There are challenges, and then there are challenges.
Running for elective office as a Democrat in the Northwoods is definitely a
real challenge. Much of the challenge comes from long-standing Democratic
practice of ignoring rural areas, resulting in weak county party organizations.
These weak organizations allow others to define what Democrats value and what
they might do if elected. Years without blue victories in the Northwoods
reinforces the challenge of running as a Democrat by convincing potential
candidates that winning a local partisan office is too much of an uphill climb.
As we enter the 2022 electoral season, we know we have an uphill battle. But
we have been preparing for it, and have developed new strategies, enlisted new
volunteers, and engaged various resources specifically tailored to winning in
rural communities. We aren't fooling ourselves: it's still going to be an
uphill battle, but we believe we are making the kinds of changes that can only
help improve our performance in this fall's elections.
We have much more to do before we can expect to prevail in November. We will
be seeking your help this year for many of same things we have in prior years:
phone calls, door knocking, funding, staffing our office, and help in getting signs
distributed. But we will also be asking for your help in engaging new voters: hosting
small groups of your neighbors, staffing pop-up events where we can cross paths
with folks outside of our usual supporters, and in general creating opportunities
for voters to see the real differences between us and the GOP.
Beyond efforts to engage new voters, we are committed to having serious
conversations with traditional Republican voters who are concerned about the
recent direction of the GOP. We intend to lead with our values: a fair shake
for everyone, support for elections where every vote is counted, and our
commitment to addressing the real problems being faced by families and the
small businesses in the Northwoods.
The 2022 election season is upon us, and I think we are ready to make a difference.
