A whistleblower inside the U.S. Postal Service says the agency has been rushing to build a new system to carry out Trump’s executive order targeting mail voting. According to the disclosure, the rollout has been poorly tested, and a single scanning error could potentially hold up an entire batch containing thousands of ballot envelopes. That may sound like a narrow technical problem, but it points to something much larger about how voting rights fights are changing.

The most effective forms of voter suppression do not always look dramatic anymore: they can happen through administrative systems that most voters never see and would have little reason to understand until something goes wrong, from a barcode failing to scan, a poor database sync, or even a vote-by-mail request being sorted into the wrong pile. None of these problems comes with a headline announcing that someone has been denied the right to vote, but the practical result can be the same if the issue is not fixed before the deadline.

Roughly one-third of voters cast ballots by mail in 2024, and for most of them the process was simple enough that the machinery behind it was almost invisible. They requested a ballot, received it, filled it out and sent it back. Behind that routine transaction, however, is a complicated chain of election offices, postal facilities, scanning systems, databases and deadlines that all have to work correctly.

The Trump administration says its changes are intended to strengthen election security and verify voter eligibility. Democratic-led states and voting rights groups are challenging parts of the effort in court, arguing that the federal government is interfering with state-run election systems and creating new risks for voters who rely on the mail. The legal questions matter, but so does the operational reality. Even a rule that is eventually struck down can cause confusion if election administrators and postal workers spend weeks preparing for it. If Trump can’t get through his attacks, he knows that the confusion and chaos will result regardless.

The fight over the midterms has already started. For millions of voters, the first sign of it may be whether an envelope arrives when it is supposed to.

Please take a moment now to check your voter registration, even if you’ve voted for decades. In states like Texas, millions have been moved to a “suspense” status, requiring updates before the election.

According to conventional wisdom, our clearest path would be to flip North Carolina, Maine, Alaska, and Ohio while making sure we defend Democratic held toss up seats in Georgia and Michigan. However, we’re also monitoring races in Texas and Iowa where strong Democratic candidates have given us a shot at flipping these reliably Republican seats.

Democrats have what is probably their easiest pickup opportunity in the tar heel state, where popular former Governor Roy Cooper is leading Republican Michael Whatley by double digits in most polls. Whatley, the former RNC chair and close confidant to Donald Trump, has never held political office, and his proximity to Trump likely hurts more than it helps in such a competitive state. As of right now, Cooper has outraised Whatley three to one, but the outside money being spent in Whatley’s favor could easily erase that lead. The GOP-aligned Senate Leadership Fund has already announced plans to spend $71 million in North Carolina.

The state of play in Maine has changed drastically in the past month, with Democratic nominee Graham Platner dropping out of the race in July after he was accused of sexual assault. Democrats have now replaced Platner with logger and former Maine state Senate president Troy Jackson. Democrats have sought to oust Susan Collins and flip this seat for years, and this could be their best shot. The state has been reliably trending blue, and Kamala Harris won the state in 2024, but Collins has shown to be a formidable incumbent that we cannot take for granted.

In Alaska, former Rep. Mary Peltola is running to unseat Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. Peltola has a history of being able to flip red seats, and since Alaska’s House seat is at-large, she’s had experience winning statewide. A new poll from earlier this month shows Peltola leading Sullivan 51% to his 49%. While this may be a statistical tie, it’s important to remember that Trump won this state by 13 points in 2024, meaning Peltola is winning over a sizable portion of Trump voters, which will be essential to her victory.

Ohio has trended red over the last few election cycles, but former Senator Sherrod Brown is giving Democrats their best chance at flipping the seat. Brown is up against Jon Husted, who was appointed to fill J.D. Vance’s seat after he became Vice President. Brown certainly benefits from strong name ID, support from labor unions, and a massive war chest, and a recent Fox News poll shows Brown leading Husted by eight points. Husted is still a rather unknown figure, which could both help or hurt our chances. Democrats must effectively define Husted as a Trump lackey who wants data centers in working-class communities and is supporting another endless war that is driving costs through the roof.

