In this year’s Presidential election, Virginia was a shining light. The Democratic margin of victory was 50-45% — a two point gain from President Obama’s 51-48 margin in 2012. By contrast, the three deciding states, WI, MI and PA changed from significant margins of victory to losses of one percent or less.
Why did this happen? Yes, demographics and changing population have turned VA bluer in recent years, particularly in Northern Virginia, Richmond and Tidewater. But some credit should be given to 90 for 90, a voter engagement and activation initiative started as a 90th birthday celebration and tribute to William Fergusen Reid, Sr. (“Fergie Sr.”), a surgeon, a living civil rights hero and in 1967, the first black member of the Virginia General Assembly since Reconstruction.
90 for 90’s goal was "A Quarter Million for the Old Dominion" — increasing voter registration in VA by 250,000. The method was simple: Encourage as many stakeholders, activists and believers in voting and voting rights to register 90 voters per precinct, or as many voters as possible in their area. The results were spectacular: VA registered 633,000 new voters.
90 for 90 asks only a belief that “unblocked access to the voting booth is the right of each citizen.”
As an early supporter of 90 for 90, I joined with a group of Kossacks who wrote a series of diaries about the VA Special Elections, in which Jennifer McClellan won a Richmond-based Senate seat previously held by Democrat Don McEachin. (Thanks to everyone who contributed and rec’d the diaries.) The other two Democratic candidates lost — I was disappointed at Ryant Washington’s loss because his seat would have given control of the senate to the Democrats. That seat won’t be up again until 2019. However, the House seat lost in Virginia Beach is in play again this year, and Cheryl Turpin is already running again for it.
The younger Fergie (Fergie Sr.’s son) told me he considered the special elections a victory because the Democratic candidates significantly increased the percentage of Democratic votes from prior elections.
The Fergies have a perspective we can learn from. It’s an optimistic, long term perspective, recognizing, like Dr. King, that the “arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Small victories lead to bigger ones, and setbacks on the way can be overcome.
There are DK users all over the country, many of whom are very politically active. In 2015, Meteor Blades wrote about precinct by precinct voter activation and Denise Oliver Velez wrote 90 for 90. Getting Out the Vote in Virginia. TeacherKen has also diaried about it.
People are motivated, angry and want to do something. 90 for 90 speaks for this anger and will direct it in a positive way. Daily Kos is a national platform of activists well-positioned to advance this initiative in every state. What can you do?
Start by going to the 90 for 90 Website and browsing.
Visit and like The 90 for 90 Facebook page.
Write diaries on Daily Kos and send kosmail about 90 for 90.
Get involved in elections in 2017 in Virginia and New Jersey, which have odd number state office elections.
90 for 90 began in Richmond, VA, capital of the Confederacy, and is leading the charge against voter suppression. We can follow this initiative to combat the modern Jim Crow.
Let the light of The Old Dominion shine across all 50 states.