Op-Ed: With Election Turnout That Was Too Big to Rig, Voters Demand Government Lower Prices and Raise Paychecks – New Congress Has to Stop Attacking Working People and Start Attacking the Affordability Crisis
The May Day Strong coalition is proud to announce a historic day for our democracy, where, despite a multi-pronged voter suppression strategy from the administration, working people across the country turned out in record numbers so that we the people, and not the billionaire class, choose our leaders.
Across the country, millions were motivated to cast their ballots to demand a government that will reverse course and lower prices and raise paychecks for working people.
“Once again, Black voters, together with the combined might of the labor movement and community organizations, have united to deliver a resounding rejection of a white supremacist, anti-democratic regime. This victory gives our country the chance to begin a Third Reconstruction and meet the needs of working families. Of course, Trump, his underlings, and his billionaire backers will try to turn back the clock on this overwhelming rejection of austerity, racism, xenophobia, tax breaks for the rich, war, and the destruction of our environment. We cannot and will not go back. Whatever it takes, we will make sure every vote is counted, and the will of the people is respected,” said Stacy Davis Gates, President of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Chicago Teachers Union.
“The voters have spoken. We chose people over billionaires. We chose higher wages and lower costs over endless wars. We want ICE out of our neighborhoods, and we don’t want big tech surveilling us. Our country is strongest when all of us show up, speak out, and refuse to be intimidated,” said Saqib Bhatti, Executive Director of the Action Center on Race and the Economy. “By joining together as voters, we are reclaiming our power. We decide our future and choose our leaders, not billionaires or this authoritarian regime. We’re coming together across race, place and party to demand the newly elected Congress fight for our interests rather than the billionaires from Wall Street and Silicon Valley.”
“In these elections, people of every race, background, and kind of community united to choose care over cruelty, and to say ‘enough is enough’ to the greedy billionaires and corporations that are bleeding us dry. We turned out in record numbers. We took risks and overcame billions of combined spending by Elon Musk, Big Tech, and others to swear in this new generation of leaders. We’re doing our job; it’s time for these new leaders to do theirs. People’s Action and our partners at May Day Strong have a clear message for the new Congress: pass legislation to make life affordable for all of us, and shut down Trump’s cruelty machine,” said Sulma Arias, Executive Director of People’s Action Institute and People’s Action.
“Working people across the country went to the polls on Tuesday and sent a clear message to Washington. They’re tired of paying more for rent, groceries and health care while billionaires get richer. They want good jobs, better wages and a government that works for them instead of the wealthy. They want to go to work without worrying that ICE will take them away from their families. They want an end to the raids and violence against immigrant workers in our communities and a pathway to citizenship for our coworkers and neighbors,” said Neidi Dominguez, Executive Director of Organized Power In Numbers. “Winning an election is one thing. Delivering for the working people who helped get you there is another. We’ll keep organizing to hold every elected official accountable, no matter their party.”
Races across the country were defined by billionaire-backed apologists for the grift, greed, and corporate corruption that has defined this administration, and individuals and ballot initiatives that sought to make life more liveable through Medicare for all, investments in childcare, public schools, and affordable housing, and initiatives to tax the ultra-rich in multiple counties and states to pay for it.
With the election settled and a new Congress anticipated to be sworn in, the labor unions and community groups within May Day Strong are staying vigilant to ensure the results are certified and already sending letters to Congress to demand a “Lower Prices, Higher Wages Affordability Agenda,” with plans to demand federal budgets move from funding the violence and lawlessness of agencies like ICE under the Trump administration to efforts that will actually help working people and make their lives better.
Despite the enormous success of election protection efforts today, our work is only just beginning. May Day Strong, a coalition made up of NEA, OPIN, People’s Action, Midwest Academy, CTU, ACRE, and a constellation of over 600 other labor and immigrants’ rights groups, will continue to engage in mass mobilizations and corporate pressure campaigns, including encouraging local businesses to sign the Business for Democracy Pledge, to ensure that our democratic process is respected and Congress is properly seated on January 3rd.