While Republicans remain focused on policies that prioritize billionaires and big corporations, while raising costs for Americans, Democrats are standing alongside those who served to ensure their sacrifices are honored with action, not just words. This commitment to our veterans is reflected in the work of leaders like Senator Mark Kelly (AZ) and Tammy Duckworth (IL) and in our efforts to elevate the lived experiences of those who continue to fight for our ideals, such as Vietnam War veteran William Mitchell Ellerby.

To understand the stakes of this moment, we look to the individuals leading this charge on the ground. Peter, a Marine Corps veteran, is one such voice whose journey from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to organizing in Minnesota exemplifies this enduring ethos of responsibility. Read on for his story.

Q: Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to serve?

I am a Marine Corps veteran and a Twin Cities native, born and raised here in Minnesota. I served four years in aviation supply and logistics out of Miramar, California, and after my service, I went on to get my degree in supply chain management. I recently moved back home to the great state of Minnesota, where I now work in supply chain.

When I was young, I saw the Marine Corps as a great challenge, the path less taken, and honestly, that is why I joined. But the Marine Corps gave me something I did not expect. It gave me a completely different perspective on things than I had before. You serve alongside people from every background and every corner of this country, you carry real responsibility at a young age, and you see what people are capable of when they put the mission and each other first. You come out seeing the world and this country differently than when you went in.

And that perspective led me to the values and virtues I hold today. Liberty, democracy, equality, and the rights of every American stopped being words and became things I had seen people live out and sacrifice for. It was really after my service that those ideals became more evident to me, and they have only grown clearer as I continue to grow myself. Above all, serving in the Marine Corps gave me a strong ethos.

Q: How do you view the role and responsibility of military veterans in protecting American democratic institutions once their time in military service has ended?

When you join the military, you swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. You do not swear it to a President, or to a party, or to a flag. You swear it to the Constitution. Not to an identity or an ego, but to an idea. And I do not believe that oath expires when the uniform comes off, and the beard comes in.

I want to be clear that when I talk about defending democratic institutions, this goes beyond politics. Due process, equal protection, free and fair elections, a government answerable to its people. These are not partisan positions. They are the fundamental things American democracy is built on, ideals that trace back through the Enlightenment and into the American Revolution itself.

I want to be on the side of that fight that uplifted these ideas. And I believe that standing up for our democratic institutions when they are challenged is the patriotic thing to do. Patriotism is not a bumper sticker. Demanding that this country live up to its own founding ideals is not an attack on it. It is the highest thing you can do for it.

For veterans, I see this as a duty. Not because we hold some special status, but because it is a duty to your nation within the shared ideals of American democracy. We already answered that call once. The responsibility to those ideals did not end when our service did. That is why I am building a coalition here in Minnesota. Just as we once served this country in uniform, we have a responsibility to stand up and engage now. This is what serving looks like for me today.

Q: For veterans who sacrificed to uphold the U.S. Constitution, how does the Supreme Court’s approach to voting access impact you and your peers on a personal level?

Two years ago, I wrote a commentary about the Supreme Court allowing Arizona to require proof of citizenship for voter registration. I said then that the Court was siding with the powerful over the people, and that the operatives seeking to suppress the vote for political advantage were making a mockery of the Constitution I swore an oath to defend.

I wish I could say I was wrong.

This April, the Court decided Louisiana v. Callais. In a six-to-three ruling, it functionally gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the provision that allowed voters to actually challenge discriminatory maps and voting rules, to the point that Justice Kagan wrote in her dissent that it is now “all but a dead letter.” Within days of that decision, states were calling special sessions to redraw their maps before the midterms. That is not a prediction about what might happen someday. It already happened.

On a personal level, I joined the Marines to fight for this country, its democracy, and its people. You are willing to give your life for that. So you come home, and you watch the legal protections for the most fundamental right in our democracy get stripped away, and there is no enemy to point at. There is just a decision. It is hard to serve your country when your country does not serve you.

And this goes far beyond veterans. It lands hardest on the communities that already face the most barriers at the ballot box, the same communities that fought the longest for fair representation in the first place. Every voice deserves an equal opportunity to be heard. That is not a partisan idea. That is the thing we served for.

Q: In what ways is the current political climate concerning for veterans and active military members?

There are a few things that really concern me, and I believe they are all connected to that same fight I have been talking about.

