The first week of canvassing after VP Harris got in the race was absolutely explosive. YUGE numbers, unprecedented since we started doing this. So the question became, what about last weeks (follow-up) numbers? There are a number of reasons why July 27th is likely to be our peak turnout.
Harris’ entry came that week, and the coordinated campaign’s weren’t exactly ready. They needed to print new lit, too! Most of the local offices i’ve been talking to weren’t expected to start knocking on doors before Labor Day. But Hope Springs from Field PAC [ website ] had already been knocking, so there was no change in our campaign plan .
Just a change in the candidate at the top of the ticket. On the prior Saturday, we had 11,521 volunteers come out to canvass. It was the first weekend with Harris as the presumptive nominee.
Last Saturday, 9,738 volunteers turned up to knock on doors. But we’ve now turned over nine canvass areas to the Harris campaign (the moment they start canvassing in an area we’ve been doing, we ask volunteers to shift over there). We think we probably had more volunteers in the areas we did canvass than the weekend prior.
We think. We weren’t able to walk in Arizona at all (due to the Heat Risk), and Las Vegas was still too hot. (We use the National Weather Service’s HeatRisk map as part of our calculations about canvassing each week.
) But, still, the momentum continues. The chart to the left shows the explosive growth we’ve been expecting this year. People are excited! And it’s not just Harris.
Her candidacy is also re-invigorating the issue of Reproductive Freedom. Before her entry, the number of people who spoke up as single issue voters had been falling. But now the percentage of voters resembles more like what we saw last year.
That is reassuring. The results have shown that there is a big difference between Harris and Biden in that Harris has been out traveling to Swing States trying to get the message out. A lot of traveling.
This means a lot of local coverage. We have targeted 13 Swing States to knock on doors and have volunteers canvassing in all of them (although not in all areas of those states). Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.
We added Minnesota three weeks ago , at the request of the Biden campaign. They actually asked if we’d “consider expanding” into 4 additional states. [We’ve now ended canvassing in New Hampshire.
] We continue to document voter comments about Project 2025. There have not been a lot; they peaked a couple of weeks ago Here’s the thing. We aren’t knocking in urban areas, for the most part (where state and local Democratic party orgs are stronger), but the swingy areas that tend to be suburban (or even ex-urban) — and where weather is more of a factor.
But these are the areas that are deciding elections in the 21st century . And, in addition to our Issues Survey, through our Constituent Service Request forms and Incident Reports, we are directly connecting them with their state and local government. Not through our volunteers, but through their own words and actions.
On August 3rd, 9,738 volunteers showed up to knock on the doors of Democratic and unaffiliated voters in their neighborhoods. There are a lot of factors driving volunteer turnout, especially our special projects aimed at African-American neighborhoods by (primarily) African-American volunteers largely driven by Divine Nine chapters who have taken on this mission. Our (new) voter registration numbers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas are evidence of this.
These are grassroots driven efforts that are unaffected by any controversies in the party or the base. So the reality is that our volunteer base has been driven by a variety of different motivations, including winning Senate races. The presidential race has been a factor in these — even differently from state to state.
Lots of relief in Michigan now, for example. Montana, too. We knocked on 713,557 doors last Saturday.
At every door, we left a piece of literature promoting Democrats, which remains our biggest expense (by far). We struggled to get new lit reflecting the presumptive Harris nomination in the hands of all our canvassers today (can’t confirm yet that we succeeded) and this was right after doing the same after the debate. We’ve now left 6,556,456 pieces of literature praising our presidential candidates and Democratic policies, as well as Democratic Senate candidates at voters doors before today.
Volunteers talked to 60,979 voters in these 13 states last Saturday. Of those, 38,523 voters answered questions on our Issues Survey, at least in part. We continue our special focus on voter registration in African-American communities, especially those historically affected by higher rates of lynchings in the last 150 years.
Hope Springs volunteers registered 498 new voters and re-registered 610 voters at their current address to comply with federal law. We differentiate new registrants from re-registrants because we engage in follow-up communications with the people that are newly registered to vote. Hope Springs from Field PAC began knocking on doors again on March 2nd to set up a favorable “battle space” or foundation for Democrats in 2024.
We target Democrats and unaffiliated voters with a systematic approach that reminds them not only that Democrats care, but Democrats are determined to deliver the best government possible to all Americans. The voters we talk to in these 12 Swing States tell us they come away more invested in governance and feel more favorably towards Democrats in general because of our approach. Obviously, we rely on grassroots support, so if you support field/grassroots organizing, voter registration (and follow-up) and our efforts to protect our voters, we would certainly appreciate your support: https://secure.
actblue.com/donate/hopemobilization2024 Hope Springs from Field understands that volunteer to voter personal interactions are critical. Knocking on doors has repeatedly been found to be the most successful tactic to get voters to cast a ballot and that is the goal of what we do.
