Yes, the infrastructure bill passed. But look at the reaction the few Republicans who crossed over to support the bill faced. They are being pilloried and primaried for giving Biden a win. Not “doing their jobs and giving the country a win.” Giving Biden a win.

In this climate:

We are not going to pass a voting rights bill unless Democrats take matters into their own hands.

We are not going to pass any kind of additional spending bills unless Democrats take matters into their own hands.

Rinse and repeat.

Do you believe the Democrats will do it? Regardless of whether or not you do, can you – can the country – truly afford to sit around and believe?

Our answer at The Lincoln Project is no. We cannot afford to sit around. We can’t wait for anyone else. Our democracy depends on our action.

We are spending the next 10 months and beyond building the broadest pro-democracy coalition anyone has ever seen. Everyone who believes our democracy is under threat is welcome. All the policy arguments that are necessary for a thriving democracy come later. If we don’t band together now, we might not ever get the chance to have those policy debates again.

Are you concerned at the complete lack of prosecution for the electors who submitted phony Presidential ballots? Join the pro-democracy coalition.

Are you concerned that your state and local election officials are being steadily replaced with Trumpist fanatics? Join the pro-democracy coalition.

Are you worried that Merrick Garland or the Jan. 6th committee are moving too slowly? Join the pro-democracy coalition.

If you are worried that our democracy is under threat and this is the sole issue we have to fight for this year, join the pro-democracy coalition.

This is where I say if everyone reading this email joined we’d have over a million people joining the fight for our democracy. But you reading this already believe in it. It’s why you’ve stuck with us thick and thin.

So I am asking for two things today (and will repeat myself a lot this year):

1. If you have not yet pledged to do what you can to join the pro-democracy coalition, you can do so here. 
2. More people need to see this message. Part of that comes from your contributions helping us broaden our outreach. But even more important is you helping us spread the word. If you do one thing after reading this, please forward this email to someone who hasn’t gotten the message yet. Ask them to join the coalition. What will they receive if they join? Ways to take action, just like you.

Are you with us?

-Reed