Last weekend, we officially launched our first cohort of Fellows in Arizona and we have had so much fun hustling, learning, and getting scrappy. This work could not be more important, and I’ve been filled with purpose and inspiration watching this program finally come to life.

When We Count in Arizona

We launched in Arizona last week and currently have our first cohort of Fellows on the ground organizing in their own communities. I’m actually on my way back to Arizona right now to launch our second cohort of 30 Fellows this weekend — bringing us to 40 Fellows organizing across the state — and we’re only growing. By June, we are on track to scale up to 75 Fellows in Arizona alone.

The first week has been so much fun. Fellows are meeting young people where they already are using third spaces — cafes, concerts, rideshares, thrift stores — you name it. We’re also organizing online through Instagram, Snapchat, Discord, and group chats because the bottom line is: if young people are there, so are our Fellows.

One of the coolest parts of this first week has been watching Fellows start to realize just how many organizing opportunities already exist in their everyday lives. We are training Fellows not just to register voters, but to think creatively and strategically about where conversations can happen and how they can turn everyday interactions into organizing moments.

Honestly, the stories coming out of this first week have been incredible. My favorite so far is a Fellow who registered a voter through the Taco Bell drive-thru while working her night shift. Another Fellow registered a group of voters at a laundromat while waiting for clothes to dry.

Hear from our Fellow Miranda about how her onboarding experience went:

This team is HUSTLING — and that’s the entire point of When We Count.

Between 2020 and 2024, Democrats lost ground in voter registration nationwide, including a net loss of more than 2.1 million registered Democrats. At the same time, Republicans registered an outright majority of new voters under 45 — a reversal from just a few cycles ago.

Young people are not bad at voting — we’re just not registered. Right now, under 30% of 18-year-olds are registered to vote, compared to 75% of voters 45+. But once young people are registered, we tend to vote at similar rates to any other generation. This is an accessibility problem, and it’s one we are out to solve.

For years, voter registration programs have focused mostly on college campuses — but around 60% of Americans ages 18–24 are not enrolled in college. That means millions of young people are being missed by traditional political organizing, especially working-class young people and young people of color.

Where We’re Going

It has been so exciting getting to watch When We Count come to life and we are just getting started.

We are learning so much every single day and soon we’ll be launching even more – sharing our materials, lessons, and best practices so people anywhere in the country can plug in and start registering voters in their own communities.

Learn More and Apply To Be a Fellow!

We also have more National Voter Registration Weeks of Action coming up this year!

We will be hosting multiple Weeks of Action between now and Election Day. We will have opportunities for big moments with our fellows, and places YOU can plug in to support our voter registration efforts across the country.

We’re building something really special with When We Count and I’m so excited for what’s ahead.

Spend five minutes today to register to vote or make sure your registration is up-to-date. Head over to IWillVote.com for all the info you need!

Check Your Voter Registration

Have questions about voting? Call the voter assistance hotline, 833-336-8683, and our team can get you the help you need to cast your ballot and make sure it’s counted.

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Thank you for all the work you’re doing — honored to be in this fight with you all. :)

In solidarity,

Grace

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

In its decision in Louisiana v. Callais, the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the core requirement of the Voting Rights Act to protect minority opportunity districts. The Court overturned decades of precedent and undercut a core victory of the Civil Rights Movement.

With this ruling, the Court has opened the door to diluting Black, Latino, AANHPI, Native American, and Alaska Native representation across the country, especially in the South, where Republicans have made clear they want to split the voting power of minority communities.

While the Supreme Court’s decision is a gut punch, make no mistake: Democrats remain undeterred and will fight tooth and nail to ensure the voices of all Americans will be heard in November and in every election that follows.

We must organize, mobilize, and remain vigilant in defending the right to vote. The fight against racial gerrymandering is now more urgent than ever, and the hard-won right to vote must be protected for all Americans. This moment calls for immediate action: stay engaged, support voting rights advocacy, and hold elected leaders accountable for restoring fair maps and fair elections.

Ready to protect voting rights? Here’s what you can do:

Attend a Briefing on the Impacts of the Decision

Join us for a virtual briefing on voting rights and Louisiana v. Callais with DNC Chair Ken Martin and Civic Engagement and Voter Protection Director Herly Rosemond at 7 p.m. E.T. on Monday, May 4, to learn how Democrats are fighting tooth and nail to ensure the voices of all Americans will be heard in November and every election that follows. We will be joined by: Davante Lewis, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner (District 3); Cliff Albright, Co-founder of Black Voters Matter Fund; and Charles Taylor, Executive Director of the NAACP Mississippi State Conference.

RSVP

Be the reason the midterm elections are fair. Volunteer for voter protection programs across the country.

Sign Up for More Information

Thanks for fighting with us! Together, we can make a difference.

In solidarity,

Jenny

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

Simply put, our ground game can’t just be clipboards and door-knocking anymore. We need a strong digital organizing strategy to mobilize voters and reach people where they exist online.

Digital organizing is significant for several reasons, but most importantly, it naturally adapts organizing principles to the digital landscape most people are already in. It allows us to strengthen relationships and mobilize family and friends through online interactions and conduct meaningful and authentic outreach to continuously empower our communities.

That’s why we’re introducing the People’s Studio: a dynamic team of volunteers who are committed to utilizing their creative talents to help elect Democrats across the country. This team’s unique talents will be used to amplify, curate, and create grassroots content that will help deliver the clear and concise messaging needed to win in the midterms and build long-lasting Democratic power.

Ready to join? Here’s how you can get involved:

Become a Digital Organizer

Want to turn your online energy into real-world action in this upcoming election? Join the DNC’s Digital Organizing Team on Monday, April 27, at 7 p.m. ET! During this training, you will learn how to be an effective digital organizer, covering best practices for mobilizing your digital networks, sharing content, building strategic messaging, and more.

Sign Up

Be a Content Creator for Dems

Calling all designers, videographers, meme-ers, artists, and internet users — we are building a team of volunteer content creators to help support Democrats with grassroots digital content.

Join us for our next training on Monday, May 18, at 7 p.m. ET on Zoom to learn why this team will be a pivotal part of our online strategy, how you can get involved, and best practices!

Sign Up

Spread the Word

If you’ve ever shared a post or joined an online discussion, you’re already on your way to becoming a digital organizer! That’s why your help in sharing our message is so crucial. It’s how we cut through the noise and clearly show everyone what Democrats are fighting for.

Ready to take the next step? Help spread the word with our social media toolkits!

Share on Social Media

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Thanks for fighting with us! Together, we can make a difference.

In solidarity,

Jenny

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

In my role, I spend most of my day on the phone, connecting with and listening to Democrats across the country. By far the question I encounter the most is, “What does the DNC actually DO?”

The answer is simple: we do a lot, but most of it is not what you’d expect.

To start, here is a list of things the DNC does not do — most of which are common misconceptions about our scope:

• The DNC doesn’t recruit candidates to run for office. That work is best left up to our sister committees, the DSCC and DCCC.

• The DNC doesn’t endorse Democrats during Democratic primaries: voters pick our Democratic candidates in each race. From there, we fight like hell to elect them!

• The DNC doesn’t dictate messaging for ads: electoral campaign strategies are best left up to each Democratic candidate. They know which messages will persuade voters in their districts. The last thing they need is us breathing down their necks and giving them pointers from D.C.

• The DNC doesn’t control or direct Democrats in Congress: We coordinate with these Democrats when it comes to campaigning, but the folks in office do the governing. Democrats in the House are led by Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Democrats in the Senate are led by Leader Chuck Schumer.

Now that we’ve gotten some of those misconceptions out of the way, let’s talk about the things the DNC does do.

Our mission here at the DNC is to ensure that Democrats have the data, tools, and resources needed to compete — and win — all across the country.

Protecting Free and Fair Elections

Donald Trump has tried repeatedly to undermine election rules for his own advantage. To counter this, the DNC’s in-house Legal and Voter Protection teams are hard at work to ensure voters are protected and elections remain free and fair. Here is some of what they are working on this election season:

• Legal work: The DNC’s legal team is currently litigating to protect mail-in ballots, and defending voters that are under threat of being removed from voting rolls by the DOJ.

• Voter Protection work: Our Voter Protection team is safeguarding free and fair elections by building rapid-response infrastructure to ensure every eligible voter can register, vote, and have their ballot counted. We fight unlawful barriers, intimidation, and roll purges, and strengthen long-term voting access through legislative advocacy.

Providing critical tech and data infrastructure to all Democrats running for office

The DNC Tech team develops solutions to the most pressing problems facing campaigns up and down the ballot. The team provides infrastructure that lasts beyond an election cycle, to be leveraged by Democratic campaigns.

Our mission is to equip the Democrats of today and tomorrow to run modern, data-driven campaigns by providing access to ever improving data, world-class technical expertise, and a scalable, stable, and secure data infrastructure — all in the name of getting Democrats elected across our country and across the ticket.

Who we serve

The DNC Tech team provides infrastructure, data, tools, and technical and cybersecurity expertise to organizations throughout the Democratic ecosystem. The team partners with analytics, technology, voter protection, security, research, and communications teams at:

• Federal candidate campaigns

• State parties

• Sister committees (DCCC, DSCC, DGA, DAGA, DLCC)

• Down-ballot campaigns

Data analytics & data science

• Enriched national voter file data: DNC Tech processes, standardizes, and enriches voter files for all 50 states and DC. Additionally, the DNC acquires critical data like phone numbers and geocodes that campaigns up and down ballot leverage to effectively reach voters.

