STATEMENT FROM FAMILY VALUES @WORK ACTION ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OUTCOME
Leading care advocates vow to keep fighting for paid leave, affordable child care, and needs of working families
Statements from Family Values @Work Action and network partners TakeActionMinnesota, Citizen Action of New York, New Jersey Citizen Action, Maine Women’s Lobby, Family Forward Oregon, and Oakland Forward Action Fund (Michigan) in response to the election outcomes and the declaration of Donald Trump as winner of the 2024 presidential election:
Carol Joyner, Executive Director of Family Values @Work Action, said:
“Family Values@Work Action grieves with all those disappointed and alarmed by this election outcome. We knew that the stakes were very high during this election cycle, and we recognize the deep sacrifices and tireless effort made by so many to prevent the return of a convicted felon and insurrectionist to our highest office. We are so proud of the many members of our network and extended coalition, who knocked on doors, made countless numbers of calls, planned events, texted and moved mountains in the effort to turn out the vote and protect our democracy for future generations.
We will continue to build power with those who will be harmed by the plans that Republicans have voiced through this election cycle–especially people of color, those with low incomes, the working class, women, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQIA+ community. This was an election unlike any other, with voters being targeted with misinformation, outside interference, threats of violence, bomb scares at polling locations and more. We must rally together and resist those who would undermine our democracy and advance the policies in Project 2025 to ensure the protections of this nation for future generations.
I am grateful to our network and others who organized for months and left it all on the field. While we didn’t maintain the U.S. Senate, there were many bright spots. They defended or won seats in CT, MI, MN, NJ, NY and WI; sent 2 Black women to the Senate – Lisa Blunt Rochester, DE and Angela Alsobrooks, MD. Although the House of Representatives is still in play, most of our network partners’ House seats were successful – stay tuned as we’ll do a full recap when we get the final results.
We saw care and abortion win at the ballot in red states: MO, NB and AK passed paid sick days provisions with minimum wage standards. And different versions of abortion protections passed in AZ, CO, MD, MO, MT, and NV; with NY passing a law that bans discrimination based on pregnancy outcomes.
No matter who is in the White House, care economy remains an issue that crosses party lines. Polling shows that over 90% of voters, including Republicans, moderates, and Independents, support paid leave policies. Elder care and child care, disability rights and reproductive freedom are also supported by a majority of the electorate. It’s past time for our elected officials to listen to their constituents and enact the care policies all families need, regardless of which party is in power.
Our movement for care will not stop. Family Values @Work Action’s leaders will strengthen collaboration with cross-movement advocates, labor leaders, state and national lawmakers, and the broader community that makes up our care ecosystem and all those who want to build a better, more humane economy for all. The polling is clear: these issues represent the will of the people. While this is a devastating loss, we must come together to resist harmful proposals and continue the fight for justice and dignity for all families.” Comments from some of our amazing network leaders follow:
Elianne Farhat, Co-Executive Director of TakeAction Minnesota, said, “We are inspired by holding onto hope. Our member leaders are clear – no matter who is in office, we will continue to use every tool available to organize, build people power, and care for one another. We know we keep us safe. This year more than 10,000 people opted-in to joining TakeAction Minnesota to build the future our children deserve. With them and our thousands of members, that’s exactly what we’ll do: build that future day by day, block by block, election by election.”
Rebecca Garrard, Deputy Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York, said, “Today is a dark day for our democracy. The election of Donald Trump—a man who has built his platform on racism, lies, and fear-mongering—is a painful reminder of the deep divisions and systemic inequities that still plague our communities. To everyone who is in mourning for the future of our country today, we stand with you. We will not let this setback deter us from continuing to work tirelessly to advance social, racial, and economic justice issues such as child care. We will continue to resist policies that harm our families, and together, we will build a stronger movement for progress. The fight for a care economy is more important now than ever—and we are ready to continue that fight, no matter who is in the White House.”
