Post election Fall Fiesta Nov 19th

November 11, 2022 Alan Cole

IMV's Post Election Press Releases

Tis Veteran's Day, as we honor those who have served in our nation's defense, we also can be proud of the practical. local work that we have done in recent years to protect our democratic system of government, where elections celebrate the non-violent transfer of power as well as government by and for the people. We practice a form of defending democracy through our voting and through our political activism. Sometimes we win, as happened across the country where Indivisible's helped defeat MAGA extremism and proto-fascism. Sometimes we lose, as happened here locally, in spite of all our best efforts to Get Out the Vote (GOTV) for our excellent Democratic candidates.

On Wednesday, Nov. 9th, Indivisible Mohawk Valley issued the statements below about candidates we supported in the 2022 election. The statements were sent to local media, and you can read them below.

Congress NY22- Francis Conole

“Indivisible Mohawk Valley believes that every vote counts, and is proud that Democratic candidate Francis Conole is waiting to ensure every ballot is accounted for. We believe that voters decide elections, and everyone exercised their freedom to vote in Oneida county and NY22 on November 8th.”

Supreme Court - Judge David Murad

“Indivisible Mohawk Valley thanks every voter in the 5th judicial district who voted for Democratic Judge David Murad from Oneida county. He’s served with fair judgment for over 17 years, and his missing expertise on the bench will be a tragedy.”

County Clerk - Merima Smajic-Oren

“Indivisible Mohawk Valley is proud of Merima Smajic-Oren, who was the first refugee to run for county-wide office, and congratulates her on her first race. Merima’s fight to re-open the Rome DMV and willingness to talk to every person in the county showed us she was the best candidate to become county clerk, which is why we were proud to support her.”

NYS Assembly district 122 - Dan Buttermann

“Indivisible Mohawk Valley congratulates Dan Buttermann on his well-run race to represent the southern portion of Oneida county in the NYS Assembly. Unfortunately incumbent advantage in this wild year of redistricting was an impediment to Dan getting over the finish line.”

NYS Assembly district 119 - Marianne Buttenschon

“Indivisible Mohawk Valley congratulates Assemblymember Buttenschon on her re-election victory. Over the next two years in Albany she can grow into a champion for fighting climate change, racial justice, fully funded schools, and solving the housing crisis in Oneida county.”

Sheriff - Rob Maciol

“Indivisible Mohawk Valley thanks the voters of Oneida county for re-electing Sheriff Rob Maciol for another four years to serve all of us with integrity.”

Gov Hochul and LG Delgado

“Indivisible Mohawk Valley rejoices in the defeat of Big Lie Lee Zeldin and the victory of Gov Kathy Hochul and Lt. Gov Antonio Delgado. We look forward to working with her on passing a state budget that leaves no New Yorker behind. Indivisible Mohawk Valley has a great relationship with Antonio Delgado, and is so happy for him and his family on this monumental victory.”

Senator Chuck Schumer

“Indivisible Mohawk Valley members were eager to support and vote for Senator Chuck Schumer for re-election because of his leadership in procuring massive funding for rural communities, infrastructure, families, fighting climate change, lowering healthcare costs, and supporting our unions. Thank you New York for voting for Schumer.”

Attorney General Tish James

“Indivisible Mohawk Valley congratulates Attorney General Tish James on her victory. Just as we told voters at their doors, ‘if any person or organization is trying to screw over New Yorkers, she’s holding them accountable,’ we’re thrilled that she will continue in this position as Attorney General.”

NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli

“Indivisible Mohawk Valley celebrates Tom DiNapoli’s re-election as the NYS Comptroller! DiNapoli is a friend to all of us in the Mohawk Valley as he comes here frequently. He divested the NYS pension fund from fossil fuel companies, which shows his commitment to fighting climate change.”

Finally, in Herkimer Country: NY21 ELECTS EXTREMIST ELISE STEFANIK

“Indivisible Mohawk Valley congratulates Congressional candidate Matt Castelli and his team for an amazing race against entrenched extremist Elise Stefanik. We know the people of the 21st district, which includes Herkimer county, deserve a representative like Castelli with his commitments to showing up, listening, and fighting for them. Big money, the wild redistricting challenges, and Stefanik’s broken moral compass were too much for this first time candidate. We hope Matt Castelli runs again in 2024.”