• Models to improve voter targeting: The DNC has unique access to decades of campaign data. Using this rich historical data, the data science team builds custom data science models like Democratic Support, Education, and Phone Contactability. These models help campaigns determine messaging, outreach channels, and targeting. Campaigns save time and money by leveraging the DNC models rather than each having to build their own.

Voting services

• IWillVote & polling location lookup: The DNC is the source of truth for up-to-date voting information for voters via IWillVote.com. Campaigns leverage IWillVote & the IWillVote widget to help voters determine when, how, and where to vote.

• The DNC Tech team partners with the DNC Voter Protection and Civic Engagement team to provide voter protection programs with software and data to manage volunteers, report & escalate incidents, and monitor voter purge trends.

Building Democratic Power in the States

Here are a few examples of the infrastructure the DNC is building to accomplish this:

• Fueling State Parties: We are turbocharging investment in state parties, investing over $1 million every month. With the increases implemented by the DNC last year, each state gets a baseline of $17,500 monthly, with an extra $5,000 for Republican-controlled states through our Red State Fund, bringing their total to $22,500. These investments allow state parties to increase staffing, expand organizing programs, and prepare early for upcoming elections.

• Voter Registration (When We Count): This year, the DNC launched a historic, new seven-figure partisan voter registration effort to close critical voter registration gaps in priority congressional districts. This April and May, we are putting boots on the ground in Arizona and Nevada to register 100,000+ new Democratic voters and welcome unregistered young voters who aren’t on college campuses to the Democratic Party. We are doing this by hiring young Democrats (18 to 29 years old) to serve as fellows with the mission of registering young voters who took a path other than college to welcome them to the Party. These fellows will be trained to become the next generation of organizers for the Party.

• Reaching out to infrequent voters — especially Democrats who voted in 2020, but sat out the 2024 election: We launched the Local Listeners program to engage over 1 million infrequent voters in battleground districts. This is our most aggressive early midterm engagement effort to date, using a “listening first” approach and a seven-week volunteer training to have better political conversations. The Democratic Party isn’t waiting until the last minute to engage voters — we’re making sure conversations happen early and often to win back trust with voters.

Nominating a Presidential Candidate

• The DNC is the administrative backbone for the presidential nominating process. For months, the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws committee has been hard at work to establish how we’ll select our nominee. We will have more to share on this when the time comes, but right now we are all-hands-on-deck to win the 2026 midterms.

• The DNC coordinates our National Convention every four years, during which our nominee for president will take the stage and accept their nomination in 2028. We recently announced the cities in contention to host the convention are: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, and Philadelphia. If you have ideas about which city should win the bid, sound off in the comments below!

• Maintaining the voter file that most candidates use, as well as the party’s core technology and data tools that support every Democratic campaign.

Ok, whew. I told you this would be a long email, but that was a lot to cover. If you’ve spoken to me before on the phone, you know I love to share as much information as possible so you have the facts straight from the source! And, like I said, most of these things might not seem glamorous: but all of these programs are core parts of the infrastructure that will enable Democrats to win in November and beyond.

Grassroots supporters like you help fuel the DNC’s work in a very real way, and that level of commitment deserves access, transparency, and a high-touch experience.

Thank you for being a partner in this work. Talk soon!

Ryan Rodgers

DNC Development Lead

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**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.*

After three months of Local Listeners calls, here’s what we’ve heard:

Americans are suffering under the weight of rising costs for essentials and feel the economy no longer rewards hard work. We’ve talked to retired seniors who are on the verge of losing their homes, families working up to seven jobs to make ends meet, and people kicked off their health insurance.

Voters across the country are also fearful over the erosion of democratic checks and balances and the actions of federal agents in their communities. They’re also anxious and angry about military conflicts and foreign policy decisions like the war in Iran, leading to rising inflation and prices.

“When you think about the country right now, do you feel like things are headed in the right direction or the wrong direction?”

People we’ve talked to overwhelmingly feel that things are headed in the wrong direction right now.

• “Everything has been frustrating, I spend $350 on groceries, they’ve gone up... I feel like I’m fortunate because I have income coming in, so I’m not as affected as other people.” – Voter from North Carolina

• “No leadership, they’re turning people against each other, my heart is broken... We need people with integrity running the government.” – Voter from Michigan

• “I work in the biological sciences, and it’s so hard to watch [what] RFK and White House are doing with the sciences. I grew up in a border town and was around many Mexican people, and it’s just horrendous how they’re treating immigrants.” – Voter from Arizona

“What do you wish politicians knew about you and your community?”

• “Richest country in the world and we can’t educate our children.” – Voter from Arizona

• “My neighbors have the same concerns I have. We want to be left alone by ICE and other threats.” – Voter from Michigan

• “Immigrants exemplify the American dream.” – Voter from California

• “Need to focus on making it possible for folks to afford the basics of a life.” – Voter from California

• “Their [politician’s] job is to represent the real people, their constituents, and not the lobbyists and corporations. – Voter from Florida

• “We want action from our politicians — they gotta do something — if not who’s going to hold people accountable?” – Voter from Florida

All of the feedback and data we collect from these calls is read by our team every week and shared with DNC leadership and other Democratic partners to better inform our programs.

Make Listening-First Calls to Voters

Join our volunteer team to make these listening-first calls! Our goal isn’t to persuade — it’s to deeply understand how voters across the country are truly feeling. These conversations are vital, and your outreach is the key to making a real impact!

We’ll start each phone bank with a clear overview of who we’re reaching out to, followed by a simple, step-by-step training on our calling platform for all new volunteers. Then, it’s time to dive into the calls and make those critical connections with voters. You can join us on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Sign Up to Make Calls

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Thanks for fighting with us! Together, we can make a difference.

In solidarity,

Maanasi and Eva

DNC Regional Distributed Organizers

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print's most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

Now more than ever, it is critical to get involved with the party and champion the causes that matter most to us across the country. Winning up and down the ballot in November is essential, and we can’t make that happen without supporters like you.

From organizing nationwide to powering the infrastructure we need to win in 2026, 2028, and beyond, grassroots supporters like you are at the core of our mission. This work could not be done without the support of Democrats across the country, and that holds true more than ever this midterm season.

We often hear from many supporters that they want to take action and stand up against the Trump administration, but are unsure how. This week, we’re sharing opportunities for grassroots supporters across the country to join us in the fight to defeat the Trump administration and elect Democrats up and down the ballot. We’ll also be highlighting recent wins and accomplishments from the past week.

We’re thankful to have you in this fight.

Subscribe now

Four Ways to Support the Democratic Party This Week

1. Join our voter registration efforts: The midterm elections are just around the corner, and it is critical that we register as many voters as possible to take back Congress in November. Join the DNC to register voters across the country by hosting or attending a voter registration drive. Make sure you and your friends are registered to vote as well!

2. Find a local event near you: Democrats are keeping their foot on the gas, organizing and meeting voters until no stone is left unturned — because we know, when we organize everywhere, we win everywhere. Find an event near you to support your state parties and local candidates.

3. Apply for the When We Count Fellowship: The When We Count Fellowship is the DNC’s largest-ever voter registration program. Through a paid, part-time fellowship, young people will be trained to register new Democratic voters in their own communities and help close critical registration gaps in battleground states ahead of the 2026 midterms. Sign up today or share with someone who might be interested!

4. Start a sustaining donation to the DNC: The infrastructure we are building to win big in 2026, 2028, and beyond would not be possible without the power of grassroots donations. Every dollar counts toward electing Democrats who will fight back against the Trump administration and building an even stronger Democratic Party. Every dollar counts, so consider making a donation today.

The Latest From Chair Ken Martin

DNC Chair Ken Martin has been working hard to get the DNC out of DC, traveling across the country to meet with state parties and Democrats at every level to share how we’re fighting to win big in 2026 and beyond. Chair Martin is organizing everywhere to win anywhere this November, and he’s ready for the fight ahead. Hear the latest from Chair Martin on the road to the midterms.

“I’m confident we’re gonna win, but I’m not complacent.

“What we’ve gotta do now is keep working. We’ve got [less than] 209 days left until this critical election. If we do the work, we’re going to win this year, but we can’t take anything for granted. For anyone listening right now, they’ve got to roll up their sleeves, join their local party, and volunteer on a campaign. There’s great candidates running at every level in every part of this country.

“I believe passionately that when you organize everywhere, you can win anywhere, and that means we’ve all got a job to do. Whether you’re living in the reddest part of the country or the bluest part of the country, we need folks to get involved.”

Good News From Wisconsin

Last week, the Wisconsin Supreme Court secured a liberal majority until 2030!

With Justice-elect Chris Taylor’s massive victory, the WI Supreme Court’s liberal majority expands to 5-2. This victory ensures that Wisconsinites have a majority on the court that is committed to protecting their reproductive rights and voting rights.

This victory makes it clear that Wisconsin voters want a court that will champion our fundamental freedoms and protect democracy. From standing up to corporate greed to defending reproductive rights, this court is ready to fight for the people of Wisconsin.

Also in Wisconsin, Democrat Alicia Halvensleben won the mayor’s race in GOP-leaning Waukesha, Wisconsin. This is a massive win for Democrats in a district that Trump won in 2024.

With these wins, Democrats have now won or overperformed in 264 of 295 key elections since 2025 — a rate of nearly 90 percent. Democrats are on offense, fighting for the issues that matter most to voters across the country. Republicans are scared heading into November because Democrats are all hands on deck to win up and down the ballot.

Vote Yes! On April 21

On April 21, the people of Virginia will be voting on a referendum to ensure fair congressional representation in 2026. As Donald Trump directs MAGA-controlled states to redistrict congressional maps without voter approval, Virginians are fighting back.

Want to get involved to make sure Virginians have what they need to vote YES? Sign up to volunteer virtually or across the commonwealth to stop Trump’s power grab and level the playing field.

