House Dems Announce New Strategy to Engage Voters of Color for 2022 Midterms
According to a new report from NPR, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is launching a new, multimillion-dollar effort to engage and mobilize voters of color ahead of the midterm elections, including investments in local organizing, research, and polling.
The announcement comes as Democrats are hunkering down to defend their slim congressional majorities in 2022, and as many in the party are still assessing their unexpected losses in significant elections this month. The party is also facing retirements from significant members like Sen. Patrick Leahy and Rep. Jackie Speier.
The committee is also working to combat disinformation efforts that are specifically focused on voters of color. Democrats need to ensure that the racially diverse voting base which elected President Biden and delivered victories in key states across the country to give Democrats a bare Senate majority is inspired to show up again.
This is what's at stake in 2022.
If Kevin McCarthy becomes Speaker, he will pack committees with election-denying, anti-progress extremists who have no business being in Congress in the first place. https://t.co/lnZifUtOA9
— DCCC (@dccc) November 18, 2021
The details of the plan, which were shared first with NPR, include an initial $30 million investment to hire local community organizers, launch targeted advertising campaigns aimed at nonwhite communities, as well as a framework for building voter protection and education programs. “What we have learned from studying the 2020 election is when we invest in communities of color, it pays real dividends,” New York Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in an interview with NPR.
Join me live now as House Democratic Leadership highlights the incredible success of the bipartisan infrastructure deal and what comes next for the Caucus https://t.co/MBPAuThqvS
— Sean Patrick Maloney (@RepSeanMaloney) November 16, 2021
The Democratic National Campaign Committee is also launching its own voter protection team and increasing its efforts to educate voters. Federal voting rights legislation remains stalled in the Senate, despite repeated attempts by Democrats to pass bills in response to a wave of state-level laws championed by Republicans that restrict ballot access. Democrats and voting rights advocates say those laws have a disproportionate impact on people of color.
In Georgia we know that you must protect the #FreedomToVote at every opportunity.
I’m thrilled to be the first-ever @dccc Chairwoman of #VoterProtection fighting for free and fair access to the ballot box. #VotingRights #GaPol #DemocratsDeliver #DCCC https://t.co/eZ8b0wputy
— Nikema Williams (@NikemaWilliams) November 16, 2021
Read NPR’s full report here.