Update from Team Larsen
Hi all, 2020 has proven to be an unprecedented year. As we adjust to this new normal, my hope is that you and your families are well.
At the onset of this year, I was eager to see each of you in-person at meetings, events, and through one-on-one coffees or happy hours. I have missed those opportunities greatly and thank each of you for your patience and guidance as we have retooled and reimagined all of the 2020 campaign plans for Rick. Your commitment to our success and constant support is both appreciated and humbling. I am truly proud to have you on our team. We are better because of each of your contributions.
This email is the first in a series of regular updates you will get from me this year. As we transition to an entirely virtual campaign it is important that you are informed and involved. You all know a traditional Rick Larsen campaign is rooted in hard work and grassroots community organizing – that won't change. What will change is we are going virtual!
Upcoming Events
Organized Labor Virtual Coffee Hour
Tuesday, June 23, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
RSVP to Todd at todd@ricklarsen.org or call 425-610-8731.
Virtual Luncheon
Wednesday, June 24, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
RSVP to Todd at todd@ricklarsen.org or call 425 610 8731.
Virtual Phone Banking With Team Larsen
Every Tuesday and Thursday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Every Saturday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Join Team Larsen on Zoom to get training on phone banking from home and start making calls. We will start the training at 4 p.m. Feel free to join at any point during the event to receive training or phone bank with us. Email jack@ricklarsen.org or click here to sign up.
A Note On Racial Injustice
The murder of George Floyd has weighed heavily on our team and the community. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and too many other families are victims of racial violence. Many on Team Larsen have taken to the streets in protest, discussed how to support our communities and neighbors, and re-examined our own responsibility in achieving true equity in our country. We are proud to work for a leader who is committed to fighting systemic racism, racial injustice, and police violence in Congress, and here at home in our region. We have rallied around this as a way to effect change and be a part of the solution.
Rick is committed to listening to and working with local, state, and federal leaders to address these systemic issues, which Rick discussed in a video last week.
Rick joined the Congressional Black Caucus and House Judiciary Committee in supporting the Justice in Policing Act and signed on to co-sponsor Rep. Ayanna Pressley's resolution condemning police brutality, racial profiling, and the excessive use of force. He also recently joined a Black Lives Matter protest in Everett to listen and show his support.
Today is Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the U.S. To mark this day, Rick signed on to co-sponsor legislation commemorating Juneteenth and joined a rally in Everett.
Political Update
The week of May 11 was candidate filing week in Washington state, which we kicked off with an announcement video. One other Democrat and six Republicans have jumped in the race. We have a top-two primary system, meaning the top two candidates will advance to the general. We are in a great position to win in August and November.
Endorsements have also continued to come in. The campaign has been endorsed by 60 local elected officials across the district. Rick has received support from the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, National Education Association, Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Sierra Club's National Political Team and Washington State Chapter, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, NARAL Pro-Choice America, End Citizens United Action Fund, Young Democrats of Washington, Washington Stonewall Democrats, local party groups and many others.
Field Update
As social distancing remains critically important, our campaign has shifted to entirely virtual field operations. We are continuing to reach out to voters through virtual phone banking, text messaging, Facebook Live, and Zoom conference calls.
We kicked off our field program this month with our inaugural virtual phone banking events and a Facebook Live event with State Democratic Party Chair Tina Podlodowski. During the conversation, Rick and Tina addressed the pain our country is experiencing and the need to elect candidates who are committed to taking action to end racial injustice. We also held a Facebook Live event with Congresswoman Suzan DelBene on Tuesday.
We have held conference calls with groups throughout the district, including party leaders, Young Democrats and League of Women Voters members, labor, local party groups, environmental groups, teachers, and reproductive health groups. Rick has also been going live on Facebook to give updates and joined virtual meetings hosted by local groups.
Finance Update
We suspended all of our fundraising activities in March due to the pandemic. At that time, our operation began to shift to the all virtual campaign we are today, and in lieu of fundraising transitioned all staff to COVID-19 relief efforts. We focused our time on getting solid, accurate information out to our communities, supporters, and anyone who needed it. But as our state, and the country, reopens, we are starting to fundraise again.
We are also getting closer to our end-of-quarter fundraising deadline, and we would like your help to put our campaign in a good position for the August 4 Primary, which is just seven weeks away. If you are willing to host a Zoom event or bring your friends and neighbors together for a virtual house party, please let us know.
Thank you for your support as we transition to campaigning virtually. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest.
Stay well,
Brooke Davis
