Opinion: This November, let freedom ring!

“We cannot take freedom for granted,” say Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell and CEO of NewDEAL Debbie Cox Bultan, as they advocate for Floridians’ freedom through democracy.

The American story is one of expanding access to freedom. From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, from women’s suffrage to the Civil Rights Movement to Stonewall, each generation has pushed the country’s moral arc forward. 

Freedom is the ability to express our authentic selves, pursue our dreams, and live without undue repression and restraint. This freedom unequivocally represents the right to speak our minds, worship the religion we choose, and participate in a democratic process that respects all of our voices.

However, as we’ve seen in recent years, progress toward that ideal is not guaranteed. This November, voters have a clear choice at the ballot box. Republican officials have falsely laid claim to freedom as a value exclusively championed by their party. But voters can see straight through the rhetoric. A recent poll from NewDEAL Leaders shows Americans are more likely to associate Democrats with “freedom” (35%) than Republicans (33%). In the key battleground state of Arizona, the margin increases to 42% for Democrats and drops to 27% for Republicans. 

There’s a good reason for Democrats to be more trusted on the issue. 

Nationwide, Democrats are working to expand access to high-quality health care, including access to abortion care. 

RELATED: What you need to know about voting on Election Day in Florida

By contrast, we’ve seen what happens when the Republican anti-freedom agenda takes hold: women are forced to flee the state to access life-saving health care during pregnancy complications. Some women have even died.

In Florida specifically, Democrats adamantly oppose the six-week abortion ban put in place by Republican extremists. Fortunately, in November, Floridians can join voters in states like California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, and Vermont who solidified abortion rights through ballot initiatives by approving Amendment 4. A recent poll shows 54 percent of likely voters will vote yes, while only 26 percent oppose it. Another 20 percent are unsure. 

Democrats also trust parents to choose what books their children can read. Government-mandated book bans in our schools are an invasion implemented by Republican administrations. Controlling what we read is tyranny, not freedom. 

Concerns range from reproductive health to marriage equality to library books. Democrats constantly advocate for our independence with three core principles in mind: freedom of opportunity, freedom in communities, and freedom through democracy.

Many of these ideas are in the 2024 Freedom Agenda, a joint document from the NewDEAL Leaders (215 state and local elected leaders) and the New Dems (one of the largest blocs of Congressional House Democrats). 

Freedom of opportunity means creating well-paying jobs, funding good schools, increasing access to affordable housing and healthcare, and investing in transportation. Federal initiatives championed by the Biden-Harris Administration, including the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the CHIPS and Science Act, are moving this hope toward reality.  

Second, Americans must be free to live in safe communities. Americans should be able to go to a concert, watch a movie, and attend school without fear of violence, especially gun violence. Democrats support pragmatic, common-sense gun safety measures, including taking guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and closing loopholes that allow violent criminals to circumvent gun laws.  

RELATED: Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: ‘Fundamental freedoms are at stake’

Florida is the epicenter of some of the most tragic mass shootings in American history, including the Parkland school shooting and the Pulse nightclub shooting. Yet Republican legislators refuse to embrace efforts to keep our communities safe from another mass casualty event. Republicans passed a dangerous law to allow concealed carry without any training or even a permit. In addition, GOP lawmakers passed legislation to roll back gun safety laws that were put in place after the Parkland shooting. 

Freedom to live in safe communities also means having clean air and drinking water for generations. Smart, targeted investments will ensure our children and grandchildren enjoy the same standard of living we have today. 

Finally, preserving freedom means defending democracy. Rhetoric from extremist Republican candidates seeks to undermine faith in the electoral system, resulting in threats of violence against election officials and volunteers. They then refuse to denounce that harassment.

In contrast, Democrats are committed to fair, safe, and secure elections. We support policies such as automatic voter registration, robust early voting options, and no-excuse vote by mail. More participation in democracy leads to a stronger democracy for everyone.  

We cannot take freedom for granted. When candidates flood the airwaves with competing messages about America’s future, remember, voters have a simple choice: Freedom or book bans. Freedom or abortion bans. Freedom or more gun violence.

This November let’s do our part. Let’s embrace America’s legacy of freedom by exercising our right to vote. And let’s secure that freedom going forward by voting for the Democrats to defend our ability to be healthy, prosperous, and safe.