The first is what is being done to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA lost 40,000 employees in a single year, 88 percent of them in healthcare, which is the first net workforce loss in its history. Around 75 percent of new medical care funding is being routed to private providers while funding for the VA’s own direct care drops. And this is not abstract for us here in Minnesota. In Minneapolis, we have a five-star VA facility serving over 107,500 veterans, one of the best-performing VA facilities in the entire country, and it has already been hit. To me, this goes against something fundamental about who we are as a country. The promise made to the people who serve is one of the oldest promises America makes, and a country that stands by its ideals stands by the people who defended them. That promise is not a benefit to be trimmed. It is a debt.

The second is what happened here in my own state. This past winter, Minnesota went through Metro Surge, a large-scale federal enforcement operation in the Twin Cities. A federal judge here found that ICE violated at least 96 court orders in this state in under a month, and another federal judge said the overwhelming majority of cases brought before him involved people who were here lawfully. Our own Attorney General sued the Department of Homeland Security, and more than a dozen federal prosecutors resigned rather than go along with it. I did not need to form an opinion on any of that, because federal judges put it on the record. But what I saw on the ground was people in my community terrified, and many of them not even knowing what their rights were. Due process and equal protection are not political positions. They are the fundamental ideals this country was built on, and when the rules stop applying to the government itself, that is exactly what we swore to stand against.

And the third is the open threat of armed federal agents at polling places. Deploying troops or armed men where an election is held has been illegal in this country since 1865, and yet this administration has repeatedly declined to rule it out. I believe the threat itself is the point. Nobody has to actually show up if the possibility alone keeps people home. And there it is again, the powerful over the people, aimed directly at the ballot box. The consent of the governed only means something if the governed can vote without fear.

All of this should concern every veteran and every service member, no matter where they land politically, because none of it is about politics. It is about whether this country holds to its own founding ideals. Our oath names domestic threats specifically, and using fear to keep Americans from voting is exactly the kind of thing that language was written for. And I will say this too. No service member should ever be put in a position where following their orders and keeping their oath point in two different directions.

Q: What keeps you hopeful?

My fellow Americans.

This past winter, during Metro Surge, people in my community were targeted based on their physical appearance, based on who they are. I have friends who were pulled over because of how they looked and questioned about their immigration status. That is not an abstract concept to me. It happened to people I know, here in Minnesota.

But what I watched that winter was hate met with love, reason, and compassion. My fellow Americans did not wait for permission, and they did not wait for somebody to come lead them. They held public Know Your Rights trainings, everyday people in community rooms, teaching each other what the Constitution of the United States actually says, because that was the thing in front of us that we could do. I saw people stand up not only for the values of this country but for humanity itself, standing up for virtue in a time of fear and hate. It was a winter I will never forget.

In the dark of that winter, I saw light. And that is not new in America. There was light in the winter at Valley Forge, when a ragged army froze and starved and held on to an idea anyway. There was light in the lanterns that guided people north to freedom. There was light in the church basements of Montgomery and on the bridge at Selma, where ordinary people met hatred with discipline and love and changed this country forever. Our darkest moments have always been where Americans find out who we really are, and the light has always come from ordinary people who refused to stay home.

I have never felt so American as I did this winter, fighting for my neighbors through peaceful means, and watching the ordinary people I have known almost my whole life step up and meet the moment in greatness.

That is also why I am building this coalition here in Minnesota, because I have seen what those same ordinary people can do when they come together, and I want to give that somewhere to go.

I sign everything I write with two words. Amor Fati. It is an old Stoic idea that means love of fate. You do not get to choose the moment you live in, you only get to choose what you do with it. I did not choose this moment for our country, and I will not pretend it is not a hard one. But there is work right in front of us, and there are good people to do it with.

Amor Fati.

Your Voice is Essential

Peter’s story is just one of many veterans who are committed to serving their country by the ballot box. By sharing your story, you help shape the national narrative and drive policies that protect the benefits and healthcare services our service members have earned. Join the DNC Storytellers Network today to ensure the voices of those who served lead the way toward a future that honors their sacrifice and supports their well-being.

Share Your Story

Make a Plan to Vote

Just how veterans serve our country and look out for their teammates, we now have a duty to ensure our communities are ready to be heard. Take five minutes today to verify your registration, then reach out to five fellow veterans, family members, or neighbors to make sure they are ready to vote as well. Our democracy relies on us to stay engaged and ensure every voice has the chance to be counted.

Check Your Voter Registration

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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.**

For three decades, Democrats have been steadfast in building a nation where every American can thrive. Today, that commitment is more critical than ever, as the Trump Administration and Republicans threaten the very programs — Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security — that Americans with disabilities rely on every day.