Dena Mottola Jaborska, Executive Director of New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA), said, “While we acknowledge the victory of Donald Trump in the presidential race, our mission to fight for economic security, racial justice, healthcare access, and civil rights will not waiver…This is not the end of the road; it is simply another chapter in our ongoing fight. We will continue to advocate for policies that prioritize the needs of the people, from affordable housing to workers’ rights. We will continue to work with our partners, grassroots organizations, and everyday New Jerseyans to ensure that our vision and mission is accomplished.”
Candice Vickers, Executive Director of Family Forward Action Oregon, said “No matter who is in the White House, our movement holds tremendous power. Child care is essential infrastructure, the workforce behind the workforce that makes all other work in our country happen. Though our work to make meaningful, legislative changes that will benefit all Americans will prove more challenging with the incoming administration, we will never back down.”
Destie Hohman Sprague, Executive Director of Maine Women’s Lobby, said, “This moment feels like a rebuke of all we work for: a world without sexism, misogyny, and racism. A world of gender justice, where people can fully embody their gender without fear, discrimination, or violence. Donald Trump won with a message that was unapologetically patriarchal. Everything about his campaign centered messages of control over the lives and bodies of women, queer, and trans people – anyone who challenges the gender status quo. Still there is always a policy path toward gender justice, and community is the foundation of that advocacy work. We’ve prepared for this, and we are steadfast in our efforts. We won’t go back.”
Kermit Williams, Co-Executive Director of Oakland Forward Action Fund, said, “The work has not ended. A win for Donald Trump and his agenda shows that America still has so much room to grow when it comes to dealing with the communities and people who are the backbone of this economy and society. The policies that the Trump-Vance campaign have proposed stand to deeply harm Black and Brown families, and Oakland Forward Action Fund intends to do all that we can to fight on behalf of the vulnerable communities that will be hit the hardest if the aims of Trump’s Project 2025 are enacted. We still believe that a better future is possible for Michigan families, and for families across the country who for too long have been forced to choose between caring for their loved ones and a paycheck.”
Family Values @ Work Action works in partnership with their state coalitions to build political power among historically disenfranchised voters in the movement for care and caregiving and other economic security issues through public education and civic engagement strategies.
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Statements from Family Values @Work Action and network partners TakeActionMinnesota, Citizen Action of New York, New Jersey Citizen Action, Maine Women’s Lobby, Family Forward Oregon, and Oakland Forward Action Fund (Michigan) in response to the election outcomes and the declaration of Donald Trump as winner of the 2024 presidential election:
Carol Joyner, Executive Director of Family Values @Work Action, said:
“Family Values@Work Action grieves with all those disappointed and alarmed by this election outcome. We knew that the stakes were very high during this election cycle, and we recognize the deep sacrifices and tireless effort made by so many to prevent the return of a convicted felon and insurrectionist to our highest office. We are so proud of the many members of our network and extended coalition, who knocked on doors, made countless numbers of calls, planned events, texted and moved mountains in the effort to turn out the vote and protect our democracy for future generations.
We will continue to build power with those who will be harmed by the plans that Republicans have voiced through this election cycle–especially people of color, those with low incomes, the working class, women, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQIA+ community. This was an election unlike any other, with voters being targeted with misinformation, outside interference, threats of violence, bomb scares at polling locations and more. We must rally together and resist those who would undermine our democracy and advance the policies in Project 2025 to ensure the protections of this nation for future generations.
I am grateful to our network and others who organized for months and left it all on the field. While we didn’t maintain the U.S. Senate, there were many bright spots. They defended or won seats in CT, MI, MN, NJ, NY and WI; sent 2 Black women to the Senate – Lisa Blunt Rochester, DE and Angela Alsobrooks, MD. Although the House of Representatives is still in play, most of our network partners’ House seats were successful – stay tuned as we’ll do a full recap when we get the final results.
We saw care and abortion win at the ballot in red states: MO, NB and AK passed paid sick days provisions with minimum wage standards. And different versions of abortion protections passed in AZ, CO, MD, MO, MT, and NV; with NY passing a law that bans discrimination based on pregnancy outcomes.