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As an overall perspective, we know that Democrats turned out in Oneida and Onondaga counties at a rate almost as high the record blue wave when Anthony Brindisi was elected in 2018. In Madison County, turnout was even higher. But upstate Republicans came out at an even greater rate. They were enraged at President Biden and Gov. Hochul, and energized by the media speculation in the last few weeks that Zeldin could win the Governor's race. It's also clear that in upstate in New York, Republicans effectively weaponized bail reform in a campaign of fear mongering and lies about crime.

We worked hard, and our candidates worked even harder, but it was a tough race, and we could not overcome the "mini red wave" that hit upstate New York this year. Thank you for everything you did to support candidates and their campaigns this past year!

What's Next? We will regroup, push NY legislators and other elected officials on the issues that matter most to us, organize people for political power, and work on 2023 electoral campaigns.

Climate Crisis Working Group Actions

Take time to celebrate these environmental wins!

#1: A Huge Win for All of New York!! Voters Pass the New York State Environmental Bond Act.

#2: Another big Win for Climate: Jen Metzger elected Ulster County Executive

#3: A Democratic Supermajority-the re-election of climate leaders (such as Rachel May!) and of Governor Hochul and majorities of Democrats to the NYS Assembly and Senate are great news for climate legislation in NY! Let’s make sure it gets passed! And:

Join IMV and other communities across the state as NY Renews launches a Climate, Jobs, and Justice Package on November 16th at the State Office Building on E Washington Street, Syracuse at 12 Noon. IMV Climate Crisis Working Group is co-sponsoring the rally with AGREE (Alliance for a Green Economy. The package is a legislative roadmap to making the promises of the Climate Act a reality. It aims to fully fund NY’s climate law, build renewable energy for all, and make polluters pay for poisoning our communities and the planet.

Three years after the passage of New York's landmark Climate Act (CLCPA), our state still hasn't fully funded climate justice. This year, that changes!

RSVP on the NY Renews Action Network site: https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/public-campaign-launch-for-climate-justice-in-new-york-state?source=direct_link&

Please let Maggie Reilly or Jennifer Geiger know if you are interested in carpooling to the Syracuse event on November 16th.

Can’t make it to the rally? You can also help launch the Climate, Jobs and Justice Package by posting on social media. NY Renews is asking us for help with a digital campaign launch on November 16. Here is a toolkit to make it easy.

We also ask that you share your commitment to posting on this spreadsheet! Digital action is a quintessential part of this campaign launch, so we need your help to reach as many people as possible!

IMV's Post Election Fall Fiesta on November 19

Every year we gather post election for good Tex-Mex food and fun to celebrate all the hard work over the past months. Our Post Election Fall Fiesta is part of making political activism in the Mohawk Valley bite-size, local, and fun! This year we could not get a location the weekend after the election, so we will be meeting the next week, Saturday, November 19th, 3:30-5:30 pm at the Jewish Community Center. All are welcome!

Rally in Clinton, Last Planned Until Spring

Today, 3:30-4:30 pm join the Kirkland Town Democrats for their last planned rally on the Clinton Village Green until spring. The rally is for racial & climate justice, women’s reproductive rights, and democracy for Ukraine. Please bring signs about issues such as combatting the climate crisis and celebrating the passage of Prop. 1, protecting choice, promoting a fair justice system, support for Ukraine, support for democracy world-wide, etc.

CAFE Fridays: Zoom in To Connect with Fellow Activists

Just a reminder that many IMV members love to touch base weekly over Zoom for CAFE Fridays, starting at 9:30 am every Friday, including today. Come by and connect for the latest news and conversation. Zoom link HERE. PW: 607973. We look forward to seeing you!

One NYS Indivisible Call Next Week

Thursday, Nov. 17th, 8-9 pm, join Sarah Reeske, our statewide organizer, for the Indivisible One NYS Statewide Monthly Meeting, Register HERE. This meeting is for Indivisible members and leaders across NYS. We have special guest Ezra Levin, Co-Executive Director of Indivisible joining us. We will have a presentation about Invest in Our NY (IONY) coalition's plans for 2023 and how each of us can make a difference. Most importantly, we will celebrate all of our hard work together this year!

The past week was tough here in the Mohawk Valley, in NY21 and NY22. But all the work we do matters. We'll stick together, and we'll keep going.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.