Oregon is a sure blue state at the federal election level, but we have many down ballot races that help us make or break our current progressive government. As I call and walk door to door, I find many people who are so bummed by the battles at the national level that they are not sure they even want to vote. A large number of these are/were Bernie supporters.
In Oregon we have the distinction of implementing much of Bernie’s platform in the last legislative session. Many people I talk to don’t know this. They become much more interested in the election when they see the result in their everyday lives and the lives of those they care about. But how to get to them?
- Calling cell phones usually produces about a 10% hit rate. I get to talk to about 3 or 4 people an hour.
- Walking door to door is a little better, but it is hard to hold a conversation — either family, football, or barking dogs interferes much of the time.
- So, I researched where the longest brunch lines were. At the Screen Door restaurant this Saturday morning, people had gathered half an hour before opening. By the time I left, the line for the second seating was long. People were standing around, talking, somewhat bored.
Everyone was either interested or at least polite. In service of my goal, I asked them if they were Bernie supporters, shared the little slate card I had and urged them to vote Democratic down ticket if they wanted to retain and increase the Bernie agenda in Oregon. Many were interested, some committed to vote after thinking they wouldn’t, many said they would pass the information on to friends as well.
In an hour and a half, I talked to about 50 interested people, putting literature into their hands.
The slate card said:
Helping Oregon keep the Bernie vision
Because we had Democrats in the majority in the Oregon legislature and state government in 2015-6 we have:
- $49 a term community college for new high school grads.
- One year at a time contraception with only a pharmacist visit.
- Highest future minimum wage of any state.
- First state to require phase out of all coal based energy production.
- Automatic voter registration when you get driver’s license or state ID.
- Paid sick leave in businesses with 10 or more employees.
- Background checks for gun show and individual gun sales.
Please vote Democratic for state and legislative races to keep these progressive policies in place and continue to expand the Bernie vision.
On the back is a listing of the Democratic candidates.
I have done this in the past on the release day of new iPhones. I start working the lines about 4:30 in the morning and have had wonderful conversations, registering many new voters.
I am writing this in the hope that others will also get out, spend time at lines where people are standing, bored and ready to listen. Urge them to vote. Talk to them about down ballot Democratic candidates. Teach them that state and local politics is important. It is fun and it seems to be effective. If you choose your venue well, it lets you target the audiences you want to reach..
Good luck, have fun.