WSDCC Wrap-up November 18, 2022

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Hello Democrats,

Thank you so much for all you did to help us elect terrific candidates in 2022! With 98.3% of ballots counted we are very close to having a final picture of this year’s results. 

Here’s what we know:

• All of our Democratic incumbents, including Senator Patty Murray and Congresswoman Kim Schrier have been declared victorious, and we are on track to retain every single one of our Democratic seats at the state and federal level!
• We have held the U.S. Senate and have the opportunity to strengthen our majority by one seat by protecting Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock in Georgia’s December 6th runoff election. 
• Republicans have carried a narrow majority in the U.S. House – but they do so with a disorganized, fragmented Party facing major challenges of legitimacy and governance. 
• In WA-03, Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez won with 50.2% of the vote – meaning we have flipped this seat back to blue for the first time in over a decade! 
• Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has won – meaning for the first time in decades, every single statewide office is in Democratic hands. 
• We are poised to gain a State Senate seat in LD 42 – go Dr. Sharon Shewmake!

If you want to see all results in one place, you can check them on the WA Secretary of State’s website here:

https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20221108/legislative-all.html

Here’s what we don’t know:

• In LD 10, Democrat Clyde Shavers is just 221 votes ahead of his Republican opponent. With over 1,500 votes to go, this one is a nail biter.

Here’s what we’re doing:

• We’re maintaining wide-reaching and effective ballot curing efforts, particularly in LD 10 to make sure every eligible voter’s voice is heard! If you’d like to help – please sign up here!
• We are in close contact with our friends at the Georgia Democrats and the ASDC to provide support for the December 6th runoff in GA. There are  opportunities to volunteer virtually (sign up here!), and folks are also encouraged to go to Georgia and doorknock. Please consider signing up to help us win this critical race and expand our Senate majority!

Thank you again so very much for all you have done to make these victories possible – and all you are doing to make sure we don’t leave a single vote on the table! 

Lastly, please be aware that our staff will be taking a well-deserved break for Thanksgiving, so there will be no newsletter next week. Looking ahead, our office will be closed for the winter holidays from December 17th through January 1st as we regroup and recharge before 2023. 

WORKING FOR WASHINGTON

As we pull into the last month of 2022 we are kicking off some of the most exciting Party business of the cycle – reorganizing all of our great local parties. Reorganization is the process by which local parties, who have newly elected Precinct Committee Officers from the midterm elections, meet for the first time with their new memberships and elect their officers. All 88 Legislative Districts and Counties meet to reorganize between the beginning of December, 2022, and the end of January, 2023. 

If you’ve ever been interested in getting more involved in your local party organization, now is a great time to bring your voice forward. Please reach out to your local county or LD organization if you’d like to get involved!

DEMOCRATS IN THE NEWS

The House Race That Shows Why Republicans Collapsed in the Midterms

A self-inflicted wound in Washington is emblematic of how poor GOP choices led to unexpected Democratic victories.

Four Stark Lessons From a Democratic Upset

Having spent a fair amount of time thinking about this bellwether race, I see four main takeaways from it.

What Congress is doing to diversify its staff

Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), as chair of the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, has been pushing his colleagues to adopt a series of recommendations to make the Capitol a more diverse and inclusive place to work.

Democratic wins in Washington state buoy party hopes

Democrats won a second key House race in Washington state Saturday — an open seat in a conservative region that long evaded the party.

Why the forecast big red wave went ‘pfft’ in WA

Whatever red wave was forecast out across the nation on Tuesday had already diminished to a ripple by the time it reached Washington state. When it hit the Cascade Mountains, it completely went “pfft.”

GET INVOLVED

With some key races too close to call, election season isn’t quite through! Please consider the following volunteer opportunities:

1. With a WA State House pickup on the line, our ballot curing team is working tirelessly to make sure every voice is heard! Sign up to help them here: https://www.wa-democrats.org/organizingevents/
   
2. Our friends in GA need support in the runoff to re-elect Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock and expand our Democratic majority!
   • If you would like to CANVASS, you can sign up HERE: https://www.mobilize.us/gavotes/event/521492/
   • If you would like to to MAKE CALLS, you can sign up HERE: https://www.mobilize.us/gavotes/event/488467/
   • If you plan to TRAVEL TO GA, please complete THIS FORM: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCN-LUeoAF_R7nukP54ZpYNQgxOjQ9UIvmuxxQiyH3HV0evw/viewform

Thank you again for all you have done, and all you will do to help elect Democrats in WA State and nationwide. We will keep you updated as final results come in and more races are called. In the meantime, please rest assured that we are doing everything in our power to make sure every vote is counted and we’re not leaving a single opportunity on the table.

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Keep in touch, stay engaged, and as always, thank you for all you do!

With gratitude,

Washington State Democratic Party

The work we do today wins elections this November. If you’re ready to elect Democrats in every race and every place in Washington state, invest in our efforts and make a contribution now. 

Want to support our work year round? Join Blue Washington, our monthly giving program! It is the most effective way to help candidates, volunteers, organizers, activists, and staff because it gives us the certainty we need to scale up our program with confidence. Your monthly investment ensures we can defend our strong legislative majorities, flip key congressional seats from red to blue, and fight for progressive values. Help us lead the way to victories at all levels of government today!

Washington State Democrats
PO Box 4027
Seattle, WA 98194
United States