Members are appointed by the GPWA Coordinating Council. If you are interested in joining the Campaign Committee, let us know! 

Email: [email protected]

Campaign School in Portland OR on 23 February 2020 – Report

GPUS CCC material presented at the Campaign School are being edited and will be available soon on their website for GPUS candidates and Campaign Committees. 

These notes are a summary of the day’s events.  For further information contact GPWA participants Noah Martin, Alice B. Green, or Jody Grage.

Erin Fox from GPUS CCC – 4 Pillar icebreaker – good intro to organizing around issues

Need to start campaigns early since we have time rather than money – and start planning the next campaign, too

Two most important campaign positions – volunteer coordinator and fundraising coordinator

CivicCRM is free interactive database according to Erin

Support the candidate, welcome everybody – goal: to elect this Green

Best source of votes – disaffected voters

Target voters in low turnout precincts and those with low voter registration percentages and go where they are: organizations, churches, etc. 

Use of data can increase number of volunteers and amount of funding

Define winning, consider cost per vote; history of race – votes to win, cost; use volunteers, calls, etc.

WA – filing requires 1% of salary or 1 signature per $1; Top 2 primary limitation; major party achievable only by getting 5% or more or total vote in presidential election

Petition signatures – send thank you cards

Tabling – living room setup with rug and chairs in front of table, activity; box of office supplies

Canvassing – morning – seniors, 1-5 pm low-income housing, 5- 8 others; 80% of votes to first candidate that makes contact, 60% good contact later, 20% lit drop. 10% untrained canvasser; gated – contact manager to arrange a meeting with residents; phone before knocking works well; say you’ll advocate for an issue rather than promise to deliver it; work to get mentors/friends/teams – identify leaders in target areas and get them to carry on with the canvassing work

Phone banking – land line or cell – 8 cents per call, email 16-20 cents; need call center software such as CallHub which is pay as you go and integrates into NationBuilder; need headsets and quiet location; need administrative review; must record data accurately!; reporting and debriefing important

Field Edge - $100/month, integrates with NationBuilder or Google Sheets which is free

Finances – Zoom session availale soon

Budgets – Ideal, moderate, survival; first need is to raise money to raise more money

Treasure mapping; candidate is #1 fundraiser

Relational organizing – local 3 months, federal race 2 years

Conversion – supporter to organizer; events; snowflakes; the talk; influencers – house parties. neighbor post cards

Campaign Debrief

In 2018, I ran for Congress in Washington’s Second Congressional District. This is to provide an overview of the District and the campaign and to offer observations that may be of use to future campaigns.