Advocacy and Elections: Their Impact on the Issues
Advocacy matters. This has been made more clear than ever by the recent actions taken by the Trump administration—whether that's firing thousands of national parks workers, instating discrimination against countless LGBTQ+ folks, or restricting access to reproductive healthcare. Although it’s easy to become demoralized (believe me, I’ve had moments myself in recent months!), now is not the time to give up the fight for the issues you care about. In the words of Alice Walker, “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”
We know that justice can move slowly, and those who are fighting back against the executive orders and court rulings described above (and more!) should be commended for their work. You can be one of those folks! Research organizations you can volunteer or work for that are pushing for progress for the issues you care about. Share your knowledge with others in your life, from having open conversations with your loved ones to posting on social media. Advocate to your elected officials so they are hearing directly from their constituents on the legislation they are considering. Keep the pressure on those who are making important decisions in our government!
It's also clear that elections are incredibly important at every level of government. Elected officials can be important, highly visible advocates for the issues they care about—and voting is an easy way to make sure the people with similar values as you are the ones elected!
They also play an important role in deciding the makeup of the judiciary. Three Supreme Court justices and over two hundred federal judges were put into place by Trump—and that was just during his first term. Judges play crucial roles in upholding the Constitution and our civil rights, and they are deciding cases that will impact everyone in the country as you read this. Stay up to date on the news, and donate or volunteer to organizations that are fighting in court for the issues you care about.
Many states have voter registration deadlines that are months before elections happen, so start the work now of registering to vote and helping others register as well. When elections happen in your area, whether they are local, primaries, federal, or anything in between, get out and vote and push others in your life to vote as well. You can also volunteer to canvass and door knock for candidates you care about, or work at the polls for the day!
So, what can we, as progressives, learn from the recent actions of the administration? Keep fighting, both through advocacy and elections—including advocacy around elections, whether that be for candidates who will fight for your issues or for a ballot measure that will execute important changes in your state.
There is still a lot of work to do—for equal pay, immigration, criminal justice reform, climate change, abortion, the right to organize, voting rights for DC, death with dignity, LGBTQ+ rights, and non-discrimination. Despite recent events, don't think for a moment that the fight for progressive values is over. In fact, we need to fight harder than ever, whether that's in the courts, through elections, or through advocacy work.
Be passionate about change, do not give up the fight, and be thankful for the amazing, smart, and talented people who care as deeply about the issues you are fighting for as you do. And of course, know that there are still amazing people out there fighting for our values every day. Advocacy and elections still matter, and staying determined and motivated to work toward the change you want to see will ensure we protect our rights and gain back what has been lost.
To learn more, check out more of our blog posts on advocacy.
Want to learn more about advocacy and ready to take the next step? Check out our Virtual Advocacy Training!