Author: Barbara Arnold

It may seem like we just finished campaigning but, in Wisconsin, we can’t rest on our laurels. It is time to start preparing for the all-important Fall of ’24 election.

Canvass: One Year To Win!

Team Gold is joining WisDems in canvassing now to build our foundation for the 2024 election. We are hosting our next Bridge Building canvass on Saturday, November 4th. We will be talking with our neighbors about what issues matter most to them and identifying likely Democratic voters. This work will enable us to focus on turning out Democratic voters next year. Shifts are at 9:00, 12:00 and 3:00. Diana and Don Trask are hosting at 9 Winterset Circle.

REGISTER for November 4th

Can’t canvass but want to help?

There are a number of ways you can help elect Democrats in addition to knocking on doors. You can make phone calls to voters; you can make phone calls to prospective volunteers; you can provide support to a canvass staging location. Or, you can teach volunteers how to use MiniVAN, the app that enables you to canvass without using paper and a clipboard. If you are interested in becoming a MiniVAN trainer, sign up for our “train-the-trainer” session on Tuesday, October 24th, at 7:00. This will be held at Barbara Arnold’s home, 1826 Breezy Trail.

REGISTER for MiniVAN Train-the-Trainer

If you want to know about other opportunities to support Team Gold, let us know by sending us an email at teamgoldwi@gmail.com.

Why we do this work

For a good explanation of the importance of turning out the vote in Madison and Dane County, here is a great article from Politico. While the story focuses on a number of college towns, the work being done by Dane County volunteers such as yourself is the lead story.

On Tuesday, April 4th, Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly chose Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Janet Protasiewicz as the next justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. When she takes the bench on August 1st, the court, which currently has 4 conservative members and 3 progressive members, will have 4 progressive members and 3 conservatives. With this change, we have the opportunity to get a fair hearing on important issues, such as gerrymandering and the 1849 abortion ban. It could also have a critical impact on voting rights and the selection of electors in the 2024 presidential election.

Why we do this work

In honor of Memorial Day 2023, Heather Cox Richardson wrote a sobering column about fascism. She focuses on the importance of recognizing it as a threat and the need to do everything possible to preserve our democracy as our best defense. That is what we did on April 4th and what Team Gold is dedicated to doing as we contemplate 2024. HERE is a link to her column. Steven Beschloss also has an excellent column on what the GOP is promoting — basically a dictatorship. The work continues.

A big shout out to our amazing canvassers and support teams who made it possible for us to turn out the vote so effectively for Governor Evers, Attorney General Kaul, Assembly candidates Alex Joers and Lisa Subeck, State Senate Candidate Dianne Hesselbein, and Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett.

We are disappointed that we were unable to elect Mandela Barnes and defeat the worst sitting US Senator. Given the overtly racist ads run against Mandela and his late start on being able to respond effectively, we are proud at how close he came. However, the work continues. Moral victories, such as Mandela’s, simply aren’t enough.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving and year end holidays, whatever you may celebrate. It is time to relax and enjoy family and friends.

We will be back at it early next year as we work to elect a progressive candidate to the open Wisconsin Supreme Court seat. The primary is February 21st and the General Election is April 4th. Control of the court by either conservative justices or progressive justices will be on the ballot. This is likely to be the most expensive Supreme Court race in Wisconsin’s history.

If you are interested in learning more about Team Gold over the holidays, please let us know. You can reach out to us at teamgoldwi@gmail.com. We will explore with you what you would like to do so we can collaboratively determine how we can best put your talents and time to work.

You can also complete our short volunteer interest form and we will be in contact to find the right opportunity for you.

VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM

Ben Wikler, Chair of WisDems, will join Team Gold on Monday, June 6th, from 5:30 – 7:30 at Vintage Brewing Company, 674 Whitney Way. Ben will talk about how WisDems plans to build a winning team for the critical November 2022 election so that we are able to:

• Re-elect Governor Tony Evers
• Re-elect Attorney General Josh Kaul
• Defeat Senator Ron Johnson
• Elect Sheriff Kalvin Barrett
• Re-elect Representative Mark Pocan
• Re-elect Assembly Representative Lisa Subeck
• Elect Democratic candidates up and down the ballot

If you sometimes wonder how we will be able to accomplish all of these critical goals, come and hear Ben. He has a plan and, with your help, we can do this!

