Key Takeaways

SCOTUS + The 2018 Elections: Opportunities and Implications for c3 Funders

  • takeaways

Mon, August 6, 2018 | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT

The retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, and subsequent nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, have far-reaching implications that could negatively affect all the issues we most care about, such as voting rights (including partisan gerrymandering), money in politics, executive power issues, partisan the environment, access to reproductive health, women’s and LGBTQ rights, and more. The last Supreme Court nomination secured a conservative seat with a new conservative justice; this one could tip the balance for the next 30-40 years.  But while the stakes are high, this is not a lost cause and there are opportunities for c3 funders to make a difference.

Join us for our August First Monday + Election Series Discussion to mobilize ourselves into action, discuss how this nomination relates to all the issues we care about, and understand the c3 funding opportunities and needs around the 2018 Elections.

Access the Recording Here (FCCP Members Only)

Moderated by Sarah Knight, Open Society Foundations

Speakers:

Key Takeaways

  • What’s at stake?
    • A lot!
    • Sen. Mitch McConnell intends to push the nomination process for Brett Kavanaugh through before the Election. Sen. Chuck Grassley has limited what documents will be available to the public for review on the nominee and the National Archives let the Senate know that even the documents that are part of the limited request by Sen. Grassley could not be completed until the end of October.
    • Brett Kavanaugh has particular views on the robustness of Presidential Powers that becomes worrisome in the context of accountability of this Administration and ongoing investigations.
    • There is a 30 year deficit in making the case to many communities (outside of the right) on what is at stake with a nomination fight in the Supreme Court.
  • What can be done?
    • A full scale mobilization is underway in the wake of Justice Kennedy’s retirement under a few core, coordinated workstreams: Research, Hill Strategy, Field Engagement, and Communications.
    • Coordination is also occurring at the state-level with a point of contact / organization as the lead for each target state.
    • Support on many of the issues that are at stake by the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh are popular and not controversial among the public.
    • The campaign against Brett Kavanaugh is viewed as winnable and as a conduit to increase the base of people who are engaged as activists on issues that matter personally to them.