We’ll be holding an in-person Election Retreat in Milwaukee, from March 19 through the April 1 election. For more information and to register, click HERE.
If you’re stunned by the speed and ferocity of Donald Trump’s moves to dismantle the Federal government, you’re not alone. Fight back by supporting liberal Susan Crawford in her race for a seat on the Wisconsin State Supreme Court.
On April 1, Wisconsin will hold a general election to fill a vacant State Supreme Court seat, with liberal Susan Crawford running against conservative Brad Schimel. At stake are issues such as the new Wisconsin congressional district map, abortion rights, and collective bargaining for state employees. (To read a NY Times article on this election click HERE.). Wisconsin is a key battleground state, and will be pivotal in the 2026 and 2028 elections.
This election is similar to the 2023 campaign that saw Janet Protasiewicz defeat her conservative opponent by 11 percentage points and flip the court to a 4-3 liberal majority – which in turn paved the way to have state district maps drawn in a much more equitable way. That race featured $56 million in spending, making it the most expensive judicial election in history – and this next race may match or exceed it.
Inauguration Blog
Rob Lyons traveled to Washington, DC to attend events surrounding the second inauguration of Donald Trump. Click HERE to read his blogs.
Election Aftermath
We begin by offering our gratitude and appreciation for all those who contributed to our Engaged Buddhist Election campaigns this year. From the Sit 4 Democracy in May, through the Postcard Writing retreats over the summer, to the visits to the two Conventions, to the residential Get-Out-the-Vote retreats in Nevada and Wisconsin: thank you for organizing, thank you for funding and attending, thank you for writing, for speaking, and for hosting us and feeding us and driving us around and encouraging us, thank you for your friendship, thank you for your companionship: thank you for joining together to create a strong warm supportive family. This is the rarest and most treasured gift from this year: our sangha.
Amid the disappointment of Donald Trump’s re-election, our dharma sister Chris Fortin brings us this poem by Rebecca Solnit: The Case for Hope. And for those who intend to remain engaged and are seeking a plan of action, Rob Lyons offers his thoughts in Now What?
Despite losing the Presidency, the Senate and the House, there were a few bright spots: Senator Tammy Baldwin was re-elected in Wisconsin and Senator Jackie Rosen was re-elected in Nevada — both states where we held Election Retreats, and contributed mightily with our steadfast effort. As of this writing there is still one House race yet to be called: CA-13, where Democrat Adam Gray is hoping to prevail over Republican John Duarte. If this holds, Republicans will hold a 220-215 majority, the slimmest majority in recent memory. Given the Republican caucus’ recent turmoil (remember that last year they ousted their own Speaker, Kevin McCarthy), it may be very difficult for them to govern effectively, which will likely slow down the execution of Donald Trump’s legislative agenda.
For a wrap-up and retrospective on our various projects from the past six months:
In-Person Residential Get-Out-The-Vote Retreats in Nevada and Wisconsin. In Carson City, Milwaukee and Oconomowoc, forty people came together live together in sangha, to walk precincts, and knock on doors to Get Out the Vote.
Election Retreat Blog. Click HERE to read Rob Lyons’ observations and reflections from the two conventions, and from residential Election Retreats in Milwaukee and Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
Election Retreat Dharma Talks. During our in-person retreats in Nevada and Wisconsin we received teachings from Taigen Dan Leighton, Reirin Gumbel, Zenshin Florence Caplow, Hozan Alan Senauke, Steve Nakasone, and Rob Lyons. Click HERE for a listing of all talks, with links to recordings.
Postcard Writing. A recap of our ten Postcard Writing retreats, from July through October.
Sit 4 Democracy. We raised $50,000 through sponsors and participants, which we donated to the Movement Voter Project, which contributed to local grassroots organizations — both to Get Out the Vote, and also for longterm capacity building.