Hello fellow Mainers,
It’s been two weeks since Election Day and at least one thing is clear: 78.8 million Americans (and counting) want a new direction for this country and want Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to lead it. Biden received 5.6 million more votes than Trump, an unprecedented number for an unprecedented time. Voters decided this election and Biden and Harris will be sworn in Jan. 20, 2021, whether Trump formally concedes or not. Still, things are likely to be bumpy between now and Inauguration Day and your best defense is to stay informed. There are a number of great fact checking sites available but two we rely on are Associated Press Fact Check and New York Time’s Daily Distortions.
So, what’s next? That’s a question groups like Suit Up Maine are pondering. SUM co-leader Kelli Whitlock Burton joined other progressive leaders to discuss the topic on Maine Challenge, a project of Lincoln County Indivisible and Lincoln County Television. You can watch that show here. Our immediate attention is on the Maine Secretary of State race and the Georgia Senate run-offs. Find more information on these and a list of good news from Nov. 3 below. You’ll hear more from us as we look toward the next legislative session in Augusta and new leadership in D.C. Meanwhile, you can always follow us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or contact us by email.
In solidarity,
The Suit Up Maine Admin Team
QUICK ACTIONS
Choosing Maine’s next SoS. Matthew Dunlap will leave big shoes to fill when he finishes his final term as Maine’s Secretary of State. Luckily, the slate of candidates to fill the position is strong: Sen. Shenna Bellows of Manchester, former Rep. Tom Bull of Freeport, outgoing Sen. Justin Chenette of Saco, outgoing Rep. Craig Hickman of Winthrop, outgoing Rep. Erik Jorgensen of Portland, and outgoing Rep. Matt Moonen of Portland. Tune in TODAY, Nov. 17 at 5 pm to hear candidates’ positions on expanding voting access, modernizing the state’s election process, and more. Register for the forum here. Then, call your legislators and tell them who you support. The Legislature will elect the new Secretary of State, as well as other constitutional officers, on Wednesday, Dec. 2.
Help GOTV in Georgia. Control of the U.S. Senate will be decided by Georgia’s Senate runoff Jan. 5. If Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Osoff win, the Senate will be divided 50-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris giving Democrats the majority. How can you help? Organizers in Georgia tell us that donations are the best way to support their work and that your dollars will go further with Georgia’s county Democratic committees and smaller grassroots groups. Find a list of Democratic Party County Committees here and donate what you can, giving special attention to Camden, Chatham, Clayton, Cob, DeKalb, Dougherty, Fulton, Gwinnett, Glynn, and Richmond counties. Our friends with 159 Georgia Together have a more complete list of Georgia groups that need help and volunteers for postcarding and phone/text banks. Find it here.
Victories & Good News List: 2020 Election Edition. This election season was unlike any the country has seen. Despite a global pandemic, more Americans cast ballots this year than ever before, included an expected record-breaking turnout for young voters. While there were some hard losses nationally and statewide, including the U.S. Senate race here in Maine, there is much good news to report from the polls. We’ve captured some of the brightest victories iin our good news list. Find it here.
On our website you’ll also find:
- Letter to the Editor Guide: Tips on writing LTEs and a list of Maine newspapers that accept them.
- Top Events: A list of upcoming progressive events across the state.
- Guides & Explainers: Resources on complex topics.
- Civic Dashboard: Contact info for your elected officials, tutorials on the legislative process, and more.