Knock on Doors

Text Virginia Voters

Phone Bank

The Trump Administration Is Crumbling

It is more than obvious that things are not going well in the White House. Trump has now fired another key cabinet member, Pam Bondi, signaling even more chaos in the administration.

At the same time, Trump is losing the support of key coalitions that got him elected in 2024. For the first time in his second term, Trump is underwater with white working-class voters — and it’s no wonder why. Trump has sold out working families in favor of building his gilded ballroom or funding his unpopular war in Iran.

Trump’s economy has been a disaster for hard-working Americans. From making historic cuts to health care to pushing the average price of gas to unaffordable amounts, Trump has broken the trust of his strongest voters.

Even Trump’s own wife is now breaking with him. Last week, Melania Trump officially broke with Trump’s inner circle and called on Congress to hold public hearings with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims. She urged Congress to “provide women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing,” even after Donald Trump said the country should “get on to something else.”

Trump’s White House is crumbling. From reckless political decisions to public breaks with his closest allies, it’s clear that he knows he is losing power. While Trump scrambles, Democrats are working nonstop to fight for working families and demand justice for those impacted by Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes.

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Best,

Olivia

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.*

• When We Count: The When We Count Fellowship is the DNC’s largest-ever voter registration program. Through a paid, part-time fellowship, young people will be trained to register new Democratic voters in their own communities and help close critical registration gaps in battleground states ahead of the 2026 midterms.

• NextWave Regional Bootcamp: Our NextWave Regional Bootcamp training program, the DNC’s largest-ever in-person campaign staff training program, serves to strengthen the pipeline of the next generation of campaign and party staff, and prepare them to win races up and down the ballot for 2026 and beyond.

• Local Listeners: The DNC launched the seven-week Local Listeners bootcamp to train participants, ranging from first-time volunteers to seasoned organizers, on how to better connect with voters through ‘active listening’ and ‘having difficult conversations about politics.’ Alongside the bootcamp, we launched Local Listeners Phone Banks, where supporters will be trained on the same listening skills but over the phone, and put them to the test. The goal is to have meaningful, listening-first conversations with voters in strategically important districts, centering active listening and strong feedback loops.

And just last week, we wrapped up our first National Voter Registration Week of Action of the year that featured over 150 voter registration drives across 29 states, including on college campuses and in rural communities where the DNC has never organized before.

But it doesn’t stop there. As part of the DNC’s ongoing work to innovate and modernize our party’s organizing approaches, we launched the Playbook, a guidebook for campaigns, organizers, and Democrats across the ecosystem to help build winning campaigns in 2026 and for years to come.

Through strategic, innovative organizing efforts, Democrats have consistently outperformed expectations in tough races up and down the ballot. We are thrilled to continue building on this momentum and securing victories in 2026 and beyond.

Ready to join the fight? Here’s what you can do:

Become a Local Listener!

Join us for Local Listeners Lite, a one-hour dynamic volunteer training where you will learn to be a Local Listener with the DNC. This training is designed for those who weren’t able to attend the Bootcamp, but still want to be a part of the team!

Sign Up

Be a Content Creator for Dems

Calling all designers, videographers, meme-ers, artists, and internet users — we are building a team of volunteer content creators to help support Democrats with grassroots digital content.

Join us on Monday, April 20, at 7 p.m. ET on Zoom to learn why this team will be a pivotal part of our online strategy, how you can get involved, and best practices!

Join the Digital Team!

Spread the Word

Want to keep the momentum going? Share our message! Use our social media toolkits to tell your family, friends, and online networks what we’re fighting for. Every action makes a difference!

Share on Social Media

BONUS: We’re Calling Virginia Voters!

Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, but right now they’re under threat. That’s why the people of Virginia are advocating for a temporary, emergency referendum to ensure fair and transparent congressional representation for 2026. Join the fight and help call voters in Virginia to remind them to VOTE YES by April 21!

Sign Up to Make Calls

Share, Subscribe, and Support The Blue Print

Thank you so much for reading The Blue Print! If you enjoyed this week’s newsletter, let us know with a like, restack, and make sure to share it with your friends so we can keep bringing you weekly updates from the DNC’s Grassroots Team!

Subscribe now

Share

Donate

Thanks for fighting with us! Together, we can make a difference.

In solidarity,

Jenny

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

This spring, the Democrats are not letting up. We are moving full steam ahead to fight back against attacks on our democracy and build the lasting infrastructure needed to win up and down the ballot.

From legal action to organizing supporters, the DNC is powering the programs needed to win big in 2026, 2028, and beyond. We’re organizing everywhere, and we’re ready to win everywhere.

This week, we’ll be talking about the latest efforts from the DNC to hold the Trump administration accountable in court and online, historic program launches, and how you can get involved to protect the integrity of our elections and help Democrats win big up and down the ballot.

Grassroots supporters are critical to our mission of organizing everywhere so we can win anywhere. In order to take back Congress in November, we need the support of grassroots voters like you to build the energy we need. We have the momentum, and we’re not backing down. Thank you for standing in this fight with us.

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ICYMI: We’re Fighting To Protect Voting by Mail

Last week, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Democratic Governors Association, and the Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit challenging Donald Trump’s illegal executive order that attacks Americans’ right to vote by mail.

Trump’s latest executive order is an unconstitutional power grab, attempting to limit Americans’ ability to vote by mail. The executive order would unilaterally create a federal list of voters the Trump administration deems eligible to receive a mail-in ballot — a clear violation of the Constitution, which gives states and Congress the power to regulate federal elections and voter rolls, not the President.

That’s why we’re fighting back. Democrats won’t stand by while Donald Trump desperately tries to rig elections to cling to power he knows he’s about to lose. We are taking action to challenge Trump’s executive order to protect the right to vote and ensure every eligible American can make their voice heard at the ballot box.

Apply to the DNC’s NextWave Western Regional Bootcamp!

Are you a campaign staffer, or are you looking to join a campaign in 2026? Do you live in the West? Then join us for a FREE training program designed for aspiring and current campaign staff of all experience levels.

The DNC NextWave Regional Bootcamp is a new training program that serves to strengthen the pipeline of the next generation of campaign and party staff, and prepare them to win races up and down the ballot for 2026 and beyond.

This three-day, in-person training program will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, from Thursday, May 7, to Saturday, May 9, 2026.

Apply to NextWave AZ

On Trump’s “Liberation Day” Anniversary, Prices Are Skyrocketing

On April 2, 2025, Trump and his administration claimed tariffs would usher in a “golden age,” but one year in, this promise has yet to be kept.

Last year, Donald Trump announced his tariff plan on a self-proclaimed “Liberation Day” to lower costs — yet his reckless trade war has done irreparable damage to the economy over the last year, and working families have paid the price. 2025 saw the highest number of layoffs since 2020, and the manufacturing sector has been hollowed out. Trump cost working families an average of $2,120 per household in 2025 as consumers bear the costs of the tariffs and inflation.

Democrats are working around the clock to meet families where they are and address the issues that matter most to them. That’s why voters continue to put their support in Democrats, flipping 30 state legislative seats since Trump took office, while Republicans have flipped zero.

Volunteer with the Voter Protection Team

Looking to get involved this midterm season? Volunteer with the DNC Voter Protection Team to help ensure our elections are free and fair. Fill out the volunteer survey to find an opportunity near you and help be the reason our elections are protected.

Voter Protection Volunteer Survey

Stay Informed on the Latest Breaking News

Follow @FactPostNews on X, Threads, Facebook, BlueSky and Instagram to hear breaking rapid response updates from the DNC.

DNC Playbook Rolls Out

Last week, the DNC launched the Playbook, our guide for State Parties and coordinated campaigns on running campaigns that win in 2026 and beyond. The Playbook contains resources for every campaign department and any campaign staffer, case studies from innovations in 2025, and best practices to organize key constituencies.

No candidates, campaigns, or states are the same, but the Playbook provides best practices that can be adapted so that any race can be competitive. When we organize everywhere, we can win anywhere, and the Playbook is a tool that reflects exactly this.

From 2026, 2028, and beyond, we’re strengthening the party to build long-term infrastructure to support candidates and invest in our communities.

Read The Playbook

Share, Subscribe, and Support The Blue Print

Thank you so much for reading The Blue Print! If you enjoyed this week’s newsletter, let us know with a like, restack, and make sure to share it with your friends so we can keep bringing you weekly updates from the DNC’s Grassroots Team!

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Donate

Best,

Olivia

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

Virginia voters deserve to decide their representation — not politicians.

That’s why the people of Virginia are advocating for a temporary, emergency referendum to ensure fair and transparent congressional representation for 2026. This isn’t politics as usual — it is an emergency for our democracy. By putting this temporary safeguard in place, the referendum helps restore balance and ensure fair competition, giving voters transparency and the final say. Voting YES on this amendment is a necessary, temporary response to an unprecedented moment.

Ready to take action? Here’s what you can do:

Volunteer

Volunteers across the commonwealth are hitting the doors to make sure Virginians have what they need to vote YES by April 21. Sign up for a canvass shift near you! Whether it’s knocking doors, making calls, or recruiting others to join, your support will help move Virginia forward. Every single volunteer effort makes a difference.

Knock on Doors

Text Virginia Voters

Phone Bank with the Call Crew

Make a Plan to Vote

Early voting has begun for Virginia’s April 21 referendum. Voting YES levels the playing field, stops Trump’s power grab, and gives voters the final say. Make a plan to vote today at iwillvote.com, and make your voice heard by April 21.

Don’t live in Virginia? Take five minutes today to reach out to someone in your life who lives in Virginia, and help them make a plan to vote.

