(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Defund Postcards, Please: How to Actually Help Special Election Campaigns Win [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-03-27
By Danika Joy Fornear
It’s a familiar story. A high-stakes election is looming, and volunteers across the country want to help. Many, unsure of the best way to contribute, pick up a pen and start writing postcards. And while the enthusiasm is admirable, let’s be honest: we’ve already sent out hundreds of thousands of postcards. If we want to flip seats like Florida’s 1st and 6th Congressional Districts—where Josh Weil and Gay Valimont are fighting against entrenched right-wing incumbents—we need to focus on what actually moves the needle.
Right now, the most effective thing you can do is DONATE, knock on doors, make phone calls, and spread the word far and wide.
Why Canvassing and Phone Banking Matter More
Postcards are a feel-good effort, but they don’t have the same impact as direct voter contact. By the time a voter receives a postcard, they’ve likely already been bombarded with campaign mailers, digital ads, and text messages. A handwritten note might stand out, but it doesn’t replace a real conversation—especially in a district that leans red and requires real persuasion.
Canvassing (door-knocking) is the gold standard of voter outreach. Studies show that face-to-face conversations have the highest impact on voter turnout and persuasion. If you live in or near these districts, hit the pavement. Your time is best spent talking to voters where they are. If you can’t canvass, phone banking is the next best thing. It’s direct, interactive, and gives campaigns the chance to answer voters’ concerns in real-time.
What You Should Be Doing Instead
If you really want to help Josh Weil and Gay Valimont win, ditch the postcards and do this instead:
• Donate – Campaigns need resources for ads, staffing, and voter outreach. Even small donations make a big difference.
• Canvass – If you’re in or near Florida, sign up for a shift. Nothing replaces face-to-face voter contact.
• Phone bank – If you’re out of state, this is your best way to help. Campaigns provide scripts and support, so no experience is necessary.
• Share articles, social media, and events – Spreading campaign content increases name recognition and helps reach undecided voters. Share widely!
• Host a virtual fundraiser or phone bank party – Get your network involved. Even a small gathering can amplify the impact.
The reality is that elections are won by direct voter contact, not by stacks of postcards. If you want to see Valimont and Weil in Congress, put down the pen and pick up the phone. Let’s do the work that actually wins elections.
Donate to Gay Valimont via ActBlue
Donate to Gay Valimont via PayPal
Donate to Josh Weil via ActBlue
Donate at Josh Weil via PayPal
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://dailykos.com/stories/2025/3/27/2312967/-Defund-Postcards-Please-How-to-Actually-Help-Special-Election-Campaigns-Win?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
