We're a few weeks after the election and gearing up for holiday gatherings with friends and family. People are already asking the dreaded question, "What's next?" Like many, I don't know yet, but I have had time to reflect. And here's what I do know.
First, I'm still so proud—our team gave it our all. Were we flawless? No, because our campaign wasn't meant to be. Instead, it was designed to compete in a tight, challenging, and ever-changing landscape—and we did just that.
Vice President Harris inherited a campaign at its lowest point; her revival of it and her achievements in 107 days are historic and will be studied. The Vice President stepped up under impossible conditions and gave voters joy and hope. From a women's coalition perspective alone, she grew our coalition from 49,000 to nearly half a million. That is a campaign record; no candidate has seen that explosive momentum in such a short time.
The VP retained campaign staff and infrastructure built by and for another candidate, and she immediately transformed that existing infrastructure into her powerhouse, making it the largest in campaign history. We were not built to handle the excitement her candidacy sparked, but we didn't skip a beat under her leadership. We adapted, going into hyper-overdrive to harness the momentum. She inspired hundreds of staffers to keep fighting under ever-changing and arduous conditions.
Regardless of how you feel about her politically, give her credit. Kamala Harris didn't just hold the line; she defined a new one. Her 107-day campaign and candidacy are powerful testaments to who she is and women's leadership. This is NOT the time to question or dismiss women leaders. Instead, it's time to double down and take steps to empower and equip the next women candidates - to persist.
That means getting better data that produces better messaging that resonates across the electorate, investing in new media sources, and fighting misinformation relentlessly. We also must expand the tent to encompass new leaders with new ideas and perspectives - together, the old guard and a new guard can do something transformative. And we must keep state party and coalition infrastructure intact - we cannot collapse these things between election cycles.
The last few weeks have been a time of rest and reflection. With every experience, there are lessons. Like many of my political colleagues, I learned a lot, mainly about the power, tenacity, and courage of women's leadership.
While I don't know what's next for me, I know that my colleagues and I will be okay because we accomplished something monumental - our heads are held high, and our resolve is steadfast. That said, as we gather around this holiday season, don't be that person who asks the weary campaign staffer, "What's next?"
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