As you know, Election Day was yesterday, and we saw many changes in our government. We witnessed the House of Representatives change from Democratic to Republican control with a net win of 60 Republican seats.* The Congress also has a smaller Democratic majority in the Senate with Republican pick ups in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Arkansas and Pennsylvania. We are still waiting for the results of Senate races in Alaska, Colorado and Washington State. Regardless of the outcomes in those races, when Congress returns for the 112th Congress, the government will be divided by party.

ONE Vote 2010 organizers attended the victory parties last night, congratulating the senator elects and letting them know that we look forward to working with them on our issues in Washington. Because of the work that our members, volunteers and organizers did over the last four months on the campaign trail, ONE has created solid relationships with many incoming senators in the new Congress. We have always worked in a bipartisan manner, and the upcoming Congress will be no different. We welcome the new representatives and senators and look forward to working with them to make sure that the world’s poorest people have a voice in Congress.

*13 House races have not yet been called.

As soon as we got into the gym at Nashua Community College in New Hampshire, we got right up to the front row of the general seating section — dead center — so that former President Bill Clinton could see our ONE shirts. After a few quick speeches, Pres. Clinton came out and started his speech by talking about the phone call he had with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the night before, and how she was visiting an AIDS orphanage in Cambodia that the Clinton Foundation had set up. He went on to talk about his own recent efforts in Haiti to help stop the deadly cholera outbreak.

Later on in his speech, he gave great credit to former President George W. Bush for starting PEPFAR, which he said was saving millions of lives around the world from HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. As ONE members, we were proud to hear him talk about America’s leading role in the fight against global disease and extreme poverty, and the bipartisan credit and support that he gave to PEPFAR.

After the event, Pres. Clinton took time to speak with people in the crowd. I thanked him for his personal work in Africa and in Haiti, and for the work of Sec. Clinton in poor countries around the world, and even for giving great credit to Pres. Bush for fighting AIDS and extreme poverty in Africa. I thanked him for all of his work, for giving credit where credit was due, and for never playing politics with the world’s poorest people. He thanked us as ONE members and reached way out into the crowd to shake the hands of all of the ONE members in our group!

As we were leaving, we ran into Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and had some time to talk with her about ONE. We thanked her for her work in the US Senate on behalf of the world’s poorest people — noting her work around the international affairs budget, her support of the Water for the World Act and the hard work of her staff.

Sen. Shaheen was very familiar with ONE and told us how important our issues are around the world. We urged her to continue that leadership after the election, during the possible CR process and to help hold firm the highest, and most efficient levels of funding for GAVI, the Global Fund and agricultural efforts in Africa. She told us that she would continue to work hard, and would keep ONE and our issues in mind.

Time has run out in this election, but our work as ONE members goes on as we continue to urge continued American leadership in the fight against extreme poverty and global disease in the poorest parts of Africa.

Be sure to connect with other ONE Vote 2010 New Hampshire members on Facebook and Twitter.

Tom Leary and Sen. Whitehouse

On Friday, New Hampshire ONE member Tom Leary pulled a double shift for ONE and the world’s poorest people. In the morning, he went to Salem and spoke with former Governor Mitt Romney and thanked him for his past ideas and thoughts for the world’s poorest people.

Then, Friday night in Manchester, Tom attended a rally for US Senate candidate Rep. Paul Hodes , who was joined by former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.

Tom told me that as soon as Gov. Kaine saw him, he instantly pointed him out in his ONE shirt and let him know what a great job ONE has done to mobilize people all across America in urging continued leadership in the fight against AIDS and poverty in Africa.

Tom told me that after Sen. Whitehouse addressed the crowd, he left without getting a chance to talk with him. But that did not stop Tom on his double shift for ONE. He managed to catch up with Sen. Whitehouse in the parking lot and thanked him for his hard work around the international affairs budget earlier this year.

Tom Leary and Gov. Kaine

Sen. Whitehouse told Tom that he was the son of a foreign service officer, and knows just how important that small but critical part of the budget is around the world. Tom told him that right after this election, ONE and the world’s poorest people will need his leadership in the upcoming process to make sure that levels of funding for the Global Fund, GAVI and agriculture programs are supported at their most effective levels in order to continue to help save millions of lives from HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria and lift millions more out of extreme poverty and dire hunger. Sen. Whitehouse said he would continue the leadership he has displayed in the past, and took a photo with Tom in his ONE shirt.

Tom put aside partisan politics, put on a ONE shirt, and used his voice for live-saving policies and programs in the developing world — quite the double shift! Go Tom! Go ONE!

Be sure to connect with other ONE Vote 2010 New Hampshire members on Facebook and Twitter.

Beth talks to Gov. Christie as he puts on a ONE band

Last Friday, I attended a GOP rally in Lebanon, Ohio with appearances by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. I had the chance to talk and give a ONE band to Gov. Pawlenty, who immediately recognized my shirt and shook my hand. I told him “I know you’ve seen us out on the trail before,” and he said he has seen ONE across the country, and said we are doing great work!

