As we start to finally look at turnout data from around our state, few areas are going to get the attention of Dodge City, Kansas. Ford County, Kansas, became the subject of several stories by national media, thanks to the movement of a polling site, making it more difficult for many to vote. With election day over, the narrative around Dodge City has changed — and it is just a bit short-sighted.
Wow! So, I guess there was no voter suppression, right? Or hey, it all worked out for the best, right? Over the past few days, we’ve heard different versions of this story, as Republicans demand that Democratic efforts “cried wolf”.
What I see, however, is that continuous Democratic effort helped build not just a 5% bump, but also a change in the results for Ford County.
In 2018, Laura Kelly, the Democratic nominee, lost Ford County, trailing Kris Kobach 3484-2407. More than a thousand votes. In 2014, Sam Brownback won the county, 3732-2026. Notice what happened? There are almost 400 new Democratic votes, and Republicans lost 250. How did this come to pass?
First, Democratic efforts in all counties in Kansas mattered. While it is absolutely true that the tidal wave in Johnson County provided a huge push for now Governor-Elect Laura Kelly, efforts to minimize the margins in communities all over the state made her win far more crushing; and Democratic efforts to help turn out votes in places like Dodge City were of incredible importance.
Unstated in many of these graphics about “increased turnout” in Dodge City is that it didn’t happen by magic. Two weeks of turnout efforts, aimed at getting more voters to vote early, providing transportation, canvass, and busses were provided to help overcome the obstacles.
It is too easy to buy into the narrative “well, see, I guess voter suppression isn’t real, turnout was up”; but before we buy into that story remember the work that was required, and the powerful national narrative to encourage people to vote.
Generating outrage and volunteer support in 2018 made a difference, as it did in many counties all over the country. In order to get that bump? A dozen paid staff. A team of volunteers. National interest. Tour buses. Party paid for vans. And the largest outreach effort ever in that community.
We cannot forget that these gains were hard fought; and fighting for gains that still mean less than 50% of people vote shouldn’t be a sign that voter suppression is solved; it is instead a sign we have a long way to go.