Find Voting Information

Spread the Word

Help level the playing field and stop Trump’s power grab! Spread the word on social media and remind Virginia to VOTE YES. A simple reminder from you can be the encouragement others need to make their voices heard.

Share on Social Media

Thanks for fighting with us! Together, we can make a difference.

In solidarity,

Jenny

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

The DNC is all gas and no brakes as spring arrives, bringing new energy for Democrats across the country. From massive wins to monumental program launches, the DNC is all hands on deck to take back Congress and win seats up and down the ballot in the midterms.

We often hear, “It’s only spring, we have months before the election!” But right now is when we have to do the work to win in November. The path to victory is clear, and the DNC is working around the clock to build the infrastructure needed to support our candidates and win.

We understand that many of our supporters are feeling overwhelmed with current events these days. In the chaos of the Trump administration, it is easy to lose hope, but this week’s edition of The Blue Print is packed with proof that real change is possible.

This week, we’ll be covering the latest victories, updates from Democratic candidates who recently won their respective primaries, and highlighting the amazing programs that will set us up for success in 2026, 2028, and beyond.

These wins would not be possible without grassroots supporters like you, and we’re thankful to have you in this fight with us. Thank you for standing with Democrats today and every day!

Chair Martin at No Kings Rally in St. Paul

This past Saturday, millions of anti-Trump Americans joined No Kings protests nationwide to take a stand against the Trump administration. These protests serve as a reminder that we don’t answer to kings, but to the American people and a democracy that works for everyone.

DNC Chair Ken Martin joined protesters in his home state of Minnesota to stand up for what is right and fight back against the Trump administration. Hear from Chair Martin about his experience at No Kings:

“We’re here because we know that when we organize, when we vote, and when we stand together, we win. Hundreds of thousands of people across the country are sending a message loud and clear: We will protect our democracy. We will stand up for our values, and we will never let anyone turn this country into something it was never meant to be. The power of the people is greater than the people in power. No kings, just people.”

Massive Wins Up and Down the Ballot

Democrats’ momentum isn’t slowing down! Throughout the past several weeks, we have seen massive wins in special elections and new nominees in the primaries.

Congratulations to Emily Gregory on flipping Florida House District 87, Trump’s home district, which he won by 11 points in 2024. Gregory is a business owner and military spouse who ran on addressing Florida families’ top concerns, from the skyrocketing cost of groceries to the health care crisis Donald Trump has unleashed across Florida. Gregory’s win proves that if Democrats can win in Mar-a-Lago’s backyard, we can win anywhere.

Congratulations to Juliana Stratton on winning the Illinois Democratic Primary for U.S. Senate. Lt. Gov. Stratton is a proven leader who is fighting to lower costs for hardworking Illinoisans and protect their health care. Throughout her campaign, she will fight to ensure every Illinoisan has a shot at the American Dream.

Democrats are united in our fight to protect working families. We are all in to support candidates across the country, and ensure we win big up and down the ballot.

An Update from State Representative Gina Hinojosa

Last month, Gina Hinojosa won the Democratic nomination for governor of Texas. She and her team have been working around the clock, meeting Texans where they are to address the issues that matter most. Here’s an exclusive update from State Rep. Hinojosa for The Blue Print:

“Thank you, Texas! I am honored to be the Democratic nominee for governor of this great state. Together, we’re going to take on corruption, and it’s going to be a new day in TX.

Greg Abbott has failed Texans for too long. He’s abandoned us in favor of his billionaire donors, and now we’re all paying the Greg Abbott Corruption Tax. But I’ve never been scared of Abbott, because my priority will always be fighting for hard-working Texans.

I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley watching every day how hard Texans work to make lives better for their families. It’s time we had a governor who works just as hard as you do for your family. We are focused on lowering costs, keeping neighborhood schools open, and standing up for working Texans in every corner of the state.

Something special is happening here, and the world is taking notice of the momentum growing across Texas. Texans are hungry for change — we’re all in, and we can do this.

If you’re in Texas, make sure you are registered to vote and find a volunteer opportunity so we can take back the Capitol in November together.”

Volunteer for Gina Hinojosa

National Supporter Call on Election Integrity + Voter Protection

Last week, the DNC Organizing and Mobilization teams hosted a virtual event covering the latest Democratic efforts to safeguard elections for 2026 and beyond.

Watch the taping to receive a direct update on the party’s ongoing commitment to strengthen election integrity, expand voter access, and ensure every vote is counted. You’ll also learn how to get directly involved.

Watch Now

Stay connected with us online! Follow us on social media @TheDemocrats on X, Threads, YouTube, Facebook, BlueSky, and Instagram for the latest from the DNC.

Trump Spiked Gas Prices

As Donald Trump continues to wage his unpopular war in Iran, American taxpayers are paying the price. The Pentagon is seeking over $200 billion to fund its war, a cost coming out of families’ pockets.

Americans are drowning under soaring prices as a result. Gas is up to an average of $4.06 nationwide, and for the second time ever, the average price of diesel has reached $5 per gallon. Trump and his administration continue to sell out everyday Americans to wage their war in Iran, even after promising to lower costs and put an end to wars.

Check out the DNC’s newest ad that holds Trump accountable for his reckless war that puts Americans’ pockets at risk.

Building the Pipeline of Democratic Leaders

Recruiting, training, and retaining talent is key to winning in 2026 and beyond. The DNC’s Training Team has been working hard to plan and execute their NextWave Bootcamps, a series of trainings designed to develop the arsenal of skills needed to take a staffer to the next level in their career and build a strong pipeline of talent in the community.

A few weeks ago, the Training Team held its Southern NextWave Bootcamp in Charlotte, North Carolina, for a 3-day intensive training. Over 100 attendees, trainers, and staff attended the bootcamp to learn about budget management, hiring and recruiting diverse staff, and organizing nationwide.

Are you a current or aspiring campaign staffer and want to attend a future bootcamp? Our next bootcamp will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, from May 7–9! Click the button below to learn more about the program, how to register, and when a bootcamp is coming to your area.

Learn More About NextWave

Become a DNC Local Listener (Lite Edition)

Join the DNC Organizing Team for Local Listeners Lite, a one-hour dynamic volunteer training where you will learn to be a Local Listener with the DNC. This training is designed for those who weren’t able to attend the Bootcamp, but still want to be a part of the team!

In this session, the organizing team will introduce how to:

👂 Listen deeply and engage people with empathy

🏘️ Have effective conversations with friends, family, neighbors, and online communities

🗺️ Navigate frustration, disillusionment, or confusion about politics

🤝 Become a part of a nationwide feedback loop to make sure we continue to hear from and understand what voters are feeling

Sign Up

When We Count Voter Registration Fellowship

Democrats are facing a national voter registration gap, and the DNC is taking direct action to close it.

The When We Count Fellowship is the DNC’s largest-ever voter registration program. Through a paid, part-time fellowship, young people will be trained to register new Democratic voters in their own communities and help close critical registration gaps in battleground states ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Apply To Be A Fellow

Share, Subscribe, and Support The Blue Print

Thank you so much for reading The Blue Print! If you enjoyed this week’s newsletter, let us know with a like, restack, and make sure to share it with your friends so we can keep bringing you weekly updates from the DNC’s Grassroots Team!

Subscribe now

Share

Donate

Best,

Olivia

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

This Playbook is more than just a set of suggestions. It represents a fundamental “Organizing Re-Model” that rewrites the structures and assumptions that define an organizer’s day-to-day work. We are prioritizing what actually matters: building genuine, long-term relationships with voters.

What’s Inside the Playbook?

The Playbook serves as a living document of innovations and best practices, providing resources for campaign staff in every department, from Data & Analytics to Voter Protection. Because no two candidates or states are the same, these materials are designed to be adapted to any race.

Key sections include:

1. The Organizing Re-Model: A deep dive into how organizing programs can modernize their tactics and how to have more effective conversations with voters.

2. Case Studies: Documented learnings and innovations from Democratic organizations and campaigns in 2025 and 2026, from the DNC’s Local Listeners program to the Virginia Coordinated Campaign’s Small Business Organizing Program.

3. 2025 Technology Pilot Findings: For the first time, we are publishing comprehensive results from our tests in 2025 of new tools like Winnable, OpenField, Matchbook, and OutOrganize.

4. Community Power Insights: Actionable recommendations from successful local community organizers who have effectively engaged voters Democrats lost ground with — with a focus on AANHPI, Black, Latino, Native, Workers, and Youth communities.

Key Takeaways: Evolving Beyond the “Numbers Game”

In the 2023-2024 cycle, we saw record-breaking outputs — 100 million doors knocked and 400 million texts sent yet contact rates declined. We need to expand our tactics and rethink how we engage with voters, especially early in the cycle.

The Playbook introduces three critical shifts:

1. Listen First, ID After: We are moving away from impersonal, script-heavy interactions. Our new conversation model focuses on “listening with curiosity” and connecting through shared experiences before asking for a vote.

2. Dismantle Department Siloes: To reach voters effectively, we must integrate Digital and Coalitions into our broader organizing strategy. The Playbook introduces a new organizational structure featuring “Coalition Regions” to better engage specific identity and language groups.

3. Invest in Our People: A 2024 Trestle Collaborative survey found that 60% of 2024 organizers rated their onboarding as “non-existent” to “average”. The Playbook provides new staffing designs and best practices for hiring and development to ensure our teams are prepared from day one.

A few reminders:

• No candidates, states, or campaigns are the same. The Playbook provides baseline principles, templates, and guides that can be adapted to organize on any race.

• Take from it what’s helpful. Throughout the Playbook we encourage states and campaigns to take ideas that are helpful, leave what doesn’t work, and challenge our ideas.

