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2022 MIDTERMS BLUE VOTER GUIDE

VOTER STATUS/BALLOTS DROPPED
I just received an email this morning telling me my ballot had been mailed out to me, so if you haven't received yours yet, you should be, any day now.  If you haven't received yours or gotten a notification by the end of this week, check your voter status ASAP. Thankfully, we live in California, and it's not too late to rectify the situation before voting day.  The official "last day to register to vote" is October 24. Please don't wait till the last minute and do "Same Day" voter registration at your polling place.  That means you'll be considered a "Provisional Voter", and the last votes counted.  We need as many tallied on voting day as possible. 

Ballot drop boxes will be available between October 11 and November 8.  You also have the option of dropping off your mail-in ballot on November 8 at your polling place, or taking it with you, "surrendering your ballot," and voting in person. If you do not take your mail-in ballot with you to the polling place, you will be a "Provisional Voter."

Not sure if you're registered to vote? Check your status and/or register in 2 minutes with
 Voterizer.org
Or go to the Secretary of State's My Voter Status Page at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.  

BLUE VOTER GUIDE
My friends Wayne Liebman at So Cal Blue and Lotti Knowles at Swing Left have shared information about a fantastic and really helpful new tool, the Blue Voter Guide.  I clicked on the link, went to the website, and it's super cool, because once you enter your registered voter address, it shows you your candidates and statewide propositions, along with which organizations have endorsed them. You can even enter in a group (like Kern County Democratic Party) if you'd like to just follow their endorsements. You can even click on your choices and print it out to use when you fill out your ballot.

Here is the information and the links I got from Wayne:


BlueVoterGuide.org is a new, unique, get-out-the-vote tool made by and for the grassroots. Voters enter their address and their ballot appears—with endorsements from groups on the left aggregated to help make voting choices smarter, faster, and smoother. It’s progressive, simple, and shareable—bringing along all voters, including hesitant first-timers, to make voting easier. Seamlessly share personalized ballot choices with family, friends, and on social media. It's operational in key battleground states — AZ, CA, FL, GA, NC, NV, PA, TX, WI.

Please have a look at this intro video, which explains more:
 https://cutt.ly/BlueVoterGuideVideo 
(This video also pops up on the home page of the Blue Voter Guide site.)

BlueVoterGuide.org can increase turnout and influence outcomes in close elections. Please help boost awareness! The "Build the Blue Wave" kit  (https://bluevoterguide.org/build-the-blue-wave/) contains many resources to help spread the word. Questions? Contact us at info@bluevoterguide.org.

Unfortunately, the Blue Voter Guide won't have down ballot recommendations for us here in Kern County, but in addition to national and statewide offices, it does have ballot measures and state legislators, as well as showing you who appointed the California Superior Court Judges (which gives you a really good idea how their politics may lean).

For statewide and nationwide races, I am voting Democrat down the line.  This is not the Primary, so in the statewide races, it's pretty simple:
Vote BLUE.

As for Measures, you can see in the Blue Voter Guide which measures the California Democrat Party, and in many/most cases, the Kern County Democratic Party, have endorsed, or not.  Most, like Measure 1, 28, 29, and 31 are clearly YES votes, at least for me.
Measure 27 is a clear NO vote.  But 26 and 30 are a bit trickier. 

Prop 26: Currently, sports betting is illegal in California, so anyone living in California who wants to place a sports wager does so remotely, sending the money out of state.  So the Tribal Gaming Casinos and race tracks want to allow sports betting at their facilities.  Since a percentage of those revenues will go to the State's fund, that could help our budget.  The Tribal Gaming Casinos say that illegal sports betting is happening, and their ability to regulate it will stop, not encourage, underage gambling.  The people trying to stop this measure are mostly the out-of-state facilities that are currently reaping big rewards from California gamblers.  CADEM and Kern County Democrats support the measure, so I'll vote YES, but if you're against bringing sports betting to California, you're free to vote your conscience. 
NOTE: The advertising for Measures 27 and 26 have gotten very muddled, and many are confused about which measure is which (I know I was until very recently), so they will probably both be defeated.

Prop 30: This one is really deceptive.  On the surface, it appears that the measure wants to take money from super wealthy and fund environmental zero-emission incentives.  It has been endorsed by CADEM and other prominent Democratic agencies.  However, I joined the CADEM Environmental Caucus this year, and there was recently a very spirited debate about who REALLY reaps the rewards of this measure, and it looks to be a way to get the government to fund California's mandatory transfer of fleet vehicles to those with zero emissions for companies like Lyft.

