Our second and final week of early voting here in Texas is now underway, and we still have
a ton of work to do! Have you voted for Wendy Davis, Leticia Van de Putte, and other Texas Democrats yet? Have you convinced everybody you know and love to get to the polls and cast their votes against the continuation of Republican rule in the state? We only have until Friday before the early voting period ends, so now is the time to GOTV. And it starts with the ones you love. I got my normally apolitical boyfriend to the polls to vote the straight Democratic ticket--it took a little pestering, not because he's not supportive, but because it just took a little pestering. This election is too important not to annoy people.
The next part of GOTV, of course, is getting involved with Battleground Texas and Democratic Party efforts to support the wide array of Democratic candidates in the state and increase voter turnout. That's what this October Monday evening series is all about. If you've been following this series, you know that we just finished our TexKos Weekend of Action, which was October 25-26. But if you missed my diary announcing the Weekend of Action, nomandates's diary two weeks ago, and my diary last Monday, here is the rundown:
The designated TexKos Weekend of Action will be the last weekend of the month: October 25-26. [...] During the Weekend of Action, we strongly encourage every single Texas Kossack to do something with Battleground Texas, whether it is making phone calls or walking door to door. It doesn't have to be all weekend, although the more activism you can do the better. If it's only a few hours, it's still something toward prying Texas out of the grips of Republicans. Then, either nomandates or I will be posting a diary on Monday reporting on our Weekend of Action here in Houston and asking everybody else from around the state to report how it went in their neck of the woods.
Of course, this TexKos Weekend of Action should not be taken to mean that every weekend (and, indeed, every day) should not be action-filled. That's why, leading up to our big Weekend of Action, nomandates and I will be posting diaries every Monday in October asking Texas Kossacks to report back about how their weekends went. But we know people are busy. We know that not everybody can devote every weekend to this election. So we ask that, if you can't do anything the rest of the month, at least try to participate in whatever way you can in our Weekend of Action on October 25-26.
And, of course, while Wendy Davis and Leticia Van de Putte are at the top of the ticket, we know it is going to take more than electing a Governor and Lieutenant Governor to swing the balance of power in this state. So we have modified our call to action as follows:
During the Weekend of Action, we strongly encourage every single Texas Kossack or Wendy Davis supporter to do something with Battleground Texas or with a Texas Democratic candidate's campaign, whether it is making phone calls or walking door to door.
I spent my time during the Weekend of Action making phone calls using the Battleground Texas
virtual phone bank (which is also a great way to get directly involved if you live out of state!). As I said in last week's diary and in my announcement diary, making phone calls always takes me out of my comfort zone. No matter how many times I do it, that first phone call is the worst. The dread when I hear the ringing, and the rush when I hear "Hello?" And then I open my mouth, say my piece, and realize that the person on the other end is a Wendy supporter who hasn't voted yet, but is now planning to before early voting ends. I did not breathe my last breath, and I survive to make the next phone call, which is much easier than the first. And it only gets easier, which is why I encourage you to make that plunge even if the thought of talking to voters about Wendy or the Democratic candidate you're working to elect sends chills down your spine. If I can do it, you can, too, and you'll feel much better for it!
My phone banking this weekend was a little challenging, as I had some strong Republicans on my list. I also had some pretty blatant sexists on my list who wouldn't dream of voting for a woman. But you know what? I lived to tell the tale. Even those calls don't last long, and you just move on to the next voter. While I could have let those experiences weigh me down and quit, I funneled my disappointment and anger into positive energy, and I became even more determined to turn out voters for Wendy. I went on to talk to many more supporters, including some who might not have voted had I not called. While I was making calls, I got a text from somebody I had called the previous weekend telling me that he was ready to volunteer and asking how he can help. Those moments are what kept me going, and they're what will keep you going, too, should you decide to take that initial plunge.
The TexKos Weekend of Action is over. That does not mean our action should be over. While we designated this past weekend as our Weekend of Action, our biggest push should be made this week and this upcoming weekend. We have mere days left until Election Day. There is time left to make a difference, if we give it our all. The remaining days until the final ballots are cast will be the difference between letting those "likely voter" polls spell out our fate versus turning out the unlikely voters for a Democratic upset that will change the face of Texas politics. It is completely in our hands. So don't let the pollsters and the naysayers get you down and tell you it can't be done. Funnel it into making this week matter. If you haven't gotten involved yet, it is not too late. The Weekend of Action was an arbitrary date set by nomandates and myself. Take the plunge tomorrow. Decide for yourself that the time is now to change the course of Texas political history and put somebody who actually cares about Texans--all Texans--in the Governor's Mansion.