• The Playbook is a living document. As we test and pilot strategies, we will update the Playbook to highlight what’s working and where we can pivot.

Building Long-Term Power

We aren’t just looking at the next election; we are looking at the long-term strength of the Democratic brand. By embracing service-based organizing — as seen in our 2025 Virginia Case Study where civic education built a grassroots infrastructure of 150+ leaders — we are proving that political power is built by investing in communities, not just in turnout numbers.

Access the Playbook

The Playbook is now live. Together, we will evolve how we organize to win in 2026 and beyond.

Submit your innovative ideas, case studies, or organizing tactics for consideration in a future version of the DNC Organizing and Political Playbook. We are looking for actionable, impactful work happening on the ground.

Submit Ideas

Onward,

Lorenza Ramírez

National Organizing Director, Democratic National Committee

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

That’s why Democrats are making voter registration a top strategic priority nationwide and launching the first National Voter Registration Week of Action of the year, starting today through Friday, April 3!

Across the country, supporters will be mobilizing for the Week of Action by hosting voter registration drives and building power in their communities. That’s why we’re asking YOU to join our Voter Registration Week of Action. Whether it’s organizing an event in your neighborhood or making sure you’re registered to vote, there are plenty of ways to get involved.

Ready to take action?

Find a Voter Registration Drive Near You

From California to North Carolina, the Democrats are in full swing with voter registration drives popping up from coast to coast! Ready to make a difference? Join Democrats nationwide, including by looking out for voter registration drives at this weekend’s “No Kings” protest and participating in events throughout the week. Find out where a drive is happening near you and learn how you can get involved today!

Find a Registration Drive

Don’t have one near you? There’s still time to set up your own! Register a Voter Registration Drive here, and our team will be in touch with resources to support you.

Host a Drive

Make Sure You and Your Friends Are Registered To Vote

Take five minutes today to register to vote or make sure your registration is up to date. But don’t stop there! Reach out to at least three friends that you think should double-check their registration — for example, have they moved recently?

Have questions about voting? Call the voter assistance hotline, 833-336-8683, and our team can get you the help you need to cast your ballot and make sure it’s counted.

Check Your Voter Registation

Spread the Word

Your digital communities are a powerful tool for change. This National Voter Registration Week of Action, help us win more elections by spreading the word! A simple reminder from you can encourage others to register and make their voices heard. You have the power to help us register more voters, and every action makes a difference.

Share on Social Media

Thanks for fighting with us! Together, we can make a difference.

In solidarity,

Jenny

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

Today, we’re spotlighting the DNC’s Civic Engagement & Voter Protection (CEVP) Director, Herly Rosemond, a leader on the front lines of defending our democracy.

Herly and the CEVP team are building and protecting the infrastructure that ensures every eligible voter can cast a ballot and have it counted. From fighting unlawful barriers and intimidation tactics to strengthening voter education and election administration, CEVP’s work is essential to safeguarding free and fair elections.

Keep reading to learn more about Herly’s path to the DNC, the work she’s driving nationwide, and what the CEVP program is preparing for as we head toward the 2026 midterms.

Maya: Tell us about yourself, your background, and what led you to become the DNC’s Civic Engagement Voter Protection (CEVP) Director.

I am the daughter of Haitian immigrants who know firsthand the impact of poverty and lack of education. My parents know the realities of growing up in a country wherein the constitution memorialized the whims of the dictator, the self-appointed president for life. And when he changed his mind, the then-Haitian President would just pen a new constitution.

My parents never had the opportunity to vote in a democratic election in Haiti. Determined that history would not repeat itself in America, they registered to vote following their naturalization ceremony. Such was the paradigm my parents used to teach my American-born siblings and me about the fundamental right to vote and to instill in us a commitment to consistently exercise it.

I am fortunate that my parents made the connection between the United States Constitution, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the opportunities that eluded them in Haiti. This is my why. This is why I have spent the past 10 years in 18 different jurisdictions, often living in supporter housing, separated from my family, working on elections up and down the ballot, and curing ballots.

Collectively, these personal and professional experiences equipped me with the requisite skills to steward the national voter protection program, which safeguards voting rights and, by extension, defends the fundamental principles of democracy.

Maya: What are some of the CEVP program’s recent accomplishments?

Because this work is bigger than me and will outlive me, one week after the 2025 elections, CEVP partnered with the Training Department to host a voter protection bootcamp, where over the three-day training, we conducted more than 20 virtual training sessions led by voter protection experts, DNC staff, sister committee staffers, in-state voter protection staff, and elected officials for 459 participants to build a bench of people committed to ensuring that each eligible voter can cast a ballot and have it counted.

In response to concerns about ICE agents potentially showing up at Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) caucuses in February, particularly in smaller towns with significant immigrant populations, DFL caucus site personnel were trained to serve as constitutional observers. As an added layer of support, the DNC offered a hotline, staffed remotely by CEVP volunteer attorneys, not to provide legal advice but to support caucus personnel in fulfilling their duties as trained constitutional observers.

Earlier this month, when the Boca Raton mayoral race went into a recount, CEVP partnered with the Florida Democratic Party to support Andy Thomson’s ballot cure efforts, which aimed to fix minor errors in mail-in and absentee ballots. Because we were in lockstep with the state party throughout this process, the Party was able to cure five ballots, which is the same number of votes Andy Thomson won by. This win is a testament to CEVP’s guiding principle: “every vote counts.”

Maya: What does the DNC Voter Protection team focus on?

The DNC’s CEVP program helps build and maintain the systems Democrats need so that every eligible person can register, vote, and have their vote counted without unfair barriers, threats, or confusion. We focus on stopping the main ways voters are blocked, including trouble registering, removal from voter rolls, ballot rejections, poll problems, and threats.

Strengthening Voter Protection Capacity

CEVP strengthens year-round voter protection capacity across the states and territories, particularly those that are underresourced, by providing the training, staffing support, and strategic guidance necessary to build and maintain effective voter protection programs. We build the tools and processes necessary to defend and expand access to the ballot across the country, establishing a national rapid response infrastructure to support voter protection efforts during early voting, on Election Day, and throughout the post-election period, including cure, canvas, and ballot-counting operations. And we advance long-term voting access by supporting state legislative efforts and election administration reforms that reduce barriers to participation and strengthen access for eligible voters.

CEVP works with the state parties and coordinated campaigns to build key relationships with election administrators, which are essential for quickly triaging and resolving time-sensitive voting issues during early voting and on Election Day before they become barriers to voting.

This work includes regular check-ins with local election officials, documentation of local practices regarding registration, early voting, mail ballot processing, line management, accessibility, language access, and provisional ballots. Additionally, we provide early advocacy on polling place closures, relocations, ballot-cure processes, and voter-roll maintenance.

Voter Education

We also maintain a year-round voter education and assistance program that helps voters understand how to register, maintain or update their registration, cast a ballot successfully, and what to do if they encounter a problem. This work is especially important in jurisdictions where voting rules are changing, access remains uneven, or suppression efforts are increasing confusion.

Our voter education program produces clear, practical, multilingual content covering registration requirements and deadlines, vote-by-mail rules, polling place lookup, early vote dates and hours, ID requirements, voter rights, ballot cure procedures, and provisional ballot guidance. Materials are published in digital, print, and mobile-friendly formats and distributed through state partners, field programs, canvasses, and direct voter contact. We also maintain and update voter education information on IWillVote.com, a primary destination for voter education, registration guidance, polling place lookup, deadlines, and ballot access information across all jurisdictions. Our dedicated Translation Assistance Program provides voter information, registration guidance, educational materials, digital content, and literature for in-language canvassing and direct voter outreach.

Voter Assistance

CEVP operates a national voter assistance hotline year-round, with extended hours during elections. The hotline answers voters’ questions, helps resolve problems, tracks issues such as voting barriers, and quickly handles urgent calls. In 2024, the hotline supported more than 47,000 calls in seven languages and helped over 250,000 voters through webchat and text.

We also monitor new laws and policies year-round to identify threats to voting rights or ways to make voting easier. CEVP tracks state and local rules that affect voting. We regularly update state partners, coordinate responses to new threats or reforms, and work to block tough laws and push for changes that help voters. This includes supporting laws for early voting, voting by mail, fighting intimidation, and providing language help.

And if it’s Tuesday, that means there is an election somewhere. Our day begins before the polls open. Before shifting to post-election work, we continue to support our in-state partners until we receive confirmation that all voters who are standing in line when the polls close have cast their ballots.

Maya: We’ve been hearing from grassroots supporters that they doubt the midterm elections will take place. Can you lay out the threat Donald Trump poses, and what the DNC is doing to counter his attacks?

Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution, the Election Clause, gives states primary authority over the times, places, and manner of federal elections. This clause does not grant any power to any president to directly control or administer state-run elections. For 239 years, the Constitution has made it clear: elections are run by the states. Period.

DNC and its state partners recruit, train, and deploy thousands of poll observers during early voting and on Election Day. Poll observers serve as the eyes and ears of the voter protection program at priority sites, allowing leadership to detect problems in real time, deter misconduct through visible presence, and quickly transmit actionable information. Priority locations are determined by a mix of factors, including history of long lines, reported issue volume from prior cycles, accessibility concerns, language-access gaps, intimidation risk, likely challenge activity, heavy turnout, prior purge activity, and demographic vulnerability to suppression. From 2021 to 2024, our poll observation operation mobilized more than 120,000 voter protection volunteers, including over 65,000 trained poll observers, and recorded more than 465,000 confirmed hours of poll observation across over 63,000 polling locations.

