Daily Dems Doing the Work, Making Noise and Fighting Back Day 251

It's not magic

If you aren’t on the lookout for it, you’re not going to see our Dems doing the work, unless it’s someone who is already part of everyone’s amplification rotation. Those Dems (you know the ones,) go viral because a lot of people decided to amplify them consistently. That’s what it takes. If you don’t see a member I post about very often, don’t rely on someone else to amplify the people you see, do it yourself!

Repping the Rep-elect: Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07)

Has still not been sworn in. And I feel like a lot of people don’t fully understand the breadth of what that means. I mean, it didn’t occur to me, so it probably didn’t occur to you either.

She has no government staff. She has no office, either in district or in DC, she doesn’t even have a phone number.

This means she can’t help her constituents. She can’t help them with passports or social security concerns, she can’t hold a shredding event or have office hours. She may be in DC with her future colleagues, but she is still just a rep-elect.

But, the good news is, we all have power to change that. You should be calling your US electeds every single day. If you have Dems, you’re thanking them and encouraging them to hold the line, if you’re calling Republicans you’re complaining about everything from your healthcare to the shutdown.

But there’s another call, to Johnson (202-225-4000). Every single one of us should be calling Speaker Johnson every single day and demanding he swear Grijalva in. The more annoying and relentless we are, the sooner it will happen, just, be respectful, if you’re not it will likely result in him taking even more time.

BlueSky | Instagram | Facebook

Rep Summer Lee (PA-12)

Had a super local win. Pittsburgh Regional Transit was told by the Waterfront, a shopping mall in Homestead, that they no longer want a bus stop on the property:

At the direction of M&J Wiklow, the owner and operator of The Waterfront, public transit buses will no longer be permitted to serve bus stops on the property, so buses will bypass retail storefronts and operate on East Waterfront Drive.

This would have been a disaster for so many. As Summer Lee said in a press release, on the day of the announcement:

Removing bus stops from the Waterfront disregards the needs of thousands of riders—working people, seniors, people with disabilities, families, and caregivers—who depend on this lifeline every single week. Forcing riders to walk across vast parking lots and unsafe roadways, often while carrying groceries, walking with children, or navigating mobility challenges, is not only unjust, but also dangerous.

Thanks to her involvement, in collaboration with Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and State Senator Nick Pisciottano, and of course, the local community, an agreement was reached and the Waterfront will continue to have a bus stop.

Rep Lee celebrated the decision, saying:

I applaud the news that critical bus services at The Waterfront will continue. This reversal shows the power of our community coming together to demand accessible, reliable public transit. I want to thank all the advocates and riders who raised their voices to ensure our community was heard and I look forward to continuing to work toward a long-term solution that guarantees transit access for every single rider who depends on it.

This story has so many good things, from an example of the importance of our Dems focusing on their district, to yet another example of what happens when a community fights back. And yes, this is absolutely about fighting fascism. Anything involving protecting a public service is directly fighting fascism.

BlueSky | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | YouTube

Rep Jim McGovern (MA-02)

Has joined TikTok. He was one of the electeds who voted against the TikTok ban in March of last year, and he understands the importance of not letting the right have an echo chamber. And I have to say, so far, his posts are great.

He also considers it a way for the Dem party to fight back:

None of this is normal, and we need a Dem party that is up to the task, a party that isn’t afraid to tell it like it is, and meet people where they’re at, and we need to earn your trust with actions, not just words. The stakes are too high to get this wrong.

I love that he feels that “getting it right” includes being on TikTok.

And for all my Dem staffer friends, I will be pushing you to get TikTok for your boss more than before and crediting Rep McGovern as to why. Cause he is 100% right.

BlueSky | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | YouTube | TikTok

DNC (The Blue Print)

Is investing in helping the Missouri Dems with their citizen-led referendum to end gerrymandering in the state.

They will be:

Hiring organizing staff to run signature-collection efforts statewide.

Supporting volunteer organizing efforts to collect signatures across the state.

Deploying our volunteer organizing team of 41,000 volunteers across the country to send texts to Missourians to sign the petition.

It take 117,000 signatures to get a referendum on the ballot. So the DNC coming in to provide support will have a huge impact.

Chair Ken Martin said:

After passing Trump’s Big Ugly Bill that kicks 230,000 Missourians off their health insurance and puts four rural hospitals at risk of closing, Missouri Republicans are scared they will lose in 2026 and beyond. That’s why they are trying to cheat. The DNC won’t stand idly by as Republicans try to take the power away from the people — that’s why we’re partnering with Democrats on the ground to ensure Missourians choose their maps, not Trump or his Republican enablers.

I just want everyone who has stopped donating to the DNC to understand that this is one of the causes your money would be going to if you started donating again. And if you say that the DNC doesn’t focus on red states, that’s proven false too.

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So those are today’s fighters. I hope you see why I chose them and help me amplify them and our other amazing Dems.

If you made it the end of this post, comment 🚌 (bus), because local fights, like the one Rep Lee won, deserve more praise and attention.

And if you watched or read any of these stories, comment, ☎️ (phone), because Adelita Grijalva doesn’t even have one, let alone an office to put one in.

Our voices are our superpower, but only when we use them!