Pro-Democrat group uses grants to influence voter turnout
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American Bridge, a political organization backing Democrats, is planning on allocating grants to groups in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona -- all battleground states.
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A polling station in Jefferson County Pennsylvania (Reuters)
American Bridge, an organization that backs the Democratic party, intends to provide funding to affiliated groups in critical battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona in order to boost voter turnout in the next midterm elections.
Through its BridgeTogether program, American Bridge will award grants totaling more than $500,000 to Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity, a group that works with ex-offenders; Arizona AANHPI for Equity Coalition, which advocates for Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders; and Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta, a civil rights organization.
More than $100 million in total is going to be put toward the 2022 elections, deciding the fate of the US House and Senate.
Jessica Floyd, president of American Bridge, said in an emailed statement that the organization has given more than $1 million to assist grassroots and organizing in critical states during the 2022 elections.
Democrats are facing significant obstacles in maintaining their legislative majority, given historical challenges. During a first term, the president's party frequently loses seats, and turnout in midterm elections is lower than in presidential election years. Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona were critical to Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over Donald Trump in November 2020. That victory was aided in part by minority voter turnout.
Following the election, a number of Republican-led state legislatures enacted stricter voting rights legislation.
The focus in Pennsylvania is giving a voice to formerly jailed Black and Hispanic voters. The $170,000 American Bridge money will be used to establish "pardon hubs" in 13 counties where residents may receive coaching on how to petition for a pardon to have their criminal record expunged, as well as register to vote.
In Arizona and Georgia, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta grants will be given to organizations with an effort to expand Asian-American and Latino voter education and registration.
Arizona AANHPI for Equity Coalition will utilize a $100,000 grant to financially support a new Civic Engagement Youth Fellowship Summer Program that will teach 25 college and high school students how to register new voters and organize for Democratic causes, focusing on racial bias and voting rights history.
Biden's approval rating sets record low
According to an ABC News/Washington Post poll in February, Democratic President Joe Biden's approval rating dropped to 37% with 55% disapproving, a 4 percentage point drop since November and a 15 percentage point drop since April 2021.
Biden undoubtedly has a number of issues that contribute to his low approval ratings, including his handling of the Ukraine crisis, the pandemic response, a border crisis, and low ratings for personal qualities such as leadership, crisis management, and mental sharpness.
Republicans have an advantage heading into the 2022 midterm elections, in which the Republican Party hopes to reclaim control of Congress, owing to Biden's low approval ratings and US citizens' deep dissatisfaction with rising inflation.
Even within his own party, nearly a quarter of Democrats either disapprove (19%) or are undecided of Biden (4%).
