States Matter

It’s easy to focus on the big races at the top of the ballot. They get the headlines, the fundraising, and most of our attention. But the truth is, so much of what affects our day-to-day lives happens at the state and local level. And so much of the groundwork for future political victories starts there, too.

Christine, one of our own MFD members, made a terrific video explaining the theory of the case for why states matter. It’s worth a few minutes of your time, so please watch it here.

And there’s another way to put this theory into practice: postcards.

We have lots of down-ballot “write and hold” campaigns ready for you on our Postcards For Democracy portal, and the cards we write can help determine the turnout we see this fall. Down-ballot organizing doesn’t just help the candidate whose name is on your postcard, it helps build the electorate for everyone on the ballot.

For example, write for JJ Dominguez for the Texas House, and you’re helping build the turnout that can help James Talarico up ballot. Write for Nick Brock for School Board in Michigan, and you’re helping build support for Abdul El-Sayed and Jocelyn Benson. Or write for the Minnesota school board slate on our portal and help build the local engagement and turnout that Peggy Flanagan and other candidates up ballot will need.

That’s the beauty of down-ballot organizing: the postcards we write for a school board or State House race can help create the engaged voters and turnout that candidates all the way up the ticket depend on.

The bottom of the ballot is not separate from the top. It’s all connected.