Albany, NY—In response to Tuesday night’s election results, Jessica Wisneski, Deputy Director of Citizen Action of New York, has issued the following statement:
“With razor thin margins in races across New York State—in the face of last minute infusions of CEO campaign cash—it was grassroots energy and relentless people power that ended up deciding the winners.
“We are proud of Citizen Action’s role in mobilizing thousands of youth voters, low-income voters, and voters of color, whose concerns are so often pushed aside by the rich and powerful. We’re finally going to have a State Senate that will work for everyday New Yorkers, not Wall Street donors.
“Future candidates can take a lesson from Republicans’ mistake: you can’t use racism to hide your corporate, anti-worker agenda. Millions of dollars can buy you plenty of TV ads and billboards, but nothing is more powerful than everyday people talking to their neighbors about the real issues facing our families and our communities.
“Our communities want fully funded public schools, heath care for all, affordable housing, climate justice, and an end to mass incarceration. Our first order of business in the new legislative session must be reducing the influence of big money in our politics by creating a small-donor matching system for campaigns and expanding voting rights. Now, with Trump Republicans out of office, we can make this happen.
“We look forward to working with our new Congressional delegation and State Senate majority to raise the voices of working people and advance a progressive agenda that will improve the lives of all.”
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