Elections are won before
the final votes are counted
With special guest David Nir of The Downballot
Hi, NDTC friends! It’s David Nir from The Downballot. Bibek asked me to appear in this week’s TL;DR because he’s a regular reader of The Downballot and knows the value of paying attention to races that don’t always make the national headlines.
At The Downballot, we track the contests that shape the political landscape long after Election Day headlines fade. The people who run those campaigns need training every bit as much as the candidates at the top of the ticket.
It’s easy to get caught up in the biggest stories in politics – like how one person seems to be subverting everything on the eve of the country’s 250th birthday. But if you follow our work, you know that the future of our democracy is often shaped by races that receive far less attention: state legislative seats, county offices, judicial contests, and the thousands of campaigns that build the bench for years to come. The GOP has understood this for decades.
Those races need skilled campaign staff who know how to build a strategy that returns votes, which is why Kelly Dietrich founded the NDTC. And just as Republicans have never taken their eye off the ball, The Downballot won’t either – and nor will the NDTC.
Recently, Kelly told me about the NDTC’s investment in an upcoming Field Director Intensive. Field directors are responsible for some of the most important work voters never see, from building volunteer programs and managing voter contact operations to making sure resources are focused where they’ll have the greatest impact.
important work voters never see
So whether you’re following the latest special election, preparing for next year’s races, or sharpening your skills for the campaign ahead, remember: Elections are won long before the final votes are counted. They’re won by people willing to put in the work now.
And if you want to stay on top of the same overlooked elections that the NDTC is fighting to win every day, I invite you to join me at The Downballot, which offers honest, comprehensive coverage that no one else provides. Subscribe here today.
Happy Fourth!
– David Nir, Publisher, The Downballot
💻UPCOMING LIVE TRAININGS
Tech Time: Building a List in VoteBuilder
07.09
10 am PT
Explore upcoming events + trainings coming up this month.
NDTC Learner Spotlight
Congrats to NDTC learner Kim James on advancing to the general election for Utah State Representative, House District 8! She is running because her faith calls her to build a society that lifts up the sick, the vulnerable, and the stranger.
SUBSTACK
$15 Million Later, the Reflecting Pool Turned Green. This Is Why You Need to Run for Office.
Bad decisions about public money aren’t just a Washington problem; they happen at every level of government.
ICYMI
Preparing Supporters to Share Your Message, in Partnership With ActBlue
This training is right for you if you’re involved in preparing campaign volunteers to engage in direct voter contact or are generally curious about ways to involve existing supporter networks in getting the word out about your campaign.
PARTNER ACTION
First Amendment Alert
While we are all paying attention to Trump’s antics at the Kennedy Center and the DC Mall, the FCC is threatening eight ABC affiliates
What’s On Our Newsfeeds
NDTC In The News
NDTC made waves in the news this week. Here’s what we, and founder and CEO Kelly Dietrich, had to say.
Why this story matters:
The New York Times featured NDTC’s recent Georgia training day, where dozens of legislative candidates gathered in Atlanta for sessions on field strategy, volunteer recruitment, and precinct targeting ahead of a big statewide year. Georgia Democrats have won by narrow margins, and better-prepared down-ballot candidates are how narrow margins become wins.
Why this story matters:
Campaigns in both parties are wiring AI into everything from voter data to door-knock reports, and The New York Times cited NDTC’s AI course for drawing a clear line against fabricated videos of opponents. Sadly “don’t put words in your opponent’s mouth” counts as a bold ethical stance in 2026.
Why this story matters:
The Supreme Court’s season was a loud wake-up call.. And in NDTC CEO Kelly Dietrich’s words, it’s time to be loud, speak up, and run for office.
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