This Disability Pride Month, we celebrate the ADA’s legacy while acknowledging that our work is far from over. People like Leslie fuel our fight for a nation that truly embraces, uplifts, and invests in every American. Read on for her story.

Q: Tell us about your background and what led you to your current involvement.

In my almost 30 years, I’ve learned that disabled people like me are too often treated as talking points and photo ops rather than leaders, decision-makers, and candidates. I’ve spent my life challenging that.

A few years ago, I spent three months mostly in bed. Luckily for me, I had Medicaid, so I could focus on getting better instead of on how I’d pay for it. Without it, I don’t know what I would have done, yet that same coverage that made my recovery possible had been designed, debated, and voted on almost entirely by people who had never needed it. That’s the pattern I see everywhere: the policies that shape disabled people’s lives get written in rooms we’re rarely invited into.

Like so many disabled people, I’m constantly told what I am and what I need, but rarely asked. So I set out to change who’s in the room. Today, I’m Chair of the Young Democrats of America Disability Caucus, campaign manager for disabled congressional candidate Dr. Mariah Lancaster, and Youth President of the International Network of Liberal Women. I’m working to change our community from a talking point to the people leading the change and making the decisions. Nothing about us without us.

Q: What is commonly misunderstood about disability rights or accessibility? Does this change for invisible disabilities?

The biggest misconception? We passed the ADA, put in a few ramps, and accessibility got solved.

Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. It isn’t as simple as installing a ramp for things to be accessible. Accessibility is a practice. Needs can differ, sometimes conflict, and can change over time. Real accessibility isn’t about guessing what people need and building it once; it’s about asking and working with our community to improve and change. A space isn’t accessible because it meets a code written decades ago; it’s accessible because the people in it can actually be there, fully, without having to fight to be there.

Accessibility gets even more complicated with invisible disabilities. When you can’t see someone’s disability, access also becomes about belief. People with non-apparent disabilities are made to prove they’re disabled enough to deserve an accommodation and not just that they are ‘gaming the system.’ This is even more true for disabled people who are also marginalized by race or gender, whose needs get second-guessed the most.

Accessibility helps everyone, so why do we keep fighting it? During the pandemic, remote work kept the economy afloat, the exact flexibility disabled people had been requesting for decades, long before Zoom, and were told was impossible. That’s the curb cut effect: access built for disabled people ends up serving everyone. Disability is the one group any of us can join at any moment, no warning and no choosing. Accessibility isn’t a favor you do for someone else; it’s something you may have to fight for yourself in the future.

Q: What barriers do voters with disabilities face, and how can voting become truly accessible?

When you go to the polls, you park, get out of the car, walk in, look at your ballot, fill it out, and hand it back. Simple, unless any one of those steps is something you can’t do. What if there’s no accessible parking? No ramp? What about a voter who is blind or who can’t grip a pen and can’t mark a paper ballot alone? They may have to rely on someone else to help cast their vote, giving up the privacy every other voter takes for granted. Accessible machines are required by law, but they’re routinely broken, unplugged, or run by staff who were never trained on them. “Accessible in theory” isn’t accessible.

On top of that, some of us don’t get a ballot at all. In many states, being placed under guardianship or conservatorship can strip your right to vote, sometimes automatically or at a single judge’s discretion. Things like Photo ID laws can hinder a disabled person’s ability to vote. When you can’t drive, getting an ID becomes its own obstacle course, so “just show your ID” isn’t as simple.

So how do we fix it? We need to train poll workers and make sure the accessible machines actually work, with someone knowing how to run them. We need to expand mail-in voting, early voting, and accessible ballot return. We need to audit polling places and make accessibility front of mind when picking locations, not just as an afterthought. We need to push back against things that disenfranchise voters, like voter ID laws.

When disabled people make up 20-25% of the population, our votes can be a powerful voting bloc. We just need the system to invest in us so we can show up.

Q: Beyond policy, what cultural shifts and daily actions make someone a better ally?

I have a few simple things you can do:

• Disability isn’t a dirty word, so stop reaching for weird euphemisms to avoid it. “Differently abled,” “special needs,” “handicapable,” those exist to manage other people’s discomfort, not to serve us. Disabled is the word that carries our rights, our history, and our power. Every time someone uses a euphemism to ‘soften’ it, they are chipping away at our rights.

• There’s no such thing as disabled enough. Allergies, anxiety, a substance use disorder, and mobility issues are all disabilities. Disability is vast, and it doesn’t come with a threshold you have to clear before you’re allowed to claim it. Don’t be afraid to identify as disabled. We are one disability community, and we can be a powerful movement when we all work together.

