On Balloon Juice, are we ahead of the curve in what we’re focusing on in our fundraising efforts? I would argue that the answer is yes! Read on and see if you agree.
Josie sent me an article this morning that I think you’ll find interesting. I know I did. Yes, it’s Politico. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water.
The new Dem organizing strategy catching fire ahead of the midterms
A group of Democratic strategists is trying to spread a novel organizing tactic in this year’s election. Technically, it’s called “paid relational organizing,” but it boils down to this: paying people to talk to their friends about politics.
Democrats think it helped them win the Senate in 2020 — and are hoping the get-out-the-vote strategy will help limit the pain of a brutal 2022 election environment.
Conversations with friends, family members or neighbors are more likely to earn a voter’s support than chats with a stranger at their front door, which is the traditional way campaigns have run paid canvassing programs in the past. And an important test case for deploying the strategy at scale came out of the Georgia Senate runoffs in 2021 when now-Sen. Jon Ossoff’s (D-Ga.) campaign, flush with nearly unlimited cash but only two months to spend it, used a paid and volunteer relational program to get people talking to acquaintances instead of strangers about the election.
In particular, the Ossoff team hired 2,800 Georgians, specifically targeting those with little or no voting history themselves to do this outreach to their own networks. The campaign was making a bet that many of the friends and family of their highly political volunteers were already engaged in the runoff election, but that this group could expand the electorate with relational outreach into their networks — which were likely to include more irregular voters or non-voters like them. The campaign folded this data into their vast field program, tracking conversations and whether those contacted had voted. They could even notify organizers, based on their own network, which voters were tagged as “only reachable by you.”
A post-election analysis found their efforts boosted turnout by an estimated 3.8 percent among the 160,000 voters targeted through their relational program. Ossoff and now-Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) won by 1.2 points and 2.1 points respectively, flipping the state and the Senate to Democrats.
In 2021, we raised significant funds for Four Directions for multiple states: Georgia. Arizona. Wisconsin. Michigan. And Georgia again! Four Directions employs this relational organizing strategy with Native people. In $25,000 chunks, with a match or a double match. So that netted Four Direction $50,000 to $90,000 for each of those states. Plus more that comes in every month from the people who set up recurring donations.
In 2021, we raised something like $32,000 for Voces, and $25,000 of that was matched. Thanks to us, they now have their field organizer; that’s what our funds went to, as agreed. But Voces de la Frontera also employee this strategy with their relational organizing. It puts money directly into the community they are serving, and people are more influenced by people they know and trust.
Think about it. I never watch advertising. But I have the Weber grill that Steeplejack talked about over Easter weekend a few years ago. I have the Spot Bot that Cole raved about for when kitties puke on the carpet. I have the air purifiers that you guys bought during the fires last summer. I have all sorts of stuff that you guys have recommended.
So now we are in our first political fundraising cycle of 2022. We are aiming to raise $25,000 for this Michigan group too, and what we have arranged for them to spend our money on fits this exact same relational organizing strategy. Our $25,000 can fund 5 paid fellowships – with each of the 5 coming from an underserved community – and they organize within their community.
This one is off to a slow start – is it because we don’t have matching funds or BJ angel matches to help drive enthusiasm? I know I’m really focused on Ukraine, but I also know that if we lose in November, the whole world will be in a worse position than we are now. And where we are now is pretty rocky. If we can’t stop or slow our own slide into autocracy, we can’t effectively help anybody else.
When the thermometer reaches $15,000, the Michigan group can start hiring for the fellowships. We surely hope we can reach this goal. Gretchen Whitmer and all of Michigan can sure use our help, especially after today when the would-be kidnappers and murderers got off scott-free.
Open thread.
WaterGirl
Promote the Vote 2022
laura
Face to face organizing For the Win! One conversation at a time. Slow and steady wins the race.
Renie
A bit OT: Interesting article about how Democrats, esp Congressional ones need to get a bit louder
“Democrats need to make more noise,” Sen. Brian Schatz told me. “We have to scream from the rooftops, because this is a battle for the free world now.”