Along with flipping these four seats, we must defend two Democratic held seats in Georgia and Michigan. In Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff has maintained a lead in polling and a massive cash advantage over his Republican opponent Mike Collins. Georgia is the only state where Trump won with a Democratic Senator up for reelection, so Republicans are setting their sights on the Peach State as one of their prime pickup opportunities. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed just prevailed in the Democratic primary despite being heavily outspent by establishment pick Haley Stevens. El-Sayed’s fiercely progressive message resonated with a coalition of younger and college-educated voters, but if he wants to win the general, he needs to boost his standing among older black voters who voted overwhelmingly for Haley Stevens in the primary.

Finally, we have our wildcards, Texas and Iowa. These two states have been reliably Republican for over a decade, but with Trump’s approval at an all-time low, strong Democratic candidates have given us a chance to flip them. In Texas, James Talarico, a former teacher, pastor, and state representative, is facing off against MAGA darling Ken Paxton in what has become a closely watched race. Talarico will need to boost turnout among younger voters and win over Hispanic voters who have trended to the right over the past few election cycles.

Talarico recently unveiled his “New American Dream” plan, including a minimum wage increase and taxing the 1% to deliver wins to working-class families. You can hear more about his vision here:

In Iowa, a state widely affected by Trump’s tariffs and the war in Iran, which have raised fertilizer and fuel prices, polling shows Josh Turek neck and neck with Republican Ashley Hinson.

Now here’s where you come in. If you have time between now and Election Day, consider hopping on the phone to make get-out-the-vote calls and make sure every last Democrat has a plan to vote. Every vote matters, and turnout is what will determine every one of these races, so it’s time to organize like hell to get the job done.

So what is Donald Trump’s number one legislative priority right now?

Making it harder for you to vote.

The SAVE America Act is headed to the Senate floor this week. The bill would force every American to produce a passport or a certified birth certificate just to register to vote. It would impose a national photo ID requirement stricter than almost every state voter ID law on the books. It would ban student IDs. It would restrict tribal IDs. And it would require every state to hand over its voter rolls to the Department of Homeland Security.

More than 21 million U.S. citizens don’t have ready access to the documents this bill demands. Not because they’re not citizens. Because they’re working people who don’t have a passport sitting in a drawer. Because they moved and haven’t updated their birth certificate. Or, like many, perhaps they got married and changed their name.

This bill does not solve a real problem. Noncitizen voting is already illegal. It is vanishingly rare. The Trump administration’s own data confirms it. Every state already requires voters to verify their citizenship. The SAVE Act stacks a new barrier on top of a system that already works, and the people who get crushed are the ones with the least time and money to jump through bureaucratic hoops.

If you want some more context on the SAVE Act, PBS NewsHour has a good segment here:

Who gets hurt? Military families who move constantly. Married women who changed their names. Elderly voters without current documents. Young voters registering for the first time. Communities of color are three times more likely than white citizens to lack the required paperwork.

If you’re thinking “this sounds like a poll tax with extra steps,” congratulations... you’re paying attention!

🏠 At the Intersection of “Not His Problem.”

Housing. The issue voters across every demographic, every state, every political persuasion rank at or near the top of their list. The issue where 84% of Gen Z say they’re delaying marriage, kids, or career moves because they can’t afford to buy a home.

And guess what? The Senate just passed a sweeping, bipartisan housing bill, 89 to 10. (YAY!) The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act would be the biggest federal housing package in decades. It tackles Wall Street investors buying up single-family homes. It cuts red tape for new construction. It expands programs that help people actually afford a place to live.

Trump’s response? He told House Speaker Mike Johnson to stop worrying about the housing bill and focus on passing the SAVE Act. He said out loud, at the House Republican retreat: “They don’t talk about housing. They don’t talk about anything. That’s all they talk about.” (”That” being the SAVE Act.)

He has vowed not to sign any legislation until the SAVE Act passes. Not housing. Not anything.

If it were about election integrity, they’d fund the election infrastructure that’s already crumbling. They’d invest in the poll workers who are quitting because of threats. They’d enforce the laws already on the books.

They want to shrink the electorate. And they want to do it eight months before a midterm where their war is unpopular, their president’s approval is underwater, and every kitchen table in America has a higher gas bill sitting on it.

