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  • From the Desk of Al Franken

Look what she did!

An unnecessary war and high gas prices getting you down? I get it. Sometimes — okay, most of the time — the news feels like a dumpster fire inside a train wreck. But every now and then, something genuinely good happens. And yesterday, in Illinois, it did.

Voters across the state delivered a resounding rejection of a crypto-backed candidate and chose a true progressive champion instead: Juliana Stratton. That’s right — she won the Illinois Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

And here’s the part I love: Midwest Values PAC is maxing out to support her campaign.

Why is this such a big deal?

  1. Stratton didn’t tiptoe around the issues. She ran a bold campaign — standing firmly against ICE, holding corrupt agents accountable, and taking on Donald Trump’s authoritarian behavior head-on. She called him what he is: a “wannabe dictator.” And guess what? Voters responded.

  2. Even more impressive? She started with limited name recognition and far less funding than her opponent. Meanwhile, a Trump-aligned crypto Super PAC poured money into the race, expecting to buy the outcome. They were wrong.

  3. This victory sends a very clear message that grassroots energy still beats big money when people come together and fight for what matters.

If we want more wins like this, and more candidates like Juliana Stratton standing up and winning, we need to keep building momentum. Chip in today to help Midwest Values PAC support leaders who aren’t afraid to fight for what’s right.

Al

P.S. Illinois is now on track to become the first state in history represented by two women of color in the U.S. Senate. And Stratton would be just the sixth Black woman ever to serve in the Senate. That’s not just history, that’s progress. Let’s keep it going.

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Midwest Values PAC supports candidates & causes that share our values.

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Somehow, it’s been 20 years since I started Midwest Values PAC to help Democrats win elections — from progressive organizations to state legislatures to Congress to the White House — who share the values I grew up with in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Since 2006, Midwest Values PAC has invested more than $4 million in 341 candidates and organizations — and counting. 

Of course, none of this happens without you (or supporters like you) who care enough to pitch in.

As we mark our 20th anniversary, the work is more urgent than ever. This year, we have a big job: flip the House, take the Senate, and win up and down the ballot at the state and local level.

To mark our 20th year, we’ve set an ambitious goal: 26,000 contributions by Election Day 2026.

DONATE HERE

Thanks for being part of this fight, and for sticking with us for 20 years (or for just joining — welcome!).

Al

P.S. Over the years, okay, decades, we’ve helped Democrats win tough races all across the country by investing early, intelligently, and strategically. That’s how you flip seats. That’s how you protect democracy. And that’s how you stop the worst impulses of a president who never should have been president in the first place.

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