Primary Week: What You Can Do Now
Final Days to Vote, Volunteer, and Help Jon Lipe Win!
Why Do We Care So Much About Electing Jon Lipe?
We keep asking our members to canvass and phone bank for Jon Lipe, so we should be clear about why IMV is so invested in this race.
Jon has been part of our work since IMV began in 2017. He has trained and supported hundreds of local volunteers in the voter contact work that helps Democrats win: canvassing, phone banking, and real conversations with voters.
Here’s why we believe he is the strongest candidate to keep this seat Democratic:
He shares our values on health care, public education, diversity, and standing up to Trump/MAGA politics.
He knows the district through years of work with Anthony Brindisi, Rep. John Mannion, and Rep. Sherry Boehlert.
He knows how government works from experience in the Assembly, Congress, and constituent-focused public service.
He can build broad support with Democrats, independents, and moderate Republicans, which matters in this district.
He has already done the work to earn the Mohawk Valley First independent line by reaching voters across party lines.
We believe Jon is ready for this job and gives Democrats the best chance to hold the 119th Assembly seat in November.
Please help us get him through the primary: sign up to canvass, phone bank, or talk to voters before Primary Day.
Four Ways to Help Jon Lipe Win This Primary
First, Thank you to all the excellent volunteers who showed up on Sunday, June 14th for IMV’s Flag Day/No Kings Day Canvass for Jon Lipe in Rome. We had more than 20 volunteers and knocked on more than 600 doors in just a few hours. These were great conversations with reliable Democratic voters who appreciated learning more about Jon and the reminders about the primary election. Democracy in action!
Here are four ways to help Jon win. Even if you don’t live in the 119th and can’t vote for Jon, you can still help get out the vote by knocking doors, phonebanking, or reminding friends in the 119th to vote.
1. VOTE!
Early voting is available now! If you live in Utica, Rome, Floyd, Marcy, Deerfield, or Whitestown, you can head to any of the three Early Voting sites in the county and cast your ballot on any day through June 21st. Bank your vote early.
Here are the early voting sites:
UTICA
MVCC, Alumni College Center
1101 Sherman Drive
ROME
South Rome Senior Center
112 Ridge Street
NEW HARTFORD
New Hartford Town Hall
8635 Clinton Street
The hours vary by the day:
2. TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO VOTE!
Send text messages to your friends in the district. Remind your family at dinner tonight. Post a message on Facebook.
Make a commitment to talk to three Democrats you know in the 119th Assembly District and remind them to go vote for Jon Lipe.
3. KNOCK ON DOORS!
Let’s talk to Democrats at their doors to remind them to vote for Jon Lipe in the primary. The campaign has walking lists to follow and the campaign literature to use. We just need you!
See the Final Canvass Schedule for Jon Lipe below for turf pickup locations and times.
4. WFP Phonebank for Jon Lipe on Election Eve (Monday)
The first Working Families Party phonebank for Jon Lipe for Assembly District 119 was a big success! We are planning another one for Monday, June 22 6:00-8:00 pm. Join us. No experience necessary. Just join the Zoom link and use your laptop and/or phone to make the calls to remind people to vote. Questions? Call, text, or email Diane Berry at 315-733-6344, dberry13wfp@gmail.com.
Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/ny-wfp/event/966311/
Final Canvass Schedule for Jon Lipe
Campaign staffers will be available at the locations and times below with turf packets for the final days of Get Out the Vote canvassing.
Steven Anderson will be at the Rome locations, and Alex Linderman will be at the Utica locations.
