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Center for Racial

& Gender Equity

2020 VOTER GUIDE

RECENT CAMPAIGNS

Forum for Safety and Liberation

In August, CRGE hosted the 2018 Forum for Safety in collaboration with the Workers Center for Racial Justice and Black PAC. We were joined by nearly one hundred local residents for a public dialogue on how communities can build safe and free neighborhoods by dismantling anti-Black systems of police occupation and mass incarceration, and investing in initiatives that promote equity and liberation for people of color. During the forum, grassroots leaders shared community-level perspectives on key issues related to racialized disparities in public safety, and called upon prominent local figures, including State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, Chicago Police Commander Boyd, as well as mayoral candidates to support a community defined platform for Black safety and liberation.

Midterm Black Voter Turnout

The 2018 midterm elections marked a pivotal moment for people of color and women across the country. Facing renewed assaults on our rights and freedoms, and an emboldened reassertion of white supremacy and misogyny on the part of Republicans in every level of government, CRGE mounted its most ambitious electoral campaign to date. With the goal of leveraging Black voting power to unseat incumbents who undermine racial and gender equity, CRGE launched a highly tactical and far-reaching voter engagement strategy. Adopting best practice methodology and deploying every engagement tool at our disposal, CRGE reached more than 150,000 Black constituents. Black voter turnout increased 5.2% from the 2014 midterms in areas where CRGE organized voters. The victories we witnessed on election night, spoke to the indomitable power of Black resistance. Moving forward, CRGE is committed to protecting and leveraging these electoral wins as we fight to advance the movement for Black liberation.

2018 Gubernatorial Race

CRGE initiated the campaign to unseat Governor Bruce Rauner by conducting a phone and texting poll poll of more than 500 voters across the state. Survey results were analyzed to inform our voter outreach strategy. In majority-Black wards across Chicago, CRGE knocked on 31,906 doors, engaging constituents on electoral issues and mobilizing residents to vote. CRGE reached 30,897 Black Chicagoans with three original GOTV PSA videos through geo-targeted social media ads. Across the state, CRGE texted 39,991 drop-off black voters and made calls to 10,713 more.

2018 Congressional Races

In 2018, CRGE played a pivotal role in mobilizing Black voters to unseat Illinois congressional Republicans in the 2018 midterms. CRGE concentrated its organizing efforts in CD 12 and 13, where the population of Black voters is relatively high. In these districts, CRGE engaged 48,926, Black voters via doors, phone and text messages. We also reached 24,724 Black Facebook users with a series of GOTV PSA videos. Congressional Districts 6 and 14 Congressional Districts 12 and 13. In CD 6 and 14, which have relatively low Black populations, CRGE adopted a digital organizing strategy. CRGE sent voter mobilization text messages to thousands of drop-off Black voters in these districts.

Rank Choice Voting

In October 2018, CRGE launched a rapid response campaign to organize Black residents to vote against a repeal of the Rank Choice Voting RCV) system in Memphis. Over a five week period, CRGE hired, trained and deployed an organizing team to engage and mobilize Black constituents on the issue of RCV. CRGE knocked on 24,198 doors and established a community presence through congregational visits and town hall meeting attendance, where organizers distributed informational materials and held dialogue with Memphis voters.

KEY VICTORIES

In 2016, CRGE played a leading role in the campaign that unseated State's Attorney Anita Alvarez and police Superintendent Gary McCarthy.

PUBLICATIONS AND PROJECTS

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2019 Municipal Voter Guide