Article starts out focusing on Schatz going after Hawley but makes points on how Democrats need to change up tactics towards the midterms,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/08/brian-schatz-josh-hawley-ukraine-loudness-gap/
Dan B
The matching funds was great because 50 became 200. It was like winning the lottery. At the moment I’m not sure how my finances are but I’ll know next week. I might have been hacked :<(
Also the person from Michigan seemed somewhat reticent to do more than just answer the questions. More background and personal stories would be great.
WaterGirl
@laura: Yep. And the relational organizing is people talking with people they know, rather than calling strangers from a list or going door-to-door.
All 3 of these organizations focus on relational organizations.
WaterGirl
@Dan B: Hacked for real? Or just what I occasionally do, which is spend the same amount of money twice. :-)
Either way, no one on BJ even has to feel like they have to donate to anything, including the webs.
Betty
This is worrisome. I contacted my elections office about obtaining a mail-in ballot, and the person responding said she couldn’t find my records. I have to call on Monday to follow up. It happens to be a very Republican area. I have to hope there has been no monkey business.
WaterGirl
@Betty: That is distressing. Do you mind saying what state you are in?
Everybody needs to be verifying their registration multiple times this year, even if you have been registered since forever.
Dan B
@WaterGirl: I Got an email from Amazon saying I’d purchased a $1,000Etsy gift card. The response option linked to a 404 message so it’s time to visit the credit union.
Sure Lurkalot
This fellow is saying something similar about unionizing. It’s not people they know but it is people they can relate to by shared workplace experiences, being inspired by action of others.
Baud
Can the Dems pay people to be my friends?
WaterGirl
@Dan B: Is it showing up under “Your Orders” when you are logged into Amazon?
WaterGirl
@Baud: Maybe we can look at that after we finish this one. :-)
WaterGirl
@Baud: Soros is paying me to be your friend, and maybe I’m not the only one?
Mike in NC
Former Navy roommate Mike Franken wants to unseat 87 year old Chuck Grassley in Iowa. A good cause.
Baud
@WaterGirl: No wonder the right hates him.
@Mike in NC: Your roommate? That’s pretty cool.
WaterGirl
I thought it was kind of cool that we are already supporting the kind of organizing that they are calling “a novel organizing tactic”.
Decades ago, I accidentally bought socks one year that were very popular and my nieces were all impressed that I was so hip. Total coincidence, but apparently I was stylish once, totally by accident, decades ago.
Maybe this is kind of like that?
WaterGirl
@Mike in NC: It can’t hurt. Plus, if he wins, we can say we knew you when.
CaseyL
@WaterGirl:
Well, we could credit your research, looking at who-knows-how-many contenders, and carefully weighing the pros and cons of each; and we could credit your networking skills, and persuasiveness, in attracting match donors (not to mention all of us here at BJ). We could, in short, credit all the hard work you’ve done…
… or we could credit a kind of Brownian Motion randomness that assigned you the top spot in the current zeitgeist.
Hmmm. Which could it be…
Fair Economist
You’re a great organizer, WaterGirl. Lucky to have you.
WaterGirl
@CaseyL: That made me laugh, thank you!
Kristine
@Fair Economist:
When Adam Schiff met with BJ not once but twice, I wondered if it was solely because so many folks had read his book and wanted to discuss. I think the site is building a rep, WG, and you’re a big reason why.
WaterGirl
You guys are too kind! Thank you.
Betty
@WaterGirl: This is in Pennsylvania, Cumberland County. Thr primary is supposed to be in May. Republicans have been trying to get the vote by mail law they sponsored declared unconstitutional. A strange election year.
Mai Naem mobile
@Mike in NC: i don’t know Iowa politics except that TFG carried it but I do think Grassley is ripe for the picking. He’s looking his age and some of the stuff he says is just word saladish enough to make him appear a little dotty.
The proof of citizenship law that Arizona just passed really bothers me. There’s quite a few people for whom getting a birth certificate copy is hard even if its free. And getting a naturalization certificate copy is a nightmare and around $500. I am not even getting into intimidating recent immigrants. I am talking about long term voters who will get kicked off the voter rolls.