Arizona Extreme weather prevented us from knocking on doors in Arizona last weekend. Volunteer safety first. Florida 889 volunteers came out last Saturday, knocked on 63,830 doors and talked to 5,278 voters.
9,093 Issues Surveys were completed (again, most through follow-up calls). 66 new voters were registered and 51 voters re-registered (all using the Secretary of State website). 306 voters filled out Constituent Service Request forms.
8 voters filled out Incident Reports. The Top Issue in Florida last Saturday was The Economy. Summer Worries was the second most frequently cited Issue .
Heat, hurricanes, tourist traffic — that kind of thing . Housing Availability, Costs and Housing Insurance Costs was third . 55% of the voters we talked to approved of the job Vice President Harris is doing in Florida.
VP Harris has now equaled Pres. Biden’s highest approval rating in the state. 7% disapproved.
17% approved of the job Rick Scott was doing; 36% disapproved. 19% approved of the job Ron DeSantis is doing; 30% disapproved. Georgia 1,105 volunteers came out to knock on doors last Saturday in the Atlanta suburbs and in southern Georgia Blackbelt counties.
We knocked on 80,333 doors and talked to 7,133 voters. 12,703 of those voters answered at least some of our questions on our Issues Survey (primarily through follow-up calls). We registered 94 new voters and re-registered 77 voters.
Note the fact that Hope Springs volunteers registered more new voters than re-registrations (again!), largely a result of our efforts to find and register voters in Counties where African-Americans have been historically suppressed. Five different Divine Nine chapters knocked on doors in 3 different counties, 2 of them who signed up after Kamala Harris announced she was running for president. 503 voters filled out Constituent Service Request forms, and 19 voters filled out Incident Reports.
(Rising) Prices and/or Inflation was the Top Issue in Georgia on Saturday. Fear of Political Violence was second. Housing Availability, Costs and Housing Insurance Costs was third.
Vice President Harris’ Approval among the Georgians we talked to was 64% last Saturday (one percentage point shy of Biden’s highest number last year). 5% of the voters we talked to disapproved of the president. 37% approved of the Governor, Brian Kemp.
32% disapproved. Maryland 427 volunteers came out last Saturday to canvass in Maryland. Volunteers knocked on 29,761 doors and talked to 2,366 voters.
1,483 answered questions on our Issues Survey. We registered 3 new voters and re-registered 28 voters at their current address. 106 voters completed Constituent Service Request forms.
(Rising) Prices and/or Inflation was the Number 1 Issue with the voters we talked to. Housing Availability, Costs and Housing Insurance Costs was second. Infrastructure Needs returned to third.
This is really interesting (to me), because most of those responses come from western Maryland, not Baltimore, where the bridge would be an obvious concern. Harris’ Approval among the voters we talked to was 65% last Saturday in Maryland. 5% of the voters we talked to disapproved of the president.
57% approved of Democratic Senate nominee Angela Alsobrooks . 58% approved of the Governor Moore. 5% disapproved.
Michigan 1,236 volunteers came out to knock on doors in Michigan. This was higher than the week before. We knocked on 92,329 doors last Saturday.
Volunteers talked to 8,198 voters . 5,165 of those voters answered questions to at least part of the Issues Survey. We registered 83 new voters and re-registered 117 voters at their current address.
427 voters completed Constituent Service Request forms. The Economy was the Number 1 Issue in Michigan on Saturday. Housing Availability, Costs and Housing Insurance Costs was second.
Climate Issues was third. Vice President Harris’ Approval among the voters we talked to was 57% last Saturday. 6% disapproved of the president.
59% approved of the job Elissa Slotkin was doing. 8% disapproved. 58% approved of the Governor Whitmer.
4% disapproved. Minnesota Concerns over whether Biden could reach 270 Electoral College voters prompted a request that we expand our canvassing into several other states, including Minnesota. This began 3 weekends ago.
322 volunteers came out to knock on doors in Minnesota. We knocked on 23,731 doors and v olunteers talked to 1,998 voters . 1,272 of those voters answered questions to at least part of the Issues Survey.
We registered 10 new voters and re-registered 23 voters at their current address. 63 voters completed Constituent Service Request forms. Economic Uncertainty was the Number 1 Issue in Minnesota on Saturday.
Climate Issues was second. Housing Availability, Costs and Housing Insurance Costs was third. Vice President Harris’ Approval was 55% among the voters we spoke to last Saturday.
6% disapproved of the vice president. Any Klobuchar had 62% Approval; 4% disapproved. Voter approval of Governor Tim Walz was 62% among the voters we talked to; 3% disapproved.