While registration isn’t required, if you plan to attend please consider registering so we have an idea of the headcount. There will be a no host bar and an available taco buffet for $20.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Join us on Saturday, May 21st. We will be knocking on area doors to meet our neighbors and find out what issues matter most to them. This is important work as we prepare for the Fall 2022 campaign to re-elect Governor Evers, Attorney General Josh Kaul, Representative Mark Pocan and elect Democrats up and down the ballot.

We have shifts starting at 9:00 and Noon. Sign up by registering below:

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR MAY 21ST

If you prefer to phone bank, you have choices to do that. WisDems is calling voters in Dane and Rock Counties for the same purpose as the canvass. The shifts on Saturday start at 9:00 and Noon and the Sunday shifts start at Noon and 3:00. Sign up by registering below.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO PHONE BANK ON MAY 21ST AND 22ND

Every day there seems to be more news that underscores why we must elect more Democrats in 2022. There is so much at stake! By joining us, you will make a difference.

If you missed our recent workshop on How to Write a Letter and Influence People, with Matt Rothschild . . .

You can still catch it. Just click below for a video.

https://youtu.be/NceaG2RMHJk

Thanks to Tim White of the Southwest Wisconsin Area Progressives for editing the recording and putting it in YouTube.

Ben Wikler, Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, has turned WisDems into a very effective state political party. Between raising money and supporting neighborhood teams, such as Team Gold, WisDems under Ben’s leadership is making a difference. Politico, an online magazine covering politics, lays it all out. Join Team Gold or your neighborhood team and help us make a difference and protect our democracy. Click below and learn more.

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/03/wisconsin-democrats-ben-wikler-00022556

For Getting Out The Vote for the April 5th election, we are asking Team Gold volunteers to support progressive candidates for office in Dane County who face conservative opponents.

CLICK HERE to register to canvass for Michele Doolan, a progressive from Cross Plains who is running for re-election to the Dane County Board. The canvass is on Saturday, April 2nd, starting at 10:00 am at the Vessel Cafe, 1820 Main Street, Cross Plains.

Want to learn more about Michele before volunteering? CLICK HERE to register for a virtual meet and greet with Michele on TUESDAY, MARCH 29TH AT 6:30.

Prefer to phone bank in support of progressive candidates in Dane County? No problem. WisDems is hosting virtual phone banks with times throughout the four days of GOTV. CLICK HERE to register to make calls.

At Noon on February 12th Team Gold will be calling voters who reside on the west side of Madison, encouraging them to request an absentee ballot and to vote in the Spring elections. This is a important building block to having a successful November election, re-electing Governor Evers and defeating Ron Johnson. Both of those races, as well as electing other Democrats statewide and locally, are vitally important to the future of democracy in Wisconsin and nationally. Join us and make a difference.

CLICK HERE to register and receive the Zoom link for the phone bank.

Prefer to text bank your friends and family in support of voting by absentee ballot?

CLICK HERE to register to do relational texting on February 12th starting at 10:00 am.

If February 12th doesn’t work for you, we are phone banking in March. Join us then!

CLICK HERE to register and receive the Zoom link to phone bank starting at Noon on Saturday March 19.

CLICK HERE to register and receive the Zoom link to phone bank starting at Noon on Saturday March 26.

When we are in the thick of things, it can sometimes be difficult to remember all of the good that has happened since Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were elected President and Vice President. Take two minutes to look back at a very successful first year by watching this video narrated by Tom Hanks. Then think about how much more we can do with more Democrats in the House and, especially, in the Senate and join us to help make that happen.

Here’s the link to the video: https://youtu.be/hZyaREUfnh0