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The Final Push Before Election Day 🗳️
Mobilizing for a Strong Turnout, a First-Time Voter’s Perspective, and Key Races to Watch in Georgia
What do you think will be the tipping point state? |
This Week We Need You To:
Vote!!!
A Call to Action
In 2016, we were complacent and tired. We thought—no, we knew Donald Trump would lose, but he didn’t. The polls had been off, feeding a confidence that shattered by the next morning, leaving a pit in our stomachs we never want to feel again.
In 2020, we rejected him amidst his catastrophic handling of the pandemic. Yet, the unexpectedly tight polling and electoral college race to 270 shook us. Understandably, we are anxious about election night. But things are different now.
January 6th and the overturning of Roe v. Wade were a step too far and exposed Trump for what he truly is: a cancer. Donald Trump is a cancer that lives in the heart of American Democracy; he thrives on hate, violence, and power and, worst of all, pits Americans against each other. But we said “enough is enough” and rejected MAGA on the ballot in 2022 and are poised to do so again this year if and only if we all vote like we’ve never voted before.
The only way to beat a cancer is to eradicate every last trace of it, and that means ensuring MAGA candidates up and down the ballot are defeated at the polls. This is our chance to show the enemies of America, domestic and abroad, that democracy defeats autocracy, that hope rises above fear, and that love conquers hate.
There is a better path: Vote Harris Walz!!!
Mobilizing Young Voters
As of October 31st, about 3.5 million Georgians have cast a ballot, making this an election with historically high turnout. However, the same cannot be said for all age groups. Voters 60 and older are dominating the polls, making up 34.2% of ballots. Gen Z and Millennials trail behind, with ages 18-29 making up just 11.5% of the vote.
This isn’t new news: only 55% of eligible 18-29 year olds voted in the 2020 presidential election, and just over 30% cast a ballot during the 2022 midterms. Considering what’s at stake for young adults and families this election, this is a huge shock. Issues like reproductive freedom, gun safety, and affordable housing are essential to Gen Z and Millennials, and Republicans want to take those away. Take it from a first-time voter on The 2030 Project’s team:
“I remember exactly where I was when Roe v. Wade was overturned, and I’m sure a lot of other women in the United States do too. Some of the girls I was with were scared, some were angry, but I remember feeling really defeated. Under Trump’s presidency, I had just been jaded hearing the same racist, misogynistic remarks and seeing our country run with the same deplorable policies. I totally understand why young voters would feel the same way now with Donald Trump on the ballot for the third election in a row.
However, I felt so grateful for the opportunity to actually do something about it this time. Voting for the first time felt so surreal, and I’m especially happy that I did so in such an important state like Georgia. I voted Democrat for my single mother. I voted Democrat for my gay sister. I voted Democrat for my Hispanic father. I voted Democrat for my grandfather, a Vietnam War veteran. And I voted Democrat for MYSELF as a future renter, college student, and woman.”
-Emma
It’s not too late! Early voting in Georgia ends November 1st, and Election Day is November 5th. Talk to the young people in your community and encourage them that their vote matters now more than ever. Our lives and livelihoods depend on it.
Races to Watch in Georgia
From left to right: Michelle Au, Farooq Mughal, Susie Greenberg
Georgia House District 50 (Hold)
State Representative Michelle Au, a Democratic incumbent and leader on healthcare and gun safety, is up for re-election in Georgia’s District 50, where she faces strong opposition bolstered by Republican funding. Governor Kemp’s leadership committee has contributed significant resources toward flipping Democratic seats in competitive districts, including Au's, to secure Republican control in Georgia. This election rematches Au and Republican Narender Reddy, who also competed in the 2022 election, with Au winning by a margin of 54% to 46%
Georgia House District 105 (Hold)
State Representative Farooq Mughal is defending his seat in Georgia’s 105th District in a closely watched November election. Governor Kemp’s leadership committee has also intensified its efforts in this district, aiming to flip this seat to the GOP. Mughal’s re-election is pivotal in Gwinnett County, where Democratic incumbents are contending with substantial Republican-backed campaigns to secure legislative control​.
Georgia House District 53 (Flip)
Susie Greenberg, a Democratic candidate for House District 53, is in a high-stakes race to unseat Republican incumbent Deborah Silcox. This district, located in the Atlanta suburbs, is seen as one of Georgia’s most “flippable” seats, having been historically Democratic before Silcox's recent victory by a narrow margin of under 1,500 votes. Greenberg, running on reproductive rights, gun safety, and better public schools, has attracted significant attention and funding, making this race critical for Democrats seeking to gain ground in the Georgia House.
As a final message before Election Day, we at The 2030 Project want to remind you that you have a community. No matter the outcome of this election, you have friends, family, and loved ones to lean on. And finally, you have your fellow Democrats—including us—who share your values and beliefs. These last few months have been a long and tiring fight, but when we fight, WE WIN!
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