Montana In Montana, 55 volunteers came out last Saturday. They knocked on 3,707 doors and talked to 286 voters. 183 voters completed Issues Surveys, at least in part.
1 voter re-registered at her current address. 15 voters filled out Constituent Service Request forms. The Top Issue in Montana Saturday was The Economy.
High Loan Rates was the second most frequently cited Issue . 48% of the voters we talked to approved of the job Vice President Harris is doing in Montana. 8% disapproved.
65% approved of the job Jon Tester was doing; 5% disapproved. 19% approved of the job the Governor, Greg Gianforte is doing; 36% disapproved. Nevada In Nevada, 385 (!) volunteers came out to canvass in the Reno suburbs.
We knocked on 28,374 doors and talked to 2,420 voters. 1,524 voters answered questions on our Issues Survey. We registered 15 new voters and re-registered 21 voters, updating their current address.
52 voters completed Constituent Service Request forms. The Economy was the Number 1 issue voters talked about last weekend. Housing Availability, Costs and Housing Insurance Costs was second.
Support for the Reproductive Rights amendment was third. Approval of Vice President Harris was 54% among the voters we talked to last Saturday. 7% disapproved of her.
56% approved of their Senator, Jacky Rosen . Rosen is definitely in for a fight, not because she has a competitive opponent, but because the political environment in Nevada is tumultuous right now. 7% disapproved.
20% approved of the Governor, Joe Lombard. 30% disapproved. North Carolina 793 volunteers came out to knock on doors last Saturday in North Carolina.
We knocked on 59,237 doors and talked to 4,673 voters. 2,977 of those voters answered at least some of our questions on our Issues Survey. We registered 49 new voters and re-registered 46 voters.
376 voters filled out Constituent Service Request forms and 21 voters filled out Incident Reports. (Rising) Prices and/or Inflation was the Top Issue in North Carolina on Saturday. Housing Availability, Costs and Housing Insurance Costs was second.
(Political) Instability was third. Vice President Harris’ Job Approval among the voters we talked to was 58% last Saturday. 5% disapproved of the president.
58% approved of the Governor, Roy Cooper. 5% disapproved. Ohio 1,076 volunteers showed up last Saturday in Ohio to knock on doors in the competitive OH-01, OH-09 and OH-13 Congressional Districts.
They knocked on 79,301 doors on Saturday. Hope Springs volunteers talked to 6,851 voters , and 4,385 voters answered questions from at least part of the Issues Survey. We registered 36 new voters and re-registered 41 voters, updating their current address.
258 voters completed Constituent Service Request forms. The Economy was the Number 1 issue for the Ohioans we talked to on Saturday. Housing Availability, Costs and Housing Insurance Costs was second.
Reproductive Rights was third. Vice President Harris’ Job Approval was at 56%; 6% expressed some measure of Disapproval. 59% of the voters who responded Approved of the job Sen.
Brown was doing while 6% expressed Disapproval. 28 % of the voters we talked to thought Gov. DeWine was doing a good job, 36% said they disapproved of the job he was doing.
Pennsylvania 1,282 volunteers showed up to knock on doors in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh regions last Saturday. This is another state where we only knocked on Democratic doors on Saturday. We knocked on 93,329 doors and talked to 7,895 voters.
4,997 voters completed questions on our Issues Survey, at least in part. We registered 37 new voters and re-registered 71 voters, updating their current address. 336 voters completed Constituent Service Request forms and 5 voters filled out Incident Reports.
(Rising) Prices and/or Inflation was the Top Issue last Saturday in the state. Housing Availability, Costs and Housing Insurance Costs was the Second most cited Issue. Climate Issues was third.
Vice President Harris’ Job Approval was at 61%; 6% expressed some measure of Disapproval. 63% of the voters who responded Approved of the job Sen. Casey was doing while 5% said they Disapproved.
65% of the voters we talked to thought Gov. Shapiro was doing a good job, 4% said they disapproved of the job he was doing. Texas 984 volunteers came out to knock on doors last Saturday in Texas.
We knocked on 71,536 doors and talked to 6,059 voters. 10,632 of those voters, mostly through follow-up calls answered at least some of our questions on our Issues Survey. We registered 84 new voters and re-registered 78 voters.
421 voters filled out Constituent Service Request forms. 28 voters filled out Incident Reports. The Economy was the Top Issue in Texas last weekend.
Housing Availability, Costs and Housing Insurance Costs was second and Immigration and Border Security was third. Vice President Harris’ Approval among the Texans we talked to was 51% last Saturday. 8% of the voters we talked to disapproved.
