Guess what? The resistance is working.
Earlier this week, voters overwhelmingly rejected hate, division, and attacks on health care access at polls across the nation, and instead voted to move our country toward a more inclusive, progressive ideals. Just look:
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Virginia and New Jersey elected governors who will be champions for reproductive health.
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Voters in Maine chose to expand Medicaid, bringing health care coverage to about 80,000 Mainers.
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Women, people of color, and LGBTQ candidates had historic victories throughout the country — including Andrea Jenkins, the first openly transgender person of color elected to public office in the U.S., and Ravinder Bhalla, the first Sikh mayor elected in New Jersey.
Planned Parenthood supporters like you were a crucial part of these victories. You helped Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC and Planned Parenthood Votes run our largest campaign ever in Virginia — knocking on over 350,000 doors, reaching more than 1.1 million voters online, and energizing college students on more than 20 Virginia campuses.
Students from Virginia Commonwealth University in action at a phone bank.
Since January, you've been making calls, sending letters, and marching in the streets. And on November 7, 2017, that energy translated into real political power — at the top of the ticket and in down-ballot races.
Together, we said — loud and clear — that when we go to the ballot box, we will vote for reproductive health champions. We will vote for women's rights champions. We reject the politics of division, and we will vote against hate and discrimination against immigrants, people of color, and LGBTQ people. And if you fight with us, we will stand with you when it matters most. And you know what? More than a few leaders heard that message last night.
And you — Planned Parenthood Supporters — are a big part of that. Because the amazing, inspiring victories we saw at the ballot box didn't start there — the progress we're making started long ago.
To our countless supporters — thank you!
It started when you picked yourself up and dusted yourself off a year ago and refocused on the values you believe in. It started when you showed up at marches, rallies, and town halls, when you flooded Congress with calls and emails and tweets, when you saved health care for millions of people. When you knocked on doors, when you called voters, when you spoke to your friends and family and colleagues about just how important it is for every single one of us to show up and VOTE.
And I gotta tell you: I'm right there with you too, and I couldn't be prouder.
So let's take a moment to celebrate some incredible wins, and to congratulate the leaders who now have a chance to make real progress for our health and rights. Look around you, and see how many people are standing with you — Planned Parenthood supporters, brand-new elected officials, and millions more.
And then: Let's get back to work. Because there's still so much worth fighting for, and it starts right now.
Sincerely,
Cecile Richards, President
Planned Parenthood Action Fund
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