Benton County Democratic Central Committee

Down Ballot, Up Ticket 

This is how Democrats win and maintain power in 2024.

This isn’t just a catchphrase for the week of special events. It’s a strategy that will drive all Democratic efforts into 2024, whether you’re a volunteer in your local party or heading up your own run for office.

Four days, four amazing sessions, countless experts and leaders weighing in. Before our sessions fill up, get a head start on registering for this year’s annual NDTC Build Blue Week:

Down Ballot Up Ticket: How Democrats Win in 2024
Monday, October 2

Cultivating Local Donors for Long Term Change
Tuesday, October 3

Coalition Building for Community Change
Wednesday, October 4

Messages That Connect: Local Issues and National Narratives
Thursday, October 5

Running in a Red District
Thursday, September 7 at 1pm ET

There are Democrats everywhere – yes everywhere! And that means there are Democrats in otherwise conservative, red districts. But to reach these voters and better represent them, you have to employ unique tactics and understand the nuances of running in a red district.

This training is the best overview for any staff, candidate, or volunteer going into red areas. We’ll review voter targeting, calculating your vote goal, and how to have empathetic, effective conversations with voters.

Live Training Sneak Peek: Field Tactics 101
Friday, September 8 at 1pm ET

All campaigns need a field plan. That is, a set of actions that detail how the campaign will connect with voters and potential voters directly. It can feel overwhelming at first, but this training will help you understand the pros and cons of the many tactics your campaign can employ.

Prepare for GOTV time – or just get ahead of the game. Our expert trainer will go over the five best field tactics: canvassing, phone banking, sending texts, hosting events, and Relational Organizing.

Can’t make this one? Don’t worry! We’re hosting it again on September 18 too.

Later this September — Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!

So You Want to Run for Office – Tuesday, September 19 at 1pm ET

NDTC Expert Q&A: Hispanic Democrats Working Towards Change (Hispanic Heritage Month) – Tuesday, September 26 at 1pm ET

While our training focus is field and GOTV, September also commemorates Hispanic Heritage Month! The United States is home to an amazing blend of Hispanic and Latino cultures, but it’s on Democrats everywhere to ensure these communities are represented through elected office. That’s why we’re excited to host not one, but two special events with a focus on Hispanic and Latino Democrats.

First, a special edition of our So You Want to Run for Office training will show potential or early-stage Hispanic and Latino candidates the basics of deciding to run. Our trainer will review both challenges and considerations of telling your network that you’re running plus the offices you can run for.

Then, September’s Expert Q&A: Hispanic Democrats Working Towards Change is an interactive panel discussion bringing together Hispanic and Latino Democratic leaders. They’ll discuss their own trajectories while sharing key insights from their lived experiences.

Don’t miss these excellent events coming down the pike!

And it doesn’t stop there! You can always visit the Online Academy’s Course Catalog, set up a free account, and keep track of your progress while taking advantage of our extensive course offerings.

 New Opportunity for Dems in Virginia, New York, and Minnesota! 

Our friends at Swing Left are developing and supporting new volunteer groups in Richmond, Queens, and the Twin Cities! If you’re eager to take your impact to the next level and ready to lead, apply to join their new pilot program, Team Up!

How to Develop Your GOTV Universe and Script
Wednesday, August 23 at 1pm ET

You may think you want to reach every voter in your community. In fact, that might just end up wasting time and resources. By developing your GOTV universe – meaning the voters likely to turn out and vote for you – you’ll refine your efforts for the best results.

This training will go over the principles of figuring out your GOTV universe and how to best use it on the trail. In addition, you will go through exercises to create a persuasive script for your volunteers going door-to-door or phone-banking.

Running in a Red District
Thursday, September 7 at 1pm ET

There are Democrats everywhere – yes everywhere! And that means there are Democrats in otherwise conservative, red districts. But to reach these voters and better represent them, you have to employ unique tactics and understand the nuances of running in a red district.

This training is the best overview for any staff, candidate, or volunteer going into red areas. We’ll review voter targeting, calculating your vote goal, and how to have empathetic, effective conversations with voters.

