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News from the Chair
November 2025 Elections Update
What an amazing 24 hours it has been. I watched Zohran Mamdani’s final, election eve ad - an emotional recounting of his expansive and consequential run for Governor of NYC, displayed in simple black and white photos that captured the exuberance of the moment. Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin'” played as the backdrop. Before I went to sleep last night, steeped in the zeitgeist of anxiety, trepidation, but also so much hope, I dared to think, “We’re ready for this”.
Like many of you, I woke up this morning and connected to the digital feeds of my friends and trusted reporters (reporters of both facts and feelings, because my friends, this election cycle has had the feels in spades), and I felt the new zeitgeist. Today’s “spirit of the time”, all over America, is conveyed in the courage of Americans worldwide and by our commitment to use our collective power. I had forgotten what hope scrolling felt like! Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” draped over every video reel, celebrating the power of people expressing their hope through their vote. We’ve now seen what happens when people of courage actively organize and use what John Lewis called “the most powerful non-violent tool in our democracy”, their vote.
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Our job now is to grow that engagement and power the engine of Americans living in Portugal again, for the midterm elections next year. Hope scrolling feels great - but we are not done. The near future will take courage, skill, and more people who will continue to refuse to let the corruption of the powers that be determine what tomorrow looks like for the rest of us. We need you. First, we organize and build community, then we band together to exercise our collective power.
(street art, after Banksy’s Flower Thrower, in reference to DC’s sandwich-throwing resident, Sean Dunn)
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Make no mistake, the hot takes are coming. The government remains in a GOP shutdown, SNAP benefits are still in limbo. There will be setbacks. There will be court decisions that feel like a gut punch, and we know there will be vulgarity, manipulation, and flagrant violations of the rule of law by the current administration. But we have demonstrated that despite almost ten months of violent chaos, destruction, and lies, we still hold the cards. The America we aspire to needs us to use our power more than ever. Expect to see DA Portugal come out of the gate in January with Voter Registration, and Membership campaigns to boost our numbers, and regional Hub and Resistance Roundtable development to organize our communities. Organized communities build momentum, and momentum brings consolidated power. We are throwing our doors wide open and asking for YOUR help.
Treat yourself to a little hope scrolling today, and then get ready for the actions that back that feeling up. We will ask for everyone’s participation in developing a clear opposition and in highlighting the way forward. It’s time to organize and act like we hold the power. Because we do. ________________________________________
Events are happening in Lisbon, Porto, and other regions all the time. Watch for regional updates. For now:
Lisbon
Wednesday, November 12 at 05:00 PM
Déjá Vu Campo Grande, Campo Grande 351, Lisboa
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Take Action
Other ways you can take action are available on our Substack. Please do check it out. We encourage you to do 5things a day or a week in resistance to the regime. Tailored to actions you can take from Portugal.
Until next time.
Viva the resistance!
Lynnette Shaw
Chair, Democrats Abroad Portugal
DA Portugal
https://www.democratsabroad.org/
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