How Democrats can tap into people power in outreach and organizing
"The only way to break through the noise is to take the time to speak with all of the folks we can." Guest column from Emily Tseffos, chair of Democratic Party of Outagamie County.
The Recombobulation Area is a thirteen-time Milwaukee Press Club award-winning weekly opinion column and online publication founded by longtime Milwaukee journalist Dan Shafer. The Recombobulation Area is now part of Civic Media.
In the world of political organizing and outreach in Wisconsin, there is untapped potential — if only the powers that be would capitalize on it.
I’m Emily, a mom, recent candidate in an “unwinnable” red district in northeastern Wisconsin, former paid statewide organizer, and current Democratic county party chair. Last month we saw some devastating losses — excluding the state legislative wins we saw due to new maps! — and as I’ve taken some time to process the results, I have notes on the structure that exists across the state.
I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. I’ve identified and voiced the gaps in outreach and support. And understanding the structure of the machine means it’s pretty hard to break through to the highest levels. And so, I’m putting it out there to see if we’re on to something.
And if we are? Let’s build it. We don’t have time to waste.
Across the state, we knock tens of thousands of doors each campaign cycle. Our ground game is unmatched in that regard. But the thing is, doors in these lists are mostly in more populated areas and are predetermined by people far above the level of volunteers and chairs like myself, and when it comes to adjusting, we don’t have a say.
That means county parties with “sufficient” volunteers like ours go to the same doors over and over (and over) again if they fall in the right geographic area. And if they don’t? Sorry!
From a strategic standpoint, this is problematic for building support outside of our usual strongholds and catastrophic for those running in districts not seen as viable based on previous electoral results.
To put it plainly, this approach results in a repetitive cycle of engaging with the same individuals while large portions of the state remain untouched. I’ve been to hundreds of very rural doors, talking with people who have never been spoken to by a canvasser before and, I’m telling you, the only way to break through the noise is to take the time to speak with all of the folks we can. Then, we can see the value in those conversations when it comes to rebuilding trust. IT’S WORTH IT.
While I’ve had my own frustrations with strategy, I am fiercely dedicated to this party — especially at this moment.
In the wake of a heartbreaking electoral cycle, what I want is for leadership within this critical battleground state to consider the real, lived experience of those of us doing the work on the ground and to work with us to build a better, stronger, more genuine party — one that builds relationships and power cycle to cycle.
How would we do that, you ask?
I have suggestions.
Trust those of us on the ground who work, live, and raise our families in these communities. Empower these folks to build power from within our own ranks.
Invest time and resources to train people to combat disinformation at a hyper-local level. We need our volunteers to push back against the latest nonsense rumor about litter boxes in the local elementary school, fight back against book bans, protect our immigrant communities, and champion positive policies that Democrats are pushing from the local to the federal level.
One of the things that haunts me most from my campaign is how many of our neighbors are consuming blatant disinformation and voting based on those falsehoods. We’ve got to better educate the electorate.
And lastly — but most importantly — hire organizers to train our existing leadership and members so we can build authentic, sustainable power. We need to be teaching people to be the neighbors who show up to offer aid to those that need it, to identify stakeholders in the community and talk with them to find common ground, and to work to become a trusted group that not only does the right thing, but ties that thing to policy and works to elect the champions their neighbors need and deserve.
We lose sight of the importance of deep organizing in the world of electoral politics. Of long-term planning and slow, incremental successes. I propose that we dream big, focused on the future we want to see for our nation and remain resolved in the long, sustained, likely arduous road we must travel to arrive there.
Honestly? I am hopeful that the Democratic Party will recognize the importance of cultivating the grassroots and supporting local leaders. If we are to make a real impact in our communities and win elections, we’ve got to listen to those on the ground who understand the issues that matter most to their neighbors. It is time to see the value in building a party that is truly connected to the people it seeks to represent.
Emily Tseffos is the chair of the Democratic Party of Outagamie County in northeastern Wisconsin, 2024 State Assembly candidate, and former statewide organizer for Indivisible. She is dedicated to electing progressive candidates locally and prioritizes building sustainable, genuine grassroots capacity in larger cities and rural communities through strategic, consistent development.
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