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🧱 The Filibuster Question

The SAVE Act needs 60 votes to pass the Senate. Democrats are unified in opposition. Schumer called it one of the most despicable bills he’s seen in his career.

Republicans have 53 seats. Even Trump’s relentless pressure campaign hasn’t moved the math. Several Republican senators, including Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, oppose the bill or oppose changing filibuster rules to ram it through. Senate Majority Leader Thune has admitted the votes aren’t there. He’s bringing it to the floor anyway, to, in his words, “put Democrats on the record.”

Fine. Put us on the record. Democrats should want to be on the record opposing a bill that would strip 21 million Americans of their ability to register to vote. That’s not a hard vote. That’s a gift.

But “putting Democrats on the record” is also a setup. If the bill fails this week, Trump and the MAGA media machine will spend the next eight months screaming that Democrats blocked election security. They’ll say Democrats want noncitizens to vote. They’ll scream it on Fox. They’ll ALL CAPS it on Truth Social. They’ll echo it at every rally between now and November.

Democrats need to be ready with a response that doesn’t require a flowchart. Something like: “We killed a bill that would have stopped 21 million Americans from voting, and we’d do it again.”

📌 What You Can Do

Call your senators today. Both of them. Even if they’re Democrats.

The number for the U.S. Capitol Switchboard is (202) 224-3121. They’ll connect you.

Here is a script from 5Calls to reference:

I’m calling to urge Senator [Name] to oppose the House-passed SAVE America Act, which would create unnecessary barriers to voter registration and disenfranchise countless voters, especially women, seniors, and low-income citizens. The bill is designed to block voters despite no evidence of widespread fraud.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

IF LEAVING VOICEMAIL: Please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.

If you’re in a state with a Republican senator or someone like Sen. John Fetterman, your call matters even more. Collins (ME), Murkowski (AK), McConnell (KY), and Tillis (NC) have all expressed reservations. They need to hear from constituents, not just from Trump’s Truth Social feed.

The president is waging a war that’s costing you $10 more a week at the pump. He’s refusing to sign a housing bill that 89 senators agreed on. And his top priority is a bill that would make it harder for 21 million citizens to vote.

He’s not trying to save America. He’s trying to save his majority.

Don’t let him.

🍎 Zohran Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani (D) is standing tall with a double-digit lead over disgraced governor Andrew Cuomo! He recently spent a few minutes with Anderson Cooper on CNN. You can watch his interview here:

📊 Deadheats in Virginia + New Jersey

In Virginia, Rep. Abigail Spanberger is running neck-and-neck against a Trump-endorsed extremist who wants to defund public schools and ban abortion.

In New Jersey, Rep. Mikie Sherrill is fighting tooth and nail to fend off a MAGA wave fueled by dark money and billionaire-funded PACs. Early vote returns show GOP voters turning out at higher-than-expected levels, and Democrats beginning to lag behind.

Why these races matter:

• Both races are seen as a barometer for how the country responds to the coming wave of elections under Donald Trump-era politics.

• Democratic turnout is essential in both races and must overcome Republican energy to pull through.

• A few thousand votes will make the difference in either of these races to tip the scales.

If you have an hour between now and Election Day, consider hopping on the phone to make get-out-the-vote calls and make sure every last Democrat has a plan to vote!

⏰ Trump is back… on 60 minutes?

Yes, really. His first sit-down with the production since the network quietly settled for $16 million after last year’s Kamala Harris defamation interview.

This is exactly how they want it to go: Trump smiling smugly, Norah O’Donnell nodding along, and a national platform to rewrite the past and pretend everything’s fine.

It’s not. While Trump rebrands for prime time, families are struggling to buy groceries. U.S. citizens are being arrested by ICE. Democracy is hanging by a thread.

We don’t get to sit back and watch. We have to organize like hell.

Do something that makes tomorrow less terrifying.

