INDIVISIBLE Lambertville NJ / New Hope PA

Category: Endorsements

  • Indivisible Lambertville/New Hope Applauds National Organization’s Endorsement of John Fetterman and Ashley Ehasz for 2022 Pennsylvania Election

    Constituents of Indivisible Lambertville/New Hope are cheering the national endorsement of two candidates in critical races in Pennsylvania. John Fetterman, running for U.S. Senate, and Ashley Ehasz, congressional candidate for PA 01, received endorsements from the national Indivisible organization. 

    “The national Indivisible organization recognizes that John Fetterman and Ashley Ehasz are truly ‘for the people’ and who will fight to make the lives of Pennsylvanian families better,” said Cindi Sternfeld, president, Indivisible Lambertville/New Hope. “Their endorsement is a meaningful signal that flipping Pennsylvania is important to the future of our democracy, and all of us at Indivisible Lambertville New Hope are thrilled to be working to help get them elected.”

    In May, Indivisible Lambertville/New Hope endorsed Fetterman and Ehasz at the local, Bucks County level, and nominated the two candidates for the national organization’s endorsement. The decision to endorse candidates follows completion of an extensive questionnaire that focuses on issues important to Indivisible, including: voting rights, climate change, immigration, healthcare, economic justice and workplace safety and fairness. Indivisible organizations provide its communities with the resources, power, and opportunities that encourage and enable ​sustained engagement in all levels of democracy.

    Indivisible is a progressive grassroots movement of millions of activists across every state, fueled by a partnership between thousands of autonomous local groups like Indivisible Lambertville/New Hope and a national staff. Locally, Indivisible Lambertville/New Hope works to educate, motivate and activate constituents in the work to restore, preserve and extend democratic rights for all citizens. Indivisible Lambertville/New Hope seeks to provide our communities with the resources, power, and opportunities that encourage and enable ​sustained engagement in all levels of democracy. Both are 501(c)4 organizations. 

  • New Jersey Indivisible Chapters Applaud National Organization’s Endorsement of Tom Malinowski for Congress

    Two local Indivisible chapters in New Jersey Congressional District 7 – Indivisible Lambertville/New Hope and Indivisible Long Valley together applaud the endorsement of Congressman Tom Malinowski by the national Indivisible organization. 

    Malinowski, a visible and vocal advocate for the people in his district as well as New Jersey,  is running for a third term in the House of Representatives. Since winning his first election, Malinowski has sponsored or co-sponsored numerous bills and been instrumental in getting funding for major infrastructure projects, including the Gateway Tunnel and Portal Bridge. New Jersey residents have benefitted from his efforts to secure quality affordable healthcare, reproductive rights, common sense gun legislation, and reduce the effects of climate change among many other issues in which Congressman Malinowski has actively engaged. 

    Indivisible Lambertville/New Hope and Indivisible Long Valley endorsed Congressman Malinowski at the local chapter level, and subsequently nominated him for the national endorsement. 

    “Over his four years in office, Congressman Malinowski has proven he truly understands what it means to be a public servant. We often hear about this candidate or that “working tirelessly” but I can say with absolute confidence that Tom Malinowski lives and breathes to care for and improve the lives of those he represents,” said Cindi Sternfeld, leader, Indivisible Lambertville/New Hope. “We are extremely pleased that Indivisible’s national leadership agrees with us and has thrown their support to Tom as well.”

    “Re-electing Tom Malinowski is the right choice for our district and our country. He is committed to securing voting rights, equal rights, climate action, and economic policies that help working families, small businesses and family farms in NJ.” said Brenda Sheeder Nast, Indivisible Long Valley. He will continue to deliver the resources our communities need while protecting our freedoms and our elections from MAGA Extremists.”

    Indivisible Lambertville/New Hope and Indivisible Long Valley endorsed Congressman Malinowski at the local chapter level, and subsequently nominated him for the national endorsement. Those selected for a national endorsement must complete a questionnaire evaluating their position on a number of issues important to Indivisible constituents, including voting rights, climate change, immigration, healthcare, economic justice and workplace safety and fairness. Indivisible organizations provide its communities with the resources, power, and opportunities that encourage and enable ​sustained engagement in all levels of democracy.

  • INDIVISIBLE LAMBERTVILLE/NEW HOPE ENDORSES …(this means you!)

    We know that when it comes to elections, people equals power, especially when there’s a strong showing from like-minded folks such as the Indivizzies. An endorsement from local and national organizations can help guide voters who are making decisions about the candidates they will support. 

