Laura Gottsman
lauragottsman.bsky.social
Laura Gottsman
@lauragottsman.bsky.social
130 followers 22 following 55 posts
Working to crowdfund Democracy all across the country.
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Defend democracy right now--there are 52,000 elections in 2 weeks, in 2025. Voting rules for 2026 in Maine; PA Supreme Court makeup; NJ and VA Gov and state legislatures; and lots more. Off-year elections are all about turnout. Wherever you live, help get out the vote. @hcrichardson.bsky.social
Ohio, where the GOP excels at cheating, will nonetheless have a competitive Senate race in 2026. What's a really cheap way to boost Dem turnout statewide? Run for every state legislative seat and crowdfund every candidate with @everystateblueoh.bsky.social.

Pro tip: You don't have to live in Ohio.
Join @everystatebluemo.bsky.social to crowdfund state legislative candidates running all over the state, including the ruby red parts. There are lots of Dems in MO--small recurring donations add up to lots of pro-democracy fight.
Hi friends! We should introduce ourselves...

We crowdfund for underfunded Dem nominees for MO state leg – who run in some of the reddest parts of MO.

We've been at this since 2017, supporting Dems in every corner of the state.

If you believe Dems should fight everywhere, we should be friends. 💙
Another reason why sustained support of pro-democracy efforts in the most GOP-rigged states, such as Missouri and Tennessee, is critical even if you don't live there? As @jvl.bsky.social details here, those states are now trying to impose their (extremist) will on other states.
No Kings and the Laws of Power
Understanding the Republican will to power and what Democrats must do to counter it.
open.substack.com
Crowdfund Dem infrastructure in 5 expansion states NOW to win in 2025, 2026 and beyond: Maine, Iowa, Alaska, Florida, and Texas. $60k raised already towards a $250k goal.

Learn more and donate:
secure.actblue.com/donate/hopiu...

@hopiumchronicles.bsky.social
⬇️So true. The rules for 2026 in Maine are being set in 3 weeks, in 2025. If GOP succeeds in making voting more difficult this year, it will be that much harder to win next year.
There’s 1,000 times more chatter about the Maine senate race in a year than about Maine’s ballot measure in 3 weeks that’d bring voter ID and crack down on mail voting… maybe let’s start there??? boltsmag.org/maine-questi...
A Ballot Measure Targets Mail Voting in Maine - Bolts
Question 1, on the November ballot, would set up a barrage of new restrictions on absentee ballots that would considerably affect older voters and people with disabilities.
boltsmag.org
Elect more Dems in Tennessee to keep @aftynbehn.bsky.social company! Join @everystatebluetn.bsky.social to crowd fund state legislative candidates in Tennessee.
NO Republican should ever go unopposed & with our giving community's help, we'll support every underfunded Democratic candidate running for TN state gov in 2026.

We grow the pot with small donations over time, ie $10/m goes a long way! Come join us 🔽
contribute.bluetennessee.org/join_tenness...
The best thing to do is start organizing at the local level and make sure you have candidates running in every race, at every level in every election. Nothing is more demoralizing than seeing a ballot with 8 Republicans running unopposed. Also the local county party has to be visible 24/7/365
A US House seat in Tennessee will be decided in a Dec 2 special election. Aftyn Behn is an experienced Dem fighter.

#FlipTN07 #Aftyn4TN
@aftynbehn.bsky.social
On Tuesday, we showed what was possible for Democrats in the Deep South.💙
I'm honored & humbled to be the Democratic nominee for Congress in TN-07. Now, let's take this fight national.

We've got 53 days until the election – you can power our work here: http://bit.ly/4q2FYF8
No need to wait until next year to get to work on elections or to donate. Choose a race coming up this fall from @taniel.bsky.social's guide.

Prop 50 in California (creates 5 new Dem-leaning US House seats in response to Texas creating 5 new GOP-leaning seats) is the starting gun for 2026.
NEW: November general elections are around the corner, so it’s time to launch my cheat sheet of what’s on the ballot this fall!

I guide you thru the *185* elections I'm watching, & why: lawmakers, governors, judges, DAs, mayors, school boards, & dozens of ballot measures.

Explore, share, save:
Your Cheat Sheet to the 2025 General Elections - Bolts
Four contests have come to largely define the 2025 elections: the elections to lead New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City, plus California’s redistricting measure. But there’s so much else... Read M...
boltsmag.org
We will not finance a war against Americans--our health care; our neighbors; our cities; our kids. No dollars for dictatorship.

Where are we in this fight and how did we get here--A must-read thread from @simonwdc.bsky.social
A central reason we're in this mess is that the final GOP budget is going to be full of ugly, deeply unpopular stuff - exploding deficits, destructive tariffs, cuts to health care/clear energy/food, supersizing ICE, tax cuts for billionaires - that Rs simply don't want to take responsibility for. 1/
Amazing work in Virginia by @90for90.bsky.social and @charlesgaba.com.
🚨“…Jennifer Boysko donated $5,000…bringing the total to over $6,500.

This was followed by contributions by…other…legislators.
…Senator Warner made a contribution…

…this created the momentum for us to reach $116,000 in less than a month.”🌟🔥
www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
This is What a Hero Looks Like
Jennifer Boysko is a Virginia State Senator whose story embodies what we are trying to do here with the Virginia Value Pack 27 (now up to over $116,000, just $19,000 short of the $135,000 goal). Here’...
www.dailykos.com
Local ABC stations that refused to air Jimmy Kimmel's return are owned by Sinclair and Nexstar. These networks are the less-obvious local versions of Fox news, and want to buy many more local stations.

