New and Infrequent Voters Propel Democratic Victory
Young, Pro-immigrant and Latino Voters Vote in Historic Numbers
FIRM Action’s Unite the Vote campaign engaged 2.2 million infrequent voters in 17 states, demonstrating voting bloc’s power at the polls
Washington, D.C.—FIRM Action, the country’s largest immigrant rights network, reached 2.2 million voters in 17 states as part of the Unite the Vote campaign that layered peer-to-peer organizing and digital organizing to turnout infrequent voters, including Latinos, immigrants, black voters, women and young people. The network tapped into existing relationships with the community to mobilize voters and flip the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Yesterday our families, friends, neighbors and allies showed up in full force to send a clear message to this administration,” said Kica Matos, spokesperson for FIRM Action. “We will not be silenced or pushed into the corner; instead we will fight for our right to exist freely, to thrive in our communities and to live the lives we have built in this country that we call home. Donald Trump wanted a referendum on immigration and he got it. ”
The Unite the Vote campaign focused its efforts on flipping some of the most competitive House seats with a significant percentage of Latino, immigrant and young voters this cycle as part of a three-year plan to secure an immigration agenda that values all families. FIRM Action groups have deep ties to the communities they represent. In fact, most of the volunteers and staff live and work in the same communities they worked tirelessly to mobilize to the polls. Using trusted messengers is at the heart of the work of FIRM Action, not only during an election, but year-round.
By engaging infrequent voters early and often, FIRM Action is building lasting power and changing the face of the electorate.
“The results of the election are a direct correlation of the thousands of volunteer hours, millions of doors knocked, phone calls made and text messages sent by inspiring leaders across the country,” added Grecia Lima, political director of the Center for Community Change Action. “Only through organizing ourselves and our communities can we truly effect changes that will last generations and make the lives of immigrants and people of color better. It is the only way we can ensure a future that is bright for everyone.”
The election results make it clear that voters across America want solutions to their problems, not a scapegoat in the form of black and brown people. Republicans adopted a strategy of divide and conquer, and underestimated the power of immigrants and people of color.
Unite the Vote reached voters nationwide, with advanced on-the-ground operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
"Latinos and immigrants make up an important sector in society and no divisive, nationalist, racist rhetoric will frighten us to submission,” said Angelica Salas, CHIRLA Action Fund executive director. We will not be silent, we will continue fighting because this is our home, this is our community, this is our nation. Beyond today's election, we will continue to organize, educate, and mobilize to ensure Congress moves forward fair and humane laws that strengthen families not separate them.
FIRM Action partners this cycle included: Promise Arizona Action, CHIRLA Action Fund, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Action Fund, Florida Immigrant Coalition Votes, ICIRR Action, Kansas People’s Action, CASA in Action, Make the Road Action, PLAN Action Fund, TIRRC Votes, SOMOS Accion, OneAmerica Votes, and Voces de la Frontera Action.
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