Live Training Sneak Peek: Field Tactics 101
Friday, September 8 at 1pm ET

All campaigns need a field plan. That is, a set of actions that detail how the campaign will connect with voters and potential voters directly. It can feel overwhelming at first, but this training will help you understand the pros and cons of the many tactics your campaign can employ.

Prepare for GOTV time – or just get ahead of the game. Our expert trainer will go over the five best field tactics: canvassing, phone banking, sending texts, hosting events, and Relational Organizing.

Can’t make this one? Don’t worry! We’re hosting it again on September 18 too.

And it doesn’t stop there! You can always visit the Online Academy’s Course Catalog, set up a free account, and keep track of your progress while taking advantage of our extensive course offerings.

Dear FAN friends in the Tri-Cities area,

We want you to know that the meeting planned for this Wednesday evening 8/16 at Shalom UCC in Richland has been POSTPONED. The local planners want to allow for a time when more people are available and will be rescheduling, hopefully for later September. We look forward to reconnecting with you as community advocates for the common good.

We hope you’ll still plan to visit the FAN table on Saturday, August 26, at Celebration of Community, Diversity & Culture, noon-8pm at Kennewick’s Columbia Park (Map).

And SAVE THESE DATES for FAN’s two signature events:

FAN Annual Dinner, Sunday evening, November 19, 2023 (hybrid)

Interfaith Advocacy Day, Thursday, February 8, 2024, in Olympia

Enjoy the rest of your summer–stay safe and cool!

FAN Staff
FAITH ACTION NETWORK
www.FANWA.org

Faith Action Network
3720 Airport Way S
Seattle, WA 98134
United States

Dear FAN associates throughout the Tri-Cities area,

I am writing with hopes you are well and enjoying an amazing reprieve of August moons and weather!  And, I want to invite you to join a couple of opportunities we have to deepen relationships together.  

First, next week on Wednesday evening, August 16, beginning at 5:30pm, Shalom UCC in Richland (Map) is hosting a gathering (with appetizers, beverages and game night for kids) for 90 minutes of reacquainting ourselves as community advocates for the common good. Taking action together as well as a FAN presentation will be part of the evening too.

Please RSVP by Friday evening by emailing Lora Rathbone at ldrathbone@Outlook.com.

Second, visit our FAN table on Saturday, August 26, at Celebration of Community, Diversity & Culture, noon-8pm at Kennewick’s Columbia Park (Map).

American folk singer John Prine inspires my desire for more compassion in our world with his song, “Hello in There” which has the phrase: “You know that old trees just grow stronger, and old rivers grow wilder every day.” I hope this August “Hello!” will offer you a timely invitation for our community growing stronger and wilder days of good advocacy together. Keep up your good work and I will hope to see you down stream!

Eric

Eric Don Anderson, M. Div.
South Central WA Regional Organizer, he/him/his
FAITH ACTION NETWORK
www.FANWA.org
509.492.2216

Faith Action Network
3720 Airport Way S
Seattle, WA 98134
United States

Just touching base — Our panel event on messaging and organizing around climate issues is this Thursday.

We’re bringing together a stellar panel of folks to discuss ways you can talk about the local impacts of climate change in your communities. Additionally, we’ll cover ways to combat misinformation and dangerous right-wing rhetoric.

We truly encourage every progressive to register for this event. An NDTC Expert Q&A is more than just a training; it’s a chance to engage in conversation with a community of fellow progressives and hear from leading voices in the field. Will you join us Thursday at 1pm ET?

Now let’s meet our two amazing panelists!

Christina Polizzi is the Deputy Managing Director of Communications for Climate Power, an independent strategic communications and paid media operation focused on building the political will and public support for bold climate action. Christina was mostly recently the Communications Director with the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, where she lead press efforts.

Faith Ramon is an enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation and is currently the Tucson Environmental Justice Campaign Manager for Arizona Center For Empowerment (ACE). She has dedicated years of organizing work in neglected and marginalized communities. She holds pride in representing her lineage advocating for basic human rights, setting up the next generation for success, protecting plant medicines, and the sacredness of elements used in ceremonies.

Hope you’ll join us to hear from these amazing changemakers!

– The Whole Team @ NDTC

We’ve got a big surprise we’re dying to share.