How can you take the plunge? Battleground Texas will be having phone banks and canvassing events every single day. Simply click here or here, type in your zip code and desired mile radius, and RSVP for an event near you. And if you live out-of-state or cannot find an event nearby, you can still make calls to help elect Wendy Davis. Or donate here.
Let's make these remaining days matter. It's GOTV time!
In the comments below, please share your own report from the field. How did you spend the Weekend of Action? What are you going to do with this week and weekend?
If you're not inspired enough already, let Wendy Davis herself inspire you. She spoke last week at Texas Southern University here in Houston, and I was quite upset that I couldn't attend. Also present were Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, Comptroller candidate Mike Collier, Railroad Commissioner candidate Steve Brown, County Clerk candidate Ann Harris Bennett, and State Senator Rodney Ellis. The message of Wendy's speech was the importance of voting early and getting out the vote. After the event, buses were available to take students to the polls, and many took advantage. Thanks to Egberto Willies, we have video of Wendy's powerful speech:
She starts by explaining the turning point we are at in Texas.
Throughout the history of our nation, Americans hadn't just put destiny back on course, we had changed that course when it needed to be done. Like when lunch counters and buses and ballots were luxuries that you had to march for and sit in for, and those giants of the Civil Rights Movement risked everything and feared nothing to change our nation's course. We had always been able to see that our futures and the future of our community were all wrapped up together, and if we didn't move our part or do our part to move progress along, it would just slide back down the arc of history, knocking down all those gains and leaving behind the trail of injustice.
[...]
Texas is now at a turning point. And this election will determine if we will lead in the twenty-first century and whether or not Texas will work for all hardworking people, like each of you. We face a choice not only between two starkly different candidates, but two starkly different paths for our state. And I am the only candidate in this race who will fight for all hardworking Texans.
She then goes on to slam Greg Abbott's
recent refusal to say whether or not he would have defended the state's ban on interracial marriage in court.
This is the most offensive, backward, narrow-minded mess that Mr. Abbott has said yet. It is sad and frightening that the Attorney General of our state and a candidate for governor in this day and age would question equality, an idea that's so common sense that it's basic. But what would we expect from a person who defends a voter suppression law that intentionally discriminates against African Americans and Hispanics? Let me be clear: Every single person--not just in this state, but on this earth--has a responsibility to speak out against bigotry and injustice and hate, wherever it may be, no matter who you are, no matter what your title is, or what you want it to be.
And then she spells out the choice that is in front of us:
That is why we're here today, and that is why this election is so important. It's a choice between tomorrow and yesterday, between championing equality and opportunity or repealing the Voting Rights Act and the DREAM Act. Between paying women fairly or vetoing equal pay for equal work. Between investing in our schools or bleeding them dry. That is the choice that we face in this election. It is just that stark. It is that serious. And the future of our state is just that much at risk.
She ends the speech with a call to GOTV:
If you believe, like I do, that every four-year-old in this state deserves full-day quality preschool and every high schooler in this state deserves access to college, then go and vote! If you believe, like I do, that it's time to increase the minimum wage, then go and vote! If you believe, like I do, that women should be paid equally for doing equal work, then go vote! And if you believe, like I do, that it's time to end this nonsense and stop spiting our president just to say no, by saying no to $100 million of our Medicaid expansion money--if you believe, like I do, that it makes sense to bring our tax dollars back to Texas to cover between a million and a million and a half hardworking people, then go and vote! This is our time, and this is our election, and it will be won, because of each and every one of you.
She's right--the choice could not be more stark. Not just between the candidates, but between sitting this one out and putting our all into winning.
nomandates puts it best:
No regrets! This election is too important to wish that we'd done more. It's not too late.
Please tell us below how your weekend went. And, if you're a Daily Show fan, don't miss this week's Democalypse 2014: South by South Mess broadcasting from the ZACH Theatre in Austin. Guest appearances will include Representative Joaquin Castro and Wendy Davis (who will make her appearance tonight!). Check it out at 11:00 PM EST.
We're looking forward to hearing your reports from the field!