(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Focusing on First Nations on a Festive Friday: Gratitude, Promise, Hope, and Action in Rural Arizona [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-12-22 It was but two months ago that former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez (D) entered the race to take on Incumbent MAGA Congressman Eli Crane (R) in Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District, the vast nearly 60,000 square mile district that covers over half the state of Arizona. Taking in 14 indigenous Native American tribes and parts of 9 of Arizona’s 15 counties, AZ-2 is one of the largest and most unique districts in the country. It is also one of the few predominately rural districts where Team Blue has a fighting chance to unseat a Republican Congressman. Candidate Nez’s entry into the congressional race also inspired me as an avian volunteer roaming the Painted Desert aimlessly, to write my first blog post for Daily Kos. I was unsure what to expect, though as a resident of Northeast Arizona, I was familiar with the impressive grassroots organization called Northeast Arizona Native Democrats, who may be the most effective campaign organization of its kind in the country. In 2023, with four organizers on the ground this year that group has been able to: make over 130,000 direct voter contacts. register over 150 young and new voters on three sovereign nations. Assisted over 1000 voters getting their voter registration up to date. recruited 286 Family Votes matriarchs and hosted eight in person Family Votes Luncheons educated over 150 volunteers on relational organizing basics launched the Hopi Listening Tour, with more stops planned in 2024 delivered winter mutual aid in the form of emergency supply kits, coal, wood and water delivered over 300 backpacks with school supplies to children on three sovereign nations. advocated for voting rights as the Republican party attempted to rewrite local voting rules in Navajo County, Arizona. In 2024 their program goals include: hiring up to 25 full and part time organizers 250,000 voter contacts weekly trainings for their Family Votes Matriarchs continuing their Hopi Listening Tour a 13-stop tour on Navajo, Hopi and White Mountain Apache to visit smaller communities on tribal lands. mutual aid and community service launching a new counter- disinformation campaign So, needless to say, they have created an incredible environment for organizing tribal communities, and empowering Native candidates. Their foundational energy has helped build momentum for Jonathan Nez, former President of the Navajo Nation, who guided his people through the COVID pandemic with compassionate and decisive executive leadership, attaining some of the highest vaccination rates in the country, and saving a Nation as it endured a serious crisis. As a volunteer out in the field, I can see how hard candidate Nez works each and every day to earn the votes of his constituents, and to learn about ways he can better serve them once elected. One day I had the privilege of volunteering in the same community as Prez Nez, and I watched with awe as he calmly reached out to grandmas and grandpas, mothers and fathers, and children of all ages, to hear their concerns, while simultaneously gathering 100+ signatures to get his name on the ballot. This was in a small, rural tribal community where many of the residents still lack electricity and running water, and yet here they were, super attentive, highly engaged, and ready to help, even as many required help themselves. The candidate’s selflessness was on display and reminded me of why I wrote that first volunteer post on Daily Kos. Nez’s campaign gives forgotten and underserved communities hope, not just on tribal lands but throughout rural Central, Northern, and Eastern Arizona, where hope and political action have both historically been in short supply. So, as we close out 2023 and prepare for the battles ahead in 2024, the roadrunner wanted to extend a personal thank you to everyone on Daily Kos who has read or recommended one of my diaries, or who has contributed to Jonathan Nez’s campaign after reading. While the campaign doesn’t share with me detailed internal numbers, I do know that Daily Kos readers have elevated Mr. Nez and some posts, such as the inaugural post and a post on Republicans wanting to open up the Grand Canyon area to uranium mining, raised several thousand dollars apiece from generous readers like you. With the year coming to close, I don’t expect those who’ve already been generous to donate again, but I do hope all can recommend, and that those who haven’t had a chance to help out Jonathan Nez (or Northeast Arizona Native Democrats or both) might consider doing so now. Arizona’s 2nd congressional district was won by current MAGA Republican Eli Crane by single digits in 2022, and Trump likewise won it by only single digits over Biden in 2020. With the grassroots energy on the ground, the hard work of the candidate, and a little bit of extra end of year cash thrown in, this is a winnable race. Democrats reclaiming this rural soil with an indigenous candidate taking down a MAGA extremist in 2024 is the greatest holiday wish of many a resident of CD2. You can contribute to make that a reality HERE YOU CAN DONATE HERE secure.actblue.com/… Thank you, Daily Kos readers, organizers, strangers, friends, and allies. You are making a difference each and every day and your continued support will write one of the best campaign stories of the 2024 cycle, when Arizona will send its first Native American to Congress. May you all have a great holiday season and a Happy New Year! Meep, meep. Roadrunner65 [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/12/22/2213176/-Focusing-on-First-Nations-on-a-Festive-Friday-Gratitude-Promise-Hope-and-Action-in-Rural-Arizona?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/