I have been watching Presidential Elections since 1976 and over the years I have learned that even when an election is going well, there are times when Democrats, particularly those whose lives are desperately precarious, will start to worry and panic. That is a normal reaction, especially in this election, when it is critical that we vote Trump out of office and increase Democratic control of the Senate and the fifty statehouses.
I understand those who have suffered under this Trump presidency and because of the actions of Republican Senators. I live in Minneapolis and am on disability because of chronic fatigue. Minneapolis has been shaken by the murders of innocent black men and by the impacts of the Coronavirus. I am in the process of packing and looking for subsidized housing, which is not easy to do when you are disabled and your city is under quarantine.
The constant abusive and violent language coming from Trump, his administration, and his supporters wears me down and makes daily life that much more difficult. Grieving for fellow Minnesotans who have been killed by police, and dealing with the aftermath and intense discussions about policing is not easy. But I keep on going. We must all keep on going and keep our eyes on that November election date.
Biden and Harris have a winning team. They are likeable. Americans know Joe Biden, and they are getting to know Kamala Harris better. These are two people that Americans can trust to get America back on course and to ‘build back better’. Also, these two know how to run an effective, winning campaign. They are winning. And undecided voters tend to lean towards the winner in the last days.
But we cannot be complacent. We have to win big, and get winning margins for state level candidates. Statehouses and governors matter. One reason Minnesota is doing reasonably well is because we have a Democratic Governor (and an awesome Lieutenant Governor). That has mattered so much for extra money for missed rents and mortgages, for grants for small businesses, for eviction stays. But we would do better with a Democratic Minneapolis Senate. We could enact more protections for immigrants, more COVID safety protocols, and more housing assistance.
It is normal to panic. To freak out. To feel incredible anxiety. It has been a horrible four years for many people. Take a break. Look at cat or dog pictures. Stream something mindless on your cable/internet provider of choice. Take a break from Twitter, Facebook, and political media.
And then, when you're ready, work like hell to register people to vote and get people to the polls. Even if you are in a red state, it may matter for your US Representative, or your state Assembly or Senate. For local school board and judge elections. Every vote matters for every position. Get out there and bring this home. We are winning and we can do this.
And thank you to everyone who is already working incredibly hard to get people to vote, working on a campaign, or working to keep our infrastructure going. Thank you for all you do.