Before we whoop and cheer for our great election victories yesterday, please take a few minutes to call Senator Baldwiin's office — 202-224-5653 or contact her online — to urge her not to vote for the Republican stop-gap budget measure without a rock solid agreement with specific language to reverse the cuts to the Obamacare subsidies. Tell her not to make pie-in-the-sky deals with Trump and the GOP.
Here's why it is imperative that we all call her today! According to an article in the The American Prospect, Baldwin is one of eight Democratic Senators who are "huddling with Republicans to reach agreement on fiscal year 2026 spending bills, as a crowbar to force open the government. There are eight Democrats in the gang, enough to break a filibuster on a funding bill." David Dayen, the author of the piece, calls the potential agreement "a pinky swear" because apparently the Democrats are only seeking "strong assurances" about funding the health insurance subsidies, not a specific plan. But neither Minority Leader Schumer nor the odious orange man occupying what's left of the White House are engaged in these negotiations! Dayen writes that "Democrats are dealing with incredibly untrustworthy people." Indeed. We need more than assurances and empty promises.
Now to the good news. You have no doubt seen
- that Abigail Spanberger won the Virginia race for governor by nearly 15 points;
- that Mikie Sherril won the New Jersey race for governor by 13 points;
- that Zohran Mamdani won the race for mayor of New York City with over 50% of the vote even though there were two other candidates on the ballot;
- that all three justices of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court were retained by votes of more than 60% each;
- that California voted "YES" with 63% of the vote on the referendum to redistrict the state.
Also, it sounds like Maryland is ready to work on congressional redistricting to counter the gerrymanders the GOP is creating.
I could go on: it was a massive clean sweep pretty much everywhere, including in Georgia where two Democrats won statewide office on Georgia's utility board, upsetting two incumbent Republicans!
Ross Douthat (opinion columnist for the New York Times) throws a little, predictable shade on Mamdani's triumph by arguing that his big win does not mean a "new dawn for the Democratic Party" because "the New York mayor’s office has historically been a 'springboard to nowhere,' rather than a precursor for national politics." But there's plenty to celebrate in his win and the wins up and down the ballot in all the states with elections yesterday. In particular, I recommend that you listen to Mamdani's acceptance speech for some especially well-crafted points, even if you don't agree with all his policies. (It runs just over 23 minutes. Or you can read the transcript.) Mamdani is the source for the subject line of today's newsletter: "TURN THE VOLUME UP" he admonishes Trump, presumably so Trump can HEAR what voters are saying. And we echo the sentiment. We will be louder, we will be bolder, and we will win!
Meanwhile, some Republicans are poo-pooing the results: ‘These are all blue states’: Some Republicans downplay election losses. It should be noted, though, that several of the states that saw big Democratic gains had voted for Trump in 2024. The wannabe dictator took to his favorite propaganda machine, Truth Social, to write, in all caps, “‘TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,’ according to Pollsters,” without naming any of the polls (Huffpost, November 5, 2025). I'm not sure he realizes that if his opponents won because of the shutdown, perhaps he and his enablers were responsible for the shutdown in the minds of yesterday's voters. Not his usual message.
In the latest Marquette poll of 846 registered voters in Wisconsin, "among all respondents, 38 percent blamed Republicans in Congress for the shutdown, while 33 percent blamed Democrats. Another 28 percent blamed both parties" (Urban Milwaukee, October 30, 2025). Get the full skinny at the Marquette Law School poll. Oddly enough, whoever wrote the analysis of the numbers, says that "voters are about evenly divided over which party is most responsible for the shutdown of the federal government." The difference in the percent of those who blame Republicans and those who blame Democrats may be within the margin of error for this poll (±3.3 percentage points), but in light of the drubbing the MAGA movement took yesterday the difference feels pretty real to me. Also, apparently the person most responsible — Donald Trump — is not included in the way the poll asked this question!
While Trump and his well-heeled buddies partied like there's no tomorrow on Halloween, millions of Americans were losing the support they need to put sufficient food on the table for their families. Loss of SNAP benefits, for example, is likely to lead to pregnancy complications. "Many studies have shown adequate nutrition is essential for a developing fetus, and a January study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found food insecurity in pregnancy is associated with medical complications. Risks include preeclampsia, preterm birth and NICU admission" (Wisconsin Examiner, October 31, 2025). But Trump has already said he doesn't want to use the contingency fund for SNAP even though two courts have ruled that he needs to restart SNAP benefits. See CNBC's article on the matter.
So to sum up, it looks like we're seeing the formation of a blue wave for the 2026 election! The last several elections for Wisconsin's Supreme Court were certainly blowouts on the magnitude of the wins we saw last night across the country. It is up to us to make it happen, not just in the supreme court race we will see in April, but in the races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state treasurer, secretary of state, all assembly districts, and half of the state senate races. Aside from the statewide races that will be so consequential for us, Grassroots North Shore plans to focus our electoral work on some nearby, flippable assembly, state senate and congressional seats. To start us off, it would be great if you could spare a donation to Jessica Seawright, who is running to beat incumbent Jessie Rodriguez in Assembly District 21 just south of Milwaukee. I'll be providing more information about the voting histories of the districts we will be targeting, but for now you need to remember that "early money is like yeast: it makes the dough rise!" Please be as generous as you can.
