Engage from Home
I’ve learned I can be effective and, better yet, feel effective, connected and engaged from home. I download and write twenty letters a week, sometimes by myself and sometimes through an online letter party, I donate to our triple-flip Arizona fund, I send texts, and I help with this newsletter. I like knowing that my efforts, combined with those of thousands of people across the country, will lead to victory in November. Please join me and take advantage of this time at home as best you can – we can continue to reclaim our country.
— Bruce
This newsletter is packed with opportunities to engage. Read on for details…
- Party from Home
- Write from Home
- Defend from Home (CA-25 Special Election on May 12th)
- Arizona from Home (Phone, Postcard, Text, Donate)
- Phone from Home
- Text from Home
- Listen from Home
- Partner Organization Activities
Write letters with CELEBRITIES:
Swing Left has lined up some exciting co-hosts this week for its national letter-writing parties. Hear from and chat with these political stars as you write letters with activists from across the country!
- Tuesday, April 14th (4:00 – 6:00pm)– Write with Slay the Dragon filmmakers Chris Durrance & Barak Goodman, and David Daley, author of the book behind the film “Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesn’t Count.” Slay the Dragon follows citizens’ groups as they work to end the practice of gerrymandering, including in Michigan. (Perhaps you’ll want to write to Michigan during this party!)
- Thursday April 16th (3:00 – 5:00pm) – Write with Swing Left’s “How We Win” podcast hosts Steve Pierson and Mariah Craven.
Additional national Zoom letter parties:
Through May 31st, Swing Left’s national staffers are holding parties four afternoons a week (every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday).
Host a virtual letter party!
Join one of the national parties to see how it works, then perhaps host your own!
- Use Swing Left’s Virtual Letter Party Host Kit
- Attend a virtual letter party host training
- If you are new to hosting on Zoom, you may also appreciate one of the daily Zoom trainings
Here’s how to get started with writing letters at home:
- First, try our online instructions
- If you’re having trouble getting started, sign up for one of Swing Left’s new virtual letter writing support workshops offered every Monday at 5pm. You’ll see a demo and have a chance to ask questions on a live Zoom call.
- Do you know someone who is struggling with the Vote Forward website? Download a PDF file of letters and email it to them for printing (along with our writers’ instructions).
Remember: Hold on to the GOTV letters now and mail them in October. (Buy stamps or even envelopes later, or order them online.) FYI, right now we’re prioritizing Colorado and Texas.
Defend the House From Home
Important Special Election May 12th: Get Out the Vote for Christy Smith in CA25
Christy Smith is currentlya member of the California State Assembly, and she’s running to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by Democrat Katie Hill. California Democrats worked hard in 2018 to flip this SoCal district along with six of our other Congressional seats. Help us defend our majority in the House! We need to contact as many voters as possible to remind them of this important special election and to let them know that the election will NOW be entirely by mail!
Highest priority! GOTV phoning for Christy:
- You’ll receive a quick training via Zoom and be able to ask questions as you call.
- Click here to sign up for any day between now and May 12th or …
- Join Swing Left Peninsula Phone Banks! We’re hosting sessions on April 23rd, April 30th and May 7th (three times each day: 10am, 2pm or 5pm)
- Click here to sign up for one (or more) of a dozen sessions between now and May 12th. Each session begins with a virtual training.
- Remember, phoning is a higher priority. And the text batches tend to run out quickly.
Arizona from Home
Since we can’t travel to Arizona for activism, we can bring Arizona activism to us! Arizona is a potential “triple flip” for the White House, Senate, and state legislature. Let’s not rest in our efforts to turn our neighbor BLUE.
But first, an update: The candidate filing deadline for Arizona’s U.S. Senate race was on April 6th. As expected, Mark Kelly seems to be the only candidate who’s qualified for the ballot in the August Democratic primary. Arizonans have until April 20th to dispute the ballot petition signatures. After that date (if Kelly is indeed the only candidate), Swing Left will begin coordinating with his campaign. But in the meantime there are many things you can do to help Mark and the state legislature candidates who are crucial to flipping Arizona!
Donate to TRIPLE FLIP Arizona:
Swing Left Peninsula continues to support efforts to “triple flip” Arizona through our online fundraiser. This fund will be split between the U.S. Senate candidate (likely Mark Kelly!) and strategic state legislature races (the ones most likely to ensure the state legislature flip).
Arizona Phonebanking
–Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee: Call strategic state legislative districts, the ones that will help us FLIP the state legislature for the first time in 50 years:
- LD-20: (Phoenix) scheduled phone banks
- LD-6: (Flagstaff and Verde Valley) scheduled phone banks or anytime
- LD-28: (Phoenix) 4/15 at 4:00pm or 4/18 at 10:00am
–Flip the West (with Arizona Wins): Every Tuesday in April, call registered Democrats and like-minded Independents, to sign them up for permanent vote by mail. Click here to register for training and dates.
–Democracy Action: Call for Mark Kelly or LD-20 state legislature candidates Doug Ervins and Judy Schweibert.
–Field Team 6: Call registered Democrats to sign them up to vote by mail. Training included.
Arizona Postcarding
–Flip the West: Help flip the U.S. Senate seat in Arizona and several other Western states. Click here to sign up and get more info.
–Reclaim Our Vote: Write postcards to Spanish-speaking citizens in Arizona. Please email mctrounstine@gmail.com. Here’s a video about postcarding with Reclaim Our Vote.
Arizona Texting
–Mission for Arizona (the Arizona Democratic Party’s coordinated campaign): Text for Mark Kelly and important down-ballot candidates. Click here to sign up for one of six training dates and to get more info.
(More) Phone from Home
Georgia Phonebanking with Swing Left
Encourage voters to sign up for vote by mail (on Saturday afternoons).
CA-10 Phonebanking
Steve Zelezny, working with the DCCC in CA-10, is hosting virtual phonebanks for Josh Harder! Steve conducts training sessions Mondays to Thursdays at 6:00 pm.
CA-21 Phonebanking
TJ Cox’s race is considered a “toss up” and a Republican super PAC just announced they will buy 1.6 million dollars of television ads for TJ’s opponent. Call on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 5:00 – 8:00pm.
New Remote Phone Bank Host Kit and Training
Swing Left just launched tools to help you lead remote phone banks. Click to see: Remote Phone Bank Host Kit and Guide. Click to sign up for a Remote Phone Bank Host Training every Wednesday at 5pm, starting April 22nd.
Text from Home: Getting Started
Our local Democratic Volunteer Center (DVC) is a great resource for getting started. Check out their helpful links:
- Getting Started Guide: Gives you an overview of how texting works and explains how to work with the six most popular texting providers (Indivisible, Open Progress, MoveOn, Resistance Labs, Red2Blue and DNC). Currently, Indivisible, Open Progress and MoveOn have compelling and long-lasting texting campaigns underway.
- Textbanking Best Practices
- Sign up for weekly DVC emails that list texting opportunities (click “textbanking” option)
- Need help? Email texting@demvolctr.org
Listen from Home
How We Win – Swing Left’s Podcast
While you are doing the work of Democracy from home, please listen to Swing Left’s Podcast – it will help you feel connected and motivated!
Episode 32 of How We Win focuses on the Equal Rights Amendment. ERA expert and host of the “Ordinary Equality” podcast Kate Kelly discusses the history of the ERA and where we are now.
