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United in hope
November 11, 2019
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 VETERANS DAY 2019
The 1% truly deserving of our gratitude
Today, Veterans Day 2019, Lower Cape Indivisible honors all veterans, living and passed, for their service to our country.
Less than 1 percent of our country’s population serves in the Armed Forces, so we in the remaining 99 percent owe these Americans a debt of gratitude. And when a veteran chooses to sacrifice and serve, they aren’t alone. Their family -- mothers and fathers, children, siblings and spouses -- make a sacrifice as well.
Generation after generation, American veterans have served and sacrificed to preserve our freedom, secure our constitutional rights and strengthen American democracy. For this, we give thanks.
In the words of John F. Kennedy: "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
--Lower Cape Indivisible
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The Dems did it in Virginia (and Kentucky)!
Wins herald blue path forward in 2020
Virginia’s dramatic and rapid transition from red to purple to blue is a story of the growing support for Democrats in the suburban areas of the state, particularly around the District and Richmond. The apparent defeat of Republican Gov. Matt Bevin in Kentucky was powered in part by the strength of support Democrat Andy Beshear attracted in that state’s suburban counties.
For the president, the results underscore that his best hope for reelection in 2020 will be to expand the electorate as much as possible in the small-town, rural and exurban areas of the battleground states. Scouring those areas for every vote possible will be the campaign’s highest priority. Read more here.
Source:
-KENTUCKY-
 By Arian Campo-Flores and Jennifer Calfas, The Wall Street Journal, Updated Nov. 6, 2019 5:48 pm ET
Election Results 2019: GOP Incumbent Refuses to Concede in Tight Kentucky Governor Race
Gov. Matt Bevin calls for review of vote totals after Democrat Andy Beshear declares victory with lead of several thousand ballots
Democrat Andy Beshear declared victory in the Kentucky governor’s race and pressed ahead with transition plans, despite Republican Gov. Matt Bevin’s refusal to concede and his request for a formal review of vote totals.
With 100% of counties reporting results, Mr. Beshear led Mr. Bevin by 5,189 votes out of more than 1.4 million cast, according to unofficial results from the state Board of Elections. The race was too close to call, according to the Associated Press
“I feel confident in declaring Andy Beshear Gov.-elect Beshear,” said Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, a Democrat, in an interview. But she said she would follow established procedures in response to any petitions from Mr. Bevin.
On Wednesday, Mr. Bevin’s campaign formally requested a recanvass, or review of the vote totals in each county, citing an “election too close to call and multiple reports of voting irregularities.” At a news conference Wednesday, Mr. Bevin said the campaign was seeking to corroborate alleged incidents such as voting machines that didn’t work properly, and he criticized Ms. Grimes for calling the race. Read more here.
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 By Jacob Pramuk, CNBC.com, Monday, November 4, 2019
Trump is competitive in six 2020 swing states despite national weakness, polls say
KEY POINTS
- Trump is in a strong position to compete for the Electoral College in key battleground states, New York Times/Siena polls show.
- The surveys found hypothetical matchups pitting Trump against Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are toss-ups about a year ahead of the 2020 election.
- They show Trump is in a better position in specific states than he is nationally, though Trump’s potential 2020 Democratic rivals have fared better in other polls of those states.
Despite poor showings against his Democratic rivals in national polls, President Donald Trump appears deadlocked with his potential opponents in a handful of pivotal states about a year before the 2020 presidential election, according to new surveys.
In hypothetical races in six states that could decide whether the president wins another term in the White House — Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona and North Carolina — Trump mostly trails former Vice President Joe Biden, but fares better against Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, according to New York Times/Siena polls. The surveys signal those states could swing either way: Nearly every lead in the poll falls within the survey’s margin of error.
Here are the poll results in the potential 2020 races, which the Times separated into registered voter and likely voter samples:
Read more here.
