It has been more than a year (feels like a decade) since the Democratic candidates began their presidential campaigns, but for the American people in 14 states, the time has finally come to vote. Super Tuesday, March 3, when one-third of all delegates will be elected, has the potential to be the most important day in the presidential primaries.

Even after 15 years as a Democratic strategist, I am overwhelmed by the magnitude, complexity, and importance of the 2020 presidential primaries. I am not alone in this, as I have participated in efforts to defend the Affordable Care Act, repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and elect a woman to reverse the New York State Senate in the 2018 midterm elections. To get my own head around the circus that is politics, I've spent the last six months interviewing experts like Stacey Abrams, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, and others to create the podcast "Your Primary Playlist" for the Primary Survival Kit And I'll share what I've learned from these women and from my own experience so that you can go to the polls well-prepared.

While I understand that defeating Trump is a top priority for Democratic voters, replacing conversations about the issues with those about electability has not helped them to actually choose competitive candidates. If "electability" basically means trying to predict how your neighbor will vote, then estimating electability based on gender or sexual orientation ignores that many Americans vote on issues like health care, gun control, and climate change.

I sought out experts in each issue area who had the in-depth knowledge necessary to compare candidate platforms without resorting to the term electability and who could identify subtle differences between platforms that could have a significant impact on policy.

For example, Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood, whom I interviewed about the candidates' positions on abortion, said that while all of the Democratic candidates support codifying Roe v. Wade, former Vice President Joe Biden and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard support the codification of state abortion laws with prior judicial She explained that she does not support requiring mandatory review, and that Biden and Senator Amy Klobuchar would place greater restrictions on late-term abortions than the other candidates.

Tiernan Sittenfeld, an environmental policy expert with the League of Conservation Voters, also argued that "climate change is all about issues. Sittenfeld said, "Climate change has everything to do with it," citing Senator Warren's plan to revitalize American manufacturing through a transition to green jobs. Whether the candidates are talking about the economy, national security, public health, or racial justice, "you can't talk about these issues without talking about climate change impacts and climate change solutions."

There are many other resources that can help determine where candidates stand, including Marie Claire's 2020 Election Guide, POLITICO, The Washington Post, and The New York Times Issue Guide.

Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election has sparked a national debate about targeted misinformation campaigns in politics. When you layer this on top of the existing bias of the American political media, which is biased against whites and men, you don't know where to turn for information. It is more important than ever to find sources that care about the issues that matter to you and provide factual political reporting.

This is more challenging for women, whose presence in the political media is still thin, despite the fact that they have been the majority of voters in every national election in the past 40 years. A 2019 report by the Women's Media Center notes that 63% of news is reported by men and that even when women are employed, they are likely to be siloed in health, lifestyle, and leisure reporting.

All of the interviewers in "Your Primary Playlist" are women. This was a conscious choice to feature women who are involved in political work but do not have much space to talk about it. For example, Dr. Alice Chen presented a physician's perspective (open in new tab) on the health care debate within the Democratic Party, and Jennifer Hyman, CEO of Rent the Runway, explained how her experience having children was reflected in the company's generous family leave policy.

Political reporting cannot be inclusive if it overlooks women's perspectives. I am always impressed by the coverage of 2020 by women such as Joy Reid, Nora O'Donnell, and Ali Vitali. Their Instagram stories are an up-close look at what it is like to be a young woman on the campaign trail.

It is also crucial to combat racial imbalance in the media. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, racial and ethnic minorities make up less than 17% of news staff, despite comprising 40% of the U.S. population, which is especially inadequate in the context of left-wing political reporting, given that black women are among the most important Democratic voters. I recommend A'Shanti F. Gholar's podcast and blog, The Brown Girls Guide to Politics, which she founded after noticing a dearth of political coverage by and for women of color, and Morgan DeBorne co founded the news site Blavity, both of which are among the few media companies founded by women.

Exercising the right to vote is both more difficult than expected and more difficult than necessary: 17 million Americans were struck from the voter rolls between 2016 and 2018, and hundreds of thousands more will be struck from the voter rolls in Georgia and Wisconsin this year.

Stacey Abrams explained that voter suppression efforts targeted by the right wing are motivated by the growing electoral power of marginalized communities, especially communities of color. He said, "What terrifies the right is that the right is the side most widely engaged in voter suppression.

So, how do we become empowered to exercise our power? It may not sound sexy, but the best way to combat voter suppression on an individual level is to really, really organize.

First, check out this guide on voter registration deadlines and use resources like Vote.org to check and update your registration status, find your polling place, and request an absentee ballot if necessary. Keep in mind that voting requirements vary by state: in the 20 states where primaries are fully or partially closed, you may need to register with a political party in order to vote in that party's primaries. If you live in one of the 39 states with advance voting, getting your ballot in advance will minimize mistakes on Election Day and allow you to volunteer at the polls.

Voting is easier with teamwork. Many campaigns and state parties can help you plan your vote and arrange for a ride to the polling place. Plan ahead for transportation and child care and coordinate with friends and family. If you are already driving to the polls, ask a friend to ride with you or buy a Ben & Jerry's and plan to go to the polls with them before watching "Cheerleader Dan."

Experts I interviewed stressed that if there is any year to participate, it is this year. In addition to making an informed vote, look for ways to organize, donate, knock on doors, and involve new people in the political process. organizations like Swing Left and Supermajority can help you determine where to invest your time for maximum impact. help you determine where to invest your time for maximum impact.

When I feel overwhelmed by this primary (as is often the case), I remind myself that grassroots efforts really do lead to big changes. As Nancy Pelosi told me in my first podcast interview, "Women marched. Women ran, women voted, women were elected. And now women are leading. "

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