@emptywheel.bsky.social explains how to push back on the stations and oppose new acquisitions.
Sinclair Makes Itself Visible - emptywheel
Yesterday's return of Jimmy Kimmel to ABC is not a time to declare victory. Now is the time to use the notoriety that the censoring screeds have acquired to push back on their efforts to extort contro...
www.emptywheel.net
Reposted by Laura Gottsman
Dear Ds in CA, NJ and VA - please vote on Day 1, or as early as you. When you vote early your names comes off GOTV rolls for the campaigns allowing them to move on to lower propensity voters, which increases D turnout and makes it more likely we win. Voting early = another way to help us win.
You know what entices great Dem candidates to run? A big pot of grassroots gold (aka "hard" money) waiting for them at the end of the primary. Give NOW to the eventual Dem nominee in these U.S. House races.

96% to Dem nominees. 4% to credit card fees. None to @charlesgaba.com or "overhead."
REMINDER: You can help flip #MI10 (and other GOP-held House seats in Michigan & other states) by donating to WHOEVER the Democratic nominee ends up being TODAY!

secure.actblue.com/donate/house...
NJ Voters! Get those mail-in ballots sent in TODAY! Voting early boosts overall turnout.

@mikiesherrill.bsky.social will skip over you and GOTV others that need a nudge to get their ballot in, driving turnout through the roof.
Let’s do this #NJ #NJPol

Get them in ASAP so they have it and your name gets crossed off any follow up list.

So @mikiesherrill.bsky.social and the team can concentrate on those that need a knock, txt, or call.
Reposted by Laura Gottsman
Suggestion: Instead of restoring your Disney+ subscription, how about if everyone signs up to donate $10/month (or whatever) to Democratic candidates the moment Kimmel’s show comes on tomorrow night?

Blue26.org
MAGA's failures have created opportunities we need to seize. Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan is now a target.

Lay the groundwork with EARLY money to state parties in 5 expansion states chosen by @simonwdc.bsky.social: Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Maine, and Texas.

secure.actblue.com/donate/hopiu...
Chip in!
Show your support with a contribution.
secure.actblue.com
Alaska Democratic Party Chair Eric Croft: "We have to campaign all year long--on, off years--and we have to do it everywhere." If you don't, "you leave these deserts where everyone thinks they're MAGA...as though they're the only story in town."
From Hopium:
- Trump enters the budget debate in a weak position. He and his agenda are very unpopular, his government is failing and polling suggests he and the Rs will be blamed for a damaging shutdown
- A great new intv with Alaska Dem Chair Eric Croft 👇
www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/trump-ente...
Trump Enters The Budget Debate In A Weak Position, A Conversation With Alaska Dem Chair Eric Croft
Keep voting good people of Virginia. Don't wait, vote this weekend and let's win this thing in the early vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
www.hopiumchronicles.com
Dem candidate Mel Cartwright's yard signs were being stolen, so she bought 2 elec billboards with donations from the VA Value Pack fund, just in time for early voting!

Vote on day one to supercharge turnout. Mel will skip you and GOTV others!
@pattirich.bsky.social
@90for90.bsky.social `
Just saw where funds reaching Melody Cartwright HD48 She was able to fund two billboards from the $$ from this fundraiser. Just in time for early voting starting tomorrow.
And, give to 27 VA Dems running in redder areas w/one click.

Early voting starts Friday, September 19th!

bsky.app/profile/char...
📣 I've also created a SECOND VA fundraising page focusing on the REDDEST districts in the state.

Most of these Dems won't win, but funding them means they can run competitive races & force VA Republicans to defend "safe" turf.

50 DAYS. DONATE TODAY! #Blue25

secure.actblue.com/donate/vaval...
Chip in!
Show your support with a contribution.
secure.actblue.com
Give to VA Dems running in competitive races w/one click.

Early voting starts Friday, September 19th!

bsky.app/profile/char...
📣 #VIRGINIA Dems need to keep control of the legislature and regain the Governor's office.

Massive protest turnout won't mean ANYTHING unless people also VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS UP & DOWN THE BALLOT.

50 DAYS. DONATE TODAY! #Blue25

secure.actblue.com/donate/vablu...
Chip in!
Show your support with a contribution.
secure.actblue.com
Amen to that. Dems running in redder places have a different job: force GOP to defend "safe" seats; help voters understand GOP is responsible for them losing health care, jobs, buyers; build power cycle over cycle.

And w/average 16% Dem over-performance in 2025, some of them will win.
" @cgreen2024.bsky.social said she understands most resources should be directed at those in competitive or potentially flippable seats, but says a little bit would go a long way for candidates like herself.

BINGO. No one's saying longshot Dems should get *equal* funding, but they need SOME.
The Virginia grassroots has organized the state into 9 "Power Pack" regions, where activists work on a set of races from school board to Governor.

Year round, cycle after cycle.

A big reason your money goes a long way in VA! Voting starts Sept 19! @networknova.bsky.social @90for90.bsky.social
What's even better than winning the NJ Governor's race this November? A Democratic majority in the state legislature too.

Support all the Dem candidates with one simple click. Not a PAC! 96% of money raised goes directly to candidates; 4% to credit card fees. Thanks to @charlesgaba.com
Chip in!
Show your support with a contribution.
secure.actblue.com
Reposted by Laura Gottsman
📣 #NEWJERSEY may seem like a blue state, but we can't take it for granted, especially for Governor.

My Virginia fundraising effort has been very successful, but the NEW JERSEY page needs some love as well!

54 DAYS TO GO; donate today! #Blue25

secure.actblue.com/donate/njblu...
Chip in!
Show your support with a contribution.
secure.actblue.com