Shake it off. Keep pressing forward.

This week, the Republican campaign to undermine our elections took a massive step forward, as Senate Republicans blocked consideration of landmark voting rights legislation.

I've talked to a lot of people in the last few days, and almost everyone has asked "what now?"

We don't have the luxury of time to mourn or start over. Republican attacks on voting have made it clear: If we're going to carry on as a democracy, we need to protect the integrity of every vote, and we need to do it immediately.

This isn't a one-time threat to our democratic values, Jessica; it's the culmination of a long-building, cynical effort to rig our elections so egregiously that they no longer even matter.

There's no denying that this is a long, hard battle. But safeguarding access to the ballot box and the integrity of our democracy are non-negotiable.

So: Shake it off. Keep pressing forward.

I was the first U.S. Senator elected entirely by mail-in ballot. My home state of Oregon has been voting by mail for decades. Oregonians from all walks of life will tell you that voting at home is safe, easy, and effective.

I am redoubling my efforts to expand Oregon-style vote-by-mail nationwide. It's secure, safe, and accessible. No long lines or suspect poll books. No hackable, black-box electronic voting machines. Reliable, verifiable ballots.

But if we're going to win this battle to save our democracy, we need a strong, progressive majority in the Senate to make it possible. It's time to step up our fight to expand the Democratic majority in the Senate and get this done.

The mission is clear. Let's get to work.

Ron