Joe Biden’s presidential election victory is a critical step in the march toward equity and justice in this country, but it is unlikely to change the day-to-day reality for communities across the country. State-based progressive organizations, especially those advocating for Black and Indigenous people and people of color, understand that progress rests on continuous voter engagement at the state and local levels — long after the elections are over.
Around the country, activists are already gearing up for legislative sessions, which begin in January in 43 states. For many of those living and working in marginalized communities, this is when the true work of democracy happens. It’s when elected officials work to either pass policies that make their states more equitable and just for all residents or try to prevent progress. It’s when voters have a chance to hold elected officials accountable for their campaign promises and remind policy makers that they represent all people in their state, regardless of political party affiliation. And it’s when deep resources are needed to fend off those who oppose change, especially in states controlled by Republican governors and legislators.
A record $14 billion was spent on the 2020 national election — double the spending in 2016. But when it comes to the less glamorous but vital work of governing and passing legislation, a minuscule amount is invested in efforts to educate voters about state legislative agendas and the role they can play in passing progressive policy.
This funding imbalance stymies forward progression. Grassroots groups do not put their time, energy, and resources into electing leaders simply for the thrill of winning the horse race. They do it with the objective of passing progressive policies that enhance people’s lives and repair struggling communities. Yet as grant makers, our collective behavior toward supporting this next phase of the electoral process does not reflect a shared commitment to such goals.
We need to change this pattern of boom and bust funding — dumping money into state-based grassroots organizations from August until Election Day every four years but failing to provide the resources to sustain them for the 44 months in between. We need to pledge to do it differently this time and send a message to these groups that we are truly invested in them for the long haul.
We can begin by supporting them during the upcoming state legislative sessions. They need funds to hire full-time staff, including people with expertise in policy and the legislative process, as well as permanent communications teams to maintain and expand traditional and digital media outreach as legislative battles heat up. They also need to retain field organizing staff to mobilize voters and community members to support legislation and hold elected officials accountable.
Investment in these areas will prevent the post-election drop-off routinely experienced by state groups as they do the hard work of advocating for policy change. What’s at stake during the 2021 state legislative sessions? A heck of a lot.
State budgets: Most states are struggling with steep revenue deficits resulting from the Covid-19 crisis. Nevada, for example, expects at least a $1.5 billion deficit. Organizations like PLAN Action are advocating for creative solutions to address the problem, including passing a mining tax, which would generate a new source of revenue for Nevada while holding mining companies accountable for the environmental costs of mineral extraction. New Florida Majority’s army of activists is hard at work on a legislative strategy for fending off major state budget cuts in areas such as health care and education, including closing corporate tax loopholes, legalizing cannabis, and lowering the state’s incarceration levels.
Housing: The housing crisis precipitated by the pandemic will be a focus of legislative battles in most states, including calls for rent relief, moratoriums on foreclosures and evictions, and sealing the eviction rolls. CASE Action in Arizona is advocating for the Phoenix City Council to provide rent relief to city residents after the state’s eviction moratorium ends this month. Detroit Action is trying to build up a team that can educate and activate local communities to push state legislators to provide more eviction relief resources to local municipalities. The group’s efforts follow a U.S. Census Bureau survey in mid-September in which more than a quarter of Michigan residents said eviction or foreclosure was either very likely or somewhat likely in the next two months.
Workers’ rights: With Covid-19 affecting thousands of essential workers, the push for paid sick leave, paid family leave, and other workers’ rights is accelerating in states nationwide. The Texas Organizing Project will continue defending local paid sick-leave ordinances in Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas but needs additional policy experts and field staff to effectively engage constituents. FLIC Votes in Florida is working to protect farmworkers who do their jobs in extreme and unhealthy conditions covering an array of workers’ issues. But the group faces exorbitant costs to transport staff and constituents who live more than eight hours from the state capital to meet with legislators.
Equity and justice: Building on momentum from the ongoing racial-justice uprisings, groups such as Equality Florida will be fighting an anticipated slate of anti-LGBTQ policies in the state legislature, particularly focused on transgender people of color. In Illinois, Asian American Midwest Progressives is advocating for Asian American history in all public school curriculums. And Michigan Liberation will be fighting at the local schoolboard level for an end to harsh school discipline policies that push a disproportionate number of Black students into the “school-to-prison pipeline.”
Immigration rights: Groups across the country are mobilizing in support of immigrants on a range of fronts. Asian American Advocacy Fund in Georgia will be pushing for legislation that allows undocumented immigrants to get a driver’s license. TIRRC Votes in Tennessee will continue to fend off a slew of anti-immigrant bills introduced in the last legislative session, including an attempt to make it illegal to rent or sublet to undocumented individuals and an effort to penalize money transfers outside the U.S. by noncitizens, directing the funds to support a southern border wall.
Voting rights: As the election showed us, much work needs to be done to protect the right to vote. The Texas Freedom Network will continue to tackle the state’s affinity for voter-suppression bills. New Virginia Majority will be fighting for a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals.
All of these efforts will come up against well-resourced opposition that is poised for the next fight. For donors who poured money into grassroots organizations during the election, this is no time to back down. These groups have many battles ahead of them, and they need our help.
