This post was written by Faye Lessler and originally appeared on the site Sustaining Life; a blog dedicated to holistic and accessible sustainable living.
The state of politics in America these days is a big stinking mess. Every time I hear the news, I feel more and more disgusted. Our elected offices are full of old, wealthy, white men who make a profit off of the suffering of others. In my eyes, that corruption is simply unacceptable; it’s time to vote them out.
There happen to be a number of candidates running in federal and state level elections on Tuesday who don’t fit that mold; they are young, female, people of color, and/or people who identify as queer. Many of these candidates have never held office before in their lives, and a good number of them would be setting records if they win (check out this excellent article in the New York Times that breaks down the diversity in this election).
If you are angry, sad, fearful, or hopeless right now, if you hate what Trump and the GOP are doing with their power, then this is your call to step up and do something about it. Help elect these candidates who are not corrupt, career politicians, but real people who see the need for real representation in this country. Here are some of the standout candidates running for office on Tuesday – go vote, donate, and volunteer for them now!
P.s. Do you have a plan to vote on Tuesday? Check your polling place here, make sure you note open and close times, and schedule a time to go vote! Bonus points for dragging friends and family along with you 😉
P.p.s. If you’re looking for a super easy way to help elect Democrats, you can simply donate to the EWC Giving Circle. I’ve teamed up with my fellow American ethical bloggers to aggregate funds and make a bigger impact in state level races in Arizona. Here’s why. And here’s where to give!
Image via Slate.
1. Kyrsten Sinema, running for Senate in Arizona
If she wins, not only would Kyrsten Sinema be the first openly bisexual Senator in the country, she would also be the first woman to ever represent Arizona in the Senate. Sinema is up against Republican Martha McSally in the race to fill retiring Senator Jeff Flake’s seat, so at least the seat is going to a woman either way. Unfortunately, McSally is a climate denier who Donald Trump named “the second-greatest vote you ever cast” (the first vote being, of course, for himself) at a rally he held for the candidate. Sinema, on the other hand, knows that climate change is a real threat caused by humans, is pro-choice, and an advocate for women’s and LGBTQ rights.
This is a really close race, with Sinema and McSally polling nearly neck and neck just a few days out from the election. Arizona has not voted for a Democratic Senator since 1988, so flipping this seat from red to blue would be a huge upset for the GOP.
Want to help Kyrsten Sinema get elected? You can donate here or volunteer to phone bank here!
2. Stacey Abrams, running for Governor in Georgia
Stacey Abrams has gained a lot of press this election season, and for good reason. If she wins, Abrams will be the first black women to be elected governor in the entire country. It’s not going to be an easy win by any means, though – Abrams is running in a notoriously conservative state experiencing severe issues with voter suppression, especially in black communities. Yet Abrams’ story (she grew up in Mississippi in a poor working family) and her progressive policies (she wants to stop drilling for oil, stop voter suppression, and reform the criminal justice system) have inspired voters across the state and even Oprah to help her build a strong campaign.
This is another really close race. Stacey Abrams is running against Georgia’s sitting Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Kemp has been polling ahead of Abrams, but only by a small margin.
Want to help Stacey Abrams get elected? You can donate here or volunteer to phone bank here!