Here's what Gov. Newsom had to say about advising a NO Vote: 
https://twitter.com/VoteNoProp30/status/1573373795599093762
The LA Times also printed a rundown of the Pro's and Con's of Prop 30.  This is in the California section and is independent of the Times editorial board's recommendation. 
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/proposition-30-has-voters-deciding-on-a-tax-for-zero-emission-vehicles-what-you-need-to-know/ar-AA12HQ4m

I am following the advice of CADEM Environmental Caucus members Sara Roos and Cynthia Hart and voting NO. 
This is what Cynthia had to say:   
I am going with the California Teachers Association's recommendation and voting "No".  I would think a lot more kindly of a tax on high income Californians if the money were going into the General Fund where it would benefit the schools and other priorities as the State's needs may change.  I'm a retired governmental accountant and maybe that's why I am always a bit uneasy about ballot box budgeting in any form.


You, of course, are welcome to vote your own conscience on the matter.

KERN HIGH BOARD OF TRUSTEES AREA 1
As for School Board Trustee, you have probably seen a TON of those giant lawn signs asking us in the KRV to vote for Derek Tisinger for Kern High Board of Trustees for Area 1.  Well, I'm NOT.  I'm voting for Cynthia Brakeman, and here's why...  My dear friend and trusted source, Cathee Romley, sent me this email:

As you are aware, school boards are a hot topic these days.  From those wanting to burn books, putting mandated prayer in public schools, and not just any prayer, but evangelical prayer that promotes anti science, anti-women’s rights, a non safe environment for LGBT youth, just to name a few issues. 

In the Kern High School District 1, there are two candidates running.  Both are registered Republicans.  The first is a candidate, an election denier, that supports all the things that I have mentioned above. The second candidate is my friend Cynthia Brakeman, a former teacher and a woman who has served the Kern High School District as a trustee, well and honorably.   

In these times, it is critical that we put the needs of the students, the parents and the teachers in the  forefront of the decisions we make.  Our schools must be safe for everyone and provide a quality education for all students.  Our community, our state and our country deserves no less and it is up to us to make that happen.

My husband and I will be voting for Mrs. Brakeman again and I am asking that you do the same. 

Sincerely,

Cathee Romley


MEASURE K
The big County measure on the ballot that directly affects all of us who live in unincorporated areas, is Measure K.  I have written about Measure K in previous emails, and I attended the County's dog and pony show at the Kernville Chamber of Commerce last month.  Measure K raises our Sales Tax by 1%, which will bring us to 8.5%, in line with Bakersfield after they passed an almost identical Measure N last year.  I wish I could see another way forward to bringing back things like our Rio Bravo Hotshot crew, or our Courthouse, or getting our Sheriff's subdivision properly staffed, or simple staffed hours in our County Building for things like Veterans and Seniors, but Kern County has decided this is IT.  So if we don't vote for this, we will simply not get those things back, and in all likelihood, it will only get worse.  The community advisory board that is written into passage of this measure is our way of ensuring checks and balances, and I am going to try really hard to get on it.  In the mean time, I am voting YES on MEASURE K.


That's it for now.  If I've missed something that shows up on my actual ballot, I'll address it next week.

HOPE, SUPPORT, ACTION, and PERSERVERANCE

I am sharing with you this message of hope, support, action, and perseverance that my friend Lotti Knowles from Swing Left sent to me today.

We have LESS THAN A MONTH until the midterm elections! Let's make sure we wake up on November 9 knowing we did all we could to preserve democracy and move our country forward into a brighter future.

Here's something that I'm doing today and challenging others to do, as well: Post reasons for HOPE and ways to take ACTION to social media, to ensure Democrats win in the midterms. No doom and gloom, no polls making us wring our hands about our chances. This video, which Jessica Craven shared in her Chop Wood, Carry Water newsletter yesterday, will be my first post -- I hope it will inspire you and make you smile, as it did me!

I'd also like to share with you this abbreviated quote from Rob Hubbell's October 9 newsletter:

“Each of us can serve as a source of hope and optimism for others in our lives. It doesn’t take much to help get someone back on their feet after the latest outrage washes over us… It doesn’t take extraordinary work to serve as someone’s source of inspiration and renewal. The next four weeks will be anxiety-producing. Stay in touch with friends, family, and fellow activists. Be supportive and help people gain perspective, but most of all encourage people to maintain a bias toward action. We will have plenty of time to deconstruct November 8th in the weeks that follow, but we will never be able to recapture the next four weeks if we fail to put them to good use. As always, we have every reason to be hopeful but no reason to be complacent!”

