I am trying to get out the word on a new resource for what I consider to be an under served sector of our democracy--school board candidates who are standing up to right-wing extremists. Because school board seats are usually non-partisan they seem to be neglected by the Democratic Party. And many of the organizations that have sprung up to support candidates don't focus on school board races. And yet the right wing has trained enormous resources on school board races. (Steve Bannon said the road to Congress is through the school boards.)
In any case, I started Democracy and Education to provide school board candidates with information about education issues and how to campaign. I hope soon to start regular calls where they can share information, strategies, and tactics. In the meantime, we have a podcast on how to run a school board campaign. Three episodes are posted; two more coming shortly. If anyone reading this knows a school board candidate who could use this information, please pass it along.
Really great issue of MB, These days "actionable research" has been refined as whatever will prompt readers to mouse-click on a link. We need to distinguish between click bait and info that provide clues about what we can do to create or leverage an advantage – or at least to stop the bleeding. So many of the recent stories on shifts in voter attitudes are discouraging. If we lose one or both houses in November, we'll have taken a huge step toward losing our democracy. And if that happens it will be because registered Dem voters were discouraged and didn't turn out! We need to remind ourselves and those we are connected to to ignore the noise and pay attention to what really matters.
Thank you for these great resources, most of which I knew and agree are great and some are new to me and look forward to using.
I'd like to add the Media and Democracy Project. We just published an open letter to journalists of recommendations to be pro-truth, pro-democracy in this election. We have gotten some great attention and honored that both luminaries and ordinary people have signed on.
Dan, I think you just helped solve a Hispanic/Latino messaging issue I was having, or rather, provided the context I needed to know I have been thinking about it correctly. If "Latino's have power"/"My vote has power" are motivating factors, and we have two Latinas on the ballot for the first time ever in this county, then we should be talking about that! A lot! Thank you!
Suburban women may very well decide many of the 2022 mid term elections. If you are a suburban women - or a woman who lives somewhere else but want to support an innovative relational organizing program launching in the key swing states of Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania, check out Red, Wine and Blue. http://redwine.blue/ Since 2016, women across the suburbs have been gathering— first to lament, but then to figure out how to change the world together. Red, Wine and Blue is building on this sisterhood, and creating new momentum— with digital content, media, and tools that empower our unique voices and networks. Red, Wine and Blue. http://redwine.blue/
In Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, Red Wine and Blue has local suburban women organizers on the ground as part of the Great Troublemaker Turnout” – Red Wine and Blue’s massive relational voter turnout initiative – who are saying:
For building our Democratic base, year after year, we need to register new Democrats. FieldTeam6.org does just that. And we are proudly partisan and pro-Democrats. We register democrats through in-person Voter Registration drives, remote phone and text banks, and our Social Storming- which has steadily grown to over 74 million impressions a week. We use tools like our Voterizer.org app, our Voter Drive in a Box, and our new Blue Voter Guide, which is available for our target states of CA, NV, AZ, TX, FL, GA, NC, VA, PA, WI. We partner with Meidas Touch, The Union, the Grassroots Messaging Works and soon Demcast. Check us out at FieldTeam6.org I've been a volunteer for 4 years, and aside from all the wonderful things we do, you will find a joyful and hopeful approach to this challenging battle we face to save our democracy. Please join us!
Focus groups tell us about the *range* of opinions out there, and what's driving them. That's helpful for messaging.
Polls tell us about *how many* people hold the various opinions, and give us an estimate of the *probabiity* of a candidate winning.
And, just as an underdog sports team can still win, so can a candidate with a lower probability of winning. For exa, in the 2016 presidential election, polls showed Clinton highly favored to win, with Trump's likelihood of winning at 30-40%. He still won.
Ignore the polls. Work like we're 20 points behind.
I am trying to get out the word on a new resource for what I consider to be an under served sector of our democracy--school board candidates who are standing up to right-wing extremists. Because school board seats are usually non-partisan they seem to be neglected by the Democratic Party. And many of the organizations that have sprung up to support candidates don't focus on school board races. And yet the right wing has trained enormous resources on school board races. (Steve Bannon said the road to Congress is through the school boards.)
In any case, I started Democracy and Education to provide school board candidates with information about education issues and how to campaign. I hope soon to start regular calls where they can share information, strategies, and tactics. In the meantime, we have a podcast on how to run a school board campaign. Three episodes are posted; two more coming shortly. If anyone reading this knows a school board candidate who could use this information, please pass it along.
https://www.assistdemocracy.org/
(And yes, Dan, I used Squarespace because of the constant hectoring of your colleagues.)