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 By Eliza Relman, Business Insider.com, November 6, 2019, 1:15 PM
Forget Kentucky and Virginia, the worst election news for Republicans came out of suburban Pennsylvania
- Republican losses on Tuesday in Kentucky and Virginia are making headlines, but President Donald Trump should be more worried about the election results in the suburbs of Pennsylvania.
- Pennsylvania is a key swing state that went for Trump in 2016 and will be a central battleground state in 2020.
- Democrats flipped suburban Delaware County, which has been controlled by Republicans since the Civil War, among other key wins in the previously Republican-dominated suburbs.
There's been much discussion of the Republican Party's high-profile losses on Tuesday in Kentucky and Virginia, but historic GOP losses in Pennsylvania might be more concerning for the party in 2020.
The Democrat Andy Beshear, Kentucky's attorney general, beat the incumbent GOP Gov. Matt Bevin, and Virginia Democrats took control of both legislative chambers in the state. Beshear's victory had much to do with Bevin's status as one of the most unpopular governors in the country (Republicans swept other Kentucky statewide races), and Virginia's blue wave was a long time coming. Neither state will be a battleground in 2020.
But in Pennsylvania, Republicans suffered more surprising — and potentially consequential — losses. Democrats flipped suburban Delaware County, which has been controlled by Republicans since the Civil War... In Chester County, Democrats took control of the Board of Commissioners and pushed out the Republican district attorney for the first time. Democrats also took the majority of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners. And in Philadelphia, a third-party candidate... won a seat on the City Council...held by a Republican for the past 70 years...
Pennsylvania is a key swing state that went for President Donald Trump in 2016 and will be a central battleground state in 2020. Trump won the state by less than 1 percentage point — or about 44,000 votes of the more than 6 million cast — handing him Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes. Read more here.
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 By Dan Balz, The Washington Post, August 31, 2019 at 9:16 p.m. EDT
The 2020 electoral map could be the smallest in years. Here’s why.
In a politically divided nation, with attitudes among many voters hardened and resistant to changing, the 2020 general election could be contested on the narrowest electoral terrain in recent memory.
Just four states are likely to determine the outcome in 2020. Each flipped to the Republicans in 2016, but President Trump won each by only a percentage point or less. The four are:
- Pennsylvania
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- and Florida
Many analysts point to Wisconsin as the single state upon which the election could turn.
Shifting demographics, the growing urban-rural divide and the gap between white voters with and without college educations have helped to create an electoral map unlike those of the recent past. So too have Trump’s unique profile, messaging and appeal.
“Because of the partisanship of the country and the partisanship of the president, we are now looking at the smallest map in modern political history,” said Jim Messina, who was the campaign manager for former president Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign.
Many Democrats agree. During a briefing with reporters last month, Guy Cecil, the chairman of the Democratic super PAC Priorities USA, grouped Iowa and Ohio with Texas, as Trump won all three by similar margins, and the Democratic leaning Colorado, Minnesota and Virginia, as states that could become competitive but won’t likely be the tipping point in the election. Read more here.
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 We needed to Flip Virginia BLUE... and that we did!
A HUGE thank you to all who participated in LCI's letter writing campaigns
Last week was, indeed, an inspiring time and we extend many thanks to those of you who have worked on LCI's Letters to Voters campaigns. The monumental shift in power in Virginia -- which is now a blue trifecta state for the first time in decades -- is testament to the power of your activism.
These wins aren’t coincidences or flukes. They are the result of hard work from dedicated activists like you who know the value of sustained, long-term activism. Thank you one and all!
Source: Indivisible
By The New York Times, Updated Nov. 11, 2019, 11:28 AM ET
2019 Virginia General Election Results
Virginia Democrats won both the House of Delegates and the State Senate on Tuesday. All 140 legislative seats were on the ballot and Democrats took full control of state government for the first time since 1994. Democrats had a significant fund-raising advantage in Tuesday's races, while Republicans had hoped to hold on to suburban seats that have sent its lawmakers to Richmond for decades. Read more here.