To address the unique threat landscape of the 2026 cycle, CEVP is working across departments to develop comprehensive counter-programming to potential GOP voter intimidation and election subversion, including concerns related to ICE, DHS, or other federal agent presence at or near polling locations, through poll observer deployment, constitutional observers, escalation protocols, and coordinated legal and operational support. These programs move beyond standard voter protection to directly counter federal overreach and strengthen election integrity. We are also working in collaboration with our sister committees to protect the election. This initiative builds the foundation for state power to block illegal federal overreach and to support local election officials under pressure.

Maya: What actions can grassroots supporters take to fight back against Donald Trump and ensure that our elections remain free and fair?

Our democracy runs on one vital highway: the right to vote. But Republicans are closing lanes, forcing detours, adding tolls, stressing the system, and breaking the guardrails — especially in minority communities. To preserve and protect democracy, we must invest in voter protection infrastructure to keep the electoral highway running smoothly and effectively. CEVP’s staffing plan for 2026 through 2028 is designed to achieve this outcome by proactively responding to the assault on voting rights and ensuring a fair election process.

Between June 2025, when I started in this role, and January 2026, I was the only full-time staffer. With the help of supervolunteers and interns, the DNC showed up to protect over 50 elections in 2025 and execute on all the programming efforts I previously described. Protecting democracy requires financial investment. Help the DNC continue to safeguard fair and free elections by donating.

Donate

My hope, my prayer, is that you will join my colleagues and me in this fight to protect democracy. Be the reason the midterm elections are fair. Volunteer for voter protection programs across the country. Available volunteer roles include voter assistance hotline operators, poll observers, constitutional observers, count-and-canvass observers, and more!

Volunteer for voter protection programs across the country (voter assistance hotline operators, poll observers, constitutional observers, count-and-canvass observers, and more).

Volunteer

Share, Subscribe, and Support The Blue Print

Thank you so much for reading The Blue Print! If you enjoyed this week’s newsletter, let us know with a like, restack, and make sure to share it with your friends so we can keep bringing you weekly updates from the DNC’s Grassroots Team!

Subscribe now

Share

Donate

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

In honor of their legacy, each of us has a responsibility to continue the work to demand equality, justice, and freedom for all women. As Democrats, we will never back down from this fight.

We will continue our fight to end the gender wage gap; expand the child tax credit; support women-led small businesses and entrepreneurs; restore access to reproductive care, including abortion rights; strengthen the Violence Against Women Act; and so much more. We will directly oppose Republicans who seek to turn back the clock for women and put lives and economic opportunity at risk. And we will always strive to deliver a better future where the fundamental rights and freedoms for women and girls are secured and expanded for generations to come.

Join us this Women’s History Month by getting involved! Ready to take action?

Join Women Forward for a Conversation with DNC Chair Martin

Mark your calendars! Join Women Forward on Monday, March 23, at 5 p.m. EDT for a special discussion with DNC Chair Ken Martin. Chair Martin will outline his strategy and vision for organizing, providing an update on the foundational progress the Democratic Party is making for sustained long-term success — emphasizing the essential and powerful role women will play in flipping the House and Senate, and winning elections at every level across the country.

RSVP

Take Part in Our Voter Registration Week of Action

While the last year has proved that momentum is on our side, between 2020 and 2024, Democrats lost ground in voter registration nationwide, including a net loss of more than 2.1 million registered Democrats. At the same time, Republicans have outpaced Democrats with voter registrations — a reversal from just a few cycles ago.

Democrats are not ignoring this reality. We are taking responsibility for fixing it.

Join the Democrats for a National Registration Week of Action starting Friday, March 27, through Friday, April 3! Whether it’s organizing an event in your neighborhood or making sure you’re registered to vote, there are plenty of ways to get involved. Now, more than ever, it’s important to take action and make your voice heard.

Learn More

Make Listening-First Calls to Voters

Making “listening-first” calls means engaging directly with women, families, and communities about the issues they care about the most. Through our Local Listeners phone banks, we’re committed to deeply understanding how voters across the country are truly feeling. These conversations are vital, and your outreach is the key to making a real impact!

We’ll start each phone bank with a clear overview of who we’re reaching out to, followed by a simple, step-by-step training on our calling platform for all new volunteers. Then, it’s time to dive into the calls and make those critical connections with voters. You can join us on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Sign Up for a Phone Bank

BONUS: Spread the Word

Social media is a great way to engage in conversations and connect with your network. This Women’s History Month, Democrats are working around the clock to uplift trailblazing women, keep voters educated and informed on current issues, and bring attention to the harmful decisions from the Trump administration that impact women and families. Use our social media toolkit to connect with people in your circles and spread the word!

Share on Social Media

Thanks for fighting with us! Together, we can make a difference.

In solidarity,

Jenny

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

My name is Daniel Salazar, and I am a part of the email team at the DNC. My job is to help write and send grassroots supporter emails to millions of Democrats in every corner of the country daily.

So much of the DNC’s work is funded by grassroots contributions, which empower us to make long-term investments in community organizing initiatives, state party infrastructure, and ensure Democrats across the country have the resources to work towards winning the midterms in November. This is the kind of work that grassroots donations fund.

A little bit about me: I grew up in Murphy, Texas, where I learned there are many people in politics who are all hat and no cattle. However, I know our grassroots supporters are not just donors — they’re organizers, volunteers, neighbors, and working people who are standing up and joining the fight to secure a better future for everyone.

I’m here on The Blue Print because our team closely monitors the feedback we receive via our emails and our website. Today, I want to take a minute to answer some of the most common questions we’re getting:

In what ways are Democrats thinking outside the box to win elections?

We are focused on doing everything we can to win elections at all levels. We just launched Local Listeners, a new national voter contact and volunteer training program to engage infrequent voters — voters who voted in 2020, but not 2024 — in key battleground districts early in the cycle using a listening-first approach. The program offers a unique opportunity to meet with organizers and dedicated messengers to learn beyond just relational building. Ranging from first-time volunteers to seasoned organizers, there is something for everyone to learn.

Local Listeners is a massive voter contact operation built on a simple but powerful idea: If we want to keep earning back the trust and support of voters, we have to listen to them. If this mission resonates with you, please join us!

What are you doing to protect voting rights?

We’re continuing to litigate our challenge to President Trump’s executive order attempting to set new rules for voting. We’ve now won orders permanently blocking three major parts of his executive order. President Trump and his allies also continue to attack voting by mail, and our legal team recently filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court to defend the rights of Americans who rely on mail-in voting to make their voices heard.

We’ve intervened in the RNC’s first major lawsuit of the cycle to defend voters against aggressive registration purges. We also filed briefs in 18 states fighting back against unlawful demands for state voter rolls, which have helped defeat the Trump administration in three states, with more to come. We even sent letters to 11 states cooperating with President Trump’s attempts to get unredacted voter files to warn them against violating federal protections that keep American citizens on the rolls. Most recently, the DNC sued the Trump administration over its failure to respond to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests on any plans to deploy federal agents or troops to polling places, drop boxes, and election offices in upcoming elections.

When the Trump administration threatens people and tries to violate Americans’ voting rights, our response is simple: We’re not afraid of you, and we’ll see you in court.

Why are you engaging with content creators to reach more younger voters online?

The way Americans receive their news has changed, which means the way we distribute information needs to change as well. Many legacy media outlets have been slow to the expansion of a robust social media platform, but here at the DNC, we are investing in these spaces online to meet voters where they are.

Part of how we do this is through running a one-of-a-kind, strategic influencer program to connect content creators with elected officials. Through sustained collaboration, we are supporting creators as they discuss policy and create content around our shared beliefs. Currently, we have 415 creators in our flagship daily messaging platform, where we provide the latest news and content to push out to their diverse followings.

Closing Thoughts

Thank you so much for reading. I understand that political fundraising emails can feel overwhelming — you’re hearing from many organizations, and it’s a lot.

I read the news and feel the intense emotions that come with caring about the numerous injustices that we witness each day across our country. However, I am inspired by the millions of people who are standing up for their neighbors and community in the face of this Trump administration. With this in mind, I am passionate about ensuring that local organizers and leaders who understand what’s at stake have the resources necessary to fight back and create a better future for all of us.

Our team is committed to being intentional when we communicate with you. We focus on sharing meaningful updates about our work and explaining how your contributions empower our people-backed movement across the country. Our fundraising team consists of dedicated individuals who are passionate about building a movement powered by the people, not billionaires.

If you’ve stuck with me all the way to the end of this newsletter — thank you! I truly believe that someday we’ll all look back at this moment and know we played a role in creating something revolutionary.

​In solidarity,

Daniel Salazar

DNC Fundraising Team

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**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

In Texas’ primary elections, Democratic enthusiasm reached heights not seen in decades as voters turned out in droves to support Democrats. For the first time in over 20 years, Democrats outperformed Republicans during early voting and trampled their voter turnout on Election Day. In stark contrast, Texas Republicans are now stuck battling each other in costly runoff elections.

Meanwhile, a Blue Wave swept across North Carolina as voters surged to the polls to vote for strong Democratic candidates. After a massive turnout in the primary, Democratic early voting turnout was nearly 50% higher than Republican turnout, underscoring just how much voters have soured on Donald Trump and his Republican allies.

Democrats also pulled off a major upset in Arkansas. Democrat Alex Holladay clinched victory in the House District 70 election by nearly 15 points, flipping a seat Democrats have not held in decades. Democrats have flipped 28 state legislative seats since Trump took office — while Republicans remain at zero.

And in Florida, while Republicans are self-destructing after shocking racist messages surfaced in yet another Republican group chat, the Boca Raton mayoral race is headed for a recount after Mike Liebelson and Andy Thomson, a Democratic lawyer, finished just six votes apart.

