Happy Election Day, Danielle! I know you might be feeling anxious about today. I understand that — there are many serious issues on the line. But I hope you're also getting to appreciate the magic of casting your ballot. There's something so special about Election Day. Dropping your mail-in ballot in the mailbox. The poll workers who give you a warm welcome. The roars of cheers in the room when it's announced that someone is a first-time voter. Getting your sticker after casting your ballot. And after traveling around the country for Kamala Harris and campaigning for re-election here in Massachusetts, I'm feeling hopeful about today. We've got great candidates up and down the ticket. We've got thousands of dedicated staffers and volunteers fighting their hearts out. And millions of people are speaking up and getting involved. When I often visited swing states on the campaign trail, I'd ask folks to raise their hands if this was the first time they've volunteered. Danielle, so many people were putting up a hand, saying, "I might not have done this before, but wow, this one really, really, really, really matters." In 2020, Americans showed up in record-shattering numbers — even in the middle of a pandemic — to vote out Donald Trump. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won more votes than any ticket in history. In the 2022 midterms, experts kept saying that we were in for a "red wave." They kept insisting that Democrats had no chance to win. But we expanded our Democratic Senate majority, and we defeated downballot election deniers. And ever since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and an abortion vote was put on a state's ballot, abortion rights won every. single. time. Voters in places that nobody thought would be pro-choice stood up and said, "No, that is not who we want to be, and that is not what we want the government doing." The first vote was in Kansas. I remember when the first word came that Kansans wanted to vote on abortion, and the experts around the country said "Whoa, don't start in Kansas because there won't be enough people to really stand up and carry this." By golly, were they wrong. When we use our power in our democracy — when we get in the fight and stay in the fight — we win. Look, it's scary. The polls are very close. But MAGA extremists want us to feel powerless and hopeless. We won't give them the satisfaction. So let's square our shoulders and take on today with hope in our hearts. If you haven't voted yet, please go to IWillVote.com right now — find your polling place and make your plan to vote before the polls close tonight. If you're already on your way to vote, get three friends, neighbors, or family members to come along and vote, too. If you've already voted, share the IWillVote.com link with everyone and their mother, and their mother's mother, and their father, and their father's best friend, and your neighbors, and your group chat, and your old college study group's Facebook page that nobody has posted on for years. Let them know why you're voting for Democrats. Remind them that our freedoms, our democracy, our climate, and our futures are at stake this year. I know that can feel daunting, but we can win today, Danielle — as long as we all leave everything out on the field. So take a deep breath, and then take action. We're going to win this and elect Kamala Harris. Pinky promise. Thanks for being a voter, Elizabeth P.S. If you've got some extra time today after talking with everyone in your circle, volunteer to make calls to voters from home with the Harris-Walz team. Contacting voters who haven't cast a ballot yet is one of the best ways to direct any anxious energy you've got right now. |