Please contact Jon’s campaign manager, Steven Anderson, to schedule a pickup time or ask questions:
Steven Anderson: 315-706-7272
Steven@lipeforassembly.com
Saturday, June 20th
Rome
Jervis Library
613 North Washington Street, Rome, NY 13440
Pickup times: 10:00–11:00 am, 1:00–2:00 pm, 5:00–6:00 pm
Utica
Emerson Ave Coffee
2011 Genesee Street, Utica, NY 13501
Pickup times: 10:00–11:00 am, 1:00–2:00 pm, 5:00–6:00 pm
Sunday, June 21st
Rome
Three Fellows Inn
600 N. George Street, Rome, NY
Pickup times: 10:00–11:00 am, 1:00–2:00 pm, 5:00–6:00 pm
Utica
Emerson Ave Coffee
2011 Genesee Street, Utica, NY 13501
Pickup times: 10:00–11:00 am, 1:00–2:00 pm, 5:00–6:00 pm
Monday, June 22
Rome
Jervis Library
613 North Washington Street, Rome, NY 13440
Pickup times: 10:00–11:00 am, 1:00–2:00 pm, 5:00–6:00 pm
Utica
Utica Public Library
303 Genesee Street, Utica, NY 13501
Pickup times: 10:00–11:00 am, 1:00–2:00 pm, 5:00–6:00 pm
Tuesday, June 23rd
Rome
Jervis Library
613 North Washington Street, Rome, NY 13440
Pickup times: 10:00–11:00 am, 1:00–2:00 pm, 5:00–6:00 pm
Utica
Utica Public Library
303 Genesee Street, Utica, NY 13501
Pickup times: 10:00–11:00 am, 1:00–2:00 pm, 5:00–6:00 pm
Call to Action! A Chance to Stop Data Centers in NYS!
Call Governor Hochul today and ask her to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act (S10642 / A11560) immediately! The Act, which puts a one year moratorium on most new data center permits, passed both the NYS Assembly and Senate but needs to be signed by the Governor to take effect. The rapid growth of data centers is one of the worst affordability and environmental threats confronting New York.
Join Indivisible’s Immigrant Justice Summer Training Series
When ICE comes to your community, do you know what to do? This summer, Indivisible is giving you a blueprint.
Immigrant Justice Summer is a five-call national training series that will level up how you show up for immigrant justice. You’ll learn how to build up hyper-local networks and connect to experienced organizations to respond to ICE surges or new concentration camps in your area.
With ICE buying up warehouses and anti-immigration agencies turbocharged by the GOP’s recent infusion of $70 billion into their coffers, we all need to be prepared. By the end of our series, you’ll be equipped to mount a safe, immigrant-aligned response when there’s an emergency action needed in your community to protect your neighbors from Trump’s detention and deportation regime.
Sessions begin on July 9. Learn more and register to secure your spot here.
A Word from Ezra at Indivisible
In case you didn’t read the Monday email from Indivisible Co-Executive Director, Ezra Levin:
That's the proportion of Americans who approved of Trump's birthday cage fight [Sunday]. Americans are divided in a lot of ways these days, but just about all of us can agree the tragicomic birthday fight fest sucked. We can laugh about it (and I have!), but I think Trump's total disregard for public approval this year tells us where we're headed in the lead-up to the midterms.
Trump’s birthday lawn party came on the same day of a humiliating "deal" with Iran. It's good that the needless bloodshed is over -- if this unsigned framework holds -- but let's be clear, this is little more than another inglorious off-ramp from a war Trump promised he would never start, then started anyway over the objections of a supermajority of Americans.
The Iran "deal" comes as Trump’s unpopular secret police force ramps up attacks on communities across the country. Trump’s xenophobia czar Tom Homan threatened to flood New York City with "more ICE agents than you’ve ever seen" days before Republicans shoveled $70 billion more to Trump’s secret police and burgeoning concentration camp industry.
Why is a politician doing unpopular things in an election year? Between violence at home, violence abroad, the ridiculous birthday party, the gaping corruption, and the continued stonewalling on Epstein, we're inundated with layer upon layer of outrage. But beneath the surface, there are two things going on at once:
Desperation. Trump is floundering. His approvals keep plummeting. His congressional coalition hobbles forward. He wields enormous power, yet he keeps losing the things he actually wants: he pushed a slush fund for January 6th insurrectionists and lost it; pushed for billions for his ballroom and lost it; pushed to deface the Kennedy Center with his name and, as of Sunday, lost that too.