Then, I spoke with Gov. Christie, who also knew about ONE and went on to compliment our efforts, too. I even spotted two staffers wearing ONE bands, and one of them told me he hasn’t taken his ONE band off in two years!

Saturday and Sunday, three ONE members and I attended a couple of events with Congressman and Minority Leader of the House, John Boehner. We were able to catch up with him on Sunday and told him how President Bush was historic in starting programs like PEPFAR and supporting the Global Fund. We told him that we hope that he will continue leadership on ONE’s critical life-saving issues. He told us that he was very familiar with ONE and took a ONE band from us!

Tomorrow is Election Day! Be sure to join us on Facebook and Twitter for frequent updates.

-Beth Kaltenbach, ONE Vote 2010 Organizer, Ohio

Friday night was Trick or Treat night in Concord, N.H., and Main Street was closed off for kids (and adults) who were dressed up for the spooky holiday.

I made my way down the street with a few ONE members who were decked out in their own costumes: ONE shirts. We ran into US Senate candidate Kelly Ayotte and Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown who were talking with Granite State voters as they campaigned in Concord. Kelly Ayotte immediately recognized us and we thanked her for her time with ONE members all across New Hampshire. And Sen. Brown said that he too knew about ONE and mentioned seeing ONE and ONE members on Capitol Hill last month! I told him about our efforts to save lives in Africa, and told him how I met his daughter Ayla Brown when she performed a concert in Manchester, N.H., this past summer.

Both Kelly Ayotte and Sen. Brown took time to get a photo with us in our ONE shirts before making their way down the street.

Be sure to connect with other ONE Vote 2010 New Hampshire members on Facebook and Twitter.

As the clock ticks closer to Election Day, ONE member Barb Barrar was out on the trail engaging US Senate candidates all weekend! On Saturday, Barb attended a rally for Pennsylvania Senate candidate Rep. Joe Sestak, featuring President Obama. While she wasn’t able to catch the President, she did speak with the congressman and reminded him of the work ONE is doing to fight extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Barb with Rep. Sestak

Barb has seen Rep. Sestak quite a few times in the last two weeks, so it was no surprise for him to see her yet again raising awareness and advocating for the world’s poorest people.

Barb also spoke with Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter and discussed ONE’s initial launch in Philadelphia in 2004. She also made sure to thank the mayor for declaring the City of Brotherly Love a ONE City.

Barb wasn’t finished after she spoke with Mayor Nutter. She quickly traveled to another rally for Pennsylvania Senate candidate Pat Toomey. In their brief engagement, she emphasized the importance of continued US bipartisan leadership that has now saved more than 5 million lives in some of the poorest places on earth. She also spoke about how in the past few years, our nation has responded to widespread disease and extreme poverty in Africa with historic and heroic life-saving programs that are now showing real results in terms of lives saved on the ground. Mr. Toomey talked with Barb about programs that demonstrate accountability and good governance.

Way to make your voice heard this weekend, Barb!

Please visit our Mid-Atlantic Region Facebook group and follow me on Twitter.

CDL Barb Barrar with ONE members and Rep. Sestak

Last night, at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa., ONE members attended a rally with Representative Joe Sestak featuring former President Bill Clinton. In their brief engagements with the former president and congressman, our members were sure to underscore the importance of continued bipartisan US leadership that has now saved more than 5 million lives in some of the poorest places on earth. They also took the opportunity to thank President Clinton for all his work to help save lives in Africa and Haiti.

ONE member Barb Barrar also made clear to Rep. Sestak that right now, more than ever, the next senator from Pennsylvania needs to understand that saving lives in Africa is a moral priority and helps foster a safer and more secure world. As the final hours of this campaign season wind down, I encourage all ONE members to be active at campaign events between now and Election Day.

With only a few days left, your voice with ONE is more important than ever as we continue the fight against extreme poverty. Urgent action will be needed after the election, so stay tuned to the ONE Blog.

Please visit our Mid-Atlantic Region Facebook group and follow ONE Regional Field Director Brian Sweeney on Twitter.

As the assistant director of government affairs at ONE, I know how important it is to have high quality leaders, from both parties, in office. Leaders who not only share our passion for fighting poverty and supporting global health initiatives, but willing to actively work with us to achieve success. If we expect to have the kind of champions we need in Congress, we have to elect them first. This means getting out to vote on November 2. So, don’t sit this one out. Millions of people are counting on you.

To make it easy, we’ve included this handy Google application that helps you find a voting center near you. All you have to do is enter in your zip code:

All American citizens who are 18 years and older have a right to vote and should take advantage of that right on Election Day. Only through the election process can we put leaders into office who are as committed to serving the world’s poorest across the globe as we are at ONE. Tell your family, friends, neighbors and your classmates to vote on November 2.