• Talk to us, not the companion, interpreter, or aide beside us. Look us in the eyes and allow us to make our own decisions; don’t assume we can’t.

• Pay us for our labor. Our expertise and our emotional labor aren’t free.

These are really easy ways to make a huge difference for the disability community in the party and beyond. Thank you for your time and happy Disability Pride Month!

Your Voice is Essential

Your lived experience is vital to this movement. By sharing your story, you help shape the national narrative and drive policies that center disability justice and accessibility. Join the DNC Storytellers Network today to ensure our community’s experiences lead the way toward a more equitable future.

Share Your Story

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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.**

No president can change this fact.

While Republicans continue to stoke fear and treat our immigrant neighbors like political props, Democrats remain steadfast in their defense of immigrant communities. We know that our nation’s prosperity, culture, and future are tied directly to the generations of immigrants who power our country. We’re fighting for humane, common-sense policies that protect families and keep America a symbol of hope.

But policy isn’t just theory — it’s lived experience. To understand why this fight is so urgent, I want to share a conversation I had with someone who knows this struggle firsthand. Santiago’s story is a powerful reminder that the American story is still being written, and it’s up to us to make sure everyone has a seat at the table. Here’s what he had to say.

Q: Tell us about your background and what led you to your current involvement.

I moved from Mexico City to the United States in 2017 when I was 15. I didn’t know much about American politics, but I saw the first Trump administration commit reprehensible acts against communities like mine. After discussing it with my classmates, I realized many didn’t know what to do about it.

A few years later, after building a sizable social media following, I decided to try to use it to show young people what they could achieve. I chose to start an organization led entirely by young people because Gen Zers understand how to engage their peers best. That effort became Voters of Tomorrow, which is now the largest Gen Z-led voter registration and civic engagement organization in the country.

The work started because I saw a gap between how much young people cared and how disconnected they were from the actual machinery of democracy. That gap hasn’t fully closed, but we’re making good progress to show young people that they truly can shape the future of American politics.

Q: What does Immigrant Heritage Month mean to you personally? How does that tie in to your experience voting for the first time as a U.S. citizen?

Immigrant Heritage Month is personal in a way that’s hard to articulate clearly. I built eight years of work around the idea that everyone deserves a voice in the democracy they live in. For most of that time, I advocated for a system I wasn’t fully part of. That’s a specific kind of complicated — and I say that without resentment, because the work was always real regardless. But the tension was real, too.

When I became a citizen a few weeks ago, I genuinely didn’t expect the feeling it brought. I’ve stood outside polling locations helping voters navigate the process. I’ve helped register hundreds of thousands of young people. I know exactly how the machinery works. And yet, none of that prepared me for the actual feeling of registering myself.

What Immigrant Heritage Month means to me is that the American story isn’t finished being written. Immigrants built this country and keep building it — and in a democracy, that building happens at the ballot box. I spent years believing that before I could participate in it. Now I can. That’s not a small thing.

Q: How do you see community involvement and a willingness to engage impacting your work?

Everything we build at Voters of Tomorrow starts with community relationships. You can’t show up two weeks before an election and expect people to trust you with something as consequential as their civic participation. The organizations that actually move voters are the ones that have been part of the community for years — not because they needed something from it, but because they were integral to it.

For young people, especially, getting them to vote isn’t transactional. The people who succeed aren’t those who know the most about policy, or who are most committed to electing a certain candidate — they’re the ones who focus on building a community of like-minded Gen Zers, who have fun, enjoy each other’s company, and then turn the conversation towards politics.

Gen Z can tell immediately when an organization is parachuting in versus when it’s genuinely invested in them. If we want them to be part of democracy, voting cannot be a transaction. It must be a cultural moment that their community participates in.

My background as an immigrant is part of this, too. I know what it feels like to be in a place where your voice doesn’t formally count. I now know how to make an impact regardless.

We want to hear from you!

The story of Santiago is only one of many across our country, and your perspective is vital to this movement. Authentic voices are the bedrock of our democracy — when you share your lived experience, you help shape the national narrative and the policies that affect us all. Join the DNC Storytellers Network today to ensure your voice is heard and your story becomes part of our collective impact.

Share Your Story

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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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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 weekend, we’re launching our “Stuff Costs Too Much” Weekend of Action — a nationwide mobilization dedicated to confronting the reality that everyday essentials are becoming increasingly unaffordable for working people.