In fight,

David Austin

Executive Director, Forward Blue

🙄 Democratic déjà vu

ICYMI: A group of Democratic elitists launched Project 2029 to turn the ship around, and Jon Stewart tore them a new one. He hits the nail on the head... this is a consultant’s fast pass to pad their salary until the next big race, and hold on tight to the strategies that delivered massive losses for us in 2024. Listen to Jon’s 3-minute breakdown here:

🗳️ Presidential hopefuls

The 2028 race has already started, whether we want to accept it or not… Several contenders have been seen across the country – from South Carolina to Iowa – holding events and townhalls to test their messages and raise name ID.

Here’s the concerning thing about the advice they’re receiving: former DNC chair Jamie Harrison is saying Democrats need to be more aware of their ‘nonverbal’ communication to break through, as voters are craving a fighter and a candidate who stands up to Trump. In reality, the data shows voters more than ever crave and respond the most to candidates with actual messaging on policy and themes with real-world impact in their daily lives.

This is what real “fighters” should do for us:

1. Lead with a signature, kitchen‑table proposal. They lean into something voters can repeat to their neighbor in one sentence. “Day‑one executive order to cap insulin at $35.” (Thanks Joe!)

2. Hammer a unifying theme that stitches it together: dignity in work, freedom from hate, an economy that taxes billionaires, not working families.

3. Show receipts. Name the bill you wrote, the budget you balanced, the strike line you walked. Authenticity is measurable. (Jeff Jackson does this excellently)

4. Use every stage to teach and listen. Campaigns that educate voters win loyalty that glossy ads can’t buy. And when you’re in front of those crowds, you have the opportunity for a conversation that can’t happen anywhere else.

That’s how you punch through MAGA noise: by proving you’ll change people’s day‑to‑day lives, not by perfecting your handshake grip.

With all due respect to the former chair, it’s time he enjoys his retirement and lets the next generation of campaigns run on policy, proof, and unapologetic Democratic values. Jamie’s “watch-your-handshake” masterclass gets a hearty 💩💩💩💩 / 5 on the Shitty‑Takes‑O‑Meter.

Remember this: Democrats won’t beat Trump by curating vibes… we’ll beat him by fixing what’s broken and daring voters to hold us accountable.

🏜️ Arizona keeps fighting

Unlike some out-of-touch journalists, I was glad to see Adelita Grijalva’s victory last week in AZ-7’s special election! It’s a sign that progressive values are prevailing. And even in a competitive primary with corrupt values, we can elect Democrats with values that truly represent the people.

While Grijalva’s district is a safe win for us, we can’t forget about Arizona. Republicans in the state are actively introducing new anti-choice legislation to roll back protections passed last year. If you can, consider joining the Arizona Democrats to register more voters from home!

💸 The king says: pay up!

The Department of Education (which still exists… for now!) confirmed it will reject nearly a third of backlog applications from Biden’s low‑payment SAVE Plan as Trump‑friendly courts froze it in June. This will lead to almost half a million Americans scrambling with a higher-than-expected bill on their plate. And while this is devastating news for many, some are hoping for a Hail Mary from Pam Bondi’s desk:

Until next time, keep the pressure on, keep the receipts handy, and never let the elite convince you that “vibes” count as a plan. We’ll be back soon with more fire—and more ways to win.

In fight,

David Austin

Executive Director, Forward Blue

We launched Forward Blue to change that.

This isn’t going to be your typical newsletter. We’re not here to fundraise or play nice with the people who keep fumbling our future. We’re here to build something better — and that starts by being honest about what went wrong, who’s responsible, and what we’re going to do about it.

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Here’s what you can expect from us

We’ll break down what actually happened in 2024, beyond the talking points.

We’ll expose the bloat, the egos, the missed opportunities, and the data malpractice.

We’ll highlight organizers and ideas that are getting it right — especially the ones being ignored.

We’ll show you how Gen Z can push the party to stop losing — and start fighting like the future depends on it.

Because it does.

Some of these posts will be hard to read. Some will piss people off. But all of them will tell the truth — and if you’re still reading this, I think you’re ready for it.

Before you go

1. Send this to a friend who’s had it with the status quo.

2. Follow Forward Blue on Facebook, BlueSky, and X for more raw takes, receipts, and action.

3. Keep an eye out for upcoming events and updates. We’ve got big things coming.

Thanks again for joining us. Let’s stop pretending the old playbook works. Let’s start building something that does.

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