TJ Cox’ come from behind win surprised almost everyone and put California’s southern Central Valley in the national spotlight. The region also had other important wins that are raising its profile in California politics and filling the local pipeline.
It was a long, intensive, voter by voter and ballot by ballot process. There were many intersecting players and strategies inside the region and coming from the Bay Area. Voter education and canvassing began in 2017 or earlier. In four counties, polls were watched, ballot counting was monitored and challenged ballots were chased down, one by one. It went on through the month of November.
Join us for a lively and informative discussion of what happened in CA 21 and lessons that can be drawn for 2020 and the Census. Speakers will report on what went on before election day and as the vote count stretched on, afterwards. They’ll also talk about how data and metrics can help us understand what worked and didn’t.
Recently elected officials will talk about their constituents, their campaigns and their priorities. These young people are what the future looks like.
Speakers (partial list):
Camila Chavez and Pam Whalen, Dolores Huerta Foundation (confirmed)
Melissa Hurtado, newly elected State Senator District 14 (invited)
Brian Osorio, newly elected Delano City Councilmember (confirmed)
Fran Schreiberg, Working America (invited)
This is the first in an ongoing quarterly series that aims to sustain involvement of Bay Area activists and organizations in civic engagement in the Central Valley. Future sessions will focus on other Valley districts (including CA 10), and on opportunities for Bay Area and Central Valley joint action. We’ll explore issues that matter most to Valley voters and their families -- as issues can inspire them to engage in the 2020 ground game and the Census.
THE CENTRAL VALLEY 2020 FORUM IS ORGANIZED BY: OFA Berkeley/Albany + THE PHONE BANK COALITION
Our friends and partners include: THE DOLORES HUERTA FOUNDATION + EAST BAY FOR TJ
We welcome other organizations that wish to participate in this project.