Happy BLUE Year,
Harris County
Melissa Taylor
Harris County Democratic Party
Executive Director
mrt@hcdp.org
MRT’s personal background
Native Houstonian Geographer
Southerner Texas A&M
Summa Cum
Daughter of a union Laude
pipe fitter U. of Kentucky
½ Filipina, ½ Texan International traveler
Researcher/analyst French-Tagalog-
Spanish speaker
Small business owner
MRT’s political background
Volunteer coordinator Fundraiser
Delegator extraordinaire Trainer
Event organizer Protest organizer
Crowd-builder Precinct statistician
Public speaker Database manager
Field director Website coordinator
Coalition-builder People person
Problem solver
CASE STUDIES:
Precinct Activation Success
Precinct Activation:
A Look Around the U.S.
Democratic National Committee
California for Democracy –
Turn Red California Blue
Democracy for Colorado –
Th!nk Prec!nct
Harris County Democratic Party
Precinct Activation
“Election by election.
State by state.
Precinct by precinct.
Door by door.
Vote by vote.
We’re gonna to take back this
country for the people who
built it.”
~Howard Dean, DNC Chair
Democratic National Committee
GOAL: An active, effective group of
Democrats organized by 2008.
203,000 precincts in 3,300 counties
50 state strategy - Invest in every single state party.
www.dnc.org
DNC – 50-state strategy
organizers on the ground in 43 states
~ Placing Field Organizers in Red States were the DNC’s priority~
Texas Wyoming Alaska
Missouri Kansas Arkansas
North Dakota Mississippi Colorado
North Carolina Nebraska Maryland
Montana Nevada South Dakota
West Virginia
Organizers in all other states expected by Spring 2006.
Democratic National Committee
Grassroots infrastructure in place to
win not just the 2006 and 2008
elections, but all elections going
forward.
Leave no race uncontested.
There is a place for everyone in the
Democratic Party.
www.dnc.org
Democratic National Committee
Building a Winning Infrastructure
Win your precinct
1. Recruit 25 volunteers in your precinct.
2. Host one social event.
3. Host 2 voter contact events (effective targeting).
4. Attend 1 training – get smarter!
5. Create a welcome program for new residents.
GOAL: every Democrat completes these
action items by November 7, 2006
Democratic National Committee
The Strategy: Year by Year
2005 – build permanent Party structure
2006 – turn mechanism on
test infrastructure on Congressional races
2007 – evaluate, rework campaign plan
2008 – infrastructure in place
win presidency and down-ballot races
future – mechanism in gear to win
Campaigns plug into efficient system
California for Democracy—
Take Back Red California
An ambitious but much needed project
to keep California deep blue.
Red County v. Blue County political
geography
Urban (blue) v. rural (red)
Coastal (blue) v. Inland/Central (red)
Red Counties ignored by Democratic Party
Blue Counties workers need a project
http://www.californiafordemocracy.com/?q=redCounty
California for Democracy—
Take Back Red California
Blue County shares best practices,
technical resources, and volunteers with
Red County
Red County shares local, on-the-ground info
with Blue County
Take Back Red California Summit
Northern California (Berkeley)
Southern California (Irvine)
http://www.californiafordemocracy.com/?q=redCounty
CA Grassroots Champions Coalition
Keep California Blue
Precinct organizing should be year round.
The basic for precinct work is neighbor to
neighbor.
“We are all purple.”
Developed a multi-county effort with a
central server and data tools.
Turned out Democrats better than the REPUBS
in the last election and reversed the trend.
http://www.precinctcaptains.org
CA Grassroots Champions Coalition
Keep California Blue
Launch a Local Democratic Precinct Captains
program
Get volunteers.
Enlist new precinct captains.
Supply walker lists.
Target precinct efforts.
Stay in touch with precincts captains.
Organize support structure.
Fundraising.
http://www.precinctcaptains.org
California for Democracy—
A Precinct Voice
In Nov 2003, Dean supporters from 2 adjacent counties on the San Francisco peninsula met to set
up precincting. We were lucky enough to have good pro-bono software but our main hurdle was
lack of a HQ. To get around that we found *city leads*: for each small suburb, someone came
forward to be in charge of the precinct walkers there. Some of these were new to precincting.
