Dear Lucas,
Two weeks after New Yorkers went to the polls, three state senate races remain too close to call. Just a few hundred votes separate victory from defeat in these crucial races, and the fate of the State Senate hangs in the balance -- along with any hope of seeing progress on marriage equality and women's rights in the next legislative session.
In all three races - in Buffalo, Westchester and Nassau - progressive Senators are caught up in challenges from Republicans who would turn back the clock on the rights of New Yorkers. We cannot let that happen.
We're confident that Democrats can emerge victorious in each of these races, but only if we match Republicans dollar for dollar and make sure every vote is counted.
Can you contribute $10, $25 or even $50 to protect the vote and safeguard the rights of New Yorkers?
In the last legislative session, Democrats made important, but incomplete strides on behalf of women and LGBT New Yorkers. We enacted no-fault divorce, and passed legislation protecting domestic violence survivors and domestic workers. We supported women-owned businesses and expanded women's access to reproductive health choices. And while it did not pass, we brought a marriage equality bill to the floor of the Senate for the first time ever.
If Republicans retake the State Senate, they will redraw the districts in their favor to maintain their own power. If that happens, it will be years before we see real action on any of these issues. In some instances, we may even see what progress we've made rolled back.
What happens in these races in the next few weeks will determine the rights of many New Yorkers for years to come.
Contribute $10, $25 or $50 to protect the vote and prevent a Republican power grab.
With your help, we'll protect every vote and maintain our majority. And when the legislative session starts in January, we'll continue our work expanding the rights of all New Yorkers.
Thanks for your support,
Liz