17% of the voters voiced approval of Ted Cruz; 35% disapproved. We have also been asking about job approval of Colin Allred , the Democrat running against Ted Cruz. 51% of the voters we talked to approved of the job he’s been doing.
18% approved of the Governor, Greg Abbot. 35% disapproved. Wisconsin 1,184 volunteers came out to canvass in Wisconsin in Milwaukee (where we are canvassing in African-American wards) and its suburbs (the WOW counties), as well as Kenosha, Waukesha and Dane counties.
Hope Springs volunteers knocked on 88,089 doors and talked to 7,822 voters . 5,006 of those voters answered at least some of our questions on the Issues Survey . We registered 37 new voters and re-registered 72 voters.
388 voters filled out Constituent Service Request forms. 12 voters filled out an Incident Report. The Economy was the Top Concern among the Wisconsin voters we talked to on Saturday.
Housing Availability, Costs and Housing Insurance Costs was the second most frequently cited concern. Concern over Political Violence was third. Kamala Harris ’ Approval numbers in Wisconsin was 57% last Saturday.
Her Disapproval number was 5%. Senator Baldwin ’s Job Approval was 62% with 6% of the voters we talked to on Saturday expressing Disapproval. Approval of Governor Evers, meanwhile, was 52%; Disapproval was 5% last Saturday.
If you are able to support this kind of intensive grassroots organizing and voter contact, we would certainly appreciate your financial support: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/hopemobilization2024 We knock on the doors of Democratic and Independent voters.
At every door, we leave a piece of “show the flag” lit, something that tells them we were there and hopefully reinforces the Democratic brand. The lit focuses on the things voters told us were important to them last fall, aiming to appeal to every voter. We also ask voters if they have an problems that local, state or federal governments need to address in their neighborhoods.
But the main focus of our canvassing right now is the Issues Survey, asking voters for their input and concerns. We find that most voters who aren’t in a hurry or in the middle of something are willing to answer at least a couple of these questions, especially their top issue or concern and their views of President Biden. Voter responses to the questionnaire are entered into VAN and made available to all Democratic candidates who use VAN in the state after the primary.
Creating this kind of data isn’t done with a specific goal in mind but has the purpose of engaging voters and creating a dataset that any Democratic candidate can use in opposition to a Republican. Hope Springs from Field has a hybrid approach. We aren’t interested in competing with regular campaign field organizing.
We are in the field before they get there and then move on when the Democratic campaigns start their own intensive field work. Indeed, when we wind up the typical field work by Labor Day, we will encourage all the volunteers working with us to move over to the Senate campaigns in their states (and hope that our field organizers will be hired on by those campaigns). After Labor Day, we will begin organizing our Election Protection Project.
We also ask voters if they have any concerns about the upcoming elections. Last year, we walked with lit about the changes in voting laws, but we also asked voters about their fears and experience in prior elections. Voters who say they have experience voter intimidation or other problems with voting are asked to fill out Incident Reports.
40 voters filled out Incident Reports . Hope Springs has targeted states that have competitive Senate races and/or the Electoral College in 2024, as well as districts that are remapped in ways that offer opportunities or vulnerabilities for Democrats next year (specifically those where a Republican won a Congressional District that voted for Biden in 2022). There is a lot of work to be done! Especially since we have had to expand the map this year.
By starting early, and aiming towards super-compliance with these really, really onerous provisions, Hope Springs from Field seeks to undermine Republican efforts to throw Democrats off the voter rolls, informing voters about the new laws and regulations aimed at them. There’s a lot of work to be done, but fortunately, the three states that are making it most difficult are also states in which you can knock on doors at least 10 months out of the year. And, with your help, we will be there, getting our people to super-comply with these restrictive provisions.
2023 Hope Springs expenses Our biggest expense is the Voter File. But it is also a fixed cost. That won’t change as we raise and spend more money.
Printing literature is our second largest cost. Printing and mailing our our Post Cards to New Voters is our third cost and paying the fees for ActBlue is the smallest of our monthly costs. But here’s the reality: Identifying Single Issue Voters and Constitutional Amendment supporters and doing GOTV (Get-Out-the-Vote) costs us more money than our regular canvassing because this issue drives volunteer turnout higher and higher and we reach more voters.
Which means we have to buy more lit to distribute and other minor expenses (like water for volunteers). We are starting earlier, and staying in the field longer, for this election year. So please: If you are able to support our efforts to protect Democratic voters, especially in minority communities, expand the electorate, and believe in grassroots efforts to increase voter participation and election protection, please help: https://secure.
actblue.com/donate/hopemobilization2024 If you would rather send a check, you can follow that link for our mailing address at the bottom of the ActBlue page. Thank you for your support.
This work depends upon you!.
