The election of Donald Trump represents one of the lowest points for the Democratic Party in modern history. From White House to Congress to State Houses, Democrats are at their weakest position in nearly a century. And from immigration to the EPA, the values our party hold dear are being upended in unprecedented ways.

Our movement also has the greatest opportunity in generations. Anti-Trump sentiment has energized and empowered people who have never been active in politics to participate in the electoral process. In my own campaign for governor of Illinois, we held our first volunteer training last weekend -- and of the 300 who attended, 90% had never volunteered in a campaign before.

Trump has also inspired a new generation of leaders to run for public office -- and to run everywhere, competing in places that have been written off for years. We’re introducing new progressive ideas , challenging conventional political wisdom, bringing new voters into the system and re-approaching communities we thought were lost.

Look at Georgia. As this community knows well, we have a real chance next week to win in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District -- a seat controlled by Republicans for the past 37 years. In a crowded field of 18 candidates, the frontrunner in the race to replace Price is a young, progressive Democrat who has never run for public office before, Jon Ossoff.

Democrats in Illinois -- and across this country -- should fight like crazy for Jon. I just made a donation. And I encourage everyone right now to chip in and volunteer to make calls .

This election can help build momentum and send a message across the country about what this resistance movement can do and what a new generation in our party can help build.

We need it in Illinois.

While Illinois has gone blue for President and Senate seats in recent years, it’s been a mixed-bag at the state and local level. We don’t just deal with the chaos created by Trump. We also have to live with the chaos created by Governor Bruce Rauner. Our state has been without a budget for more than 21 months. As a result, social service agencies are closing, jobs are fleeing the state, public schools aren’t sure how they’ll open in the fall, our state colleges and universities are being starved of resources, and nearly 47,000 children are without access to affordable child care which forces parents to choose between going to work or staying at home to care for their children.

(Full disclosure: I’m running as a Progressive Democrat for Governor in Illinois to help change that -- and would welcome your help .)

It’s not just about defeating Rauner. Democrats now believe they can defeat Rep. Peter Roskam (R, IL-6), in a suburban district that shares a lot of similarities with GA-6. Roskam won last year by nearly 20 points in a race that attracted little attention. Hillary Clinton also won the seat by seven points. Just last week, Democrats picked up local seats in races across the state -- and in places they have never won before in .

As I travel Illinois campaigning from Chicago to Carbondale, I’m having conversations with voters of every background that want to see change. I hear factory workers tell me their concerns with automation and jobs being outsourced in an increasingly globalized economy. I hear them complain about having to drive 30 to 45 miles to the nearest grocery store because the roads and bridges that used to take them there in 15 to 20 minutes are crumbling and in disrepair. I hear parents tell me that their children’s schools aren’t preparing them for the future because of inequities in education funding. I hear from Trump voters already telling me they feel let down by an administration that’s stacked his cabinet with Wall Street and industry insiders, done nothing on trade, and delayed commonsense reform that would help family farmers . The list goes on and on.

This is our moment, as Democrats, to hit the reset button. It’s time for our party to usher in a new generation of leadership, like Jon Ossoff, to fight in places we used to ignore, and to talk about the issues that impact all Americans--no matter where they live or who they voted for in the last election.

I’m excited -- for Illinois, for Georgia, and for our country. Let’s roll-up our sleeves and get to work. Tuesday matters. And every day after will matter too.

Ameya Pawar is a progressive Democratic candidate for Governor of Illinois. He is running on a platform of a New Deal for Illinois to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, reinvest in good-paying jobs, and recommit to early childhood education and public schools. More information is available at pawar2018.com.