WaterGirl
@Betty: Good that you are on it, then. PA Republicans seem pretty slippery to me.
wmd
I think the timing might be an issue – I have a tax bill due in just over a week, and I did a lot of giving last month as my corporate charitable giving match was $2:$1 because of Ukraine. I push the majority of my giving into that period – having $100 turn into $300 for the organization is enough to get me to lower my emergency savings briefly.
On the plus side I have some equity compensation vesting in a week; once that’s cash I can donate and I will.
Betty
@Mai Naem mobile: Wow! Arizona has a new poll tax from the sounds of it.
WaterGirl
I just typed this up for a friend who wanted my new recipe for banana muffins. I tried for years to make banana bread, to no avail. I found a recipe and changed it in about 4 ways and I now have the perfect banana muffin with walnuts. i may as well share it here in case anyone is interested.
My Banana Muffins with Walnuts
Ingredients
3 large very ripe bananas or 4 medium bananas, peeled
1/3 cup (76g) salter butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon baking soda (not baking powder)
1/2 cup (150g) sugar
1 large egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups Fisher walnut halves and pieces
1-1/2 cups (180g) King Arthur Flour
Instructions
DO NOT USE A MIXER
Toast the walnuts at 300 degrees for ~ 4 minutes in the toaster oven, then cool before adding.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth.
Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas.
Mix in the baking soda.
Stir in the sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract.
Stir in the walnuts
Mix in the flour.
Fill 12 muffin cups with batter.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 -25 minutes. Toothpick should come out mostly clean.
I freeze mine as soon as they cool and whenever I want a banana nut muffin for breakfast I warm in the microwave for 30-45 seconds.
WaterGirl
@wmd:
Congratulations!
Sure Lurkalot
@Betty: Hope they trap a lot of Republicans in their ratfuckery. Citizen tests for voting affect everyone. As do all their repression tactics.
westyny
In for a 100.
WaterGirl
@westyny: Much appreciated!
Omnes Omnibus
@Baud:
No one has that much money. Except perhaps Steve in the WTF, lotsa money in crushing the working man.
Omnes Omnibus
@CaseyL: I’ll take Brownian Motion and the points.
prostratedragon
@WaterGirl: Sounds like the loaf I bake. The key I think is stirring or almost folding by hand. Don’t use a mixer for this
ETA the baking time is longer, about 50 minutes.
Dangerman
Ahead of the curve? Headed for the straight and narrow? What IS that light at the end of the tunnel? And where are the cows?! I feel like thanking them for the Ben and Jerry’s with a few moos.
WaterGirl
I was about to say that it’s been a good week for the Biden Administration, and then I spotted the Mary G. heading I put up in the sidebar. And then of course I thought about Eric Boehlert.
These are crazy times, aren’t they?
Ukraine is holding. Yay!
horrific war crimes
Obamacare fixes. Yay!
President Zelenskyy is amazing!
watch horrific video
listen to Russian gaslighting
first black woman on the supreme court!
trans kids under attack
Obama back at the white house!
all sorts of people getting Covid
Chef Jose!
images of men saying goodbye to their children in Ukraine
MomSense raising $1,250 for Ukraine with her beautiful knitting
It’s no wonder we are all spent.
This was a beautiful thing that made me cry today.
Mai Naem mobile
@Betty: i know it will be a net negative for Dems but I hope it hits enough MAGATs to get them talking.
Dan B
@WaterGirl: I’ll check. Thanks!
WaterGirl
I’m exhausted and it’s only 8:30. I think I’m gonna go to bed anyway.
I think you guys should turn this into a Friday night music thread.
JAFD
Received my mail ballots this week for the Newark school board (week after next) and municipal (May 10) elections.
Board of Elections wants poll workers to get more training using computerized voter sign-in lists, must get that on next week’s calendar.