EVENTS
Thursday, November 6
Voter Registration Training, 6:00 - 7:30pm
Location provided in confirmation email
Join the League of Women Voters to learn how to register voters so you can volunteer for the upcoming election season! Registration required.
Red Wine & Blue Family Meeting: 2025 Elections and What's Next, 6:30 - 7:30pm
Virtual
It’s time to come together and celebrate all the hard work you put in this election season! Join us and other members of the RWB community at our annual Family Meeting. This will be the time to hear the results as well as inspiring stories from some of the most consequential local races in the country, talk about what we’ve learned, and where we’re headed next. This is our space to reconnect, recharge, and remind ourselves of the impact we’ve made and the power we have when we show up together. You’ll leave feeling supported, inspired, and ready to take on what’s ahead in 2026 — with your RWB family by your side. See you there! Sign up.
Friday, November 7
courage+ family gala 2025, 5:30pm
Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee
This year, we’re not only celebrating 10 years of coming together to support LGBTQ+ youth. The 2025 gala also will mark our inaugural year as Courage+ and, with it, our extended reach beyond Milwaukee. More information and buy tickets.
Saturday, November 8
Tosa Weekly Peaceful Protest, 12:00 - 1:00pm
Corners of 76th and Bluemound & 76th and North, Wauwatosa
East Castle Saturday Group Protest, 1:00 - 1:30pm
Downer Ave, between Bradford Ave and Lake Drive.
Meet on the east side of the street, Downer Ave, between Bradford Ave and Lake Drive.
Sunday, November 9
What's Happening to the US Economy? Does it still work?, 4:30 - 6:00pm
Virtual
The US economy faces increasing headwinds due to the administration's dangerous economic policies. Our panel will explain how the economy works and how to counter the misinformation, manipulation and economic threats we face.
Our Panel of Experts
- Dr. William Holahan is an emeritus professor of economics and authors economic policy articles for a variety of local publications.
- Luz Sosa is the founder of an organization that provides financial literacy training. She also teaches a wide range of economic topics.
- Dr. Michael Rosen is an author and professor who taught economics for 29 years and served as president of the faculty union.
Monday, November 10
Brennan Center for Justice presents Troops in American Cities, 2:00 - 3:00pm
Virtual
Our military is trained to defeat enemies, not to police American citizens. That’s why President Trump’s troop deployments in Los Angeles, DC, Chicago, Portland, Memphis, and potentially other cities pose real threats to civil liberties and the rule of law. The Posse Comitatus Act generally prohibits the military from engaging in civilian law enforcement, with few exceptions. SPEAKERS: Elizabeth Goitein, Senior Director, Brennan Center Liberty and National Security Program // William L. Enyart, Major General (ret.), U.S. Army; Former U.S. representative (D-IL); Former member, House Armed Services Committee // Moderator: Michael Waldman, President, Brennan Center. RSVP.
Tuesday, November 11
Astor Street Regulars: Chief Justice Jill Karofsky, 12:00pm
Wisconsin Club, 900 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee
Chief Justice Jill J. Karofsky was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court August 1, 2020. Chosen by her colleagues, she became Chief Justice on July 1, 2025. Before serving on the Supreme Court, Justice Karofsky served as a Judge on the Dane County Circuit Court from 2017 to 2020. Her thoughts on leadership: "I want to lead with empathy first, I want to lead with kindness first.” Please respond by Wednesday, Nov. 5th. RSVP to Phyllis Bankier. Lunch will be $35. Cash preferred, pay at the door. We must hold you to your reservations as we are charged for all lunches not canceled 5 days before the event. NOTE: There are only 70 seats available for this luncheon.
Shorewood Resists Weekly Overpass Protest, 4:00 - 5:30pm
Capitol Dr I43 Overpass, Shorewood
Stand up to authoritarianism! We are protesting every Tuesday. Everyone is welcome! Bring a sign or use one of ours. Find updates and more events on Facebook at Shorewood Resists.
Milwaukee Veterans for Peace: Armistice Day, 6:30 - 8:00pm
Central United Methodist Church, 639 N 25th St, Milwaukee
Music begins at 6:30pm and program starts at 7pm.
Thursday, November 13
Virtual
Confused about how elections actually work? Ever just nod along when people start talking about primaries, caucuses, and conventions? You’re not alone — especially with elections dominating the news lately, bringing even more confusion and disinformation. Join us to learn how Americans pick their leaders. We’ll break down the difference between primaries and general elections, explain what’s actually happening at those national conventions, and talk about how ballot initiatives and referendums let voters make big decisions directly. You’ll leave confident, informed, and ready to impress your friends with your newfound civic smarts. See you there! Sign up.