On Thursday afternoon, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell traveled to the Derryfield Country Club in Manchester, N.H., to campaign for John Stephen, who is running for governor of New Hampshire.

We had a moment with Gov. Barbour before the event. He saw ONE the last time he was in New Hampshire and also spoke with Jordan, a ONE member, the day before in Iowa.

He said that he was given a white ONE band and he gladly accepted another one from me. We chatted about how PEPFAR was started under President George Bush and how John McCain has always been a great friend to ONE members along the campaign trail.

After the event, we caught up with Gov. McDonnell, who said he had heard of other Republican governors supporting ONE. He said he looked forward to spending more time on the campaign trail learning about the work that we are doing. He took a ONE band, posed for a picture, and noted that the fight against extreme poverty is an issue that conservatives have supported.

Unexpectedly, US Senate candidate Kelly Ayotte stopped by the event to say hello and we had a chance to thank her for going “On the Record” with ONE, an effort to illustrate how important it is for Americans to care about global poverty. The 2010 elections are just around the corner and politicians from all over the country are traveling to the Granite State and meeting ONE members at every stop along the way!

Be sure to connect with other ONE Vote 2010 New Hampshire members on Facebook and Twitter.

-Matthew Flanders, ONE Vote 2010 state organizer, New Hampshire

Whether you live in NorCal or SoCal, or identify yourself as a progressive or conservative, the facts remain the same. In less than a decade, support for the Global Fund has helped save 5.7 million lives, while 2.7 million lives have been spared from HIV/AIDS because of the U.S. initiative known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

We are witnessing countries become more stable and children attending school for the first time. These unprecedented results are no coincidence. Courageous California ONE members are at the very heart of this advocacy and leadership. So today, we want to share Senator Barbara Boxer and challenger Carly Fiorina’s “On the Record” statements with ONE, where they share how they would continue tackling global disease, poverty and hunger moving into 2011.

Here was our question for the Senate candidates:

Q: ONE’s vision for Africa is rooted in a moral and humanitarian desire to help the most vulnerable people, a recognition that building economic opportunities abroad creates opportunities at home, and a strategic understanding that our national security is intertwined with the stability of poor countries across the globe. Through bipartisan cooperation in Washington, the U.S. has been a leader in helping provide millions of Africans with life-saving medicine, children with the chance to go to school, and women with the tools to feed their families, while investing in sustainable economic growth and tackling corruption to ensure scarce resources are used as intended.

How best can the US continue to tackle global disease, poverty, and hunger?

And here are their responses:

Senator Barbara Boxer: “I strongly believe that alleviating global disease, poverty and hunger is inextricably linked to making real progress in the world. Throughout my career, I have fought for women’s rights. And now I am proud to chair the first-ever Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee focused on improving the status of women and girls worldwide.

Studies have shown that when women and girls have opportunities they will make important contributions to their country’s economic and social progress. According to the World Bank, women and girls reinvest 90 percent of their income in their families, whereas men reinvest 30 to 40 percent. Educating women and girls is one of the most powerful development tools we have.

That is why I am so pleased that the United States has taken the lead in making the advancement of women a central element of its foreign policy. For example in April, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton launched the Secretary’s International Fund for Women and Girls—a partnership between the public and private sectors aimed at providing resources to those who are working to meet women’s needs worldwide.

The U.S. is not alone in recognizing that the status of women and girls is critical to uplifting a society. In July, the United Nations established U.N. Women—a new U.N. entity that is working to advance women’s rights around the globe.

We must continue to work with our international partners to give women and girls every opportunity to succeed because when women thrive, their societies thrive.

Carly Fiorina: Under bipartisan leadership, our country launched and supported the most aggressive global HIV/AIDS program in the history of the disease, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has prevented the spread of HIV, contributed to saving the lives of millions around the world, and represented the values and character of the American people.

Additionally efforts to end deaths from tuberculosis, malaria, and hunger, and also assisting in basic schooling for girls have yielded unquantifiable results that will forever alter the lives of generations to come with greater opportunity. Undeniably our global health efforts has created and fostered a more stable and secure world for those living in extreme poverty.

Yet in order to truly tackle global disease, poverty, and hunger, U.S. aid alone is not enough. There is an important role for other nations, private industry and individuals to play in this as well. We need to encourage good corporate citizenship, particularly among those doing business in Africa. Educating Americans about both the problems and solutions they can be part of is also part of addressing these issues in the long term. And, we need to ask our allies in the world to partner with us in these efforts.

On November 3rd, ONE Californians will be there to help our senator lead the nation in addressing preventable disease, extreme poverty and hunger around the world. Be sure to connect with other ONE members in the Western Region on Facebook and follow me on Twitter for updates of our work around the state, region and nation.