How’d we do it?

 

Hey, it's Ruben.

I've been going through orientation in the Senate over the last week since we won, and as you might expect, a lot of people want to know how we pulled it off in Arizona.

It's a big question, and it was a lot of work, but the answer isn't as complicated as you might expect. I talk about it here, in this article in the New York Times. Check it out — but I'm also happy to talk it through with you.

From the very beginning I knew my campaign was going to need to set our own path to win. If I was going to connect with voters they were going to need to understand who I was.

I'm the son of immigrants. I grew up poor. I worked hard to support my family. I got into Harvard, I served in the Marines, and I did my best to support my family and serve my country after I came home.

I understand what it's like to struggle to make ends meet. I know how hard it is when it feels like you're letting your family down. And I knew that in Arizona, a lot of people felt like that.

As much as people are coming down on "identity politics" right now, you have to tell people who you are if you're going to build trust. And my identity — a first generation Latino, a Marine, a father, somebody who grew up poor — helped me connect. You have to be real with people because they won't trust you to solve their problems if they don’t know who the hell you are in the first place.

But that's just one piece.

The other part is taking that trust, that understanding, and showing them what you're going to do for them. We have to connect the dots between good policy and how it's going to solve the problems that people are facing.

Until people actually feel something — higher wages, lower costs, more security — you’re not going to get credit no matter how good your plans are.

You do that, you have as good a chance as anyone to win. That's how we did it in Arizona, and I am incredibly proud that I'll be able to represent my people in the Senate when they really need a fighter.

But now, we have to deliver. And I aim to do that.

So, as we buckle down and face the challenges ahead, I hope you're still with me.

If you are, could you become a sustaining monthly donor to my campaign? We're working on a budget based on our monthly recurring donations right now, and it would give me a lot of peace of mind as I work in Washington to know that I've got a big team backing me up at home. Can I count on you?

BECOME A SUSTAINING DONOR

I’ll never forget that I wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for your support. So, as I get ready to take office next year, thank you so much for helping me get here.

Semper Fi,

Ruben

 

Paid For By Gallego for Arizona

Use of military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform do not imply endorsement by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.

The media's surprising—and obscene—shift on Trump

 

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November 20, 2024 We're now two weeks out from the election. How do you feel? For me, the initial sting has settled into something of a low hum of cynicism. I rigorously avoid the news outside of work hours. I've barely talked about it with friends, even the most political among them. And I generally understand that everything is rotten. It's quite a different experience from that of 2016, when the results hit like a gut punch and the instinct to resist felt instant. But while it might be true that the resistance is dead, as New York’s Rebecca Traister declared, that's not to encourage any acceptance of the horror to come. In fact, as David Corn writes, it's imperative that people, especially those in the media, keep the dangers of Donald Trump front and center in public conversation. But we're already seeing so many fail at this imperative. Politico published a strange contest for readers to guess how Trump will fill his Cabinet. Selected winners would be treated to Politico swag. From David: This was a stupid and small move that received scant public attention. But it symbolizes a shift in the media, as news outfits figure out how to contend with the new order. Too many, I’m afraid, will either purposefully choose or drift toward an accommodationist stance. I recently heard about the leaders of one online site that previously published hard-hitting stories on Trump and his allies informing their staff that it must pivot with Trump back in the White House. And it’s long been true that mainstream news organizations, particularly network television, have had to reach a modus vivendi with a White House to get the exclusive interviews and video footage they crave. That can be expected once again. But David also sees a balance in how we move forward. I personally don't have much hope for it. But then again, I'm stuck in a cynical mudslide. —Inae Oh

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The Media and Trump: Not Resistance, But Not Acceptance An increasingly accommodationist press spells danger for American democracy. BY DAVID CORN

