Our 2008 Programs
Our goal is to elect progressive populist Democrats who will be leaders inside the Democratic Party on Capitol Hill, State Houses, counties, and cities across the country and who will fight for America’s working families. Our strategy is built on our signature grassroots field organizing programs and our work to develop candidates and train young campaign staff.
2008 POLITICAL PROGRAMS
CANDIDATE SUPPORT
We will endorse between 60 and 75 candidates in 2008. Each candidate receives a combination of political support; field organizer(s); online organizer; and/or financial support.
TURNING OUT THE DEMOCRATIC VOTE WITH GRASSROOTS FIELD CAMPAIGNS
The bulk of our resources will be spent hiring and training field organizers during the next cycle. Organizers will be assigned to identify, persuade and turnout voters in the campaigns of candidates we endorse and in party turnout programs. Our organizers write effective field plans, implement canvass and phone contact programs and recruit volunteers. 21st Century Democrats field programs increase turnout for endorsed candidates and for Democrats running up and down the ticket.
CAMPAIGN SKILLS TRAINING
We build the Democratic Farm Team throughout the country by providing state-of-the-art training for progressive staff who want to win elections. We held a very successful training in Washington, D.C. in June and we will hold several more trainings around the country
COMBINING THE POWER OF THE NETROOTS WITH OUR SIGNATURE FIELD ORGANIZING PROGRAM
We are working to combine the power of the netroots with the power of traditional field organizing. Both the netroots and 21st Century Democrats want to build a more progressive country. Our field organizing program will be even more successful by using online organizing to engage the netroots to take action to elect progressives who will be leaders in the Democratic Party.
BUILDING FIELD INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT CANDIDATES
We will establish a field infrastructure in Michigan and Ohio by launching state field offices to find, support and elect progressive leaders and train activists in those states. Later in 2008, we will expand to additional states critical in national elections. Possible states include Florida, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, and Oregon.
SHIFTING THE BALANCE OF POWER - STATE LEGISLATURES
We are committed to shifting the balance of power at the state level – where we have learned our grassroots strategy can have the greatest impact. Redistricting is a few short years away and it is critically important to protect majorities or flip control of state House chambers to build a Democratic majority in Congress. Our targets for 2008 and 2010 are Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.
CANDIDATE SUPPORT
We will endorse between 60 and 75 candidates in 2008. Each candidate receives a combination of political support; field organizer(s); online organizer; and/or financial support.
TURNING OUT THE DEMOCRATIC VOTE WITH GRASSROOTS FIELD CAMPAIGNS
The bulk of our resources will be spent hiring and training field organizers during the next cycle. Organizers will be assigned to identify, persuade and turnout voters in the campaigns of candidates we endorse and in party turnout programs. Our organizers write effective field plans, implement canvass and phone contact programs and recruit volunteers. 21st Century Democrats field programs increase turnout for endorsed candidates and for Democrats running up and down the ticket.
CAMPAIGN SKILLS TRAINING
We build the Democratic Farm Team throughout the country by providing state-of-the-art training for progressive staff who want to win elections. We held a very successful training in Washington, D.C. in June and we will hold several more trainings around the country
COMBINING THE POWER OF THE NETROOTS WITH OUR SIGNATURE FIELD ORGANIZING PROGRAM
We are working to combine the power of the netroots with the power of traditional field organizing. Both the netroots and 21st Century Democrats want to build a more progressive country. Our field organizing program will be even more successful by using online organizing to engage the netroots to take action to elect progressives who will be leaders in the Democratic Party.
BUILDING FIELD INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT CANDIDATES
We will establish a field infrastructure in Michigan and Ohio by launching state field offices to find, support and elect progressive leaders and train activists in those states. Later in 2008, we will expand to additional states critical in national elections. Possible states include Florida, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, and Oregon.
SHIFTING THE BALANCE OF POWER - STATE LEGISLATURES
We are committed to shifting the balance of power at the state level – where we have learned our grassroots strategy can have the greatest impact. Redistricting is a few short years away and it is critically important to protect majorities or flip control of state House chambers to build a Democratic majority in Congress. Our targets for 2008 and 2010 are Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.