BlueVote.org – Standing Up for Democracy in 2025

​

BlueVote.org isn’t just another political action committee – it’s a volunteer-powered movement at the forefront of progressive change in Pennsylvania. We believe in building a democracy that truly reflects our shared values and amplifies every citizen’s voice. Even after the heartbreaking losses of 2024, we are more determined than ever to turn the tide. Our priority is to champion bold leaders fighting for progressive change and to create the long-term infrastructure that will sustain that progress.
 

Our team has no bloated hierarchies or distant consultants — just passionate volunteers on the ground - and on the phone - engaging voters directly. We cut out the usual layers so nothing stands between us and the communities we serve. This isn’t politics-as-usual; it’s neighbors talking to neighbors, forging trust through shared values. To supercharge our impact, we leverage cutting-edge technology like predictive dialers and advanced data analytics, ensuring that every dollar and every volunteer hour makes a difference. We run lean, we run smart, and we operate with integrity: all our efforts are transparent. Most importantly, we proudly exercise our First Amendment freedoms, speaking out and organizing for the future we all deserve.
 

Why now? Because the threat to our democracy is real and immediate. Donald Trump and his allies have made their intentions painfully clear through both words and deeds. They smear dissenting Americans as “vermin” to be rooted out — Trump even used that very term in a Veterans Day speech while vowing to “root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical-left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country”. His rhetoric doesn’t stop at insults; he has openly embraced authoritarian ideas, from pledging mass deportation drives to planning sprawling detention camps for those he scapegoats. Indeed, Trump’s campaign vowed to round up millions of undocumented immigrants and build huge camps near the U.S.-Mexico border to detain them. This is the language and logic of authoritarianism, echoing some of history’s darkest chapters. Historians like Ruth Ben-Ghiat immediately condemned Trump’s dehumanizing words, noting that dictators such as Hitler and Mussolini used the exact same trope of calling opponents “vermin” to incite violence against them. The parallels are impossible to ignore.
 

We’ve also seen the MAGA movement encourage armed paramilitary groups to embed themselves in our politics. In some states, militia members now stand side by side with officials, acting as self-appointed enforcers at rallies and bullying anyone — even within their own party — who won’t toe the extremist line. During the 2024 campaign, armed far-right militants openly coordinated with Trump allies and even provided security at political events. Analysts warned that these groups would show up armed at rallies to intimidate officials and election workers. We are watching that warning play out in real time: reports have surfaced of local sheriffs deputizing vigilante militias to help round up immigrants, effectively legitimizing their participation in state force. Violence is being normalized as a political tool, and open intimidation is now part of the MAGA playbook. This is not alarmism – it’s happening right in front of us, a flashing red warning for America. We’ve already witnessed deadly consequences: The toxic “invasion” and “replacement” conspiracy theories touted by the far right have fueled real-world violence from Charlottesville to Pittsburgh to Buffalo. When leaders call their opponents subhuman and encourage vigilantism, people get hurt. History teaches us that dehumanizing rhetoric is often a prelude to persecution or worse, and we cannot shrug it off.
 

Meanwhile, a full-blown propaganda machine is flooding the airwaves. Extremist media personalities and outlets spread an endless loop of conspiracy theories and lies. They claim that “leftists hate America,” and they push the racist “Great Replacement” myth — the falsehood that there’s a plot to replace white Americans with immigrants. Such outrageous lies, once confined to the fringe, have been mainstreamed within the conservative movement. Tucker Carlson and others on Fox News started openly peddling “replacement” conspiracies, which nearly half of Republicans now believe to some degree. These myths are repeated so often that many people accept them as truth. The result is a large segment of our society trapped in an alternate reality of fear and resentment, radicalized by a nonstop diet of disinformation. It’s no coincidence that such lies and hate have paved the way for violence in other countries. We’ve seen this movie before: authoritarian regimes often rise on a tide of paranoid propaganda, from Nazi Germany’s media scapegoating to modern strongmen like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán controlling 85% of his nation’s media to cement his power. We cannot allow that to take hold here. The United States still has a free press, but even that is under siege — Trump and his allies talk openly of crushing critical media with lawsuits and government retaliation. The groundwork for an “alternate reality” media ecosystem has been laid over years, and it is now churning out narratives that justify extreme actions. As MSNBC reported early this year, House Republicans even based an impeachment effort on these white-supremacist conspiracy tropes, prompting Jewish groups to warn that Congress is normalizing hate and making our communities less safe. We know where this kind of talk leads if unchecked. The pattern is familiar and chilling.
 

If all this sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Scholars of history and democracy have seen this pattern before, and they are ringing the alarm. Freedom House – a leading pro-democracy watchdog – now ranks the United States among the democracies in decline globally. In its 2025 report, Freedom House warned that Trump’s return to power poses a grave risk to the independence of our institutions that protect the rule of law. Eminent historians and experts on authoritarianism likewise warn that the Trump-led MAGA takeover is pushing America toward a nationalist, anti-intellectual proto-fascism. In plain terms, this is how democracies die, and we are far down that path already. Political scientists Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way have cautioned that if the United States continues on its current course in Trump’s second term, it “will cease to meet standard criteria for liberal democracy”. They foresee a slide into competitive authoritarianism, where elections still occur but basic norms and freedoms are gutted. In such a regime, opposing the leader can become dangerous. Already, Trump’s early moves in 2025 have confirmed these fears: a blizzard of dubiously constitutional executive orders aimed at punishing enemies and consolidating power. Critical media outlets are being threatened with legal harassment, and businesses that don’t fall in line face retaliatory scrutiny. As one Foreign Affairs analysis put it, the cost of public opposition is rising so much that many may conclude “the fight is not worth it”. Even some conservative voices have admitted that Trump’s “thirst for unilateral power” points to an authoritarian streak with dire consequences for our democracy. In the words of Senator Chris Murphy, the Trump movement is now mimicking “the path taken by other would-be dictators” — capturing media, weaponizing law enforcement against political foes, and empowering an alliance of Christian nationalists and cronies while tearing down checks and balances. It’s no wonder that seasoned observers are warning that, in a very real sense, American democracy is on the line. Some have gone so far as to say “in a real sense, US democracy has died” as Trump emulates Orbán’s Hungary. That may sound extreme, but when a former U.S. president is openly praised by European fascists and plans to rule like them, we should pay attention.
 

