TAKE ACTION

As we lead up to the all-important midterm elections in November, we will be highlighting election campaigns and issues in our calls to action from now until election day.

1. Commit to Democracy

ISB and CTD proudly announce that Congressman Salud  Carbajal has selected ISB President Myra Paige as a recipient of the 2026 Central Coast Women of the Year Award, citing her “extraordinary leadership, compassion, and service to our community.” As a passionate and tireless leader of ISB and CTD, Myra is truly deserving of this honor.

In their current postcard campaigns, CTD still has 500 names left for postcards to Ohio Democrats and Democratic leaning independents who are newly registered to vote, thanking them for signing up and encouraging them to vote this May. The mailing deadline is April 20th. CTD is also continuing to work on the Jon Ossoff campaign in Georgia. This campaign is reaching out to newly registered voters, thanking them for signing up and encouraging them to vote in this May’s primary. The mailing deadline is May 5th. These campaigns are important because someone who votes in the primary is more likely to vote in the general, making this primary push extremely important for generating a massive turnout in November

Take action: Sign up here to order postcards.

2. Prepare for the June California Primary

The primary election that will determine the final ballot for California state elections in November is scheduled for June 2, 2026.  We are concerned about the state of the California governor’s race. California has an open primary system, meaning that all candidates (regardless of political party) are on one ballot and the two who get the most votes go on to the November ballot.  As you may be aware, there are two extreme right-wing Republicans running in this primary for governor and currently, EIGHT Democratic candidates registered for the ballot.  If voters split their votes across the Dems, there is a more than slight possibility that the primary could result in two extremist Republicans on the November ballot.

Even if candidate Eric Swalwell suspends his campaign in light of current allegations of sexual assault (which he denies), seven Democrats competing for primary votes is too many.  Efforts are being made to encourage lower-polling candidates to suspend their campaigns to narrow the field to the two most viable contenders for Democratic voters to rally around.

Take action: Ballots for the primary election will go out in the mail by May 6, so now is the time for you to check your voter registration status to be sure your ballot will go to the correct address. If you have moved since the last election, be sure to go to the Santa Barbara County voter registration cite to update your registration.

3. Support Democratic Candidate for New CA Congressional District 3

Our Congressman Salud Carbajal is co-hosting a fund-raising event in support of Congressman Ami Bera’s re-election campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. The event is being held on Saturday, May 2, at 11:00 am. If you are interested in taking this opportunity to meet with our congressional representative and contribute to Democrats re-taking the majority in the House in November, click here for further details.  

4. Tell Congress to Stop This War

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again…” When our unhinged president posted those words on Truth Social last Tuesday, the whole world held its collective breath, waiting to see whether the U.S. would engage in war crimes against Iran. The last-minute reprieve based on claimed ceasefire negotiations was a relief, but the ceasefire has been shaky, and there is still a great deal of uncertainty ahead. Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth are still poised to escalate this war at any time. 

Whatever comes next, we cannot let Trump claim this war a “success.” His reckless incursion has left Iran stronger and the U.S. weaker militarily, economically, and morally.  

Instead of acting to hold Trump and Hegseth accountable for this unauthorized war, Congress has been on a two-week break.  Attempts by Democrats to recall the House into session to vote on a War Powers Act Resolution were blocked by Republicans. We must keep up the pressure on our representatives to return to Washington and cut off the money and force an end to military engagement in the Middle East.

Take action: Contact our Representative Carbajal and Senators Schiff and Padilla to reinforce their stand against the war in Iran. Tell them we are asking members of Congress to go on record against any supplemental or additional funding for Trump’s war. No hedging, no loopholes, not a single taxpayer dollar. 
 

PROTEST, PROTEST, PROTEST
 
5. Plan to Support May Day Strong

Following the huge turnout for No Kings 3 across the U.S., the next major national action isn’t another protest but a call for economic disruption on May Day. Inspired by the Twin Cities’ Minnesota Day of Truth Action, where teachers, faith leaders, workers, students, and business leaders refused work, school, and shopping on a single Friday in January, a national May Day Strong coalition is calling for doing the same nationally on May 1.

Some organizations will be planning protest events in association with the May Day Strong walkout, but regardless of whether there is a specific event being held, the central action will be a proactive, nonviolent commitment to engage in little-to-no economic activity on Friday, May 1. 

Take action: Plan ahead to determine what you can do to help exercise collective economic power on May 1.  Not everyone will be able to do everything.  Even if you cannot walk away from work or school that day, you can still contribute by avoiding making purchases or engaging in other commercial activities.

In the meantime, you can keep the momentum building by joining us on Saturday mornings for our weekly protest:  Saturday 10am-noon, at State St. and Hitchcock Way. On Saturday, April 25, our protest theme will be “Communities Not Cages,” joining Detention Watch Network and Disappeared in America for a coordinated, nationwide mobilization against the Trump administration’s reckless expansion of ICE warehouse detention centers.