But let’s make one thing clear: Trump promised to bring down costs on “Day One,” yet a year and a half later, everything is more expensive, and Americans are working harder and harder just to make ends meet. Between his war with Iran, which has caused gas prices to spike, and his cuts to healthcare and food assistance that have made life harder for working families, Trump and Republicans are directly responsible for stuff costing too much.

This reality hits working families, like Branisha Jones’s, especially hard as soaring healthcare and childcare costs make navigating daily life a struggle. Learn more about her story below.

Q: Branisha, you’ve shared how the compounding costs of childcare and medical emergencies have made it challenging for your family. Can you tell me more about your experience and the ways this has impacted you and your family?

Childcare costs are the new birth control.

Walking into the realm of 2-under-2 when needing childcare was a fever dream. Suddenly, I’m wondering if the career that I love is worth spending almost two-thirds of what I make to put my kids in daycare. Would it be better to stay home and get an evening job? Groceries are high, taxes for our mortgage climb, and birth control is, well, unreliable and costly in my case.

In 2023, I was excited to learn that I would be having my first child. It was a dream come true. My husband and I both worked full-time, and the costs of child-rearing were not yet apparent. It set in quickly when my daughter did not latch well, and the plan to exclusively breastfeed and pump went out the window. At about $40 a can for a can of formula that would last us two weeks, then soon just one week, and, as you can imagine, only days as she grew, an unspoken fear grew about our finances and food prices.

In the middle of this revelation, we were met with another issue: I was pregnant... again, five months postpartum due to the progesterone-only birth control pill not being a forgiving method of birth control. Needing to be taken at the same time each day for a new mother still tracking how many dirty diapers the baby had, it felt impossible.

My husband and I strapped in and held our breath, wondering how we would be able to afford food [and] a doubling of childcare bills for two children. It’s a complicated web that seems to want to devour us.

For a while after the birth of our second daughter, our family of four qualified for the WIC program, but after increasing work hours to keep up with daycare costs, we once again phased out of that help. But a new problem had arisen.

Desperate to add a guardrail to our family planning, I had an IUD (Intrauterine device) placed. It seemed to be the safest and most effective way to ensure our family wouldn’t grow any bigger until we were ready. For a year and a half, I suffered in silence with terrible cramps and irregular cycles that got increasingly longer. Then, finally, after waiting nine months to establish care with an OBGYN, I was able to voice my concerns. One ultrasound later, it was confirmed that the IUD was embedded in my uterus. My doctor said she could remove it and replace it, but I knew I wouldn’t be getting another one put in. When I finally made the decision to get it removed after months of two-week periods, I was told that the cost of an ultrasound-guided removal would be $592.

On top of that, there’s the $1,400 crown that my insurance says I “didn’t need,” having to pay an extra $600 out of pocket after already paying $800 for the procedure. It’s times like these when I wonder if I will eventually drown under the cost of living.

Q: Branisha, you’ve described feeling strapped with your finances between the rising costs of fundamental necessities — like childcare and unexpected medical care — and the limitations of saving money when those expenses are unavoidable. What do you want policymakers to understand about the structural barriers that force families to choose between their long-term health, their stability, and their basic survival?

I felt trapped. I didn’t have the money to address this healthcare issue. It was the cost of a month’s worth of groceries for my family. Should I have to suffer for trying to be responsible and failing? Surely an embedded IUD was a medical issue that I owed it to myself to fix, but I felt bad.

Adding on to the pain of dental dread, my husband has avoided the dentist for years, saying, “they just want my money.” I finally convinced him to go to the dentist. He has two teeth that need to be pulled, and the dentist recommended he get a bridge. All of this will cost about $2,500 out of pocket. I want to argue with my husband that preventative maintenance would have saved him money, but it’s too late for that. He hasn’t scheduled dental care, and he frequently says it just costs too much.

Our financial advisor friend, an older, kind gentleman, says to cut back where we can, don’t eat out, find cheaper cell service, cancel the Netflix subscription, give up the gym membership, and walk outside, use the snowball method for your debt, but that doesn’t help when a gallon of milk cost almost $6 and the kids drink two gallons a week. With daycare costing us a quarter of our income, food costs becoming a maze to navigate to stay within budget, and inevitable medical events, I often do not know where to turn for relief.

So, we continue to agree that things just cost too much.

