Year in Review 12-30-2020
We end 2020 with a renewed sense of hope that our country will finally be able to reset its moral compass after four bruising years of Donald Trump. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will make good government matter again.
This year will be defined by the pandemic. It impacted every aspect of our lives and became a central part of the election season. It changed the way we voted and the way candidates campaigned. Congress even changed its rules during the pandemic, allowing remote voting for the first time in its 231-year history.
In Congress, there were many legislative accomplishments on the House side. The House passed more than 440 bills dealing with issues such as election security, expanding the Affordable Care Act, and raising the minimum wage. The Senate only focused on confirming Trump's extreme conservative judges.
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This year was still filled with election activity. We stayed busy at home calling and texting voters, and sending out postcards. We sent out more than 40,000 postcards to key battleground states, helping to boost voter turnout.
We barely had time to catch our breath after the November election before we began our efforts to elect Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock in the Georgia special Senate runoff. We sent more than 20,000 postcards to help their election efforts, as well.
We mourned the passing of iconic Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was a role model to many and a champion of our sacred rights. Mitch McConnell refused to honor her dying wish, and his commitment to our democracy, that her replacement not be made until after the election.
Despite being home for most of the year, we have never felt closer to you -- our JAC members. Our new virtual Zoom world allowed us to connect with you and share JAC events and discussions with policy experts.
With your support, JAC was able to contribute to more than 100 races. Our candidates fought hard and, while the results were not what we hoped, we still can feel proud that we made a difference. We are please to be sending three new women to the House and two new Senators to Congress.
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We are sad to say goodbye to our friends Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) and several House members, including Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY), Max Rose (D-NY), Donna Shalala (D-FL), Debbie Mucarsel Powell (D-FL), and Abby Finkenauer (D-IA), who lost their seats. We bid farewell to Reps. Susan Davis (D-CA) and Nita Lowey (D-NY), who are retiring this year. We are grateful for their contributions to public service and their friendship.
On a personal note, we mourned the loss of our dear friend and colleague Linda Rae Sher, who served as JAC's Director of Special Projects. Linda started JAC in 1980 and her vision has propelled JAC to be an important force in politics.
Other 2020 Highlights
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JAC's Power of Women fundraising luncheon held annually in Chicago went virtual this year, allowing women from across the country to participate. It was an honor to spend time with Speaker Nancy Pelosi in our own homes!
Our Zoom events featured Holocaust historian Deborah Lipstadt, NARAL president Ilyse Hogue, Cook Political Report House Editor David Wasserman, Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Sean Casten (D-IL), and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) -- just to name a few of our special guests. Topics ranged from Israel, choice, election security, and antisemitism. We also held online fundraisers for a number of 2020 Congressional candidates including Steve Bullock (D-MT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Sara Gideon (D-ME).
Our work at JAC to protect our issues is never done. We are already gearing up for 2022, which we are expecting to be a tough election year. We hold a narrow majority in the House and need to work hard to keep our friends in Congress.
We look forward to your participation in 2021. Please renew your membership or make an additional contribution, if you can. Again, thank you for your continued support and interest.
Happy New Year. Stay Safe.
