IDCCA President’s Message
by Kristina Zahorik, IDCCA President
@ILDCCA @McHenryDems
What a New Year.
In the midst of a brazen challenge to the rule of law and democracy by Trump, his Republican enablers and supporters, I want to highlight that we won. We did it. You did it.
The American people rejected the Republican vision of America under Trump. With control of the Presidency, the Senate, and the House, we have much to do to repair the damage done and build back better. Who better to build back than Democrats? As we state in our 2020 DNC Platform, America is an idea—one that has endured and evolved through war and depression, prevailed over fascism and communism, and radiated hope to far distant corners of the earth. Americans believe that diversity is our greatest strength. That protest is among the highest forms of patriotism. That our fates and fortunes are bound to rise and fall together. That even when we fall short of our highest ideals, we never stop trying to build a more perfect union.
This was an historic election we should be proud of as Americans and as Democrats. In the middle of a pandemic, Americans turned out to vote in record numbers. More than 159 million Americans voted, which is a 120-year high turnout at 66.7%. More than 80 million Americans voted for President-elect Joe Biden, he won the popular vote by more than 7 million votes. Despite with Donald Trump may say, the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security have stated that no serious fraud occurred.
In addition, we had thousands of people to serve as Election Judges and poll workers. Here in Illinois, we had folks serving during the early vote, on Election Day, and after Election Day ensuring every vote was counted. Thankfully, the Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly and Democratic Governor JB Pritzker had the foresight to expand Vote By Mail to allow everyone the opportunity to exercise their right to vote safely during the pandemic.
This is despite the sitting President of the United States of America, without credible evidence, undermining the electorate every chance he got, including a planned attempt to overthrow the vote by inciting violence and a coup attempt the day Congress was to certify the Electoral College. The fact that so many Republicans have not denounced Trump and his tactics, or have continued to support him, is disgraceful and un-American. They must be held accountable.
The work before the IDCCA remains clear. We will continue to build a dynamic and sustainable Democratic partnership resource organization for Illinois Democratic County Parties, to support the political agenda of the Democratic Party, to grow the Party, and to elect Democrats at every level including county, statewide, and national. We join our other Democrats throughout the nation in building back better, striving for a more perfect union.
Best wishes,
Kristina