The bottom line: In red, blue, and purple districts alike, Democrats are overperforming and winning back-to-back as we build Democratic power across all levels of government to ensure everyday Americans have strong leaders fighting for them.

Ready to join the fight? Here’s what you can do:

Become a Volunteer to Win in 2026

Ready to take the next step? If you’ve attended any of our events, we invite you to become a Base Builder and help the DNC Organizing team support our communities and win elections this year! Base Builders are vital volunteer leaders who will support our training programs, welcome new volunteers, and help recruit more people into this essential work.

Join our upcoming Zoom session on Thursday, March 19, at 8 p.m. ET, where we will introduce this role, cover training materials, resources, and outline the next steps!

RSVP to Become a Base Builder

Join Our Digital Organizing Team

Do you enjoy posting online or creating content? Are you looking to take action in this upcoming election? Join the DNC’s Digital Organizing Team! Our Kickoff will equip you with everything you need to become a powerhouse digital organizer, including mastering the best strategies to mobilize your online network, crafting compelling content, developing strategic messaging that moves people, and more!

This training is the first step toward transforming your online presence into a powerful engine for change. Join us on Wednesday, March 18, at 8 p.m. ET on Zoom and become a digital organizer!

RSVP to Become a Digital Volunteer

Spread the Good News

In the face of Trump and Republicans’ disastrous policies, Democrats are standing up with Americans and making waves across the country. Join us in spreading the word as we celebrate the wins along the way!

Share on Social Media

Thanks for fighting with us! Together, we can make a difference.

In solidarity,

Jenny

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

Election season has officially kicked off, and we are excited to celebrate big Democratic wins across the country. The road to November starts now, and the DNC is working around the clock to support candidates nationwide in preparation to take back Congress in the midterms.

The stakes could not be higher, but the momentum is on our side. That’s why, since 2025, we’ve flipped 28 state legislative seats from red to blue, while Republicans have flipped zero. As Donald Trump wreaks havoc on our economy and funds a war that nobody wants, Democrats are meeting people where they are to address the issues that matter most.

Every Democratic win strengthens our power to fight for the issues that matter most to Americans. Voters are sick and tired of Trump putting billionaires first, and they have spoken up. Democrats have now won 254 out of 284 key elections (that’s nearly 90 percent!) since Trump took office, proving that we’re on the offense.

This momentum would not be possible without grassroots supporters like you. Every win is fueled by volunteers, donations, and votes from Democrats nationwide. Thank you for being in this fight with us!

Subscribe now

The First Democratic Nominees of the Midterms Are In!

The first primary elections of 2026 were held last Tuesday, and we now officially have the first Democratic nominees for the midterm elections.

In North Carolina, Roy Cooper secured the Democratic nomination for the Senate. Cooper is a proven leader, previously serving as the governor of North Carolina for two terms, where he created thousands of jobs, expanded Medicaid, and boosted public education. Now, he is running a campaign focused on lowering costs, protecting health care, and standing up for working North Carolinians.

Volunteer for Roy Cooper

In Texas, James Talarico won the Democratic nomination for Senate. As an eighth-generation Texan, Talarico is fighting to put Texas families first. He spoke directly to families about the issues that matter most to them, like the rising costs of utilities and the health care crisis unleashed by Donald Trump.

Volunteer with Team Talarico

Also in Texas, Gina Hinojosa secured a victory in the gubernatorial primary. Hinojosa is a champion for Texans who have been left behind by Governor Greg Abbott’s 11 years in power. She has fought relentlessly to protect public schools, workers, and voting rights across the Lone Star State, and she will continue this fight throughout her campaign.

Volunteer for Gina Hinojosa

Congratulations to all Democratic nominees!

Congratulations to Alex Holladay!

Last week, Arkansas Democrat Alex Holladay secured a massive victory in the Arkansas House District 70 election, flipping a Republican seat blue. This victory is yet another sign that Democrats have all the momentum heading into November. Since 2025, Democrats have flipped 28 legislative seats from red to blue, while Republicans have flipped zero.

Voters are putting their faith into Democratic leaders like Representative-elect Holladay because they are sick and tired of MAGA Republicans’ billionaire-first agenda that is raising costs on working families. In Arkansas, over 110,000 people are set to lose health care because of Donald Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, and rural hospitals are on the brink of closure.

Leaders like Holladay are determined to bring down costs for Arkansans and protect their health care. During his campaign, he focused on real solutions to the problems pressing Arkansans most, and voters put their trust in him to lead. This is yet another sign that no Republican seat is safe, and this historic Democratic momentum will continue throughout the midterms.

Congratulations, Representative-elect Holladay!

Make Sure You Are Registered to Vote

Elections are happening all across the country, and it is more important now than ever to make your voice heard at the polls. Check your registration today, and make sure you know your rights before you vote.

Check Your Voter Registration

Know Your Rights

Conoce Tus Derechos

Trump’s “Affordability Czar” Is Nowhere to be Found

Last year, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the Trump administration would appoint an “affordability czar” who would hone in on lowering costs. A year later? Trump’s “affordability czar” is nowhere to be found.

While Americans continuously express concern over the economy and the cost of living, Trump continues to prioritize his billionaire buddies and funding a needless war of choice, leaving Americans to pay the price. Electricity bills are skyrocketing, unemployment is ticking up, and Donald Trump still has no concrete plan to make America more affordable.

Time and time again, Trump breaks his promises to the American people, and this is just another example of his betrayal of hardworking families. American households are forced to contend with higher grocery prices, unaffordable rent, and skyrocketing health care prices because of Trump’s failed economic policies.

Voters have had enough of Trump’s lies and betrayals. Democrats are fighting each and every day to make America more affordable for everyday citizens, and that’s why we will win big this November.

Stay Connected With The DNC Online

Stay connected with the latest content from the DNC! Follow @TheDemocrats on X, Threads, YouTube, Facebook, BlueSky, and Instagram for the newest stories and updates from the DNC.

Why You’re Working More and Making Less

After failing to lower costs for families, the Trump administration is building an Exhaustion Economy that forces Americans to work multiple jobs just to survive.

In this video, DNC Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta breaks down the reality of underemployment, surging costs, and how mass federal firings are disproportionately hitting Black communities. From stripping food assistance from veterans to rewarding billionaires with tax cuts, Kenyatta exposes the gaslighting behind recent jobs reports and explains why the system is designed to keep you exhausted.

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Best,

Olivia

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated withThe Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

Over the last seven weeks, volunteers have had the opportunity to learn how to have meaningful, grounded conversations in their communities through our Local Listeners Program. The first of its kind, the national program proved to be an incredible success — equipping supporters nationwide with the skills and tools needed to understand voters’ feelings and attitudes in every state across the country.

Throughout each week, Local Listeners learned the importance of deep listening and empathetic engagement, how to effectively handle challenging political discussions involving frustration or confusion, and how to successfully tailor the framing of Democratic initiatives to local communities. Paired with in-session and post-session activities to refine these skills, participants were able to build on each week’s learnings and develop sustainable organizing practices.

For Local Listeners, the program offered a unique opportunity to meet with other organizers and dedicated messengers and learn beyond just relational building. Ranging from first-time volunteers to seasoned organizers, there was something for everyone to learn.

“I’m actually getting more confident in my ability to talk politics with others [I’m more] composed than insecure.” - Local Listener, Week 3

“I appreciate that the DNC is offering these trainings. I needed to do something, and this is a great start.” - Local Listener, Week 4

And we’re not stopping there. Ready to take the next step? Here’s what you can do:

Bring Local Listeners to Your Community!

With the bootcamp wrapped up, we’re taking the next step and giving supporters the opportunity to bring Local Listeners to their community. Supporters can attend a training session or use our resource hub, where they can access prepared presentations, best practices, facilitation guides, and more! This is a unique opportunity to bring the training to communities and bring more people into this work.

Become a Local Listeners Trainer

Make Listening-First Calls to Voters

Beyond our core program, we’re continuing our crucial national phone banking effort with a “listeners-first” philosophy. This means engaging directly with voters about the issues they care about most. Our goal isn’t to persuade — it’s to deeply understand how voters across the country are truly feeling. These conversations are vital, and your outreach is the key to making a real impact!

We’ll start each phone bank with a clear overview of who we’re reaching out to, followed by a simple, step-by-step training on our calling platform for all new volunteers. Then, it’s time to dive into the calls and make those critical connections with voters. You can join us on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Sign Up for a Phone Bank

Have Listening-First Conversations

It’s crucial to connect with people on a deeply personal level. That means initiating those tough but necessary talks with family, friends, and neighbors about the future we’re building. This week, challenge yourself: take just five minutes to reach out and truly listen. What are the issues hitting them hardest right now? Is the rising cost of groceries, rent, or health care a daily struggle? Do they feel secure in their community?

Your feedback is important and we want to hear it! Our team shares every submission directly with DNC leadership and partner organizations, making your local insights a core driver in shaping our strategy for the 2026 midterms.

Report Back to Us on These Conversations

Thanks for listening with us! Change is made through the conversations we have. Together, we can make a difference.

In solidarity,

Eva and Maanasi

Regional Distributed Organizers

**DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information or links to opportunities and other events that may have already passed. Please continue to stay updated with The Blue Print’s most recent posts for the most up-to-date information.**

Colmon Elridge serves as the chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party. Since taking office in 2020, Chair Elridge has worked diligently to invest in the people of Kentucky and ensure that the Party meets the needs of all Kentuckians, from those living in the largest cities to those in rural communities.