    This year, Indivisible Lambertville/New Hope plans to endorse candidates in New Jersey and Pennsylvania who reflect our values and have exhibited a clear understanding of what it means to work “for the people.” We are only planning to endorse candidates who are running for the U.S. House and Senate, and for Pennsylvania governor.  

    Typically we announce our endorsements after the primaries, which this year are May 17 in Pennsylvania and June 7 in New Jersey, unless the candidate is uncontested in the primary.  Currently three candidates are clear choices for ILNH endorsement in the November election: Josh Shapiro for governor of Pennsylvania; Tom Malinowski for NJ CD7, and Ashley Ehasz for PA CD1.  However, there is a hotly contested primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania being vacated by the retiring Pat Toomey, and so we will wait for the results of the Pennsylvania primary in order to announce our endorsement for that seat.

    Endorsement by our local Indivisible organization is the first step in submitting our candidates for an endorsement by Indivisible National, which has monthly deadlines for submission. We are targeting the June 2 deadline, which is after the Pennsylvania primary, for submission of all our endorsements.  

    • Community Action: As soon as we know the results of the Pennsylvania primary, ILNH will send an email asking you to indicate your approval of our recommended candidates for both NJ and PA via a survey. Turnaround time for responses will be relatively short, since timing is tight to make our announcement between the primary and Indivisible National’s deadline. Keep a watchful eye for email and action for turnaround ~ May 19-26.

    Some Frequently Asked Questions: 

    • Can I vote to endorse a candidate that is not in my state or district? For example, can I vote for Josh Shapiro if I live in New Jersey?

    Yes! Your support is critical, because losing any of our Democratically held seats anywhere is a dire threat to our democracy and our rights.

    • Can I vote to endorse a New Jersey or Pennsylvania candidate if I live in another state altogether? 

    Yes. see above.

    • Why does ILNH want to endorse candidates?

    As an organization, we want to publicly show support for candidates aligned with our values. We cannot afford to lose a single seat in the House or the Senate. A strong local endorsement of candidates plays a key role in how Indivisible National allocates its election resources, and we want as many of those resources as possible to be directed to our candidates in tough races. 

    • What level of response meets the threshold for an ILNH endorsement? 

    We will use a simple majority count of the votes among those who respond to the survey.

  • Pennsylvania’s Democratic Voters Step Up – Results of May 21st Primaries

    Contributed by Lisa Bergson.

    When it comes to the election of critical judgeships in our recent primaries, Party-endorsed candidates – both Democrat and Republican — dominated.  In what is colloquially known as a “jungle primary”, they and four other candidates all cross-filed (running on both Democratic and Republican ballots), potentially confusing uninformed voters. In the end tally, Democratic voters contributed 37% of the ballots for Republican judges, with Republican voters accounting for 32% of the Democratic total. Overall, however, Democrats did substantially better than Republicans, with 60% of the vote, improving on 2017’s primary.   To see the individual candidate vote tallies, go here.

    Noting that overall Democratic turnout was higher than in 2017’s primary, Carol Spievak, the Chair of the Solebury Democrats and the Deputy Chair of the Bucks County Democratic Committee, credits a combination of intensive canvassing and growing awareness: “There is a direct correlation between speaking directly with a Democratic voter and that voter actually going to the polls on election day.” She remains concerned, however, since the results varied widely, with communities, such as Wrightstown, Quakertown, and Bensalem, leaning heavily Republican.  Thus, there is much work still to be done to flip Bucks!

    Given the harshly oppressive policies emanating from the Republican party, shifting the composition of our local judiciary has never been more critical. As it stands, civil court cases affecting Family Court issues, like child custody and divorce court; Orphan’s Court; mental health-related rulings, and criminal cases, are presided over by the 13 judges on the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas.  Of these, 11 are Republicans and 11, men, some with little to no background in family law, making decisions that can literally be a matter of life and death.

    “They view it as a kind of purgatory,” says Democratic candidate Charissa Liller, noting that new judges are “very likely” to start in the Family Court division, which some see mainly as a path to higher court positions.  With a three-month backlog in family court, we as citizens must show up and vote for judges with the knowledge, experience, and compassion to work hard and make wise choices for our families and, most especially, our children in need of legal care and protection. As Charissa puts it, “Democrats care about issues, even when it doesn’t directly affect them.  They care about people.”

