Without a doubt, there’s much work to be done in 2023 to continue to advance the progressive movement. Still, before we continue the fight, it’s important to take a step back, enjoy the holiday season, and celebrate our victories.
Here are our top five progressive moments of 2022:
Minnesotans elected a historic progressive trifecta
This November, millions of Americans made their voices heard, rejecting conservative extremism, opting for diverse leaders with strong policy visions, winning control of the United States Senate, and stopping the predicted “red wave” in its tracks.
Minnesota was no different. Minnesota’s progressive champions swept the ballot during the 2022 midterm securing historic control of all three branches of the Minnesota government.
And that’s not at all. The incoming Minnesota legislature is now the most diverse in state history, with 27 lawmakers of color and 11 LGBTQ+ representatives filling the ranks.
Across the country, people fought back against conservative abortion bans
When the Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to eliminate the constitutional right to abortion established nearly 50 years ago in Roe v. Wade, conservatives across the country thought they had won the fight.
But Americans emerged in a storm to demand the right to reproductive freedom and fight against extreme abortion bans and policies.
In Kansas, voters overwhelmingly struck down a proposed constitutional amendment that would attack reproductive rights in their state. Voters in Kentucky rejected an initiative to amend the state constitution to explicitly state that there is no right to an abortion. Montana voters rejected a ballot initiative that would criminalize health care providers.
And voters in California and Vermont chose to officially protect abortion rights in their constitutions.
Not to mention, Americans mobilized by the need to protect abortion rights demolished conservative predictions for the 2022 midterm elections, crushing conservative candidates that advocated for restrictive abortion policies. Fight on.
President Biden made monumental investments in our country’s infrastructure
Maybe not the flashiest victory, but definitely one of the most important moments of 2022 was the passage of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
President Biden signed into law this important legislation that includes $550 billion in new federal investments in America’s roads and bridges, water infrastructure, climate resilience, internet, and more.
Minnesota has begun to and will continue to receive about $7.3 billion in federal support for infrastructure development. Our allocation includes funding for investments in climate resilience, electronic vehicle charging stations, manufacturing jobs, railways, and clean drinking water.
Governor Tim Walz stood up to protect reproductive rights
When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Governor Tim Walz promised to protect access to safe, legal abortion in Minnesota. And the day after the Supreme Court ruling, Walz signed an executive order to protect those seeking or providing abortions in Minnesota.
Governor Walz has shown time and time again that protecting the right to abortion is a priority. We do not doubt that under his watch, Minnesota can remain a haven for abortion care in the Midwest, despite the egregious Supreme Court decision.
President Biden signed legal protections for same-sex marriage
In December 2022, President Biden signed a historic bill codifying same-sex and interracial marriage.
With the Supreme Court’s recent record of overturning constitutional rights, many feared they would revisit the ruling that made same-sex marriage a right nationwide more than seven years ago.
Passing the Respect for Marriage Act is a beautiful win for Americans across the country. As President Biden signed the bill into law on the White House lawn, he put it perfectly:
“It’s one thing for the Supreme Court to rule on a case, but it’s another thing entirely for elected representatives of the people to take a vote on the floor of the United States Congress and say loudly and clearly, love is love. Right is right. Justice is justice.”
Big things to come in 2023
Happy new year! Through the ups and downs, we showed up in 2022 by fighting for our communities and standing up for what we believe in. We can’t wait to see what progressives in office will accomplish this year and are hopeful that, slowly but surely, we can continue to fight for a better Minnesota.
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