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Statewide Indivisible conference December 7 in Worcester
Indivisible co-founder/-director Ezra Levin to speak, lead workshop
December 7
8:30AM- 4:30PM
Worcester State University
486 Chandler St, Worcester, MA 01602
Admission*: $35 standard/$15 student (for registrations before December 1); $45/$20 after December 1
Register here
On December 7, activists from across Massachusetts will gather at Worcester State University to prepare for 2020 and beyond. Organized by Indivisible Massachusetts and allies, the conference will provide a full day of workshops on issues effective strategies for working on national and state elections, collaborating with faith communities, and lobbying state legislators. Workshop topics also focus on issues like fighting climate change, defending reproductive rights, and supporting immigrant rights.
Special guest speaker and Indivisible co-founder and co-director Ezra Levin will lead a workshop on Impeachment and the Strategy for 2020 where attendees will learn how grassroots activism can play a role in moving the impeachment process forward and feed into the strategy for the 2020 election. The next 12 months will be critical to the future of our democracy. Please share this email. Please register today.
Learn more about conference
Carpooling opportunities are available upon registration
Register here
*If you or someone you know cannot afford the full fee, please email lior@indivisible-ma.org. And if you are able, please donate above the standard charge so reduced rates may be offered to those in need.
Source: Indivisible and Indivisible MA
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 Extra, extra!
The weekly Indivisible MA newsletter is in, with actions, events and news from Indivisibles around the state
Contents include:
...and more! Click here to read more.
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R E G I O N A L / L O C A L
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 CIDC Fall canvasses reap rich harvest
The results are in...and rosy!
The Cape & Islands Democratic Council--and many of you-- canvassed and phone banked for progressive candidates for the Barnstable Town Council this fall. ALL candidates supported by the CIDC won by healthy margins, flipping the Town Council of the Cape's largest town to Blue. They are:
- Gordon Starr--won Precinct 1, defeating John Flores 69% to 31%
- Kris Clark--won Precinct 11 with 84% of the vote
- David Bogan--won Precinct 5 with 68% of the vote
Thanks to all who participated and congratulations to Gordon, Kris and David!
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 Pinpointing Pennsylvania for voter registration
Tuesday, November 19
4:00PM - 5:30PM*
161 Fox Meadow Drive, Brewster
* Depending on turnout, we may finish sooner!
We will be sending Vote Forward letters to 100 unregistered voters in Pennsylvania. This is one of the easiest things we can do to increase turnout in this critical Swing State. It takes only two minutes and one stamp/letter, and meaningfully increases the odds that the recipient will vote.
This campaign targets not-yet-registered prospective voters in Pennsylvania. By helping under-represented voters register to vote in Pennsylvania, we are working to increase voter registration in Pennsylvania from right here on Cape Cod.
If you've done this before, you know how easy it is. If not, and you have questions, please let us know. If you can, bring a few dollars or some unusual/fun letter stamps to help defray LCI printing, envelopes and postage expenses. This is a concrete action we can all take, no matter where we live, to get unlikely-to-vote fellow citizens to the polls. Refreshments will be served!
To RSVP or if you have questions, email lowercapeindivisible@gmail.com.
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 Last week to get Ranked Choice Voting on the ballot
Bring the campaign--and your sheets--home by November 13
For weeks now, amazing volunteers have been all over, at all times of the day, getting signatures, one by one to put Ranked Choice Voting on the ballot. Voter Choice Massachusetts is now just a couple of days away from delivering signature sheets to city and town clerks, which will then be submitted to the Secretary of State.
Now's when it all counts - literally. If you have any sheets even with one signature on them, now's the time to turn them in! They still have multiple journeys and checks to go through before the deadline, so it is crucial that regional field organizer Lindsay Crouch gets your papers back by this Wednesday, Nov. 13. Let Lindsay know today how you will get your sheets to her, so please click one of the options below:
If those do not work for you, please contact Lindsay@voterchoice2020.org or (802) 275-7278.
