Summer sluggishness is finally lifting, the kids are back in school, and we’re hankering for some serious political ACTION! 

Ready to rumble? Nah. But ready to rally, canvass and march!

Not a moment too soon, either. New Jersey’s 2021 election is officially on, as County Clerks hit the September 18 deadline (that’s this Saturday!) to start sending out vote-by-mail ballots to voters who requested them. That means VBM voters will gradually start getting their ballots NEXT WEEK — and start casting their votes! 

And yet, our activists who mention “The Election” to their neighbors are most often getting this reaction:

How it’s starting …

The general public is clueless about New Jersey's "off-year" election. How is this possible, you ask? We’ve got:

• a high-stakes gubernatorial race
• every seat in the state legislature (State Senate and General Assembly) up for grabs
• many County Commissioner seats in contention
• and no end of municipal races, including Town Councils and (those recent hotbeds of controversy!) Boards of Education. 

There are plenty of reasons for voters to care. So we need to step it up and make sure people are ALERT, AWARE, and INFORMED.

… how we need it to be going.

We’ve got lots of excitement-building events to share with you this week! We hope you’ll show up for all of these energizing activities, to wield your political clout about issues you care about, and to build election-awareness for our great endorsed candidates, including Governor Phil Murphy. 

If you — like us — miss seeing your NJ 11th for Change friends and allies in person, please join us. All the events are outdoors, and THERE WILL BE PURPLE MASKS AND OTHER SWAG FOR ALL! 

Who ARE those masked mods? 

Here goes! Three exciting events to kick off the fall season!

EVENT #1: A RALLY!
“BUILD BACK BETTER, GOTTHEIMER” 

THIS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
10:00 am–12:00 pm, Glen Rock

Nothing makes us more thankful to have Mikie Sherrill represent us in Congress than seeing what Rep. Josh Gottheimer is up to in nearby CD5! This ostensible Dem — a member of the problematic DINO “Problem Solvers Caucus” — wants to scuttle the Dem “Build Back Better” infrastructure plan. The plan (in particular the reconciliation bill) aims to address the problems of working families:

• Supporting clean energy plans
• Expanding Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing
• Lowering prescription drug prices
• Universal pre-k and free tuition for two-year public community college
• Extending the expanded Child Tax Credit, which provides monthly payments of $250 or $300 per child to the vast majority of parents in this country raising children
• Paid family and medical leave for all
• Investments in home- and community-based care for elderly and disabled folks
• A pathway to citizenship for millions of our undocumented neighbors
• A Civilian Conservation Corps program to put young people to work in ways that will combat climate change and increase resilience to extreme weather
• Investments to eliminate lead drinking water pipes
• Major investments in clean energy, grid resiliency, electric vehicles (including buses), and electric vehicle charging infrastructure
• Investments in affordable housing
• Expanding union organizing rights
• Significantly increasing taxes on the wealthy and big corporations

Gottheimer needs to hear from New Jersey voters like you. He needs to hear that WE need him to support both parts of the Build Back Better plan: the original bill, and the reconciliation bill. #BackBothBills, Josh! 

So please, come join NJ 11th for Change and our allies; bring your signs, bring your voices! There will be a protest tent, the Solidarity Singers band will be there ... a photographer from Getty will even be there to record this for posterity, so if you're looking for your 15 minutes of fame, THIS COULD BE IT!

If you cut your teeth on Fridays with(out) Frelinghuysen back in the day, it’s time to dust off your rallying skills! RSVP HERE — we can’t wait to see you. 

BONUS: We’ll have plenty of NJ 11th for Change swag to share!

Members of the Visibility Brigade, including hardworking NJ 11th for Change members Dana Glazer and Pat Henry, braving 90° heat in Paramus this week.

EVENT #2: A CANVASSING LAUNCH!
MURPHY CAMPAIGN “DAY OF ACTION”

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
10:00 am West Orange / 1:00 pm Morris Plains

Experienced canvassers, new canvassers — all are welcome! Join the NJ 11th for Change crew for two exciting canvassing launches!

(PSST! We want to know YOUR opinions about canvassing!
Please take our super-quick poll!)

As part of the Murphy campaign’s “Day of Action,” we’ll be visiting voters to remind them to get out and VOTE for Governor Murphy and other local candidates. Expect lots of energy and excitement — Rep. Mikie Sherrill will help launch us in West Orange, and other special guests will be in Morris Plains! (Plus, you know, us. NJ 11 th for Change will be representing at BOTH launches!) 

The Murphy team will come with literature for you to distribute, VAN walk lists, and basic training. NJ 11th for Change will come with swag and purple donuts to get you all hopped up. And YOU come with comfy shoes, sunscreen, your favorite mask, and your best friendly canvassing smiles!

