You’ve Made History in America

President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris have received more votes for president and vice president than any other candidates in U.S. election history, with more than 74.5 million tallied as of this morning. They have broken the record set by Barack Obama in 2008. Nationally, Biden currently leads President Trump by roughly 4 million votes, and analysts expect his margin is very likely to grow. Democrats have now won the popular vote in 7 of the last 8 presidential elections (1992, 1996, 2000, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020), despite not holding the White House for 12 of those years. The U.S. is the world’s only democracy that chooses its head of state via an Electoral College system. This year, however, it got it right.

Thank you for being a part of a historic effort in an unprecedented year. While we did not win Ohio, our work helped expand the popular vote and lift our local candidates. Every postcard (of 12,000 mailed), every door hanger, every pop-up visibility, and every phone call helped drive turnout—especially the early vote.

Of the 75 cities, villages, townships, and Cleveland city wards in Cuyahoga County, 7 of the 8 communities in our club area were in the top 25 for turnout. Pepper Pike, Orange, Moreland Hills, Bentleyville and Hunting Valley all cracked 80% turnout and Chagrin Falls and Chagrin Falls Twp. trailed close behind at 77.90% and 77.60% respectively. 

Over the summer, our club set a series of goals and targets. Knowing that Hillary Clinton lost statewide by 8.13%, we knew the state would have to move 4.065% from Donald Trump’s column to Joe Biden’s…plus one. Our goal was simple: to do our part and move the Chagrin Gateway Democrats club area by 4.065 (plus 1 vote). 

In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the club area 60.65% to 34.64%. This year, it’s safe to say, through our hard work, we did our job as Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in our club area 66.35% to 32.71%.

Not only did we move every city by 4.07%, we moved some by a whole lot. Bentleyville moved 9%. Chagrin Falls moved 7%. Moreland Hills moved 6%.

Joseph R. Biden won 17 of the 18 precincts in our club area, losing only Hunting Valley BY ONE VOTE. Yes, Joe Biden lost HUNTING VALLEY by a single vote.

We may not have won Ohio, but we decisively carried our weight. This lifting also helped down ballot.

In the 6th State House District (Chagrin Falls, Bentleyville, Moreland Hills and Hunting Valley), we improved our performance from 2018 by 1.22% (vs. a 0.32% improvement district-wide across the 6th) and saw improvement in every single precinct (9 total). State Representative Phil Robinson was re-elected district-wide 51.65% to 48.35%. In our club area, he won 54.08% to 45.92%.

In the 12th State House District (Pepper Pike, Orange), State Representative Juanita Brent, who ran unopposed two years ago, won decisively against a Republican opponent (82.17% to 17.83%). Our club delivered every single precinct in this race by wide margins.

In the 24th State Senate District (Chagrin Falls, Bentleyville, Moreland Hills and Hunting Valley), Tom Jackson, despite losing the race district-wide, saw our club area outperform the district outcome in 6 of the 9 precincts—including Chagrin A, the home precinct of the Republican incumbent who narrowly won there.

So, What’s Next?

After the success we’ve had this year, we must resist falling into the trap that far too many Democrats in this county and state find themselves in after each cycle. We cannot stop building and expanding our base. As we look ahead to local races in 2021 and the entire slate of statewide races in 2022 from U.S. Senate and Governor to Attorney General and State Treasurer, we must keep building and organizing. 

This means registering new voters, staying engaged with supporters, and persuading those who will listen with a message that inspires them to join our cause.

Our work isn’t done. In many ways, it is just getting started. That brings us to the U.S. Senate and the State of Georgia…

When the final votes are counted, the United States Senate caucuses will likely sit at 50 Republicans and 48 Democrats (incl. 2 independents). The two remaining races, which will control the control of the Senate, will be decided on January 5th as the state of Georgia holds two runoff elections—with Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock taking on incumbent Republicans David Purdue and Kelly Loeffler respectively. 

Our club is going to help carry these two Senate races! We’ve been working to connect with friends on the ground in Georgia in an effort to adopt a block of “sister cities” that we can work with to help drive turnout for this unique January election. Details will be forthcoming in the days ahead, but our work will likely include postcard writing, phone calls, text messaging, and any other creative vehicle we can build to help turn out the vote in Georgia and give President-elect Biden the majority he needs to turn the country around. 

Please join us in this fight! Sign-up today for the Chagrin Gateway Georgia Action Project! Let’s keep this going!

Thank you for everything you have done this year! Great days are truly ahead of us!
Fran Dryer and Anthony Fossaceca