    More, because judges do move up through the system, assuring that there is a wider bench of judges who share our values is vital to preserving the integrity of our democracy.  As it stands, we can clearly see the power of the courts when it comes to curbing some of the most draconian policies unleashed by the current federal administration. We are fortunate in PA to have the opportunity to directly vote for our judgeships, compared to many other states where they are a matter of political appointment.  As State Senator Steve Santarsiero aptly states, “Voting is a habit we need to develop, a muscle we must exercise, along with our brains and our hearts.”

    Here’s what you need to know to promote voter turnout:

    What’s at stake?*

    • Two new seats on the Judiciary, plus one resignation.  In hopes of addressing our overburdened court system, in 2017, the legislature created two new openings in Bucks County, plus a slot made available by one Republican woman’s resignation.
    • Significant backlog of family and criminal cases. The Bucks County Court of Common Pleas hears Civil Cases.  As examples, based on the latest comprehensive data from 2017, of the 1,896 cases involving child Custody/Partial Custody/Visitation, only 727 or 42.1% were handled by a judge, and of the 416 cases of child abuse or neglect, just over half or a total of 262 were so adjudicated, with 57 still pending at year end.
    • Judges serve for ten years. These lengthy terms give the Court stability and allow judges to fully develop.  But, this also represents a significant commitment to a set of values that may or may not reflect our communities.  It’s vital that we show up and vote for those judges who best uphold the values we embrace.

    In the Running in Bucks

    Democrats running for the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas include:

    • Charissa Liller. Passionate and determined, Charissa brings her early years as a social worker in the poorest neighborhoods of Pittsburgh to her legal work, combating abuse and supporting women’s rights. With over 15 years in family law, she has also proven herself to be an able litigator, successfully trying over 40 jury trials during her years as an assistant district attorney. Among the initiatives she plans to pursue are a child advocate program, such as was established in Montgomery County; a mental health court “to get people who need it into treatment, rather than just punishing them”; and better “calendaring” for judges: “With our backlog, they still come in at 10:00, take one-and-a-half-hour lunches, and leave at 4:00!”
    • Jessica VanderKam. Having spent her career as a lawyer in Bucks County, Jessica is well-versed in all six divisions of our County Courts.  But, her focus has been in Family Court and Orphan’s Court, where she has handled some 1,000 cases before the Court of Common Pleas.  Her commitment is to fairness, and she is known for her compassionate treatment of our most vulnerable citizens. More, Jessica has served as a Law Clerk for three Bucks County judges, giving her first-hand experience of what it takes.
    • Jordan Yeager. Jordan has devoted his career to progressive issues, particularly civil rights – racial, sexual, and employment discrimination — as well as workers’ rights, including the City of Pittsburgh’s authority to impose paid sick leave upon employers.  He is best known for winning the first case in history to declare a state law that authorized fracking unconstitutional in 2013 because it violated the environmental rights of Pennsylvanians. His efforts on behalf of our environment are on-going, particularly through his work as lead outside counsel for the Delaware Riverkeeper Network.
    • Bucks County Commissioner and a Full Slate of Great Candidates.  Diane Marseglia and Bob Harvie are running for County Commissioner.  Bob aims to take a “more unified approach to development, infrastructure, and issues like the pollution at the old Navy Base” that is threatening the health of communities, such as Warminster. “He will do a lot for us,” Santarsiero predicts, citing more support for health and human services, as well as affordable community college, “a path to a better career.”  
    • Also, be sure and check out Meredith Buck, an impressive local hero, who has devoted her life as a nurse and a lawyer to helping others and  is now running for Coroner: “Meredith is a single mother of one and has been a resident of Chalfont Borough since 1998. She received the 2009/2010 Florence Nightingale Medal, the highest international honor that a nurse can receive, awarded by the International Committee of the Red Cross which ‘honors exceptional courage and devotion to caring for the victims of armed conflict or other disasters, or exemplary services and a creative and pioneering spirit in the areas of public health or nursing education.’”

    To learn more about the Democratic team running in Bucks www.bucksvictory.com. We are counting on you to Join the Resistance and Turn PA Blue!

    For more information, additional resources, and ways to get involved*:

    • Bucks County Blue: Great source for info on all races and candidates in Bucks, including upcoming events and voter registration.
    • Solebury Democrats: Lively, up-to-date site, with excellent content.
    • Indivisible: Provides a wealth of information and ready-made materials, ranging from Elections 101, Voting Rights, and Voting Suppression, Voter Registration, Endorsement Guides, and more.
    • SwingLeft: Nationwide organization dedicated to flipping Congressional districts like ours.
    • Flippable: Mounting a Blue Wave Tsunami across the states.