Learn More About Our Stuff Cost Too Much Weekend of Action and Get Involved

Across the country, Democrats are mobilizing for our “Stuff Costs Too Much” Weekend of Action. Will you join the fight? Here’s how you can get involved:

Join us on Monday, June 29, at 7 PM ET for a National Community Call on Black Workers on Stuff Costs Too Much. Across the country, Black workers and working-class families are bearing the heaviest burden of the cost-of-living crisis. From skyrocketing rent to higher grocery prices, your hard-earned dollars are being stretched to the breaking point. This isn’t just about “affordability” — it is a fight for economic justice.

RSVP

Join us for a phone bank on Saturday, June 27, starting at 1 PM ET, to call voters in states most affected by rising costs under the Trump administration. We’ll kick off the phone bank with an overview of who we’re calling and a step-by-step training for our new callers. After that, you’ll have dedicated time to make calls and connect with voters.

Sign Up to Make Calls

Working families are being crushed by skyrocketing prices. This Weekend of Action is our moment to expose the Trump administration’s failed economy and demand change. Use our Stuff Costs Too Much Graphics Toolkit, featuring ready-to-share graphics, to mobilize your network.

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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.**

Today is Juneteenth, a day of celebration, remembrance, and resolve. On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the last enslaved Black Americans in the state were free. Juneteenth is a powerful reminder of the resilience, strength, and centuries of injustice faced by Black Americans.

More than 60 years after President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law, we are now seeing an aggressive reversal as Republicans move to dismantle representation for communities of color. Following the Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais decision, Republicans are redrawing maps to break up minority communities. This undermines districts represented by Democrats, giving Republicans opportunities to take seats.

As we honor this day, we’re committed to continuing the fight for civil rights and dismantling the systems in our country that promote racial discrimination. This Juneteenth, we’re using every tool at our disposal to uphold fair elections and the right to vote.

Here’s how you can take action this weekend:

Take Action In Your Community

From learning how to have meaningful conversations with those in your life to canvassing for candidates who will fight to protect our minority communities, there are endless events in your area to get involved in. Find a volunteer opportunity near you this weekend to take action and help defend the right to vote.

Find An Event Near You

Check Your Voter Registration

As Republicans continue their power grab nationwide, it is more important now than ever to make your voice heard at the ballot box. Take a few minutes to make sure your registration is up to date, and reach out to your community to encourage them to check their registration. The key to fighting back is showing up to the polls this year and letting Republicans know we won’t tolerate their reckless scheme.

Check Your Voter Registration

Make sure you know your rights at the polls. Download our guide and share it with your community to be prepared on Election Day.

Know Your Rights

Volunteer With The Voter Protection Team

The DNC’s Voter Protection team is doing critical, on-the-ground work to ensure our elections remain free and fair this November and beyond. Interested in working with us? Fill out the interest form to get involved today.

Volunteer Interest Forn

Share, Subscribe, and Support Ground Game

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Best,

Herly

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

This summer, it is critical that we are all hands on deck to organize everywhere so we can win big in the midterms. Donald Trump’s disastrous agenda is affecting communities nationwide, and we need to work together to take a stand against his administration.

When we organize everywhere, we can win anywhere. Democrats have proven that time and time again, and we’re ready to prove it this November. This week on Ground Game, we’ll share three actions you can take this summer to organize in your communities and help lead Democrats to victory in the midterms. Thank you for taking action!

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1. Volunteer for Your Local Candidates and State Parties

Whether it’s contacting voters to remind them of upcoming primaries or door-knocking for your local Democratic candidates, volunteering is key to winning big this year. State parties are the backbone of Democratic power — and they need our help to win now and build for the future. Click below to find opportunities to take action in your area. Can’t make an in-person event? Check out virtual opportunities to get involved!

Take Action Today

2. Make Sure You and Your Friends are Registered to Vote

In order to take back Congress this year, we need to show up at the polls. Take five minutes to check your voter registration and make sure it’s up to date. Want to further the impact? Reach out to your friends, family, and community to make sure their registrations are up to date. We’ll see you at the polls!

Check Your Voter Registration

Be sure to check out our When We Count fellowship, the first-of-its-kind paid, part-time youth fellowship that trains supporters to organize and register new Democratic voters on the ground. Learn more information and apply today.

When We Count Fellowship

3. Host or Attend a Voter Registration Drive

Another great volunteer opportunity is hosting or participating in a voter registration drive. Voter registration drives are one of the most powerful tools we have to grow the electorate and build long-term Democratic power. By connecting with our community and neighbors about the importance of voting, we build a stronger democracy. Get some friends together and host a drive this summer!

