This is a hard moment. This is not what we had worked for, and not what we had expected. Like many of you, as I grapple with the impact of this election, I feel a sense of déjà vu. Once again, an incredibly talented woman has been defeated by Donald Trump, the quintessential misogynist and racist.
But this time is different. We have come a long way since 2016. Back then, we were more afraid, more uncertain of what to do. Yet, over these years, those feelings evolved into resilience and strength. As we marched, we learned, we organized, and we built a movement.
In those years, we formed alliances, found courage in one another, and strengthened our resolve. Activist groups like Indivisible, Our Revolution, Pantsuit Nation, and the Women’s March rose up, answering the call to fight against injustice, racism, misogyny, and hatred. And our own Global Women’s Caucus grew into one of the largest organizations of its kind in the world.
Just two years after that initial defeat, we created a blue wave that swept us to victory in the 2018 midterms, and by 2020, we reclaimed the White House. We found our voice, we fought back, and our collective power grew stronger.
This setback does not erase the progress we’ve made. We now have more women in government than ever before- women who continue to flex their political muscles in Washington. Our voices are stronger, and we know our fight for equality and justice must continue.
Here’s the good news: we are only two years away from the next U.S. midterm elections in November 2026. We have the power to regain some of what we lost if we don’t lose our nerve. We still have a voice. We still have the power of our votes. For those of us living abroad, our absentee ballot will always make a difference - and Votefromabroad.org is here to help. Our dedicated volunteers have been working tirelessly to ensure every single vote is counted, regardless of what the final outcome may be. Our voices will be heard.
So, we continue. Especially now. As George Orwell said, “There is no such thing as keeping out of politics. All issues are political issues.” For those of us safely abroad, staying silent while women’s rights and the rights of marginalized communities are under attack at home is itself a political statement. Professor Timothy Snyder, a leading scholar of authoritarianism, reminds us that we should never obey in advance. He writes, “Much of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals anticipate what a more repressive government will want and begin to comply without even being asked.” Let’s make it as hard for them as we possibly can! Let’s resist!
Now is the time to contemplate our next steps as we recover from this shock and find our voices again. We will be reaching out to our membership soon with a survey to gather your ideas. We are in this together, and we value every voice.
The election may be lost, but this defeat is only temporary. It’s a call to action, a rallying cry to raise our powerful voices. Together, we will march forward into 2025 and beyond, united by compassion and a craving for justice and equality. We are reclaiming our power and calling on everyone to find their courage. Don’t you dare stay out of this fight- the world we want is within reach.
Thank you for your continued courage and dedication,
Ann Hesse
Chair, DA Global Women’s Caucus