Monday, November 17
Election Meeting 2025/ November General Membership Meeting for Milwaukee County Dems, 5:30pm
Washington Park Senior Center, 4420 W Vilet St, Milwaukee
Registration will take place from 5:30 - 6:15pm. The meeting will begin at 6:00. You must be a member of the party to vote. The deadline for becoming a member in order to vote in this election is November 7, 2025. The bylaws governing the election can be found here.
Tuesday, November 18
Shorewood Resists Weekly Overpass Protest, 4:00 - 5:30pm
Capitol Dr I43 Overpass, Shorewood
Stand up to authoritarianism! We are protesting every Tuesday. Everyone is welcome! Bring a sign or use one of ours. Find updates and more events on Facebook at Shorewood Resists.
Wednesday, November 19
Banned Book Club: The Best We Could Do, 6:30pm
Virtual
The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui is an illustrated memoir describing the experience of the author’s parents living in Vietnam before and during the VietnamWar, and then their escape to the United States as refugees when Bui was just a child. It was targeted for banning in a California public library system with the reason given that it was not suitable for people under 18. Sign up.
Ozaukee Democrats Monthly Meeting, 7:00 - 8:00pm
1245 Cheyenne Ave., #103, Grafton
Join us for our monthly meeting to get the latest updates on our fight to turn Ozaukee County blue and find out how you can help.
Save the Date
Thursday, November 20
Fund the Flip event for Robyn Vining, 6:00 - 8:00pm
Location provided upon registration
Representative Robyn Vining is running for WI State Senate District 5 in what has been deemed the most “flippable” seat in the entire state legislature. No one knows how to “flip" better than Robyn! She was the first Democrat to flip a legislative seat on the most gerrymandered map in the country in 2018, and she's defeated all of her Republican opponents since then. Her most recent flip was in 2024, when she soundly defeated the incumbent after she was redistricted into the 13th District, winning 57% of the vote. Another flip! Robyn is a great candidate and an even better legislator. And she’s our best chance to break long-held Republican control of our state legislature in order to begin governing again for all Wisconsinites. Learn more about Robyn. RSVP for Fund the Flip.
Waukesha Dems Monthly Meeting: Supreme Court Candidate Chris Taylor, 7:00 - 8:30pm
Southminster Presbyterian Church, 200 Richard St., Waukesha
Join us as we welcome Judge Chris Taylor to talk about her campaign for the WI Supreme Court. We will also be holding leadship elections at this meeting. Please come early to facilitate a smooth sign in and timely start to the meeting.
Saturday, November 22
Coffee, Tea & Democracy, 10:00 - 11:00am
1245 Cheyenne Avenue, Ste 103, Grafton
Stop by the Dem office on the last Saturday of every month from 10 - 11am for this new event!
Q: What is it?
A: A fun and safe space where ideas will percolate and tea is spilt.
We provide refreshments. You bring yourself, and a friend. See you there!
Local Actions to Fight Climate Change, 10:00am - 12:00pm
West Allis
The League of Women Voters of Milwaukee presents Local Actions to Fight Climate Change, featuring Erick Shambarger, City of Milwaukee Environmental Collaboration Office, and Grant Helle, Milwaukee County Sustainability Director. Learn about our local governments’ efforts to address climate change. Register.
Grassroots North Shore Poster Party, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Shorewood Recreation & Community Services, 1701 E Capitol Dr, Shorewood
Be ready for any rally! Express yourself and say what needs to be said! Make your own poster -- GRNS supplies the materials on Saturday, November 22nd, 10:30 - noon; Shorewood recreation center. RSVP to Shirley Horowitz.
Tosa Weekly Peaceful Protest, 12:00 - 1:00pm
Corners of 76th and Bluemound & 76th and North, Wauwatosa
East Castle Saturday Group Protest, 1:00 - 1:30pm
Downer Ave, between Bradford Ave and Lake Drive.
Meet on the east side of the street, Downer Ave, between Bradford Ave and Lake Drive.
Sunday, November 23
Packers vs. Vikings Watch Party Fundraiser, 12:00pm
Tulip Tavern, 509 6th St, Racine
A FUNdraiser for Trevor Jung, Democrat for State Senate District 21. Senate District 21 is the most competitive, winnable district in Wisconsin next year. Vice President Harris and Senator Baldwin received 50% and 51% of the vote here respectively. Winning this seat is essential to securing a Democratic majority in the Wisconsin State Senate—and together, we can make it happen. So let’s fire up the campaign, cheer on the Packers, and build the team it will take to win this race. All are welcome to attend. If you can pitch in, the suggested donation is $30 in honor of my 30th birthday — but if you can give even more, we're also seeking sponsors for this event. RSVP and/or donate.
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