Host A Voter Registration Drive

Find A Voter Registration Drive

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Volunteer

Donate

Best,

Olivia

DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information for, 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 year, the Training Team launched the DNC NextWave Regional Bootcamp, a new, free, and innovative training program that strengthens the pipeline for the next generation of campaign and party staff and prepares them to win races up and down the ballot in 2026 and beyond. Building strong staff is critical to winning elections, and we’re making sure that campaigns of all sizes have the tools they need to win.

The Bootcamps are three-day in-person training programs that provide participants with specialized training tailored to their experience level and connect them with fellow Democratic professionals. Throughout these programs, participants network with other attendees and trainers, and apply what they have learned through a competitive challenge at the end of the Bootcamp.

Participants in the Bootcamp work in one of two tracks based on their experience and career goals. The Campaigns 101 program is designed for folks newer to campaign work who are looking to strengthen their skills and gain exposure to new aspects of campaign and state party work. The Management Track is designed for mid-level and senior professionals to expand their leadership skills in the Democratic ecosystem.

Last month, the Training Team held their Western Regional Bootcamp in Phoenix, Arizona. Around 80 attendees, trainers, and staff attended to develop their skills for the upcoming election cycle. The team held 25 sessions hosted by 19 unique trainers over three days of training.

Do you or does someone you know work in the Democratic ecosystem? The DNC NextWave Regional Bootcamp for the Eastern Region will be held in person in Pittsburgh, PA, from Wednesday, June 24, through Friday, June 26. Current and aspiring campaign and state party staff from the Eastern region will have the opportunity to learn about cutting-edge campaign strategies, apply what they learn in the program, and network with other talented campaign staff.

Learn More and Apply to the DNC NextWave Eastern Regional Bootcamp Here. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and early applications are encouraged. The application will be open until Sunday, June 14, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Apply Now

Live outside of the East but want to participate in a future NextWave Bootcamp? Sign up for the DNC Training Department Newsletter here to hear when the next bootcamps are announced.

Sign Up For The Newsletter

Can’t make the Bootcamp but want to support? Check out our toolkit to share with your network on social media.

Share With Your Network

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Thank you so much for reading Ground Game! 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 organizing updates!

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Volunteer

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Best,

Olivia

DISCLAIMER: This article may contain outdated information for, 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 Aryan Deorah. I am the son of hardworking Indian American immigrants, and I have the honor of spearheading the DNC’s outreach to AANHPI communities across the country. I want to take a moment to share my family’s story with you and the amazing work the DNC is doing to support our community.

I remember as a child asking my parents the same question that millions of other AANHPI children ask their parents: Why did you choose to come to America and leave behind your home, your family, and the world you knew?

Their response was short and simple: “For you.”

My parents came to the United States with a baby in my mother’s arms, an H-1B visa in my father’s pocket, and not much else. While my dad worked long hours to provide for the family, my mom took night classes at the local community college, seeking the empowerment of a public education. Through good and bad times, they were driven by a relentless belief in the American Dream — that if they worked hard enough, their children could access previously unimaginable opportunities.

Because of their struggles, I had the privilege of receiving a quality public education, growing up with a strong sense of community, and pursuing my dreams. Throughout our country’s history, generations of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders just like my parents have contributed their skills, values, and talents to make our nation great.

That’s why I am proud to say the DNC has made historic investments in the AANHPI community. As we honor the legacy of AANHPI trailblazers who came before, Democrats will continue to stand up for critical programs that care for the elderly, educate our children, ensure our safety, provide affordable healthcare and housing, and benefit small business owners and working families alike. Democrats have:

• Conducted Know Your Rights trainings where we have educated hundreds of members of the community on their voting rights and provided them with tools to handle interactions with immigration enforcement.

• Supported races across the country. From the Wisconsin State Supreme Court to the Virginia redistricting referendum, we organized phonebanks and canvass launches to center the AANHPI community in our outreach.

• Most recently, we hosted our second annual AAPI Strategic Summit, where we convened elected officials, community leaders, and youth organizers from across the country to generate ideas that will shape the future of AANHPI politics.

But there is still so much work to be done, and we need your help.

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

Share Your Story

Every generation of AANHPI individuals — from the small business owner to the healthcare worker to the local organizer — holds a unique story that has shaped our nation’s history. These personal narratives are the threads woven into the fabric of our democracy. Do you have a story to tell? We want to hear from you!

