We're NOT Doomed: April 24, 2026

Queer people will always save the day!

Butch Ware will not be California’s next governor.

I know I’m about to piss off a whole lot of people by saying this, but, he can’t be, and deep down you know that.

What he CAN do, and really any of the candidates polling lower than Katie Porter, is give us a Republican Governor.

There are 64 candidates on the ballot and Butch Ware isn’t even one of them, because he didn’t file his tax returns by the deadline. That is on him and him alone. But unfortunately, write-in IS allowed in the primary, just not the general. So, because he’s getting so much attention, people WILL write him in, and congratulations, you are adding at 65th candidate to the ballot.

As if 64 wasn’t enough.

Also, I can’t overstate this, California is not like other states. The top two candidates go to the general election. That’s it. You can try to convince yourself otherwise, but I am 100% sure that that will be some combination of Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco.

Two of those candidates are going to the general election.

That’s it.

There’s no write in, there’s no third party, there are two candidates, full stop. Those are the five highest polling candidates and the next one down is Matt Maha, — who thinks he’s running for his current job, based on how much he talks about being San Jose Mayor. And he’s not close to the top five at all.

If you vote for anyone but those top 5, and you are not MAGA, you are going to be taking votes away from Porter, Steyer and Becerra, and that means Hilton and Bianco are more likely to go to the general election ALONE. Two Republicans vying to destroy California. And that’s not an exaggeration.

If you watched the first debate on Tuesday, you KNOW how much that isn’t an exaggeration.

I think one of the most revolting moments was about non English speakers.

The candidates were all asked if Trump’s plan to give English proficiency tests to truck drivers should come to California.

Bianco said non-English drivers are responsible for the most accidents, and Hilton took it a step further and said that if you can’t speak English you shouldn’t even be allowed to have a license.

If you even consider voting for anyone that isn’t one of those top 3 Democrats, you are helping ensure one of those Republicans is our next governor.

And it’s worse with Butch Ware, because on top of the fact that he’s never going to the general election, he’s not even capable enough for any job with a deadline, let along literal governor. 64 candidates turned in their tax returns correctly and on time and he couldn’t even do that.

Is that REALLY the guy you want in charge of the 4th largest GDP in the world?

Seriously???

This whole election is terrifying me. Eric Swalwell will still be on the ballot, so will Betty Yee and any other candidate that I hope to god drops out in the coming weeks.

Yes, with every poll, percentage of undecideds have been higher than that of any given candidate, but with how many candidates are on the ballot, its just not a given that those undecideds don’t end up splitting the vote between even more candidates, so several Dems finish around 10% with both Republicans sailing to the general election

And the more you lift up candidates like Butch Ware, the more likely that is.

I hope, if you support the values he says he has, you also want to do literally everything in your power to make sure neither of the two guys — who don’t think people who speak English should be allowed to drive — are in the governor’s mansion next year.

RIGHT???

Remember, your vote in your voice and that voice is your superpower, so, for the love of god, don’t make yourself partially responsible for giving California a MAGA governor.

Brown County, Wisconsin

Tue, April 7 - Brown County does not tend to lean left at all. They voted for Trump with 53% of the vote. Which is why it’s such a pleasant surprise that earlier this month Rachel Maes, who happens to be trans, was elected to the county board.

And she’s made it clear to Kelly Fenton at The Dairyland Patriot that being part of the trans community greatly informs the governmental decisions that matter most to her:

a demographic that you belong to is being treated like crap, that’s infuriating. There’s no due process. There’s no opportunity to go to the DMV and get a replacement (license). And then there are some of the bills that are being passed in other states and other jurisdictions. I’m going on a Disney cruise with my family in less than a month, and when I’m in the airport and when I’m at the port, those are government-owned buildings, and I can’t use the bathroom in those buildings without risking a $10,000 fine or six months in jail.

But she goes on to say that she is hopeful:

So there is a sense of injustice, and I don’t just weather that flippantly. But the pendulum swings both ways, and I’m still optimistic that things will normalize.

You know what makes me optimistic? Seeing someone like her in that office and that county. Things are really bad, but an incredibly qualified trans woman just got elected in an R+8 district and I think that’s pretty incredible.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Fri, April 10 - The first anti ICE bill in a trio of three has already gone into effect after it was unanimously voted on by the city council and signed into law by the mayor.

The law will prevent all city employees from sharing, or gathering in the first place, any data having to do with someone’s immigration status. And it goes a step further by saying that a city employee can’t can’t single anyone out based on where they suspect they’re from, and there will be consequences if either of these things are violated.

Council member Barb Warwick, one of the cosponsors of the bill told WESA:

“I really hope that word gets out about this…so that our folks, our immigrant neighbors, really know that when it comes to the city of Pittsburgh, you are safe here.  You are safe calling 911. You are safe engaging in city services and city programs … you do not need to fear for your safety. We are not collaborating with ICE in any way.

I love how many times I’ve gotten to post out this kind of law around the country. So many cities are really stepping up to protect their residents, both big and small. It’s great to see that Pittsburgh has now added their name to that list.

Miami, Florida

Fri, April 10 - Florida removed Miami’s rainbow crosswalk less than 6 months ago, but the straight members of the Miami City commission have already come up with the idea to save the crosswalk. And it was unveiled earlier this month.

Yes, according to commissioner, Alex Fernandez, the fact that they’re straight is important:

It was the straight members of the Miami Beach City Commission that said we’re going to collect these bricks piece by piece and make out of them a mosaic of love that today stands more visible for everyone to know that today Miami Beach continues to be the most inclusive and beautiful destination in the state of Florida.

It’s an important reminder that we will never be erased. That that we aren’t alone. And both those things make me feel so much less Doomed.

As State Senator Shevrin Jones said in his post about the unveiling:

You can try to erase symbols of love, but you will never erase the people. Joy is our resistance.

He’s right. And we can’t forget that.

---

So those are today’s stories. Whether it’s a queer story or one fighting back against ICE, we’re NOT Doomed. We are having setbacks, no question about it, but we WILL win. And the more stories we have like this, the faster that will happen!

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