 

GET OUT THE DEM VOTE - COUNTDOWN TO MIDTERMS


There are a LOT of ways you can help make 2022 an unexpected and history-making Blue Wave Event.

First, you can donate to the organizations I have listed at the bottom of this email.  Grassroots Dems, Swing Left, Field Team 6, No Off Years, Fair Fight... they are ALL worthy of support.  They have volunteers that have feet on the ground and fingers on the smartphones. Or, contact them and ask how you can volunteer your time to the cause.

Second, there are also a myriad of candidates in swing states like Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, and possibly even Florida and Texas. Plus, look at us right here in California!  There are several counties that used to be considered red which are now considered up for grabs!  Donate to their campaigns!  Volunteer to call or text bank!

Speaking of which....

The flyer posted above contains all the details for the HUGE Canvassing event happening the weekend of October 15th!  Notice that the canvassing (in coordination with IBEW), is from 9am to 12:30pm, so plenty of time to hit the streets to help our Endorsed Candidates, take a well-deserved lunch break, and then head on over to PRIDE at Stramler Park in the afternoon!  It will be a day full of Sunshine and Democrats. Can you smell the blue wave?

IF you have mobility issues and cannot canvass, no problem.  IBEW is also hosting an alternate Phone Banking event at the same time!  Go to
 https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/494455/ to register and get more details, or contact IBEW Local 428  (661) 323-2979 with questions.  

Postcarding Queen Hortencia Cabral has kickstarted her weekly Postcard Writing parties for KCDCC endorsed candidates for the 2022 midterms, including Rudy Salas, Marisa Wood, Leticia Perez, Eric Arias, Manpreet Kaur, and more!
This is a fun, informal and easy way to engage with your fellow Kern County Dems and make a real difference!  The Postcarding Party will meet at 6pm every Tuesday until the midterm elections in November at the KCDCC HQ, located at 330 H Street in Bakersfield.  There is ample parking both in the lot and on surrounding streets.

Help Support Text Banking efforts.  DWK Postcarding Queen Hortencia Cabral writes:

Our friends over at Santa Clara County are once again stepping up to the plate in helping our community GOTV.  I am emailing you today because I  want to encourage you to donate money for texting efforts towards CD22.  No amount is too small.  
Please donate for texting efforts at the following link:
 https://act.myngp.com/Forms/-389482136855508224
Election day is right around the corner and we need to turn our community blue.  Let me know if you have any questions.  
Much love to all of you.
Hortencia Cabral
Secretary for KCDCC


Remember, EVERY SEAT COUNTS!  Prevent Kevin McCarthy from becoming Speaker!  Save Democracy and help Democrats Keep the House and Take the Senate!
 

VOLUNTEER OR DONATE TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS HELPING TO GOTV IN 2022 AND BEYOND

 

HOW TO HELP VOTE SAVE AMERICA / NO YEARS OFF FUND

Forwarded From Dan Pfeiffer's Message Box

Vote Save America is launching a new “Midterm Madness” program to mobilize volunteers to protect and grow our progressive majorities. Sign up HERE:

Vote Save America @votesaveamerica
East! South! Midwest! West! Join your region and go! Whether you live in a purple, red, or blue state, we’ll help you get involved with at least one Senate race, the nearest House race, and important local races! votesaveamerica.com/midterms
We're drafting YOU to a Midterm Madness regional team: 

East 
South
Midwest
West

Join your fellow teammates at votesaveamerica.com/midterms

Click HERE to Learn More, Volunteer and/or Donate to VSA / NOW


HOW TO HELP FIELD TEAM 6

From the FT6 website:

Against all odds, we won the White House, House, and Senate – saved America’s life – and bought ourselves two years of oxygen. Yet our democracy hangs by a thread. History says we will lose control of Congress in the midterms. So there’s only one thing to do... Defy history.  To do that, we need to save the Senate – save the House – and win down-ballot along the way.

The solution is as simple as it is powerful: talking to strangers. It’s the proven #1 way to win elections. Did you know that 60% of unregistered voters have never been asked to register? To win in 2021-22, we register Democrats where they’ll make the most impact – in the most flippable states and districts, where small numbers of Democrats can swing elections up and down the ballot.

We meet people where they are – via phone, text, postcard, social media, and soon at in-person, Covid-safe voter drives! 

In 2022, FT6 is targeting key Congressional Districts in California, like CA27 (formerly CD25), CD21 and CA22 that have become much more winnable thanks to redistricting.  They are also amassing voter drives for Arizona, Texas, Nevada, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Click HERE to Learn More, Volunteer and/or Donate to FT6.

