I’m Launching Something New

For me, the essential question for my party is this: do you think this political moment is frenzied but still normal, and thus our job is to use our tried and true political tactics to make Trump as deservedly unpopular as possible so that we win back levers of power in 2026; or, do you think this moment is without precedent, and that Trump’s assault on democracy is so serious that all our work must be directed not toward winning the 2026 election, but making sure there is a free, fair election in 2026.

I count myself in the latter category, and that’s why this week I decided to do something that no other federal elected official is doing: turn over my fundraising operation to fight Trump’s corruption, as opposed to supporting candidates in the 2026 election. There will be time closer to the election to do electoral work and raise money to win elections, but right now, I believe all our efforts need to be focused on the tools of political opposition: mobilization, message, and legal action.

Let me explain why I think this moment is so unique (and then I’ll tell you about the new effort I’m launching this week).

Since January 20th, Donald Trump has been on a mission to convert our democracy to a quasi-autocracy. He began endorsing political violence on his behalf (a key element of would-be autocrats) by pardoning all of the January 6 rioters. He then began to use the justice system to harass his political opponents and give get out of jail cards to his loyalists. He began to target law firms that protected citizens against his corruption. He is trying to shut down protest and free speech on college campuses, where anti-Trump sentiment is often the hottest. He is bullying journalists and media companies ceaselessly, trying to suppress unfavorable coverage of him and his thievery. The level of risk to our democracy has never been as high as it is today.

And at the same time, Trump has begun to use the White House as a blunt instrument to enrich himself and his MAGA allies, often illegally. $5 million for 1-on-1 meetings with the president. A meme coin for tech billionaires, Russian oligarchs, and Chinese CEOs to purchase in exchange for favors from the White House. A bill to rip health care away from 15 million Americans in order to fund a tax cut for billionaires. It’s hard to keep up with the sheer volume of graft and corruption - that’s by design.

The Trump administration thinks if they flood the zone and threaten the opposition, they’ll exhaust us. They want to intimidate us into submission. But it's not working. People are waking up to the threat to our democracy and the non-stop corruption. Over the past few months, I’ve talked to thousands of people all over the country. From Connecticut to North Carolina, from Florida to Michigan and Missouri, they all say the same thing: what can we do? People are ready to fight and looking for ways to take action.

So, here’s what I’m announcing this week: I’m launching a new fund: American Mobilization. The priority for this new fund is to provide a meaningful boost to the efforts to build an immediate, nationwide mobilization against Trump's authoritarian tactics, thievery, and rampant corruption.

American Mobilization is going to partner with citizen-led, local grassroots protest efforts. We’re going to give them funding, but also logistical support. We’re starting out by investing $400,000 in three organizations: the Committee to Protect Health Care, Georgia Youth Justice Coalition for Action and Project 26 Pennsylvania. The Committee to Protect Health is organizing doctors and nurses to protect Medicaid in Michigan, Louisiana, and Utah, and Georgia Youth Justice and Project 26 are organizing young people, including college students, to join the fight.

Since January, hundreds of thousands of people have generously decided to send $5 or $10 to support me in this fight. But I know they’re not sending me that money to save for future elections - they’re sending their hard-earned dollars to make a difference right now. So, that’s what we’re doing: supporting state and local groups mobilizing against Trump’s corruption with the financial resources they need to supercharge their efforts.

Trump and his billionaire friends want us to feel powerless, but they should remember it’s the people who hold the power. Saving our democracy will require the mass mobilization of millions of Americans across the country. We’ve got no time to waste.

For more information on how to join us, visit https://chrismurphy.com/american-mobilization-pac/