Was formerly in Albro Sires’ US congressional district. Never met him, but his staff was very helpful straightening problem I had with Social Sec. He’s retiring, organization’s picked Sen Menendez’ son to replace him. Now in Donald Payne, Jr’s district – his father was NJ’s first Black congressman. Party of family values, eh…
Dangerman
@WaterGirl: The Pink Floyd thing is pretty amazing. The singer was in the Hospital for shrapnel wound when Gilmour found him and called and asked for permission. I would have assumed it was the meds playing tricks on me.
If you are a PF fan, check out David Gilmour with a basically acoustic set (I think it’s called Meltdown Festival or something like that) with the lovely Caroline Dale on Cello.
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl: YOU ARE NOT MY SUPERVISOR!!!!
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus:
My reply.
Dan B
@WaterGirl: Finally found My Orders on Amazon. Only thing in the last three months was a houseplant. Phew!
WaterGirl
@Dan B: Oh yay!
I thought the 404 error was an indicator that it wasn’t real, that someone was trying to go fishing.
JMS
@Betty: strange coincidence. I live in pa and was looking up some demographic info out of curiosity and discovered that Cumberland county was the fastest growing county in pa in the past decade. It appears most of that growth is Black, Hispanic, and Asian people. Then I checked the election result history and sure enough while it’s still pretty Republican, it’s becoming more of a 42-55 place than a 35-63 place. Meanwhile most of the 35-63 places are losing population left and right. How long before some counties are under 1000 people? This explains some of why Republicans are the way they are. Cheat when you can’t win.
BlueGuitarist
@Betty:
any comments on the local D candidates for state house or US house seat?
Cumberland County, PA looks important from out of state! some overlapping opportunities to replace Rs up and down the ballot, plus stronger down ballot efforts could help the top of the ticket.
BlueGuitarist
@JMS:
I was just looking at pa house seats, Biden, Wolf, Clinton margins!
88: -2, +11, -12
87: -12, -1, -23
199: -18, -4, -22
Mo Salad
Dropped $100. Not as fun without the matches.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Omnes Omnibus: Oh, you obviously didn’t get the memo.
Mo Salad
@Omnes Omnibus: How’s the macrame coming?
eachother
World Central Kitchen is the tallest, brightest sunflower.
Another Scott
@Dangerman: Gilmour’s guitar is haunting on Pete Townshend’s White City Fighting (4:42)
Cheers,
Scott.
sab
@WaterGirl: One year I bought my young nephews teenage ninja turtles for Christmas because I saw an article in the Wall Street Journal with a little drawing of them, and they looked so damn cute. I knew nothing about them otherwise. Bought them in Marin County CA, mailed them to Columbus OH and they saved Christmas because Ohio stores sold out instantly.
sab
@WaterGirl: Glad for the reminder, which I also heard on the much harangued NPR this morning.
My step-daughter had to move last summer ( traumatic but much improved livimg situation.) In all the uproar we completely forgot she and her step-daughter need to re-register for voting since they moved. Probably won’t matter in May since Ohio has screwed up so badly and thank goodness the only seriously challenged primaries around us are the Republican clown car/crab bucket races for Senate and Governor.
I still don’t know what district I am in for state rep, state senate or US congress. And our candidates don’t either.
Cleveland City Club had Nina Turner speaking today (Friday talks are broadcast locally) so now I know where the “moderate” Republicans are going to rat-fuck the primaries. They may have to vote in the crab-bucket on their side however.
I will be curious. Can you declare yourself a converted Democrat in May and then revert to Republican in the second primary in August?
Ohio really is embarrassing itself and us ( Ohioans) this time around. There is a reason we ought to be and used to be staid.
prostratedragon
“Alone Together,” Catherine Russell live in the studio
Omnes Omnibus
@Mo Salad: Yeah, no sharp objects on the ward. They were super strict about that.
prostratedragon
Weekend viewing: The North Star (1943), in which a host of Hollywood players starting with Anne Baxter and Dana Andrews portray farmers in a Ukrainian village at the time of the German (you know, actual Nazis) invasion, accompanied by a score from Aaron Copeland and photographed by James Wong Howe. YouTube link
caphilldcne
I’m in. Second donation for Michigan! Thank you for doing this!
Bonnie McDaniel
Just chipped in $25.