 

HOW TO HELP GRASSROOTS DEMOCRATS 


It is such a thrill to share with you that thanks to your hard work, we have written nearly 329,000 postcards since the start of this election cycle! Your postcards in support of Josh Harder (CA-09), Rudy Salas Jr. (CA-22), Jay Chen (CA-45), Katie Porter (CA-47), and a special campaign for both Rep. Katie Porter and Supe. Katrina Foley (CA-47/BoS D5) are reaching voters. 

Pat yourselves on the back--  your hard work is helping us to make an impact this November!
Postcards are also available for pick up and delivery in West Los Angeles! We have both non-candidate-specific postcards, and special postcards for Christy Smith. Please select the button for whichever postcards you would like and fill out the appropriate form. 

Click HERE to Learn More, Volunteer and/or Donate to the Grassroots Dems.


HOW TO HELP SWING LEFT
Elections are our thing. To build the future we want to see, Swing Left is committed to helping elect Democrats to strengthen our democracy. We believe that action towards a goal is the antidote to anger and despair. Our entire community is brought together by a focus on what we can all do to effect positive change in the near and long term. In 2021 and beyond, we're focused on protecting the Democratic majorities in Congress and strengthening our democracy by winning key races and gaining majorities in the states. We help people make better decisions about how to spend limited time, effort, and resources to help Democrats win. We prioritize impact today and impact tomorrow, ensuring that our team, community, and campaigns have the internal and external resources they need to succeed, now and sustainably over the long haul.

Click HERE To Learn More, Volunteer and/or Donate to Swing Left.



HOW TO HELP FAIR FIGHT

From the FF website:

We promote fair elections around the country, encourage voter participation in elections, and educate voters about elections and their voting rights. Fair Fight Action brings awareness to the public on election reform, advocates for election reform at all levels, and engages in other voter education programs and communications.

Voter suppression, particularly of voters of color and young voters, is a scourge our country faces in states across the nation. Georgia’s 2018 elections shone a bright light on the issue with elections that were rife with mismanagement, irregularities, unbelievably long lines and more, exposing both recent and also decades-long actions and inactions by the state to thwart the right to vote. Georgians and Americans are fighting back, and Fair Fight Action was founded to organize collective efforts to expose, mitigate, and reverse voter suppression. We engage in voter mobilization and education activities and advocate for progressive issues.

Fair Fight PAC has initiated programs to support voter protection programs at state parties around the country and is engaging in partnerships to support and elect pro-voting rights, progressive leaders.

Click HERE to Learn More, Volunteer and/or Donate to Fair Fight.
 
 

HOW TO HELP COMMON CAUSE

From the CC website:

Since 1970, Common Cause has been working to hold power accountable through lobbying, litigation, and grassroots organizing. Our non-partisan, pro-democracy work has helped pass hundreds of reforms at the federal, state, and local levels. Our more than 1 million members and more than 30 state organizations around the country work to strengthen our democracy by empowering the voices of everyday Americans in government.

Working together across party lines, we’re building a democracy that works for everyone. Common Cause is a nationwide network of skilled advocates, organizers, activists who are working every day to strengthen our democracy and the people’s right to speak, assemble, and critique our government to level the playing field for everyday people.

In recent years, Common Cause helped pass groundbreaking anti-gerrymandering ballot measures in Colorado, Ohio, Michigan, and Virginia. We succeed when we show voters that there’s something fundamentally wrong with letting politicians pick and choose their voters. Once this happens, in state after state, voters have clearly demonstrated their willingness to translate this concern into action at the ballot box.

As I write this, our action teams are preparing to employ every tool in our toolbox. From the ballot initiative process to local and state referendums, lobbying state legislatures, litigating, and organizing… wherever and whenever maps are being drawn, we must be prepared to respond.

This is a historic opportunity for us -- right now -- to fundamentally move the way our government represents us in a more fair and equitable direction. But we’ll only be able to get it done if Common Cause supporters like you can step up to make it possible.
Click HERE to Learn More, Volunteer and/or Donate to Common Cause.


 

UPCOMING VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EVENTS

 


BAKERSFIELD PRIDE


Pride is always a great time, an event full of love and togetherness. This year's event is finally back in person, held at Stramler Park (4003 Chester Ave.) on Saturday, October 15 from 3 to 9pm. Food, Fun, Entertainment, Positive Vibes, and Bakersfield's own world-beat mishmashers, Mento Buru will be hitting the stage at 6:45pm!


Do YOU have an organization or candidate you would like to include here? Please send me your event details in an EMAIL or FACEBOOK MESSAGE no later than Tuesday and I will make sure it gets into this weekly newsletter.

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