Let's Get to Work: A Menu of Campaign Volunteer Opportunities
When your kids and grandkids ask what you did when everything was on the line you can answer proudly, "I didn't sit back and complain, I did something about it."
I’ve written about the importance of this election. Today, I want to share ways to get involved. What you do matters. And, it has never been easier to make a difference. You can choose what works best for you- to give money, to knock on doors, to send letters, to phone bank, to text. You can choose to head out with a group of like-minded neighbors, or you can help without ever leaving your home.
Whether you want to be part of a Democratic Party operation or work independently, there are tons of ways you can help win in November.
Mobilize is site created by Democrats for organizations to post volunteer opportunities. You can find opportunities from independent organizations and from state parties. Below, I list some great organizations to get started with.
Independent Organizations I recommend:
Swing Left is an organization that helps maximize your impact by identifying the races that can benefit the most from your contribution- whether that’s volunteer time or money. Click the link and navigate to the header “Take action,” then sign up.
Progressive Turnout Project is probably the biggest voter contact organization out there. In close elections, like this one, the difference between winning and losing is who works hardest to get their voters to show up. Once you open the site, click “GET INVOLVED,” and choose what works for you.
Indivisible has been enormously successful in helping people organize at the local level. Its founders created tool kits that jump-started a nationwide grass roots movement that just might make the difference between being governed by a majority or by a MAGA minority. It’s easy to find groups near you, or to create one of your own.
Terrific State Democratic Parties that need your help
I live in Illinois, where the state party has had a difficult history. For most of my long life, Democrats I like have had to run against it. A few years ago, I started to get to know the leaders of Democratic Parties in other states, and they opened my eyes to the amazing things that political parties organized from the ground up can do. They are great places to volunteer. Four of the best right now are:
Wisconsin: Do you remember Scott Walker, and the damage he did to unions and to public education? State Party Chair Ben Winkler has built a formidable organization in a must win state. Now there’s a Democratic governor and voters recently flipped the state’s Supreme Court, which meant an end to the nation’s most partisan gerrymander. In addition to winning the White House and holding the Senate, you can help flip the state’s legislature as well by volunteering with Wisconsin Dems.
Michigan: Not that long ago, Michigan had a Republican Governor whose decisions ended up poisoning the water in the city of Flint. Lavora Barnes built a party organization by offering everyone an on-ramp to get involved. Care about a local school? She has a way you can help make a difference. Want to elect women to higher office? She has a way you can make it happen. Her work has helped the people of Michigan change their leaders and move the state forward. But … Michigan is tough. The right wing has a deep hold on some of its people. The very first fake report of a stolen election in 2020 came from Michigan. And these guys are determined to take the state back. You can stop them by signing up for volunteer shifts.
North Carolina: If Arkansas or Louisiana represent so much of what is troubling about the American South, North Carolina represents a lot of what is great about it. Anderson Clayton is the youngest Democratic state party chair, and she has tirelessly built an organization that has fielded candidates in nearly every race in the state for the first time in memory. And there’s room for you in that organization. You can help win the state for Kamala Harris and win the governorship too.
Arizona: Democrats took back the governorship but face a GOP hold in the legislature. The state’s Republicans have completely abandoned the John McCain type and opted instead for the full MAGA of folks like Kari Lake. Party chair Yolanda Bejarano has made great strides in a very difficult-to-organize state. Your help can not only secure victory in the presidential but hold the Senate by winning the seat Kyrsten Sinema is leaving.
Don’t wait. The future is in your hands. Find a way to get involved.