It’s been a stressful year for people engaged in national politics. With the election of Donald Trump to the presidency, a return that is coupled with Republican Congressional takeover and Supreme Court domination, that stress is perfectly understandable. Over the past months, many have been asking themselves “What can I do in this moment?” The answers have largely come in the form of nationwide pushes that, though necessary, oftentimes leave many feeling more hopeless than ever.
But politics don’t just exist at the national level. It’s time to remember an old phrase that many of us might take for granted after hearing it said so many times in campaign after campaign: politics are local. There are going to be municipal races happening in your community over the upcoming years, and you need to be ready to fight in them because…
3 | We Need Allies At Every Level
Trump’s executive orders might be rolling out nationwide, but the effects will be felt at home in our own backyards.
As important as it is to have Congressional leaders fighting the good fight in D.C., the people who are going to be fighting against draconian policies in your hometown live and work locally. City councilors, mayors, school boards, and other elected officials in your town will be the people determining how state and federal political moves play out in your community.
You may think these officials will be largely powerless in nationwide fights, but city or town officials can stand up and create change around the edges of state and federal policies. School boards and other local bodies will determine the safety of our students, community members, and more. Every ally in any level of government is one more roadblock to the rollout of harmful policy. They’ve never been more important.
Beyond that, it’s going to take a movement to beat back the Trump administration, and…
2 | Your Local Leaders Can Help Build Your Movement
You can’t win without a movement, and government officials often have a reliable base they can call upon to support their initiatives and policy plans.
Stopping Trump’s momentum is going to take more than simply waiting on the next national election cycle. To beat the right-wing surge we’re seeing nationwide, we have to organize in our communities. This means building deep networks that can collectively stand against the worst excesses of federal and state policy. Elected officials can help tremendously.
Getting elected officials on your side means bringing their base of supporters onto your side as well. They have oftentimes spent years networking amongst their constituents, and know what makes them tick. By working with them, and building campaigns around them, you can bring in new people to your movement and forge long-lasting connections with political leaders who will help you mobilize them when you need to.
That’s just the short-term benefit. It helps that in the long term…
1 | You’re Building A Bench for Future Large Scale Campaigns
The community leaders you help take charge today could be national leaders tomorrow. Building the bench of viable candidates in your state is critical. Especially if you’re in a red state with a weakened Democratic Party.
Organizing your school board, city council, mayoral, or other local races not only gives you critical experience but helps you and your fellow community members support future changemakers. Today’s school board member could be tomorrow’s Senator, and they’re going to remember the people who got them started.
By focussing on the local level, you’re seeing that the bench of future candidates for large races is full of people who you know you can count on – people who share your values. At the end of the day, the fight for a better future will be a long one. Why not fight alongside people you can trust?
So – What are your thoughts on local efforts in the face of nationwide upheaval? Are you plugged into your community?
Sound off below!
