Way To Win Announces First President, Co-founder Tory Gavito, And Roadmap To Create A "New Southern Strategy"

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Way To Win, the all women-led, progressive donor and political strategy hub, announced today that Tory Gavito, co-founder of Way To Win, will be their first President. Way to Win announced that it has moved $22 million this election cycle toward progressive candidates and ballot measures, like Stacey Abrams in Georgia, and in Florida, Andrew Gillum and Amendment 4 -- the Voting Rights Restoration Act. Way to Win has provided crucial funding to grassroots organizations like Black Voters Matter and New Florida Majority who are causing the surge of new voters and increased voter enthusiasm throughout the country. Way To Win is aiming to create a "New Southern Strategy" and flip the archaic and racist old "Southern Strategy" on its head.

Tory Gavito, co-founder and President of Way To Win, said: "Growing Way To Win to this point, and getting the chance to step up as our first President in such a pivotal moment in our nation's history is an honor. Our new groundbreaking strategy will create the democracy our country deserves, that is truly reflective of our country's diversity and values."

Way to Win was created to tackle the dated and ineffective electoral strategies that have dominated establishment political strategies that lead to the loss of over 1,200 Democratic seats across the country.  Way to Win aims to reclaim the South and Southwest by supporting the development of a multiracial coalition of new, empowered voters. In doing so, it offers a pathway to national political and electoral power, by putting new geographies in play and elevating communities and regions that have been neglected by the traditional political establishment.

Way To Win has been instrumental in supporting and ensuring victories across the country, particularly in the South and Southwest, a region historically under resourced by the Democratic Party. They provided over $1 million in early funding to groups working on behalf of Andrew Gillum through his contested primary - before any major donors or major elected officials even supported him. Way to Win was one of the earliest and top supporters of Stacey Abrams for Governor who is on track to become the first black female Governor in the country.

Stacey Abrams, Candidate for Governor of Georgia, said: "I am running for Governor because I want all of Georgia's families to be afforded the opportunity to succeed. Way to Win's early support for our campaign provided critical resources that not only helped us win our primary election, but set us on a path that could allow us to lead the great state of Georgia for years to come."

To date, Way to Win has supported over 50 grassroots organizations - many of them women and people of color led - fighting for progressive change in 20 states. Way to Win is also backing 11 Democratic candidates for Senate and 28 Democratic Congressional candidates in 14 states - leading the effort to take back the House and Senate.

LaTosha Brown, Black Voters Matter, said: "I pour my heart and my energy into organizing Black voters in the South, especially in the Black belt—rural areas a lot of folks have written off because they never looked at these places or listened to people from these places. These are Black communities with Black voters, people I work with to understand our collective power when we vote, when we show up to advocate for ourselves. We are powerful. One of my partners in this work has been Way to Win—they've trusted me, listened to me, followed me, and invested in my vision." 

The Way to Win strategy is to work in partnership with groups and campaigns to expand the electorate through voter registration, issue advocacy, and organizing to include new and low-to-mid-propensity voters; move those voters to the polls by inspiring them to believe their votes are powerful. With a long term focus on rebuilding progressive power in key swing states, to decimate the Republican "Southern Strategy," and curb the control of Republican electoral dominance across the country.  

Andrea Mercado, New Florida Majority, said: "New Florida Majority is registering tens of thousands of voters, sending hundreds of thousands of text messages, knocking on over a million doors, and educating and mobilizing voters to turn out en masse in some of the closest federal and down-ballot races in the country. The voters of color and young voters we organized helped deliver Andrew Gillum's stunning victory in his hotly contested primary. Our partner in all of this has been Way to Win. They've helped bring our vision and plans—the vision and plans of women of color—into the national spotlight, and they've brought substantial resources to bear to fund our work."

Way To Win focuses on near-term goals to build long-term power, and engaging in geographies such as the South and Southwest where demographic realities are opening up new possibilities, Way to Win aims to break out of the "political industrial complex" and instead use the electoral process to bring in new voters, lift up the voices of those who have been excluded, and create real democracy. The early success of Way to Win has positioned the organization to lead the country with a new donor and political strategy poised to create the progressive change that truly reflects America's diversity and values in 2020 and beyond.

About Way To Win:
Way To Win is a progressive strategy hub co-founded by by Tory Gavito, Jenifer Fernandez Ancona, Leah Hunt-Hendrix, in 2017, comprised of donors and community organizers partnering with candidates and local grassroots organizations creating a new approach to politics as we know it. Way To Win supports representation reflective of the values and diversity of the United States. They seek to facilitate lasting progressive change that will transform our government for the better, and bring equanimity to all facets of US government. For more information on Way To Win, visit: https://waytowin.us/

About Tory Gavito:
Born and raised in Texas, Tory Gavito has a unique perspective on the progressive potential for the south, and other key battleground states. Tory is an activist, human rights attorney, political strategist, movement builder and advocate for the civic engagement of Latinx and women in the United States.

MEDIA CONTACT: Rose, [email protected]

SOURCE Way To Win

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