    *Special thanks to Charissa Liller and her able and responsive team for their time and carefully researched materials.

    Sources:

  • The Blue Wave Election Re-Cap and Update

    Contributed by Paige Barnett.

    The midterm elections were, to say the least, a real humdinger — a nail biter. They quite literally kept us on the edge of our seats.  “What ifs” come to mind: What if all the canvassing didn’t work? What if people didn’t get their postcards? What if people don’t care?  What if we don’t flip the House? What if? But…YOU DID IT! YOU REALLY DID IT! Door by door, post card by post card, voter by voter — you built the Blue Wave.  YOU showed up and YOU made it happen.

    So, how did it all go down on election night?  Initially, early returns on the night of November 6th seemed to indicate Democrats may have only gained a high tide, at best.  But then, one by one, as an increasing number of precincts reported, more blue ripples and streaks started turning up. Then – just like that, the Blue Wave surfaced with a might and glory that had not been seen in over 30 years.

    In New Jersey, only one Congressional District in the entire state remained red when all votes were counted. Tom Malinowski unseated Leonard Lance in District 7. Mikie Sherrill filled a seat in the 11th District that had been held by Republicans for more than 30 years. And, after an eight-day delay in a very tight race, Andy Kim unseated incumbent Tom MacArthur in District 3. And, Senator Bob Menendez clinched his bid for re-election, besting former pharma exec and Trump supporter, Bob Hugin.

    In Pennsylvania, the U.S. Senate seat was held by Bob Casey, and Tom Wolf won re-election for governor. Overall in the keystone state, Democrats held the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th and 18th districts and flipped the 5th, 6th, 7th and 17th districts for the House.¹

    We were saddened by some losses in hard-fought races, however.  Scott Wallace failed to unseat incumbent Brian Fitzpatrick for House of Representatives in Pennsylvania Congressional District 1.  While Helen Tai was successful in her bid in the May special election for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, she was unseated by Wendi Thomas for PA District 178 House of Representatives.  

    The governor’s races in Georgia and Florida were unfortunate losses for Democrats.  In a speech, Stacey Abrams refused to concede and called out the purging of the state’s voter rolls and suppression largely aimed at African-Americans.  Abrams has since filed a federal lawsuit.³ The Florida governor’s race found Andrew Gillum conceding 11 days after the election to the Republican candidate, Ron DeSantis.

    More recent election calls included Senate races in Florida and Arizona.  Republicans flipped the Florida seat, installing former governor Rick Scott, but Democrats flipped the Arizona seat by electing the first openly bi-sexual woman, Kyrsten Sinema.  The final Senate race was determined in a runoff MIssissippi on Nov. 27, with the Republican incumbent, Cindy Hyde-Smith, holding her seat against her challenger Mike Espy, Democrat.  In addition, delayed election results saw more Blue waves roll in with six House seats gained in California and one each in New York, Maine and Utah.⁴ In total, the Blue Wave secured 40 seats for Democratic legislators.

    It’s important to note that even where Democrats lost, the margin of victory in traditionally Red states and districts was significantly narrower than previous elections. Further, the election smashed records for expanding representation from broader demographics, with most running on the Democratic ticket. For the first time, elected officials are looking more like the rest of America with:

    • The first Muslim women to run and be elected are Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashid Talib (D-MI).  
    • The first Native American women elected are Deb Haaland (D-NM) and Sharice Davids (D-KS).  Davids is also the first openly gay woman to be elected to congress.
    • Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) is the first African American woman elected to Congress from her state.  
    • Jared Polis (D-CO) is the first openly gay and first Jewish man elected governor of his state.  
    • Chris Pappas (D-NH) is the first openly gay man elected to Congress for his state.  
    • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is the youngest woman elected to U.S. Congress.  
    • Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is the first female Senator to represent her state.
    • Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) is the first Latino female governor of New Mexico.  
    • Janet Mills (D-ME) is the first female governor of Maine.   
    • 107 women ran and won seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.⁶  

    To summarize, the hard work done by the Blue Wave saw the Democrats gain control of the House and flip seven governorships. Democrats saw a net gain in six state trifectas, meaning they control the state’s governorship, state senate and state house.  Currently, Democrats hold 14 state trifectas while Republicans still hold 23 and 13 states remain divided.⁵

    As a whole, the Blue Wave moved the entire country to the left. 317 out of 435 Congressional districts (73%) were more blue on Election Day than they were in 2016.  That is an amazing feat! Never underestimate the power of the people.

    That is progress.