THREAD

In the past week, the names @RobinsonForOH @JessicaEMiranda @RepWeinstein @phh4Toledo and @Vote4Schiller have come up a lot in my phone calls with candidates from around Ohio

1/

One of the toughest but most important things you do as Chair is calling candidates who left it all on the field, and didn't prevail--usually for reasons way beyond their control.

And no doubt that happened in Ohio last week

I've called many, yet still have more calls to go

2/

So why I have been talking about Phil, Jessica, Casey, Paula, and Jill?

Because they won last week, which they all did?

No.

Because they lost...in '16, '18, or '19

Their stories teach one of the most important lessons in politics.

That it's a long game...of addition

3/

Phil, Jessica and Casey all ran strong state rep races in 2016, narrowly losing in their 1st runs for office when a larger than expected Trump wave put their races out of reach

Each got up, dusted themselves off & ran again in 2018.

Each went on to win in 2018. Narrowly.

4/

All three have gone on to be strong state representatives in Columbus.

And last week, despite some of the headwinds out there, each went on to win...by more than they won by in 2018.

Congrats to all three.

5/

Then there's @phh4Toledo -- she had a close election as Mayor a few years back, didn't quite prevail, but later was appointed state rep., and has become a strong leader in the Statehouse and in the Dem caucus.

She was just re-elected.

6/

Then there's @jillschill -- she ran in a very tough and heavily gerrymandered Second District in 2018. After not prevailing there, she turned around and ran for Hamilton County Treasurer.

Jill won last week--becoming the first Dem Treasurer in more than half a century.

7/

Their lesson: you can't control everything in politics. Sometimes you run in tough districts. Sometimes you run in tough years.

And for many, the first election is a loss, usually for reasons wholly separate from your and your teams' effort.

8/

A lot of candidates in Ohio and around the country just endured this. For Congress. For statehouse. For local office.

Many outraised their opponents, even incumbents. Many outworked their opponents. Many got the endorsements. Many got attacked in absurd and nasty ways.

9/

(I've seen some commenters question the "bench" in Ohio--if you watched those that just ran so hard across the state, you'd know that wasn't the issue)

But despite all that hard work, for reasons beyond their control, most challengers didn't win. Here, or around the country

10/

But as w Phil, Paula, Jill, Casey & Jessica, what many candidates just did is get their start.

They built up their name and respect in their community.

They built an army of volunteers & supporters.

And the lesson from Phil and Jessica?

Keep going. Keep building.

11/

Almost everyone who had your yard sign in your yard will put it there again.

Almost everyone who volunteered for you will do so again.

Same w donors. Same w voters.

They supported you for a reason, and they will do so again.

Now it's time to add more. And more. And more.

12/

And there are local offices where your leadership and public service is needed

Like @jillschill , the stature you just gained by running could propel you into an important local leadership position.

Or, like Jessica or Casey or Phil, the district you just ran in might be..

13/

...winnable in 2 years. Both because it's a different year, with different dynamics.

And because you will only keep adding to your support

And especially because we will have new, more fair districts for 2022--in part because of a new, more fair Ohio Supreme Court

14/

We just endured the last year of the most extreme gerrymandering our state has ever seen, and many of those who ran and lost largely because of a rigged district can turn around and run in a more competitive district in only two years.

So keep building.

Keep adding.

15/

And of course some won't run again, for a variety of reasons.

And you too are owed the deepest gratitude.

2020 will be looked back on as one of the most important election outcomes in our country's history.

As the year we saved our democracy.

16/

And anyone on the ballot in 2020--firing up Democrats and your community to show up and vote, airing the message in your neck of the woods, forcing the other side to have to fight it out in every part of the state and country--played a part of this historic national victory

17/

The collective energy in both red states and blue states, requiring GOP resources and time to be expended far beyond the battleground states Trump had to win, was a key to Biden's victory, and everyone who ran at every level and supported those who ran at every level were part...

.of that winning effort

When you're asked in the future, what did you do in '20 when your country needed you, your answer will be: "I was on the ballot that helped elect Joe Biden & make Trump a 1-term president. It was one hell of a team effort, and we saved our democracy"

18/

Bottom line: win or loss, thank you to everyone who put it all on the line to run for office this year. Your state, country and party owe you a debt of gratitude.

And we are so excited to see the steps you will take, either in public service or privately...

19/

...to continue to serve your community and country.

And if you need any guidance on how to do so, just check with me, @RobinsonForOH @JessicaEMiranda @jillschill @phh4Toledo or @RepWeinstein , or others like them.

Because that's exactly what they did.

END