No matter who is in the White House, care economy remains an issue that crosses party lines. Polling shows that over 90% of voters, including Republicans, moderates, and Independents, support paid leave policies. Elder care and child care, disability rights and reproductive freedom are also supported by a majority of the electorate. It’s past time for our elected officials to listen to their constituents and enact the care policies all families need, regardless of which party is in power.
Our movement for care will not stop. Family Values @Work Action’s leaders will strengthen collaboration with cross-movement advocates, labor leaders, state and national lawmakers, and the broader community that makes up our care ecosystem and all those who want to build a better, more humane economy for all. The polling is clear: these issues represent the will of the people. While this is a devastating loss, we must come together to resist harmful proposals and continue the fight for justice and dignity for all families.” Comments from some of our amazing network leaders follow:
Elianne Farhat, Co-Executive Director of TakeAction Minnesota, said, “We are inspired by holding onto hope. Our member leaders are clear – no matter who is in office, we will continue to use every tool available to organize, build people power, and care for one another. We know we keep us safe. This year more than 10,000 people opted-in to joining TakeAction Minnesota to build the future our children deserve. With them and our thousands of members, that’s exactly what we’ll do: build that future day by day, block by block, election by election.”
Rebecca Garrard, Deputy Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York, said, “Today is a dark day for our democracy. The election of Donald Trump—a man who has built his platform on racism, lies, and fear-mongering—is a painful reminder of the deep divisions and systemic inequities that still plague our communities. To everyone who is in mourning for the future of our country today, we stand with you. We will not let this setback deter us from continuing to work tirelessly to advance social, racial, and economic justice issues such as child care. We will continue to resist policies that harm our families, and together, we will build a stronger movement for progress. The fight for a care economy is more important now than ever—and we are ready to continue that fight, no matter who is in the White House.”
Dena Mottola Jaborska, Executive Director of New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA), said, “While we acknowledge the victory of Donald Trump in the presidential race, our mission to fight for economic security, racial justice, healthcare access, and civil rights will not waiver…This is not the end of the road; it is simply another chapter in our ongoing fight. We will continue to advocate for policies that prioritize the needs of the people, from affordable housing to workers’ rights. We will continue to work with our partners, grassroots organizations, and everyday New Jerseyans to ensure that our vision and mission is accomplished.”
Candice Vickers, Executive Director of Family Forward Action Oregon, said “No matter who is in the White House, our movement holds tremendous power. Child care is essential infrastructure, the workforce behind the workforce that makes all other work in our country happen. Though our work to make meaningful, legislative changes that will benefit all Americans will prove more challenging with the incoming administration, we will never back down.”
Destie Hohman Sprague, Executive Director of Maine Women’s Lobby, said, “This moment feels like a rebuke of all we work for: a world without sexism, misogyny, and racism. A world of gender justice, where people can fully embody their gender without fear, discrimination, or violence. Donald Trump won with a message that was unapologetically patriarchal. Everything about his campaign centered messages of control over the lives and bodies of women, queer, and trans people – anyone who challenges the gender status quo. Still there is always a policy path toward gender justice, and community is the foundation of that advocacy work. We’ve prepared for this, and we are steadfast in our efforts. We won’t go back.”
Kermit Williams, Co-Executive Director of Oakland Forward Action Fund, said, “The work has not ended. A win for Donald Trump and his agenda shows that America still has so much room to grow when it comes to dealing with the communities and people who are the backbone of this economy and society. The policies that the Trump-Vance campaign have proposed stand to deeply harm Black and Brown families, and Oakland Forward Action Fund intends to do all that we can to fight on behalf of the vulnerable communities that will be hit the hardest if the aims of Trump’s Project 2025 are enacted. We still believe that a better future is possible for Michigan families, and for families across the country who for too long have been forced to choose between caring for their loved ones and a paycheck.”
Family Values @ Work Action works in partnership with their state coalitions to build political power among historically disenfranchised voters in the movement for care and caregiving and other economic security issues through public education and civic engagement strategies.
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