For the larger cities with more volunteers, we got several city leads. They met regularly, were
trained on the software, given overview maps of their areas, mini-manuals on precincting & on
the software to give to the walkers, a CD with all the precinct maps in their city (also donated), &
folders with the usual stuff in them. Then each city lead printed out the precinct maps as needed &
stapled them to folders, & printed out the walk lists (thanks to the software!), & trained their people
on their own schedule. (Some walkers were able to use the software & print their own lists.) The
volunteer pool for walkers came from the big list of Dean supporters we'd built up by then; in our
County it was ~1,200. We gave each city lead their section of the list; they sent email & then
followed up with phone calls. Another software guru had an automatic lookup program: we gave
him addresses & he supplied the precinct numbers, so we had that info in advance, & the city lead
knew exactly where the precinct was, thanks to the overview map. The city leads kept the walkers
supplied & provided hand-holding as needed. This model worked BEAUTIFULLY, and everyone
really took ownership. Not everyone wants to walk their own precinct but for the ones that do, this
is an extremely effective form of campaigning--I think the most effective. We had at least 75
walkers out there in January, & then the campaign fell apart! We got noticed because we were
the only ones out there precincting. The Democratic Central Committee in our large, populous
County adopted this model for the general election & again it worked beautifully, with a lot of the
same city leads fulfilling that role again. I recommend this method wholeheartedly. It works without
the software element also. If you do this in conjunction with a campaign, MAKE SURE that the
walkers keep their lists, or a copy, because campaigns usually do not return them!
~Carolyn C., Palo Alto, CA
Democracy for Colorado—
Th!nk Prec!nct
A powerful tool for Democratic precinct leaders
& progressive activists
Must plan for political progress well into the
future, build a lasting coalition
Supports Democratic Precinct Committee
Persons, local activists, and grassroots
campaigners
Training distributed on DVD across the state.
http://democracyforcolorado.com/thinkprecinct
Turn Harris County Blue
To win, Democrats must get a few things right:
Mindset Action with Efficiency
Message Training
Visibility Fundraising
Mindset
Mindset – Negative
Democrats must drop the identity Republicans
carved for them
brow-beaten
down-trodden
defeatist
defensive
divisive
Democrats must shake the “This isn’t fair,”
loser mentality.
This mindset does not attract voters to our
Party.
Mindset – Positive
"...so I asked myself, 'Are you going to keep
complaining, or are you going to do something
about it?' "
- Howard Dean, before deciding to run for office
Those who say it can't be done should get out
of the way of those who are doing it.
- Unknown
Mindset – Positive
Identifying what you want is the first step
toward getting it, so think it over and get the
specifics fixed in your mind.
Go ahead and think big; let your vision of your
perfect world percolate.
GOALS
Get Democrats elected who represent our values,
vision for our city, state, and country
Broaden the Democratic community, be inclusive
Cultivate young Democrats; build a movement
Mindset – Get smart
2nd most populous County with
3.6 million residents
Second only to Los Angeles County
(9.9 million)
Source: ????
Mindset – Get smart
Harris County’s population is greater
than that of 24 states and DC
875 precincts
45% of HC voters cast a ballot for
John Kerry
Mindset
Democrats have a great
opportunity here in
Harris County,
but it will take
everyone’s talent, focus,
commitment,
dedication, and
hard work.
Mindset
Democrats must:
be willing to do what works.
be willing to try new twists.
Democrats must require more of ourselves.
Precinct Activation
“Election by election.
State by state.
Precinct by precinct.
Door by door.
Vote by vote.
We’re gonna to take back this
country for the people who
built it.”
~Howard Dean, DNC Chair
Message
Message – What do Democrats value?
Democrats must define our values.
Democrats can’t engage in a framework that
Republicans built.
What do you tell others?
30-second elevator speech
Why are you a Democrat?
I am a Democrat because I believe in the Constitution,
civil liberties, opportunity, fairness, universal healthcare,
peace, a fair living wage, and equal rights for everyone
(not just for people who are like me).
How do we communicate our message?
Rapid response team
Letters to the editor
Media attention
Press releases about our activities
Sponsor issue-based forums
corporate welfare (Wal-Mart Watch screenings)
election reform and voter verifiable paper trail
Appeal to Republicans and Independents as tax
payers
Sponsor candidate debates in communities
across the county
Visibility
Visibility: /vis·i·bil·i·ty/ n.
1. The fact, state, or degree of being visible.
2. The capability of being easily observed.
3. Tactical strategy designed to notify the
voters of Harris County that Democrats are
active.