Become a Storyteller

Make Listening-First Calls

Making “listening-first” calls means engaging directly with 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

Make Sure You and Your Friends Are Registered To Vote

Did you know that people in the AANHPI community are less likely than the average American to be registered to vote? As we celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month, one of the most powerful ways to honor the community’s legacy is by ensuring every voice is heard. Take five minutes today to register to vote or make sure your registration is up to date. Voters can find educational materials and information to help them. We encourage you to reach out to the people in your life and make sure they are registered to vote at their current address.

Check Your Voter Registration

Make sure you know your rights. Download our helpful one-pager and share with your community.

Know Your Rights at the Polls

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

In solidarity,

Aryan Deorah

**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.**

While our brave service members are putting their lives on the line, Trump and Republicans’ devastating cuts have decimated VA programs that veterans depend on to secure a place to live, receive lifesaving health services, and run small businesses. To make matters worse, because of Trump and Republicans’ refusal to extend the ACA premium tax credits, an estimated 267,000 non-senior veterans will lose their healthcare coverage.

Trump has a long record of disparaging service members and veterans, from calling fallen soldiers “suckers” and “losers” to downplaying traumatic brain injuries suffered by service members in Iran as “not very serious.”

And Trump’s war of choice in Iran that he launched over two months ago has left 14 service members dead, wounded hundreds more, and sent costs skyrocketing at home.

On this Memorial Day, we honor the ultimate sacrifice made by our fallen heroes by ensuring we never abandon those who have served and their families. Democrats are actively fighting to uphold that commitment — demanding the reinstatement of fired veterans and VA employees, and safeguarding benefits from Trump’s reckless funding cuts. Our dedication to supporting service members, veterans, and their families stands in stark contrast to Trump’s actions, which disparage their service and dismantle the essential programs they rely on upon returning home.

Ready to take action? Here’s how you can honor service with action:

Hear Directly From Our Veterans

Earlier this month, the Video Team released their latest mini-documentary, “U.S. Veteran: Trump’s Iran War is a disaster,” which highlights how the Trump administration has abandoned U.S. veterans. The documentary features U.S. veteran William Mitchell Ellerby, who speaks out against Trump’s war in Iran and cautions against repeating the mistakes America made in Vietnam.

But his story is only one of many. If you are a service member, we want to hear from you. Be part of our Storyteller Network and share your story.

Share Your Story

Spread the Word

We need more people to understand what’s really happening to our veterans in this country — and how Democrats are stepping up to fight back. Share content on social media and in your networks to lift up the truth about Trump’s attacks on veterans and what Democrats are doing to protect them.

Share on Social Media

Join Our Spring Volunteer Briefing

We invite you to join the DNC Organizing Team on Wednesday, May 27, at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT to learn how your commitment to action helps drive real change. By protecting voting rights and engaging in vital community conversations, we ensure that the democracy our service members fought for remains strong. Your involvement is how we turn remembrance into a lasting investment in our nation’s future heading into the midterms and beyond.

RSVP

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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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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.**

We are now seeing an aggressive scramble as Republicans move to dismantle representation for Black, Latino, and AANHPI communities. Despite public opposition to redistricting, Republicans are forging ahead. From South Carolina to Alabama and beyond, these new maps break up minority communities to undermine districts represented by Democrats. Instead of letting voters choose their representatives, Republicans are hand-picking their voters.

In states like Tennessee, eliminating the only majority-Black congressional district wasn’t enough. Republicans removed every Democrat—and every Black member—in the Tennessee State House from their committee assignments for fighting back against partisan gerrymandering. This move will leave nearly 2 million people without representation in Tennessee’s legislative and budgetary processes.

But let’s make one thing clear: this fight is not over.

Democrats will use every tool at our disposal — the courts, Congress, and public opinion — to fight back on behalf of all Americans who believe in and seek to uphold fair elections, democratic representation, and the sacred right to vote.

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

Join Our Spring Volunteer Briefing

Join the DNC Organizing Team on Wednesday, May 27, at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT to learn what we’ve accomplished this year so far and how you can continue to get involved with the Democrats! From working to protect voting rights to having listening-first conversations with voters across the country, we’re invested in strengthening our base heading into the midterms and beyond.

RSVP

Make Sure You and Your Friends Are Registered To Vote

While Republicans’ brazen power grab scheme continues, it’s more important than ever to make your voice heard at the ballot box. Take five minutes today to register to vote or make sure your registration is up to date. Voters can find education and information to help them. Reach out to the people in your life and make sure they are registered to vote at their current address.

Check Voter Registration

Make sure you know your rights. Download our helpful one-pager and share with your community.

English

Spanish

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.**

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.

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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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

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.**

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

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,

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.**

• 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.**

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.**

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.**

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.**

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.**