Last week, Oprah conducted a virtual conversation on voting with influential political leaders, along with members from the OWN Your Vote Coalition. The outcome of this election may serve to either uphold or dissipate freedoms that were once taken for granted. This is top of mind for many, including Oprah, who expressed her concern in a recent intention video on OprahDaily.com: “I’m wondering, where are we headed? What’s going to happen to us if we don’t recognize the state of turmoil we’re in and we’re not willing to do something about it?” she said.
During the event, Oprah also came out in support of John Fetterman, the Democratic candidate for senate in Pennsylvania who is running against Mehmet Oz, MD.
Here, we share five key takeaways from the night’s town hall, where Oprah urged guests to exercise and protect their right to vote.
Having a voting plan is essential.
“Be prepared and have a plan because that’s how you fight back. Make sure that [you] know [your] rights and the new rules in your state because as states were changing laws, my great fear was that this day would come, where people would get to the polls and not even know the laws had been changed. Turn in [your] ballots early if your state has allowed that, and when we head to the polls, bring a photo ID. Remember to call 1-866-OUR-VOTE if you have any issues or challenges.” —Oprah
Young people must get out and vote.
“There are people who are dedicated to showing up not just every four years but every six months [for] all of the small elections. They’re making decisions about our lives. People 65 and up make up the majority of the voters so you can imagine what democracy will look like in 50 years. We have to show up not only for ourselves but for our community; not only for our community but for our children; [not only] for our children’s children [but for] our children’s children’s children.” —YelloPain
Black women are vitally important at the polls.
“They whispered to the Black woman, you can’t withstand the storm. She put her hands on her hips and she said, you listen here, I am the storm. If there was ever a time when we must be the storm it is in the next five days. We will do it because our lives and the lives of our people, the lives of all righteous people, require it.” —Dr. Johnetta Betsch-Cole
Oprah announces her support of Fetterman.
“At the beginning of the midterm campaigns, I said it was up to citizens to vote for who would represent them. If I lived in Pennsylvania, I would have already cast my vote for John Fetterman. There are clear choices and some dynamic candidates who are working to represent the values that so many of us hold dear—like inclusion, compassion, and community. So I ask that voters use discernment and choose wisely for the democracy of our country.” —Oprah
Beyond Fetterman, Oprah shared other candidates she supports.
“If I was in North Carolina, sister Cheri Beasley, if I was in Florida, I’d be supporting Val Demings; if I was in Wisconsin, it’d be Mandela Barnes; in Nevada, Catherine Cortez Masto; in Texas, Beto O’Rourke; and Raphael Warnock and the incredible Stacey Abrams in Georgia.” —Oprah
Adrienne Farr (she/her) is Senior Editor of the Intentions vertical and writes and edits various other pieces for Oprah Daily. She loves to work on essays to push forward the strong narrative of a person’s story, as well as anything that can be of service to the Oprah Daily community. She’s been in the publishing industry for over a decade, working and writing for magazines like Parents, InStyle, People, and Reader’s Digest. She was also the editorial lead for Blackprint, a platform that amplifies Black voices. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