As Voter Choice Massachusetts wraps up this signature-gathering phase of the ballot campaign, know that the whole team is hard at work preparing for the massive effort needed to win the 2020 ballot campaign.
Sources: Common Cause Massachusetts, Voter Choice for Massachusetts
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Environmental  Voter Project text bank training this Wednesday afternoon
Join us to learn how to get more environmentalists to vote
Wednesday, Nov. 13
4-5:30 PM
Brewster Ladies' Library (Lower Level Meeting Room)
1822 Main Street, Brewster 02631
Deborah Shah of the Environmental Voter Project will hold a text bank training in Brewster to teach us how to text environmentally-leaning but inactive voters GET OUT THE VOTE. Our goal will be to significantly increase voter demand for environmental leadership by identifying inactive environmentalists and then turning them into consistent activists and voters. Questions? Contact: LowerCapeIndivisible@gmail.com for information. Hope to see you on Wednesday!
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 ROE Act Advocacy Day is this week!
Cape Cod Women for Change offers bus from Cape Cod and Plymouth to Beacon Hill and back
Thursday, November 14
See departure and return times and locations below
BUY YOUR $5 SEAT ON THE BUS HERE!
Bus pick-up at the following locations:
Cape Cod
- Exit 10 – Park and Ride – 8:30 AM
- Exit 6 – Park and Ride – 8:45 AM
- Sagamore – Park and Ride – 9:00 AM
Plymouth
- Exit 5 – Park and Ride – 9:20 AM
Bus return to Plymouth/Cape Cod:
- Massachusetts State House – 3:00 PM
The ROE Act Advocacy Day program begins at 11:00 AM at the 32BJ SEIU Meeting Hall, 26 West Street, Boston. There, we will hear from advocates and participate in a brief advocacy training before heading to the State House to meet with lawmakers. See registration page for accessibility information.
Massachusetts has long been a leader in health care access and reproductive rights. Let’s work together to make this a decisive moment for reproductive freedom in the Commonwealth and pass the ROE Act to protect abortion access in Massachusetts! Book your $5 seat on the bus today!
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 Driving Families Forward Lobby Day at the State House, November 19
Join grassroots organizations fighting to protect immigrant rights everyday
Tuesday, November 19
11:00AM
Room 222, Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon Street, Boston
RSVP
You are invited to join the Driving Family Forward’s Lobby Day at the Massachusetts State House, when grassroots activists will be lobbying state legislators to support An Act Relative to Work and Family Mobility. This bill would enable all qualified state residents to apply for a standard Massachusetts driver’s license, regardless of immigration status, while keeping our Commonwealth in full compliance with REAL ID requirements. Join other grassroots organizers to show state legislators--before the end of this year's legislative session--why it’s important to pass The Work and Family Mobility Act. RSVP for the event here.
Source: Driving Families Forward Coalition
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Your donation—no matter the size—will help defray the direct costs of operations, from meeting room rentals and printing to posters and transportation. What’s more, your contribution will enable us to grow our programs to further inform and mobilize Cape Cod communities to resist the Trump administration and promote progressive values, candidates and policies at all levels.
*Contributions to LCI made through ActBlue are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.
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Lower Cape Indivisible is an all-volunteer group of Cape Cod citizens whose mission is to mobilize for social, economic and environmental justice; promote universal participation in the democratic process; and resist political agendas that subvert American democracy. Standing for inclusion, tolerance, and fairness, we are one of more than 6000 Indivisible groups committed to resisting the Trump/Pence/McConnell agenda, as well as to holding our state and local leaders accountable for fair and ethical action. Our work is based on the original Indivisible Guide, created by former congressional staffers who wanted to demystify political activism and share effective tactics for change.
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