Really great issue of MB, These days "actionable research" has been refined as whatever will prompt readers to mouse-click on a link. We need to distinguish between click bait and info that provide clues about what we can do to create or leverage an advantage – or at least to stop the bleeding. So many of the recent stories on shifts in voter attitudes are discouraging. If we lose one or both houses in November, we'll have taken a huge step toward losing our democracy. And if that happens it will be because registered Dem voters were discouraged and didn't turn out! We need to remind ourselves and those we are connected to to ignore the noise and pay attention to what really matters.
Thank you for these great resources, most of which I knew and agree are great and some are new to me and look forward to using.
I'd like to add the Media and Democracy Project. We just published an open letter to journalists of recommendations to be pro-truth, pro-democracy in this election. We have gotten some great attention and honored that both luminaries and ordinary people have signed on.
https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/prodemocracycoverage
We also have active twitter accounts @FixMedNow and @MAD_Democracy, please follow.
See our web site for information on latest activities or to sign up for newsletter.
https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/
End of shameless self-promotion ;)
Dan, I think you just helped solve a Hispanic/Latino messaging issue I was having, or rather, provided the context I needed to know I have been thinking about it correctly. If "Latino's have power"/"My vote has power" are motivating factors, and we have two Latinas on the ballot for the first time ever in this county, then we should be talking about that! A lot! Thank you!
Red Wine and Blue at http://redwine.blue/.
Suburban women may very well decide many of the 2022 mid term elections. If you are a suburban women - or a woman who lives somewhere else but want to support an innovative relational organizing program launching in the key swing states of Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania, check out Red, Wine and Blue. http://redwine.blue/ Since 2016, women across the suburbs have been gathering— first to lament, but then to figure out how to change the world together. Red, Wine and Blue is building on this sisterhood, and creating new momentum— with digital content, media, and tools that empower our unique voices and networks. Red, Wine and Blue. http://redwine.blue/
In Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, Red Wine and Blue has local suburban women organizers on the ground as part of the Great Troublemaker Turnout” – Red Wine and Blue’s massive relational voter turnout initiative – who are saying:
"Voting in 2022 is not enough. I want to do more. There is power in my voice, and I will use it. For more info and to sign up, click. https://secure.everyaction.com/-J2ah1mceU6JD-8d2uXqHw2.
If you would like to become a Coach to a small team of Troublemakers in MI, OH, NC or PA you can learn more in one of Red Winer & Blue's upcoming ½ hour coaching info sessions. Sign up here.https://redwine.blue/events/troublemaker-coach-trainings/?utm_campaign=Volunteer-Recruit&utm_source=email&utm_medium=email+&utm_content=great-troublemaker-turnout&emci=f77daed1-5b43-ed11-b495-002248258d38&emdi=81b130d9-5c43-ed11-b495-002248258d38&ceid=5534
Trainings this week to build your skills for voter contact! Join us!
"Phone Bank & Canvassing Training for Introverts" Thurs 10/6
https://tinyurl.com/Oct6-Introverts-Training (on Zoom, sponsored by Dem Action Marin)
"You & the 34%: How to Have Meaningful Conversations with High-Potential Voters"
Sat, 10/8 https://www.mobilize.us/womensmarchaction/event/519654/ (on Zoom, sponsored by Women's March Los Angeles)
Monday 10/10 https://www.mobilize.us/missionforaz/event/507561/ (on Zoom, sponsored by Joan's Democracy Cafe & Mission for Arizona)
For building our Democratic base, year after year, we need to register new Democrats. FieldTeam6.org does just that. And we are proudly partisan and pro-Democrats. We register democrats through in-person Voter Registration drives, remote phone and text banks, and our Social Storming- which has steadily grown to over 74 million impressions a week. We use tools like our Voterizer.org app, our Voter Drive in a Box, and our new Blue Voter Guide, which is available for our target states of CA, NV, AZ, TX, FL, GA, NC, VA, PA, WI. We partner with Meidas Touch, The Union, the Grassroots Messaging Works and soon Demcast. Check us out at FieldTeam6.org I've been a volunteer for 4 years, and aside from all the wonderful things we do, you will find a joyful and hopeful approach to this challenging battle we face to save our democracy. Please join us!
Remember:
Focus groups tell us about the *range* of opinions out there, and what's driving them. That's helpful for messaging.
Polls tell us about *how many* people hold the various opinions, and give us an estimate of the *probabiity* of a candidate winning.
And, just as an underdog sports team can still win, so can a candidate with a lower probability of winning. For exa, in the 2016 presidential election, polls showed Clinton highly favored to win, with Trump's likelihood of winning at 30-40%. He still won.
Ignore the polls. Work like we're 20 points behind.
Super useful! Thanks!
Wow - this is an insanely valuable list of powerful resources. This list should be spread far and wide!