We now know that the election, both local and national, tipped strongly towards the progressive side of the scale. Counting up the votes tells one story, but what happened on the front lines to make those numbers happen.

* We know that our volunteers have been absolutely priceless this year. Definition of priceless? Worth a lot, and not for sale. An example of their dedication - check out the “glowstick phone bank” (maybe you missed it on the 10 o’clock news last night). When a power outage shut off the lights and the phones at Bus Central last night, 35 phone bankers found cell phones and leftover Halloween glowsticks, and kept right on calling to get out the vote.

* We know the Bus Project Foundation registered 23,000 new young voters this year, increasing the Oregon youth electorate by 7 percent.

* We know that Bus Project volunteers have changed the face of Oregon politics. 9 of the 10 races the Bus worked on in the 2002/2004 cycles won their seats and helped turn the Oregon Senate to a progressive majority. In 2006, the Bus won 9 of 10 races, helping to turn the Oregon Legislature to a progressive majority.

* We know that Bus Trips knocked on over 60,000 doors this year, and is sure to have an impact on Oregon’s 2009 legislature. This is double the number of doors per targeted district than in 2006. Quothe a razor’s edge state rep candidate today: “I wouldn’t be in this race if it weren’t for the Bus.”

* We know that Trick or Vote was a huge success with 35% of the participants indicating that the event was their first political volunteering experience. Big thanks to all our partners. Check out some of the great press coverage!

* We know The Bus Federation, working in five western states, has helped reach hundreds of thousands of doors with over 10,000 volunteer engagements. Thank you everyone for an incredible election season. Your dedication, innovation and energy have proven that people-powered politics can work, and that we are stronger together than we are apart.

A huge congratulations to all who helped! Now let’s get those grassroots growing towards 2010!