It’s an interesting political landscape heading into what will surely become a landmark election year.
Democrats keep racking up special election wins, even in a red state legislative district in Texas, and there are great Democratic candidates at all levels running for office this year across the country. New Democratic governors in New Jersey and Virginia pumping life into the party, and everyday another Democrat, often more than one, takes a stand somewhere separated them from the shirkers, liars and frauds.
Across the aisle, Republicans are watching the federal debt explode, knowing their One Big Beautiful Bill is the cause, with its excessive tax cuts for the wealthy, an overboard budget for a rogue domestic paramilitary agency, and sweet contracts for cronies and oligarchs throughout. Add to that, the damned illegal Trump tariffs are a tax on American consumers, and their revenues don't even come close to offsetting the debt-building GOP tax cuts for the rich.
The same Republicans are running from voters angered by Trump boasting about a mythical perfect economy, while we consumers are paying more for food, clothing, electricity and healthcare. All the while, with few exceptions, Republicans are aiding and abetting a criminal cover up at the Department of Justice never carried out so publicly, menacingly and incompetently, all at once.
And voters are noticing.
“There’s this question that folks keep asking: where is the floor for Donald Trump? I’m not sure there is a floor, because if there is one, Donald Trump, at least in term No. 2, has just fallen through it to another low level,” data guru Harry Enten said, dissecting Trump’s steep decline in multiple recent polls during a President’s Day report on CNN.
This favorable election climate creates opportunities. Many candidates and campaign managers have spoken these words during a surge in the polls and voter identification: I wish the election was tomorrow. Alas, it’s February. Many rank and file Democratic voters are as anxious as the campaigns are to roll out and engage. Fortunately, most campaigns are scaling up operations, and in need of volunteers, super volunteers (folks with time and means to provide near full-time commitment) and paid staffers for qualified applicants in some races. The easiest way to get involved is to join a campaign. The best of them will train and guide you. It can be an extremely cathartic experience, and your help will be appreciated.
Naturally, not everyone has the time to give to a campaign, or honestly, not everyone has a candidate or campaign nearby that they can or want to help. Passion and logistics are important components for a good volunteer experience. There is another way to get directly involved, in which each individual sets their own goals and schedule and answers to themselves. We call it a “Campaign of One,” but it is more commonly known as “relational organizing.” Each self-appointed volunteer chooses the time and setting to have a conversation about reality with a friend, neighbor, family member, colleague, or teammate – someone we already know who voted for Trump.
The campaign of one is not a theory. It’s a proven practice, since 2008, when Obama for America sought out, trained, and guided 2.2 million volunteers in the art of relational organizing – and made them feel like they had a seat at the table because everyone recognized the value of their work.
“We believe that, in this age of saturation television, eventually people are going to throw their TV as far as they can out of their window, and look to their neighbors and family to have a discussion about how they’re going to vote,” veteran senior Obama campaign adviser Jim Messina said in an interview with The New Yorker. “And we’re going to be integral to that moment—that is our entire moment.”
Relational organizing requires a discussion, not a debate or an argument. First and foremost, let the other person talk and just listen. Listening is as important as the point you hope to make. Measure their words to help choose your own. Words that are authentic, thought through and rehearsed, truthful, and chosen because they reflect common ground and anticipated agreement. We try to avoid landmines built into the specific mention of Trump’s name or deeds. Best not to name names and point fingers if you want to establish trust that goes both ways – and trust is the key to opening hearts and minds – and avoid getting pulled into a loud exchange. Obviously, keeping far away from culture war triggers is important. Instead, appeal to sensibilities. Commonality is more unifying than guilt, shame or browbeating. The idea is conversation, not confrontation.
Three tested examples of comfortable conversation starters. You probably have similar and better examples, but note a soft approach should be universal:
We need a break at the cash register. Everything costs more and I can feel it more and more.
The amount of blatant corruption that is done practically in front of eyes is crazy and puts a lot of innocent people and businesses at risk.
You see the federal debt exploding like this with businesses closing, now layoffs, and the tariffs being declared illegal – and you have to wonder how long is that sustainable.
Choose your own opening tailored to the person you are talking with. You know your family, friends and acquaintances, and you know what might grab their interest. We will not win over folks trying to convince them to drop their core values. We might, however, be able to reasonably discuss evidence that Trump is a fraud and out only for himself and his cronies.
There are dozens of articles that outline great points for how to develop a persuasive argument without arguing. There are even several articles on how to talk to Trump voters. There are some solid tips out there on approaching MAGA and MAGA-light. Find your comfort zone, but be able to present the truth and logic factually and authentically. Keep in mind, things can go sideways fast in these types of conversations, so don’t be afraid to cut it off and pick it up another day. If we can have a discussion without resolution, but maintain the relationship, there is always hope that it can be revisited at the right time.
It’s been a brutal winter for a lot of us and we’re stir crazy. The spring thaw will give us a chance to get out there and make contact. The earlier we become a campaign of one, the more Trump voters we can reach and hopefully win over.
Please be a force multiplier and start the Campaign of One now by forwarding this to family, friends, colleagues – anyone you think can help. The work we put in now will pay off when the voting starts.
Democratically yours,
Deb Kozikowski and Mara Dolan
Left of Center Co-founders