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MineralMan

(146,116 posts)
Fri Oct 10, 2014, 03:44 PM Oct 2014

Why GOTV in Every Election Makes a Huge Difference

I live and vote in Minnesota. I'm a precinct chair in a very progressive district in St. Paul, MN. You can visit the DFL precinct website I maintain at the link in my signature line. It is, as far as I know, the only DFL-Party website for an individual precinct in this state.

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GOTV Turned Minnesota's Government Around

In 2010, for whatever reason, not so many folks turned out and went to the polls in Minnesota. It was a mid-term, non-presidential election mostly, so turnout was down in most places. But what happened here in my own state is a good demonstration of why GOTV is needed for EVERY election.

What happened, essentially, is that both houses of our state legislation ended up with a Republican majority after that election. That's unusual in Minnesota. But that's what happened. Fortunately, we did narrowly elect a Democratic Governor, but much damage was done.

The next two years were very instructional. Our newly Republican state legislature, with a very small majority, managed to pass a raft of legislation inspired by ALEC. They also screwed up our budget royally, cut funds for education, and did a lot of other damage. They also passed two constitutional amendments that were put on the ballot in 2012. One, if passed, would have applied Voter ID requirements on Minnesota voters. The other amendment would have banned same-sex marriage in the Constitution, something that would have made it very difficult to reverse that.

In 2012, Minnesota DFL Party Democrats created a very strong GOTV plan. LGBT Minnesotans also initiated a very strong GOTV plan as well. It was clear that the 2010 election had produced a toxic, tea-bagger dominated majority in our state legislature and two destructive constitutional amendments were on the ballot. It was also a presidential election year.

Those efforts worked. Both of the Republican-created, ALEC-based amendments failed in the election, voted down with decent margins. We reversed the legislative majority and kicked the usurpers who had won in 2010 out to the street. GOTV was why. It was truly the only reason this important election ended up as it did.

In 2013, our new Democratic legislative majority passed a marriage equality bill, which passed and was signed by our Governor. It also corrected the budget nonsense the Republicans had pushed through. Within a year, Minnesota once again had a budget surplus and the very rich were paying higher taxes in our state. Funding was restored to our schools, and the money borrowed by the Republicans to pay for their state budget was paid back. A lot of other legislation also undid the damage done by Republicans in their two years of having the legislative majority.

GOTV accomplished some great things in Minnesota. The new Democratic majority margin is small, but the effects were huge and meaningful. And it happened because of GOTV. There's no question about that. The effort was major and it was statewide and it made the difference.
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So, GOTV, everyone! Please!

I'm a GOTV proponent. It's my main thrust of activism. I encourage it. I participate in it. I also write a lot about it here on DU. We need GOTV, especially in mid-term elections. It is the only way to prevent Republicans from gaining ground. And if Republicans gain ground, we all lose in very important ways.

So, if you think it's tiresome that I keep calling for strong GOTV efforts, read what I wrote about Minnesota's turnarounds in 2010 and 2012. Look at the difference in what was done by our legislature in two different terms. That's the difference GOTV makes. I won't stop calling for GOTV activism on DU. I'll never stop calling for it wherever I am. If you disagree, you're welcome to disagree, but please read the above description of the changes it made in Minnesota. It can change things everywhere in similar ways. Those are my examples of GOTV at work. They're real-world examples and they show exactly how important Democratic turnout is.

GOTV 2014 and Beyond! Do it because it matters and can make enormous changes. Do it because it is the most effective single thing individuals can participate in.

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Why GOTV in Every Election Makes a Huge Difference (Original Post) MineralMan Oct 2014 OP
If you have similar turnaround stories from your state or districts, MineralMan Oct 2014 #1
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