Organizing Gets the Goods in a Top-versus-Bottom Election

News from People’s Action Power

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3 November 2026

Contact: Derrick Crowe, 512.516.5067, press@peoplesaction.org 

People’s Action: Organizing Gets the Goods in a Top-versus-Bottom Election

WASHINGTON, D.C.–People’s Action Power hailed Tuesday’s midterm election results as a stunning victory for people-powered candidates, set up by years of work by community organizers to build power in districts across the country. By flipping crucial seats in Michigan, Maine, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere, progressive candidates have disproved centrist and corporate-friendly naysayers, delivering the crucial numbers for a Democratic majority and setting up a real chance for change in 2027 and beyond. 

“We still need to count every vote, but it’s clear that community organizing that took on greedy corporations resulted in working class people getting the goods,” People’s Action Power President Sulma Arias said. “Voters are sick of being bullied by MAGA and the billionaires–and they’re tired of weak resistance by corporate-backed politicians. We backed candidates who would stand up for working class people, and voters responded by turning out for them in record numbers.”

People’s Action Power highlighted projected wins from several endorsed candidates and in key districts highlighted by the organization’s political strategy, including:  

• Endorsed candidates Abdul El-Sayed for Senate in Michigan and Will Lawrence for Congress in MI-07, and Bob Brooks for Congress in PA-07

• Troy Jackson for Senate in Maine, backed by People’s Action member group Maine People’s Alliance

• Wins in congressional races in PA-07, PA-08, CO-08, IA-01, IA-03, NY-17, MI-07, MI-10, with two districts (ME-02 and CO-03) yet to be called for either candidate.

“Since early 2025, President Trump has cheered billionaires and greedy corporations on as they stole our public dollars, gobbled up land and water for data centers, and tried to buy our elections,” People’s Action Power’s Marta Popadiak said. “Our deep listening canvasses showed that people were hurting, and what corporate Democrats offered wasn’t enough. That’s why we backed long-time allies like Abdul El-Sayed and Will Lawrence in Michigan and Bob Brooks in Pennsylvania. They stood up for bold solutions to the affordability crisis that our people need.” 

People’s Action Power co-anchored Team ‘26, a national coalition of progressive organizations working to build power for the working class, to canvass for progressive candidates across the country, including El-Sayed, Lawrence, and Brooks.  These candidates and the organizing behind them overcame millions in spending from corporate and billionaire-backed super PACs. 

• El-Sayed faced upwards of $300 million in spending against him and relentless racist and Islamophobic attacks, including from the president. 

• Will Lawrence overcame $27 million spent against him in one of the most expensive House races of all time. 

• Bob Brooks weathered $17 million in spending against him in the most expensive race in Pennsylvania. 

In addition to canvassing, People’s Action Power ran digital ads throughout the cycle to support progressive primary challengers to help build the populist bench, including ads in Michigan with an ideologically diverse set of disaffected voters. These ads offered both political education and a pipeline to action as part of the PAC’s national distributed volunteer program. 

“To be clear: decades of deep community organizing and power building laid the groundwork for victory in Michigan and beyond,” Popadiak added. “Organizations like Michigan United Action, Maine People’s Alliance, and others have been building stronger communities and organized grassroots bases using the principles of community organizing year after year. If you want to defend these wins and earn more victories, invest in more community organizing.” 

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