But we can’t tell you everything quite yet! Keep your eyes peeled for something coming to your inbox on August 17.

Don’t be too blue, it’s worth the week wait.

How Local Parties Prepare for GOTV
Monday, August 14 at 1pm ET

Calling local party leaders and volunteers! This training will go over how local organizations can support the GOTV efforts of Democratic campaigns in their communities.

The biggest piece of GOTV advice is this: set realistic goals. Learn more about measuring success, setting those attainable goals, and empowering precinct leaders on Monday.

For VA-based Dems: Virginia GOTV Training Bootcamp
Monday, August 14 - Wednesday, August 16 at 7pm ET

The National Democratic Training Committee is bringing you three essential virtual trainings on GOTV strategies ahead of Election Day. We’re partering with the Virginia Democratic Party to help you or your campaign level up your field skills.

This three-part training series will consist of one-hour sessions led by campaign experts. The three trainings include:

• How to Develop Your GOTV Universe & Script on Monday
• Why Volunteers are Important for GOTV on Tuesday
• Best Practices for GOTV Preparation on Wednesday

While attendance at all three is not required, joining these trainings will ensure you learn the absolute best tactics and tools for a successful GOTV phase in Virginia.

NDTC Expert Q&A: Climate Change at the Local Level
Thursday, August 17 at 1pm ET

Climate change affects everyone in the U.S., from extreme heat to disastrous blizzards. It is critical that campaigns know how to discuss these issues with voters and center their concerns and climate-related anxieties.

Thursday’s Expert Q&A will be an insightful, actionable panel discussion led by experts in climate and environmental advocacy. You’ll walk away with a plan on how to address this topic in your own local community.

How to Develop Your GOTV Universe and Script
Thursday, August 17 at 1pm ET

You can’t drive a car without keys, and you can’t successfully run GOTV without a script! This essential training will review the components of a strong GOTV script, ready to be taken into the field.

First, you will review what’s called a “GOTV universe” – the group of people whose vote you’re trying to get to exceed your vote goal. Then, you’ll develop your own script and identify instances where to use it for the best results.

And it doesn’t stop there! You can always visit the Online Academy’s Course Catalog, set up a free account, and keep track of your progress while taking advantage of our extensive course offerings.

Join us, hosted by the Benton County Democrats, for a fun-filled evening of Blue Pickleball!

Hey Fellow Liberals! Let’s come together for some non-competitive Blue Pickleball action – the perfect way to kick-start your weekend. If you’re a pickleball pro, don’t worry – there’s time for that too!

Date: Saturday, August 12th

Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Location: 100 Claret Drive, off of Wine County RD near the Farm Store

For Directions: Call 509-250-3555

Remember to bring your equipment if you have it, and make sure to wear sturdy shoes for an awesome game! We’ve got you covered with refreshing water, shady spots, and tasty snacks.

Whether you want to jump in and play, watch the action unfold, or engage in some spirited election pontification, there’s something for everyone. Let’s have a blast and connect over our shared passion for Blue Pickleball and progressive values!

See you on the court!

Special Event: Thursday, August 10 | Noon

Hiroshima: Resilience and Peace

Hey there, it’s Caroline from the NDTC Marketing Team, and I’m also Gen Z.

Why do I mention that? Well for my generation, climate change has always been front of mind. I’ve personally been inspired by the activism of young people to express the urgency of the climate crisis. But climate change doesn’t just affect us, it affects every American in communities across the U.S.

And the local impacts of climate change are why I’m looking forward to next week’s Expert Q&A panel discussing climate change. We’re bringing together a group of experts and activists who will go over how to organize, message, and address the impacts of climate change in your own community.

Progressives need to lead the charge on this issue. It’s essential that we are taking on, if not directing the conversation on climate.

And of course, Democrats everywhere should be ready to combat misinformation perpetuated by right-wing conservatives.

We sincerely hope you’ll join this honest, raw conversation. Use the button below to join us on Thursday, August 17 at 1pm ET.

And it doesn’t stop there! You can always visit the Online Academy’s Course Catalog, set up a free account, and keep track of your progress while taking advantage of our extensive course offerings.