Sign up with us here at the site of your choice:

• Morris Plains launch site: 51 Gibraltar Ave.
• West Orange launch site: 10 Cobane Terrace
  
  

EVENT #3: A MARCH!
“WE RISE” NJ WOMEN’S MARCH 

(NJ 11th for Change: Official Co-Host)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2
10:00 am, Montclair

Women’s rights are under attack from coast to coast — so we must MARCH, coast to coast! Save the date and join the national movement for Women’s Marches on 10/2!

The NJ 11th for Change banner will be flying high there, and speakers are likely to include Governor Murphy, Mikie Sherrill, and other leaders from our communities and from the grassroots. More details to come in the next week, including where and when the NJ 11 crew will be meeting up. Sign up for the March's Facebook page (if you’re into that kind of thing) to stay on top of new developments. It’s bound to be a moving, powerful experience! 

We'd love to march with you again! 

BONUS! One last little bit for you:

Did you miss our last Defending Democracy event, about the upcoming redistricting process in New Jersey? Redistricting is rife with political maneuvering, and what happens THIS YEAR will have tremendous influence on our state's political landscape and our representation in Congress for the next TEN YEARS.

It's important for us to understand the process, the shenanigans behind it, and what we can do as citizens to influence the outcomes.

Marcia Marley of BlueWave NJ, Matt Duffy of NJ Institute for Social Justice, and Peter Chen of NJ Policy Perspective shared their considerable expertise with us. Click the flyer to watch and learn!

Click above to watch the video.

Events &

Volunteer Opportunities

TEXT BANKING INITIATIVE

Texting with NJ 11th for Change

• TEXT BANKING CD11 VOTERS — On your own schedule, with group Zoom hangouts (dates to be announced).
  We have to make sure that our target voters are ready to vote in NJ’s crucial off-year election: that they're registered, that they know how to use vote-by-mail ballots, that they understand the early voting period, and more! Turnout is the key to victory! To join the texting team, email [email protected].

​​

STATEWIDE RACES

Phil Murphy (Governor)

CANVASSING FOR GOVERNOR MURPHY
& DEMS UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT

with NJ Forward 2021 Coordinated Campaign

• East Morris County — multiple times available 

Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/njdsc/event/397539/ for more information; meeting places vary. Please contact Max at [email protected] or 908-419-5675 with any questions! 

• Denville and Boonton — Wednesdays and Thursdays at 4:00 pm 

Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/njdsc/event/414860/ for more information; meeting places vary. Please contact Devan at [email protected] or 301-922-9078 with any questions! 

• Woodland Park — Wednesdays at 4:00 pm 

Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/njdsc/event/397541/ for more information; meeting places vary. Please contact Katey at [email protected] or 973-818-6713 with any questions! 

• Glen Ridge — Thursdays at 4:00 pm, Sundays at 1:00 pm

Sign up here https://www.mobilize.us/njdsc/event/398527/ for more information; meeting places vary. Please contact Deb at [email protected] with any questions! 

• Cedar Grove — Sundays at 1:00 pm

We will be meeting in the parking lot of the Robert J. O’Toole Community Center (199 Fairview Ave). Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/njdsc/event/408991/. Please contact Deb at [email protected] with any questions! 

• West Orange—Saturdays at 2pm

We will be meeting at the Panera in West Orange (495 Prospect Ave.). Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/njdsc/event/404528/. Please contact Brian at [email protected] or
973-710-2504 with any questions! 

PHONE BANKING FOR GOVERNOR MURPHY
& DEMS UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT

with NJ Forward 2021 Coordinated Campaign

• Virtual Phone Banking 

Training occurs at the start of every meeting! Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/njdsc/event/408255/. Please contact Scott at [email protected] or 856-495-4748 for meeting times. 

LD26

Christine Clarke (Senate), Melissa Brown Blaeuer and Pamela Fadden (Assembly)

• CANVASS FOR THE WIN! — Saturdays at 10:30 AM. (RECURRING WEEKLY EVENT)
  Join us to knock doors, share stories, collect helpful information and talk to voters about November 2! Meet at Morris Plains Library, 77 Glenbrook Road, Morris Plains. Click here to join/get more information.
  
  
• PLAYGROUNDS & POSTCARDS! — Sundays at 10:30 AM. (RECURRING WEEKLY EVENT)
  Bring the littles out with you to enjoy some playtime with new friends, and help us fill in postcards to voters! Jefferson. GPS to 30 Florida Avenue, Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849. Click here to join/get more information.
  
  
• PACKET PICKUP & PINTS! — Sundays at 7:30 PM. (RECURRING WEEKLY EVENT)
  Can't canvass Saturday mornings? Let's get together for a brief evening 'happy hour' at which you can pick up a canvassing packet to complete on your own schedule during the week! Verona Inn, 624 Bloomfield Ave, Verona. Click here to join/get more information.