Midterm strategy. Look at the timing. Most politicians spend an election year doing popular things. Trump is doing the opposite -- destabilizing, cruel, and at times just plain weird outbursts and campaigns four months before midterms he can't afford to lose. The point isn't to win voters back. The point is to weaken institutions and weaken our resolve. Trump doesn't plan to win the midterms by normal means. He plans to sabotage them any way he can get away with.
Our job is to make sure he can't get away with it. We do that by organizing now, humiliating him electorally in November, and protecting that result from his schemes. It's not enough to oppose his birthday parties, his wars, his gestapo. Unorganized discontent is politically irrelevant. Our job is to organize that discontent into real opposition.
In solidarity,
Ezra Levin
Co-Executive Director, Indivisible
Climate Crisis Working Group
From Mona Perrotti: Divest NY and the Comptroller Primary
Mona Perrotti, who represents IMV on the Divest NY grassroots organization as a member of the Climate Crisis Working Group, sent the following statement regarding the Democratic primary for New York State Comptroller.
This does not constitute an endorsement by the IMV Climate Crisis Working Group, but Mona hopes IMV members will educate themselves about the three Democratic candidates for Comptroller and vote.
Divest NY’s statement:
“Divest NY is excited to support both Raj Goyle and Drew Warshaw in their campaigns to become the next Comptroller of New York State,” said Ruth Foster of Divest NY. “Instead of DiNapoli’s business as usual, both Warshaw and Goyle will provide the leadership needed to protect the Common Retirement Fund from volatile fossil fuel investments, go after greedy utility companies, and protect our planet for future generations.”
In addition to the statement from Divest NY, Mona sent this link to an article about Comptroller DiNapoli’s two Democratic challengers.
Rally Against Ilion Data Center
Save the date for a locally planned rally against an AI data center in Ilion.
June 27th, 12-1:30 pm
14 Hoefler Ave
Ilion, KN
Say no to the proposed AI data center coming into the former Remington Arms factory building in Ilion, NY, which is now owned by Turin Management LLC since late 2024. This is a peaceful protest.” More information is available on the Facebook event page.
IMV-Sponsored Rallies
MARCY: Friday, June 19th, 4-5:30 pm,Bridge Brigade, We will be gathering on the I-90 pedestrian bridge Friday, June 5th at 4pm to 5:30pm. The location is where 49 West exits onto River Road in Marcy (close to the Walmart). It is about a 1/4 mile walk on the pedestrian path to the bridge. Bring your signs and flags* Organizers will have the MAIN MESSAGE for the day that will be held for viewing from the highway. Please bring flags/signs/pom poms. We need helping hands and cheerleaders.
Saturday, June 20th, 12–1:30 pm, Protest Against Trump’s Authoritarianism in Rome. We gather on Black River Blvd. near the Erie Blvd. intersection beside Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome. This peaceful weekly demonstration features music and creative signs.
Thursday, June 25th, 4-5 pm, IMV Thursday Protest. New Location for June! We will be outside the Whitesboro Historical Society, 8 Park Ave., Whitesboro. There is plenty of parking in the area. Bring signs (we have extra!) to protest Trump's authoritarianism and unnecessary war and the complicit Republican Congress, judges, and corporations.
Calls to make today!
Call your US senators and demand they oppose the Trump regime’s warrantless mass surveillance. FISA -- the War-on-Terror era legislation that authorized mass surveillance and is now under threat of being supercharged by AI -- expired on June 12. Now, our Members of Congress have a choice to make: Uphold the Constitution and protect freedom of speech, or greenlight more of Trump’s authoritarian power grabs.
Then, call your US representative and demand the same. Two years ago, legislation to reauthorize FISA breezed through Congress with bipartisan support. That can’t happen again. To increase your impact, follow up with an email to your Members of Congress.
Tell your senators to oppose the confirmation of Trump lackey Jay Clayton for DNI. Last week, we flooded Congress with calls and emails opposing Trump’s dangerous, unqualified pick to serve as acting Director of National Intelligence. The pressure worked, and he named a less obviously terrible permanent nominee -- but a terrible nominee nonetheless. So we need to keep up the pressure until he puts forward a qualified intelligence professional instead of another loyalist hack. Please email your senators today.