MOTHER JONES MEMBERSHIP UPDATE WHAT CONSTRAINS AN AUTOCRAT? The guardrails protecting democracy may have buckled, but they are not broken. The election makes clear that autocratic forces are ascendant in America—yes, it can happen here and did—but the story isn’t fully written. Truth-telling independent media is one remaining bulwark against Trump’s unrestrained exercise of power. He rails against the press as the “enemy of the people,” because like all liars and extremists, he hates the scrutiny that comes from fearless investigative reporting.   Our nonprofit newsroom is built for the chaos and uncertainty ahead. Depend on that. But we need newsletter readers like you to stand with us. Please help with a donation if you can—even just a few bucks helps. A monthly gift would be especially powerful.  Donate Now

House Speaker Johnson announces transgender bathroom ban—on Trans Day of Remembrance BY JULIANNE MCSHANE "Devastating"—US backpedals on global pact to limit plastic production BY JOSEPH WINTERS The North Carolina GOP snuck an outrageous antidemocratic power grab into a hurricane relief bill BY ARI BERMAN

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The racist roots of Joel Salatin's agrarian dream (from 2020) His go-it-alone message made him a star of the food movement. Then a young Black farmer dug into what he was really saying. BY TOM PHILPOTT

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Looking Ahead to 2025

 OPEN SECRETS has provided impressive reporting about CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS & DARK MONEY....Consider supporting OPEN SECRETS for the detailed information provided!

Donate   Friends,   One thing I quickly learned after joining OpenSecrets in January is that the political money never stops flowing.    This year, as OpenSecrets reported, Americans witnessed the most expensive election in history, and that’s before the final numbers have been tallied. But those figures only tell part of the story about the role of money in politics. We will focus on the other half of the story in 2025: how money influences the government — beyond an election cycle.    Here’s a glance at what we’ll be covering: Lobbying is predicted to ramp up. With the business-friendly Republican Party preparing for one-party control of the White House and Congress, corporate America is lining up to lobby for regulatory rollbacks. On the other side, environmentalists and consumer protection groups will fight to preserve existing regulations. OpenSecrets will continue to provide the most comprehensive analysis of lobbyists and lobbying at both the federal and state levels. Appointments, appointments. We will also look at who is part of the second Trump administration and how their money may have earned them a spot. As President-elect Donald Trump continues rolling out nominations and other appointments, from Cabinet secretaries to ambassadors to policy czars, we will study how much those people raised for the Trump campaign. And we will study the revolving door – the seemingly never-ending personnel cycle that shuttles people between public service and highly paid positions in the private sector. State campaigns to hit the national scene. While 2025 isn’t a typical election year, there will still be fundraising and spending to track, especially as states become the new frontiers for political battlegrounds. Final numbers will be rolling in for the 2024 races, and two states – New Jersey and Virginia – will be holding hotly contested races for governor and legislative seats. The governors of both states, Phil Murphy (D) and Glenn Youngkin (R), respectively, are term-limited, creating scenarios for open-seat, expensive campaigns that draw national attention in an otherwise quiet year.   As a loyal reader, you know that OpenSecrets’ mission – to serve as the trusted authority on money in American politics – emphasizes the importance of accountability and transparency. That goes for us too, not just the government. That’s why I want to share an important update with you, as this has been a difficult time at OpenSecrets. While record-setting sums went to candidates and political organizations this year, money flowing to good government groups like OpenSecrets has dwindled. Unfortunately, that meant we had to make some difficult decisions this month, including saying goodbye to several dedicated employees.    We remain dedicated to providing accurate and accessible data on money in politics, and our work is more important than ever. We have high hopes and big plans for the new year, building a stronger, sustainable organization with new products on the horizon. We thank you for being part of the OpenSecrets community, and we look forward to an exciting year ahead.   Warmest, Support OpenSecrets About OpenSecrets Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, our mission is to serve as the trusted authority on money in American politics. We pursue our mission by providing comprehensive and reliable data, analysis, and tools for policymakers, storytellers and citizens. Our vision is for Americans to use data on money in politics to create a more vibrant, representative and responsive democracy.   OpenSecrets 1100 13th Street, NW Suite 800 Washington, DC 20005 United States