We're NOT Doomed: Fri, March 13, 2026
We're not just NOT Doomed thanks to wins...
Remember California’s Prop 50? Remember how you couldn’t go anywhere or do anything without seeing someone talk about it? And. because it was catchy, and we made SO much noise, it easily passed. California was able to cancel out the Texas fuckery.
Well, now Virginia is doing the same thing, and I wanna do my part in making sure that it gets the same amount of attention.
Early voting has already begun, and the election end on April 21 for “The Virginia Use of Legislative Congressional Redistricting Map Amendment” which, does not have a catchy title unfortunately.
First, let’s give credit where credit is due. In California, credit only went to Gavin Newsom, but it was the Democratic legislature that put in the real work. In Virginia, let’s make sure to credit Governor Abigail Spanberger and the Democratic legislature. It takes both.
Now, for the measure itself. Like California, it’s temporary. This will last until 2030 when the next census takes place and the maps are redrawn based on that census. At this time the Virginia independent redistricting commission will, yet again be in charge of redistricting.
As they say on their board of election website:
A "yes" vote would allow the General Assembly to redraw Virginia's congressional districts, since other states have done so, in addition to giving effect to the proposed district map in time for the 2026 Congressional elections, and return the responsibility of drawing the congressional districts in 2031 to the Virginia Redistricting Commission.
The Virginia primary is one of the last of 2026, all the way in August. Because it’s so late, the candidate filing period doesn’t even start till May 1. Which is why they still have time to do this.
I know Virginia is not as visible a state as California, but please give this election the same attention you gave Prop 50.
I constantly see people begging Democrats to go on offense and take preemptive action.
THIS IS THAT!
So let’s make sure it’s successful. If you are someone freaking out about the SAVE ACT, when it can’t even pass, consider turning your focus to this instead.
There are a lot of elections that deserve amplification, but this one definitely deserves at least some of your attention.
Remember, your vote is your voice and that voice is your superpower, but only when you use it!
Oregon
Thu, March 5 - A bill that expands shield laws to further protect the trans community is headed to Governor Tina Kotek’s desk after passing the State Senate.
If signed into law, it will prohibit the Governor from following any out of state demands to prosecute someone providing gender affirming care within Oregon — we’ve already seen this kind of thing happening with those providing abortions.
In addition, agencies within Oregon could not help out of the state law enforcement with these cases either. And all personal information of abortion and gender affirming care providers must stay private and not be included in state public records disclosures.
And Governor Kotek has already all but confirmed she will be signing the bill when it get to her desk. On Feb 23, she said on her campaign socials:
People come to Oregon because we respect personal freedom, privacy, and evidence-based medicine. Those values are reflected in our laws, and I will always defend them. Decisions belong between patients and providers, not politicians and certainly not prosecutors from other states.
I don’t think I even have to explain why this makes me feel less Doomed. This law shouldn’t have to exist, but in this current climate, I’m so glad it most likely will.
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Tue, March 10 - The County Council voted to prohibit all county employees, not just law enforcement, from working with ICE unless there is a signed court order.
The council voted 11-3, with two members voting no, and one, Council President Pat Catena, a Democrat, abstaining all together because his and his son’s life was threatened over the vote.
This is what Republicans want, they want to scare us so much that we don’t exercise our rights, but I’m sure, if the vote had been close he would not have abstained.
The vote took place after more than four hours of debate and comments from the community, but even with the dangers of voting yes, most of the council still did.
County Executive Sara Innamorato also released a statement after the vote:
It is important to remember that even with the passage of this ordinance, local governments, including Allegheny County, cannot stop ICE’s presence here. My administration will continue to work alongside immigrant and refugee-serving organizations to support their work.
I love how she acknowledged that this isn’t enough to keep everyone safe but she will keep doing everything she can.
This is a reminder of the importance of voting for local offices. When our local governments are in Democratic control, we are so much less Doomed.
Idaho
Tue, March 10 - This is one of those stories I couldn’t include if this series was still about wins. Because it’s not a win, but it is encouraging.
The very Republican Idaho House voted, again, petition the Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v Hodges.
But, since last year, when they last tried this, they lost two votes.
The vote is now 44-26, with 17 Republicans voting no.
That doesn’t seem like a big difference, but it indicates a shift we’re seeing all over. It’s just not popular.
One of these Republicans, Rep Grayson Stone, who was not one of the Republicans last year, as he’s a temporary replacement for another member, told the Idaho Statesman:
At the risk of probably committing political suicide … this entire argument is rooted in the Bible. I just don’t understand why we have to apply the Bible to specific aspects of our life, but not all of it. So I will be voting against this bill.
The other new “no” came from Rep. Mike Pohanka who said:
My religious beliefs have not changed any. I thought we advanced it last year. This year, to me, it’s just going to cause hurt and pain and I don’t want to do that.
It sounds like the more Republicans try to pass this, the less support they’re gonna have. And, you know what? That makes me feel less doomed. I mean, if that can happen in Idaho? We can have some real success in other states.
So I hope these stories give you hope and remind you to look for the positive in every story there is one. We might not always win, but less of a loss is a bigger deal than we treat it.
Our voices are our superpower, but only when we use them!