Hella Hopeful - the 2022 Gallardo Campaign
For the 2022 Election season, I had the honor of managing the Stephanie Gallardo campaign for Congress in Washington’s 9th Congressional District. This campaign embraced me - a jaded, disillusioned, former voting justice organizer who had lost direction - and lit a flame of hope in me that burns to this day. I was given opportunities to build skills, I learned valuable lessons, and most importantly, I made connections to beautiful community members that continue to be lights for me in moments of darkness. The Gallardo campaign taught me that true movements transcend campaign cycles, because they are rooted in community. My community and our struggle for liberation will endure. I remain grateful, and #hellahopeful!
Here are some personal reflections and highlights:
- I am so proud that Stephanie Gallardo won over 22,000 votes in the primary, in a non-presidential year! I was grateful for our scrappy little field program that staged most of our canvasses out of public parks and libraries, and registered and inspired many new voters. We had an incredible, passionate youth team, and even collaborated with other efforts like Initiative -135 House or Neighbors, and the Transit Riders Union effort to Raise the Minimum Wage in Tukwila. It was through knocking doors and tabling at farmer’s markets that we forged deep friendships.
- Stephanie ran as a proud daughter of immigrants, a socialist, a union member, and a teacher. She refused big-business donations and raised nearly $200,000 from her base of working people. Her 26 year incumbent opponent, Adam Smith, had over $1 million, primarily from defense contract companies, and used his position as Chair of the House Armed Services Committee to increase budgets for weapon-makers, fueling war, displacement, and death. Money was absolutely a major factor in this race, as we struggled to have capacity to purchase campaign tools and materials, pay staff, and function. Until we as a society take money out of our politics, those politics will never be truly accessible to the people.
- Stephanie advocated unapologetically for fully funding our education systems, a Green New Deal, Medicare for All, an end to American imperialism and a free Palestine, signing the Philippine Human Rights Act, rent control, and full reproductive rights including abortion and gender affirming healthcare – and so much more! In this campaign, I felt a genuine love for our district and our people, infused in every effort.
- Establishment Democrats held the door closed on Stephanie, blockading her from endorsements, resources, and support. This included Dem leaders, many of them people of color, who call themselves “progressive” but were too afraid to challenge the party powers. I saw firsthand how the Democratic party can actively harm progressive efforts, and learned to maintain a healthy criticism of these corporate parties.
- We never truly lost because we centered our values. Even when it became clear that this uphill election battle wasn’t one we were going to win, we stuck with our values. We grounded ourselves in antiracist and antiimperialist principles, knowing that what we said, while we had a platform mattered. Stephanie never wavered as a beacon of resilience and hope, despite all that she faced. Her courage and her commitments make me hopeful that no matter what barriers these institutions try to enact, the people will always rise.
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