Last night, many of us watched the first Presidential debate of 2024, and if you are like me, you are anywhere from concerned to more than a little panicked. Maybe you are preparing yourself for a big loss in November. Maybe you are distancing yourself from politics because it is too painful. Maybe you are frustrated and ready to give up on democracy right now because things look dire.
I urge you to fight this knee-jerk reflex. Yes, it hurts. Yes, things are scary now. But this is exactly the time for us to focus our efforts and energy on the things that we can have a positive impact on.
Did you know that 11 states and 2 territories have elections for Governor in 2024?
Did you know that 34 of the 100 seats in the Senate are up for election?
Did you know that all 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election?
Here are a few more questions:
Do you know who your local state representative is? How about your state senator?
Do you know what local elections are happening around you — in your town or city, your county, your state?
Do you know if a big ticket issue, like reproductive rights, censorship, forced religious indoctrination, or cannabis are on the ballot in your state?
Is everyone eligible to vote whom you know registered to vote?
Do you have the option of mail-in voting or early voting?
Democracy is hard. We all have to work hard to make it happen
It’s easy for us to focus on the One Big Race as if it were a boxing match. But there are so many more things happening in this election, and the outcomes of those will have incredible impacts on everyone — for better or for worse. Local level policy tends to override federal policy because of our Constitution, which means that we can mitigate bad federal policy or get hurt by local laws even if federal law is good (see the draconian reproductive care restrictions in Texas).
Does this feel overwhelming? It is.
That is why I am offering a class to help us navigate these issues by focusing on the election from a scholarly perspective and by encouraging us to engage with the elections starting at local levels. I want to help us to empower ourselves by putting more energy into the things that we can influence — and yes! You don’t have to be of voting age to have a positive impact.
Sign up for my class: “Elections, Politics, and Communities: 2024 and Beyond.” This is a guided class (no live meetings) where we will work through these topics together and practice mindful political engagement. My goal is to encourage us to approach these hot-button issues in a thoughtful and academic way that channels our passion into constructive learning and skill-building. Enroll by July 31st for the special early bird discount rate!
Stay tuned for my upcoming spring 2025 class: What’s Next? Politics and Activism From 2024 – 2028. Regardless of how the outcomes from this election pan out, we will grow our skills as social and political activists by learning about persuasion and practicing local engagement to lay the groundwork for a better 2028 election.
Don’t give in to despair. You have the power to make positive change — come learn with me so we can do it together.