Chair Elridge’s leadership has revitalized the Party, bringing a strong wave of Democratic leadership to the state. Selected to lead the Party by Governor Andy Beshear, Elridge’s tenure led to strong Democratic momentum across the commonwealth, with more and more state and local seats flipping blue. As we approach the 2026 midterm elections, the Kentucky Democratic Party is working tirelessly to sustain this momentum and flip more seats in November.

Please continue reading to hear about Chair Elridge’s accomplishments as chair, and what’s ahead for Kentucky in the 2026 midterms.

Maya S: Tell us about yourself, your background, and what led you to become chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party.

Chair Elridge: My childhood experiences with poverty and homelessness shaped my desire to pursue public service. I was 14 when I began to see both politics and public service as the best ways for me to carry my family’s experiences forward. I was fortunate to grow up in a small town in Kentucky, where my desire to get involved in politics was never discouraged. The more I pursued it, the more support and acknowledgement I received for the issues I cared most about.

I began my career as the Chief of Staff and Government Relations Director for the 14 Community Mental Health Centers in Kentucky. From there, I worked as a UniServe Director and the Government Relations Director for the Kentucky Education Association. I was fortunate to serve as a Senior Advisor to Governor Steve Beshear for eight years, working on a range of issues with the Governor and First Lady.

I was incredibly honored when Governor Andy Beshear asked me to serve as Chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party. That decision made history, as I became the first Black chair of a major political Party in Kentucky. I am proud to stand on the shoulders of so many others, and to extend that platform so others know there is a place for them in the leadership of our Party.

I’m really proud of what we did to get Governor Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman reelected. We’ve also been winning special elections, including one in 2025 where we came out ahead by nearly 50 points, which marked the election of the first labor leader to our State Legislature ever!

We’ve taken a stand against extreme GOP constitutional amendments and made sure public education funding and women’s health care stay protected. I’m also excited that we’re including more voices in our Party, bringing in young Democrats, college Democrats, high school Democrats, and labor folks to our State Central Executive Committee, with our Kentucky Hispanic Caucus joining the Executive Committee next.

We have been focused on rebuilding our local Party presence across all 120 counties. We’ve held training sessions and listening tours that really show our commitment to growing the Party from the ground up. It’s great to see people feeling more confident about being Democrats and running for office in their communities. I’m proud that our Party has been a part of this revival of Southern State Democrats. I’m proud of our fantastic team led by Executive Director Morgan Eaves. They know how important it is to show everyone that we’re ready to fight for our state.

Chair Elridge with Governor Andy Beshear and Kentucky Democratic Party Executive Director Morgan Eaves.

Maya S: Kentucky has many rural communities across the state. Can you share how you are reaching these voters and keeping them engaged in the lead up to the midterms?

Chair Elridge: Democrats don’t win reelection by staying in Kentucky’s big cities; we need to meet rural Kentuckians where they are. That’s exactly what Kentucky’s Democratic county parties have done for our February month of action, ramping up volunteer recruitment across the state through phone banking and texting. This month, those volunteers will hold registration drives to make sure Kentuckians are ready to vote in May’s primary and reject Republican cruelty at the polls in November.

Out of all states on track to lose hospitals because of Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, no state has more at risk than Kentucky. Extreme cuts to Medicaid threaten to shut down 35 rural facilities and take 20,000 good-paying health care jobs from places that can’t afford to lose them. At the same time, tariffs and trade wars are throttling farmers and small business owners outside of big cities. Getting our message to them will be key to turning Kentucky from red to blue.

Maya S: You previously served as the executive vice president of the Young Democrats of America. How are you taking your past experience to engage young voters in Kentucky?

Chair Elridge: This was transformative in how I view politics and the role of young people in our policymaking. It shaped my fundamental belief that young people should have a seat at decision-making tables, and I have carried that into action, ensuring that our young Democrats, college Democrats, and high school Democrats have seats on our State Central Executive Committee. It also means ensuring that we are creating a meaningful and sustainable space for young people to lead parties, run for office, and have access to work in politics and government here in Kentucky.

Winning back the youth vote is extremely important to me. Young people are constantly telling us the issues they are concerned about and how they want to be a part of the solution. Much like any other constituency of our Party, I believe it is important to listen and work collaboratively to engage people where they are.

By investing in our youth constituency groups and caucuses, we are giving the Party a place in their world and taking their guidance into consideration as we move forward. I think it is also important not to view young voters as a monolithic group. For instance, when I was in YDA, I was already married and a father of two. Creating a space where a young high school student and a young parent or professional can both exist as young Democrats and feel embraced where they are in their lives is important to creating new Democrats.

​​Chair Elridge addresses voters in Paintsville, Kentucky during the KDP’s Rural Listening Tour.

Maya S: As Democrats continue to grow in a unique state like Kentucky, what is the Kentucky Democratic Party doing to keep the momentum going?

Chair Elridge: The political climate in Kentucky is not unlike that of America. Since the reelection of Donald Trump, we have seen the GOP here mirror the same vile rhetoric and push the same harmful policies as folks have across the nation. We have seen a Republican Party more interested in putting itself ahead of the needs of the American people.

We are fortunate in Kentucky to have a Democratic Governor who very early on decided that we would not play in that gutter. Instead, Democrats at every level have been focused on bridging the divides, listening to Kentuckians, and delivering real results. Governor Beshear’s reelection shows the faith of the people of Kentucky to raise the bar in politics and in governing.

Democratic leaders in Kentucky are elected because our politics are driven by values that shape every community in Kentucky, and are not dependent on who is in the White House or who is popular at any given moment. That focus on what is right for Kentucky and leading with our values builds momentum and trust between voters and our candidates.

Maya S: What are your biggest priorities leading up to the 2026 midterms?

Chair Elridge: Kentucky Democrats are focused on turning Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District blue and flipping as many state legislative seats as possible. We’re already gaining momentum; in December, Senator Gary Clemons overperformed in his special election, beating his Republican opponent by nearly 50 points.

From now until November, Kentucky Democrats will engage in an aggressive field campaign using volunteers and county parties across the state to knock on doors, shake hands and share our affordability-focused vision. Digital campaigning will extend our reach to even more voters, across every medium possible, holding the Republican Party accountable for taking from working people to help billionaires get richer.

Chair Elridge with DNC Chair Ken Martin at the KDP’s sold-out Forward Together Dinner in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Maya S: Why are DNC investments so critical in Kentucky, and why should grassroots supporters be invested in this funding?

Chair Elridge: One of the most critical funding investments in Kentucky was during our 2023 Governor’s race. I believed Andy Beshear and Jacqueline Coleman would be reelected, and we all knew that the Trump-endorsed GOP nominee was extreme and just not a good candidate. But investments in rural states do not always happen, no matter how good the odds and the candidates are. The DNC’s investment went a long way toward ensuring that we had the kind of ground infrastructure we needed to not only win, but to win big and send a statement that the hurtful politics of Republicans could be defeated.

As we look towards the midterms, we know how critical it is to ensure we take back the House and the Senate in Washington, but just as important is that we have the resources necessary at the state and local levels to take back state legislatures, school boards, county and city seats, and more. Yes, this is about showing the continued momentum of the Democratic Party, but it is also about shaping the future of our nation, our states, and local communities. The midterms will decide if we build in a spirit of unity and commitment to all Americans, or if the MAGA mentality reframes our motto from “We the People” to “me, myself, and I.”

Maya S: What would you say your biggest accomplishment as chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party has been?

Chair Elridge: I am most proud of building a more inclusive Party where, whether you are rural, urban, or suburban, you know you belong in the Kentucky Democratic Party. I am proud that we continue to show that the South is not lost for Democrats. When we meet people where they are, listen, and then turn that feedback into something that makes people’s lives better, we are elevating politics into something more than just partisan warfare.

I am proud of our staff and volunteers who wake up every day thinking about how we not only engage in politics, but also save our democracy and truly create a more perfect union. These things are not high-minded; they are essential to the country moving forward for future generations.

As the son and grandson of people who were born in our country without the right to civically participate as full citizens, I am proud to be part of something born from their fight and their belief in the promise of America. I am proud that under my tenure, we have seen more diverse leadership and engagement in our Party at every level, including the leadership of our House and Senate Democratic Caucuses.

Learn more about the Kentucky Democratic Party and Get Involved

To learn more about the work of the Kentucky Democratic Party, including upcoming events, candidate information, and opportunities to get involved, visit the Party’s official website at Kentucky Democrats.

You can also follow the Kentucky Democratic Party on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter), for updates on organizing efforts, legislative priorities, and statewide initiatives throughout the 2026 cycle.

We plan to feature more state Party chairs and Party leaders in 2026. Let us know in the comments who you’d like to hear from in the coming months!

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Best,

Maya

Trump himself said that this operation is “massive and ongoing” and he expects there may be American casualties.

I am praying for the safety of our men and women in uniform, of Americans and their families in the region, and of innocent civilians.

Trump sold voters on a “pro-peace” vision of himself as an America First candidate, yet in under 13 months, he has ordered strikes on seven foreign nations and plunged our country into more open-ended conflict using taxpayer dollars.

While he’s distracted by foreign conflicts and shiny ballrooms, Trump has failed to deliver on his promise to bring costs down for working families, who are paying more every day because of Trump’s actions.

If we can’t trust Donald Trump to live up to his most basic promises here on the home front, how can we possibly trust his judgment to put our brave servicemembers in harm’s way?

Make no mistake: the Iranian regime has sanctioned terrorism, and undermined democracy and the human rights of its people. But our nation deserves better than a government that shoots first and asks questions later.

Americans do not look fondly on presidents that force us into deadly, expensive, endless conflicts. Democrats in Congress are demanding answers on behalf of the American people, who have made clear they do not support Trump’s war.

Ken

Ken Martin
Chair
Democratic National Committee