'Win Texas, Lose Trump': Mark Hamill, Alyssa Milano lead fundraising campaign to turn state blue in 2020
Multiple Hollywood celebrities are taking to social media in an attempt to turn the state of Texas blue in hopes for President Donald Trump to lose the electoral college in the November presidential elections. The social media effort was reportedly organized by ActBlue, a non-profit technology organization that promotes Democrat progressive groups.
The organization's slogan "Win Texas. Lose Trump" is being promoted by many celebrities including Alyssa Milano, Rob Reiner, Debra Messing, and Star Wars actor Mark Hamill. The actors are reportedly urging their followers on Twitter to donate $38 to Texas’ Democratic party in recognition of the state’s 38 electoral votes. The Democrats, who are reportedly holding their convention this week, received a total of $241,000 through the campaign by the night of June 3. A significant portion of that money came pouring in after the celebrities and high-profile Democrats like Andrew Yang, urged their followers to donate. The push came after a recent poll showed the presidential race tied in Texas.
ActBlue, on the Texas Democrats site, stated: "Your donation goes extremely far and is crucial for helping us register over 2 million Texans and keep voters safe by sending over 1.5 million vote-by-mail applications. Every $1 donated lets us mail 2 voters."
The Star Wars actor, Mark Hamill, wrote: "Win Texas. Lose Trump. 38 electoral votes. $38. If we turn Texas blue, we beat you-know-who!" alluding to Trump.
While actor George Takei wrote: "Donald Trump and Joe Biden are locked in a very tight race in Texas, with Trump receiving 44% and Biden receiving 43% in a general election matchup, according to a Quinnipiac Univ poll released today. When we take TX for good, it's game over for the GOP in national elections."
Two and a Half Men star Jon Cryer also joined in the funding push, writing: “New polling is showing Texas neck and neck. Texas, people!!”
Republicans have also been aggressively fundraising off the Democratic convention. Sen. John Cornyn, in an email to his supporters on Wednesday, said: “Joe Biden? Elizabeth Warren? Kamala Harris? Beto O’Rourke? Eric Holder? If you’re okay with them trying to dictate how we do things here in Texas, go ahead and close this email. But if you’re like me and you’ll do anything to defend Texas… especially from this particular crowd … I need your help NOW.”
Multiple Republicans, including Cornyn, pointed to the celebrity support Texas Democrats are receiving, and have claimed that this is evidence that outsiders are attempting to flip the state to blue while the Texas residents do not agree with Democratic policies.
The new Quinnipiac University poll however suggests otherwise, where 44 percent of the 1,166 self-identified registered voters chose President Trump, while 43 percent picked former Vice President Joe Biden, reflecting a near tie. The poll also stated that at least seven percent of the respondents said they did not know, while at least 6 percent of the respondents said they would vote for another candidate or would not vote.