We saw the consequences of this extremist turn on January 6, 2021. A mob, whipped up by Trump’s falsehoods, stormed the U.S. Capitol to overturn a free and fair election. They attacked the very core of our constitutional system: the peaceful transfer of power. That day shattered any illusion that “it can’t happen here.” It did happen – and it nearly succeeded in toppling our democracy. By any reasonable measure, that was an insurrection against the United States. Under the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, anyone who orchestrated such an attack is disqualified from ever holding public office again. Whether or not the courts or politicians have the courage to enforce that accountability, we the people must have the courage to act. We cannot pretend that January 6 was a one-off moment of madness; it was the logical outcome of weeks of incitement and years of eroded norms. Many of the foot soldiers who carried out that assault have since been prosecuted and held to account – yet the man who inspired them is now back in the White House. If we don’t take a stand now, we may not get a second chance.

 

This is exactly why BlueVote.org exists, and why we’re going all-in here in Pennsylvania. We will not be cowed by fear, and we will not stand by as our democracy slides toward crisis. We’re fighting with everything we’ve got to pull America off this perilous path – but we can’t do it alone. We’re not just sounding the alarm; we’re taking action. BlueVote.org has a concrete, forward-looking plan to renew our democracy, and it’s already in motion. Our strategy includes:
 

• Building Permanent Grassroots Infrastructure: Mobilizing year-round, data-driven organizing far beyond the usual election-cycle bursts. We are establishing a strong pro-democracy network in communities across Pennsylvania now, so it’s in place long before the next Election Day. This permanent grassroots presence creates resilience against sudden lurches toward extremism.
   

• Getting Out the Vote: Energizing and registering new Democratic voters across Pennsylvania to boost civic participation and turnout. We focus on empowering underrepresented groups and infrequent voters, knowing that a healthy democracy depends on the voices of all the people. Every vote is a voice raised for our shared values, and we make sure those voices are heard.
   

• Countering Disinformation: Pushing back against MAGA propaganda and extreme narratives with truth and clarity. We know that lies spread fast, so we work faster – correcting falsehoods, providing fact-based resources, and engaging trusted community messengers to inoculate against conspiracies. We’re also reconnecting with younger voters through honest, relatable messaging that cuts through the noise of social media misinformation. When extremist outlets spew the myth that “leftists hate America” or peddle fantasies of invasions, we hit back with facts and with stories that inspire hope instead of fear.
   

• Cultivating New Leaders: Mentoring rising progressive talent at the local and state level to create a pipeline of bold, future-ready leaders. Today’s school board member or township commissioner could be tomorrow’s state legislator or member of Congress. We invest in identifying and training diverse young leaders who are committed to democratic values and community service. By empowering the next generation, we’re safeguarding the future of our movement.
   

• Shaping the Public Narrative: Crafting clear, values-driven messages that unite diverse communities and speak to everyday concerns like jobs, wages, and the cost of living. We refuse to let extremists monopolize the conversation. Through op-eds, social media, phone banks and good old-fashioned door-knocking, we’re reframing issues in terms of shared American values — freedom, fairness, and dignity. When we tell the truth about what’s at stake, we win the battle for hearts and minds.
   

• Engaging Young People: Inspiring and organizing the next generation of voters and activists. Young people have the most to lose in an authoritarian future — and the most energy to prevent it. We create platforms for young voices to lead. By empowering Gen Z and Millennial voters to channel their passion into action, we ensure that the pro-democracy cause isn’t just in reaction to the latest crisis, but a positive youth-driven movement for long-term change.
   

• Broadening Outreach Channels: Using nontraditional platforms – from popular podcasts and streaming shows to community forums at churches and cultural centers – to meet people where they are and deliver content that matters to their lives. We know not everyone is tuning into traditional news. So, we show up now in gaming communities, on TikTok, with plans for music festivals, in union halls, and beyond. Whether it’s a viral infographic debunking a lie or a local meetup about renters’ rights, we find creative ways to spread our message of unity and progress. Our outreach is culturally competent and multilingual, because democracy works better when every community is informed and included.
   

This is our generation’s moment to stand up for American democracy. BlueVote.org is all in – but we need you by our side. Our mission is simple and unwavering: to preserve and protect our democracy for the long haul. We will not let fear or falsehoods prevail over truth and justice. We will not let the American experiment fail on our watch. So, join us in this fight for a future rooted in unity, progress, and human dignity. Together, we will empower voices – one volunteer, one voter at a time – and together, we will turn the tide. The stakes could not be higher, but if we stand together, democracy will prevail.