VISIBLE Democrat
VISIBLE DEMOCRAT INVISIBLE DEMOCRAT
Action-oriented Stays at home
Shows up Lots of ideas, little action
Can do attitude Expects someone else
Creative, energetic to do the work
Buttons, bumper stickers, Excuse-maker
shirts, yard signs Afraid to speak up for
Media attention what’s right
Strategic press releases
Community service projects
Visibility
Maximize Democratic presence at all community events
Tabling
Parade entries
Adopt a highway
Clean once per quarter
Sign posted for thousands of motorists every day
Welcome baskets
Watch for sale and lease signs in your neighborhood
Basket should include:
Newsletters/articles
Meeting information for local Democratic clubs
Voter registration cards
Food
Action with
Efficiency
Action with Efficiency: Goals
Get Democrats elected who represent our
values, vision for our city, state, and
country
Broaden the Democratic community, be
inclusive
Cultivate young Democrats;
build a movement
Action with Efficiency
Goal: Access as many Democrats as possible
Must blanket/cover the whole county
Eliminate overlap
Fill holes
Build partnerships with:
Democratic clubs and organizations
Senate Districts leaders
Candidates
Democratic office holders
Action with Efficiency
Goal: Access as many Democrats as possible
Coordinated campaigns
Share Democratic volunteers
Volunteers from each campaign block walk, phone bank
Maximize exposure
More precinct activity, constant name recognition
Spend resources wisely; more money
Candidates who otherwise would not run for office step into the
race
Hold house meetings for candidates
Conference calls
BENEFIT: Encourage more straight ticket voting, Democrats
elected
Action with Efficiency
Battle of the Democratic Stars
Carve up Senate Districts
Democratic clubs adopt a territory of precincts to
work
Work with precinct chairs; build precinct teams
Results posted on HCDP website
Bragging rights
Awards given quarterly
Categories ensure Democrats are doing what works,
doing it early enough so it counts
Action with Efficiency
Battle of the Democratic Stars
Precinct work Club sustainability
Houses walked # of new members in club
Calls made Speakers bureau
Voters registered $ raised for club
% increase in registered Democrats Members running for office
Fundraising Club diversity (ethnicity, age)
$ raised for HCDP Community outreach
# of sustaining members to HCDP # of press releases
# of house meetings # of visibility events
Tabling
Parades/marching
Action with Efficiency
Year-round precinct organization
Become a precinct chair
Attend a precinct workshop
Get to know your neighbors
Phone bank
Block walk
Watch a how-to-block-walk DVD in the comfort of your
home
Have a HCDP precinct master walk your precinct with you,
show you the ropes
Recruit a bunch of precinct chairs from other precincts to
help you
You help them walk their blocks
Action with Efficiency
Reach out to groups with common values year round
Women GLBT
Environmentalists Pro-choice
Labor movement
Senior groups Stem cell research
Minorities Peace groups
LULAC Church groups
NAACP
Small business
South Asians
groups
Muslims
Asians
Action with Efficiency
Do what works, but smarter
Robo-calls for event/meeting announcements
Phone bank – predictive dialer
Phones and computers hooked up to a dialer
Predictive dialer
Waits until someone answers to connect volunteer
Passes over wrong numbers
Passes over no answers
Volunteers get more accomplished, feel good
Action with Efficiency
Cultivate young Democrats; build a movement
Put the p-a-r-t-y back in the Democratic Party
Have fun; create energy, excitement!
Bring-a-Child-to-Volunteer days
Share values
Becomes their norm
Letter writing
Visibility
Parades
Street corners
Block walking
Action with Efficiency
Cultivate young Democrats; build a movement
Build partnerships with local high schools, colleges,
and universities
Internships
Volunteer hours
HCDP
Democratic clubs
HCDP prepares letters for college packets,
employers
Special events for women who mentor young women
Training
Training
Book clubs
Panel discussions sponsored by Democratic clubs
Pot luck dinners
Share best practices among grassroots activists
Letter writing (issues, candidates)
Movie nights
Inspirational and documentary
Training classes
Precinct organizing
Messaging/framing
Block walk exercise
Fundraising
Fundraising
Increase number of sustaining members
$10.00 per month
cost of 2-3 cups of coffee
What are your values worth to you?
HCDP holds one big fundraiser per quarter
Democratic clubs partner and hold one
fundraiser for party once a quarter
Share planning
Bigger draw
Constant fundraising activity
Fundraising
Make fundraising events
Fun Art Auction
Inventive Bake sale
Family-oriented Wine & Cheese show
Various price points
Online silent auctions (e-bay) year round
Create our own HCDP designs
Order political memorabilia
Ask for contributions for those goods from
Democrats, others
Post to national, Texas blogs
We are the Party
Democrats have a great
opportunity here in Harris
County,
but it will take everyone’s
talent, focus, commitment,
dedication, and
hard work.
Become a precinct chair!
Happy BLUE Year,
Harris County
Melissa Taylor
Harris County Democratic Party
Executive Director
mrt@hcdp.org